Fixing the Ulthuan's housing problems (II): From the roof down

So… if we haven’t done something wrong we are ending the house with the roof. Our walls are finished and the glue/varnish cured without warping them.
Here we will build the curved roof and paint everything, as our current project is not one of the Citadel/other companies printable templates and therefore it needs proper details..



The roof is a bit trickier considering there is a light curvature on it. Because, well, this is our first project and "too easy, let's play the tutorial on HARDCORE MODE".
Also, our little manor must have a second roof that perfectly fits the big one. Which add an extra layer of difficulty. trying that both roofs met smoothly. We will need to rest the roof in place, sytaying curved, and without bending on the farthest part.


First off, the main roof is cut from only one layer of cardboard in this case, as it will be reinforced later with adhesive paper tape, and it is easier to bend than multiple layers.

After cutting, it is firmly put in the position with elastic bands and with the decoupage glue, we will apply layers in order to harden the cardboard and fix into position. It is a slow process until at least the majority of the roof have the general curve required.

Ah yes, our every day engineering contraption.

Next step will be the reinforcement of the roof and ensure that all the structure have the exact curvature we draw on the wall. For that matter we will add a decoration in each extreme with the same layout as the curved wall of each extreme. It is important that this decoration is a copy of all the curved part. In the interior, we only need a small tip of the curvature in order to fix the position and gain stability.

Those small reinforcements can be cut using the tip of the template of one of the main walls. The decorated reinforcements that runs all the curvature down are made using the very same wall template and then drawing something else in the interior of the contourn. Remember leaving space for the wall windows (if any), as you can see later in this post.

Add the adhesive paper tape and another the it or two of glue.
With the smaller roof, our template already includes the curvature of the needed to insert with the roof. But if you are experimenting with your own, it is only matter of starting with the curvature of one of the main walls. And they will be drawn in the ending of each side of the small roof.

Then, with the template, fold the roof to the final form it should have in the extension, put in contact with the main roof, and draw a line where it is needed to cut the exceeding part. This is the “orc engineer” expertise to build an elf house, but there is probably a more elegant and practical way with technical drawing in order to subtract the right curvature.

I forgot to take the picture, ignore the spoiler about the finished look.

Same as before, cut the roof, several layers of glue, reinforcements below. Optional layer of adhesive paper tape, and another hand of glue.

This now feels more like a proper house for our battles. Note that we added some detail over the adhesive paper tape of the roof.

At this point, if we had a cut-out template house like the ones in Townscape or the campaign maps released oer the years. Or other company house like the ones from XXX. It would be only necessary to glue them, and add a layer of matt varnish-decoupage glue for reinforcing-another matt varnish to protect and kill the glossy surface.
But our house is not based on an existing template (well, now it is, but it is blank!). So we will had to add the details.

This old greenstuff have deteriorated a little bit, but can be used for sculpting these details and then fixed with some sanding.

And after that, a coat of primer and draw some more textures, around the doors, or the wood of the planks.

Note the space between the decoration of the roof reinforcement and the window as we commented before.

We will paint with thinned layers of paint over those designs. Like coloring in a comic or illustration we must see the lineart behind the colour. That is, like the artist did with the original Warhammer Townscape, Tears of Isha, etc. designs before us. If you have an airbrush, it is even easier and faster applying the thin layers. I personally mixed 25% colour - 75% water or 50%-50% with thinner medium.

And voilá! Our house is done.