More dead tree tests and a idea for a castle in a swamp.

 Free STL picked up online of 4 different dead tree stumps, and painted up the first 2.

Can I just mention it is very frustrating that every time you take a pic close up of FDM printed stuff the lines show up, but when I or my mates look at these up close no one can discern the lines with our naked (and me with my augmented) eyes? Only when you zoom out a bit and release the focus you get to see what I see. Anyway.....

And one for the general mood of things.

Also, when discussing swamps on the LAF the mention of a castle in a swamp turned up, so I grabbed a free stl, tilted it in 2 directions with the slicer and based it up. Now primed for tomorrows hobby night.

Forest Death King

 Sounds a lot heftier than what it is.....a tree with a face. Printed this off at 120% after slicing off the wargaming base in the STL file. Glued it to a irregular MDF base and painted and flocked it.

This was a test to see if I like it as I have another 20+ dead trees to paint. I used AK Putty to add more surface detail but that wastes a brush and half a tube of putty so that isn't the way. The wallfiller I use is too coarse, so maybe experiment with Milliput and Alcohol to make a slush to cover it. 

Johann standing in as a size reference. Going right into my Verrotwood collection. 

The STL can be found here: Forest Death King
It's a shame that it is again a designer who shows off AI designs and even uses it as his promotion pics. 

Experimenting on a tree

 Sounds worse than what it is. I realised I never really painted a tree (I think?) so just experimenting for a bit.

Low power transformer shed and a large gas canister for Zona Alfa

 I don't know who makes the STL for this, I do know it was one of my first prints and it came with a seperate base, walls, roof and 2 doors. The doors did not print good enough to be painted so I ditched those, and 2 of the nubs on top for the roof broke off so I glued in 2 matchsticks for a proper fit. Hell, I ditched the entire thing in my The Box TM and forgot about it. A while ago I did the concrete and the cabinet on the side but then again it ended up in The Box TM.

Dug it out last week, made 2 doors with card. Really simple stuff. Used one of my craft punches to make the ventilation slits. Douse with superglue once done to make it rock solid and give some proper grip for the primer and weathering.

Dryfit check

 Painted them as far as I could before glueing them into place, final weathering I prefer to do in situ. 

I really should have spent some time sanding the thing....something I do nowadays as it makes such a difference in the end...

Of course, it needs some electrical stuff to be complete, so I scratchbuilt this out of a few parts from my bits box and painted it.

 As I was scratchbuilding anyway I recycled the fuel tank of a 1/72 Russian Fuel Truck and the steeringwheel for a large gas canister. Nothing earth shattering but a nice filler piece.

A Monumental effort

 This STL was released on Jul 25th 2026 and I printed off maybe a few hours later. Cleaned it up a bit, removed the kettle/bowl from the middle and worked my magic on it. Finished it last night but decided to sleep on it if it was really finished (spoiler: it was).

The file is a Pay as you please and can be found on Cults3D >>  Elven Totem

Printed at 0.08 layer height with a 0.4 nozzle on my Bambu A1

I paid 0 euros as I have been stung before by files like these, but it came out great and now that the model is done and dusted I'll be pinging 5 euros in his direction. 

Tufts used this time are a very old yellow hay one that had no label, 12mm Grass Tufts Beige from Greenstuff World and Tall Shrubbery Yellow Green from Greenstuff World. 

I've added the marking for some good loot stashed here, most likely buried in the centre (as we like things to be very obvious).

But is it really safe......?

Hooded Guardian Statue STL printed

 I picked up this free file from here: Hooded Guardian Statue and printed it off in2 sizes.

Added some thinned down wall filler over it, brushed most of that off. Primed it, washed it, drybrushed  and flocked it. Meant for my Verrotwood collection but will work for many other things. 

Tetrapods based up

 This enough for now. Sanding next, then Mr Surfacer.

 

 

First full plate print succes since starting - Anti Mecha Tetrapods

 Jay!

Sofar I've never managed to line up a full plate of stuff and got that to print without issues. Today I finally crossed that hurdle. Ok, granted, printing so many of the same item helped I reckon, but still, WIN :)

The support helps with keeping them glued down on their base, so I did not remove them. 

Now to base them up in two's and three's, and give them a coat of Mr Surfacer.

Running a test print of a 15mm version as well so see how it works out. 

Edit: Awww, so cute.....