Building a Foam House for Tabletop Gaming PART ONE: STRUCTURE 

PART ONE - STRUCTURE: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7sHdZTaQTD8.html PART TWO - STUCCO: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ncn6mvZHk-s.html PART THREE - SHINGLES: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JTzZVE1HYuU.html PRT FOUR - PAINTING & FINISHING DETAILS: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8Z_LKRMdkX8.html

One way to improve static building radically: Paint the interior white before final assembly, and leave the bottom open. When you play, just add an electric flickering tea light inside, and it will shine through the windows like a fireplace.

One of the rules in constructing of tudor houses is that the timber is made to fit depending of what is available. So "measurements" are based on what timber they have. There are some rules regarding the size of the stucco panels based on timber sizes but when scaling down these may not look the best so eyeballing things is (I think) the best way to do this. Btw. I Only used 3D printing up to now - I'm going to get some foam and start experimenting - Thanks!

When I started working with foam do these kinds of builds, I came from a background of costume design where materials are expensive and quickly run out for the simplest pieces. When I had a pile of foam cut, two houses made, some dungeon tiles and bunch of pillars, I still had 1/4th a 2x2 sheet left out of the 3 sheets I bought for another project. My favorite thing about this hobby is how cheap it is to make some really nice stuff if you pay attention to the details.

I watch a lot of "crafty" youtubers and videos, and when I see a longer video from them I always get even more excited. I know there's quite a few that agree with me too. I love it when there's a lot of in depth info and when a ton of passion that goes into a project as well. I like shorter videos too, but huge project videos take the cake for me.

I commented on another of your videos just the other day about how I was having a hard time lining up things the way you measured. Once I stopped trying to do exactly what you did and just started building, I ended up with my first ever non-ruined foam building and I am fairly happy with it. My Proxxon comes tomorrow and I am super stoked to set it up and build. Your channel has been an inspiration.

Number of viewers is crusin' No wonder with the quality of your content! Yet again, thanks and awesome build!

Awesome! Your work is so amazing. Without sounding too greedy please do a large castle next!

I like to leave the top of the chimney flat (or to add a flat cover) because this is the thief spot.

Cereal Box material (Chipboard or folding carton) has a grain direction. The easiest way to find it it to slightly bend it in each direction. The direction that has the least give is the grain direction. You should always bend chipboard with the grain, as it will curve nicely without getting a false crease. I am only telling you this from a packaging engineer standpoint; maybe it will help in the future? Your skills as a crafter far outreach mine, and I know you will be covering this roof. Just food for thought in the future, should you find a need to use chipboard in a manner where you have a nice curve without the creases where it will be visible. Love your work and channel, I am soaking it all in.

Oh man talk about serendipity! I was just organizing and cleaning my modeling area, & I collect all types of little things, thinking that one day I'll find a use for them. Today I came across a bunch off super glue caps & pins which I debated with myself if I was gonna throw them away, at the last second I decided not to. I wasn't sure what I was gonna use them for, but now I know. Thanks. Looks great! cheers!

Nice Tudor tutorial!

I am so confident in your videos I hit “like” before I hit play! Great video 👍🏽

Thank you so much for the build and for the attitude about the process...Relax it's only foam...should be the motto of all crafting. I also like the fact that if you want to add something, the chimney, it is fine to just cut out something and then add what ever seems right to you. Have fun and build! Looking forward to the rest of the videos.

The more complex builds are amazing! I would even be ok with each of the video parts being a bit longer if that's what is needed. Thank you for the inspiration!

Incredible craft! I love your "leave your ruler at home" and just build philosophy. Very awesome. Can not wait to see the painting and finishing!

Now build it out of gingerbread! :)

Today is pay day with both Overtime Hours and a Bonus on my check.. I've been on the fence on pulling the trigger on the proxxon for a while and after today's video - it's clear what's gonna happen. Thanks for great content and for all the inspiration!

Great episode! I will have to try this, but perhaps as a House Mimic!!

Just ordered a Proxxon. Can't wait. My Pop is getting into the craft too so we are sharing 😀. Thanks for the great videos!

trying not to be too true to a reference material is such a useful tip to actually get stuff done. Thank ya!

Great video! This has me nostalgic for my wargaming days- I always enjoyed making buildings the most. I had a set of several deliberately-samey-looking sci fi colony buildings that all had lift-off roofs with detailed interiors with resin parts. Having watched your video on playable interiors I can see how having the walls lift off could have saved me a lot of time and effort as well as increasing usability. I think not having interiors also helps with the illusion of scale- most tabletop buildings are way too small vs the size of a figure compared to their real life counterparts, and it only becomes more obvious when you try to fit a squad of war game minis inside their footprints.

Fantastic work and very helpful, I use cat food boxes as a base for my Tudor buildings.

Always impressed at how detail orientated you are! There were so many hidden places and bits & bobs that I totally would have not even have thought of 😂 Love these videos & all the suggestions, they have been invaluable. I can’t wait to start building 😊

I use pins a lot, they hold everything together, and make for good visual 'nails' thanks to this channel, I am a way better builder!

Wow, this timing couldn't be better. I had just decided to build one of these. Can't wait for part 2!!

I have to give a huge thank you to you for giving me permission to be inaccurate; to eyeball stuff, to be imprecise, to not make an interior. I needed that permission and reassurance to even contemplate diving into this hobby. And while it took a heck of a long time (thanks to procrastination painting) I finally finished my first house. It's messy. It's sloppy. There are a ton of mistakes. But it's the first house; that's it's job to be imperfect. So again, thank you Black Magic Craft.

I spent many years doing Renaissance Faire many years ago. We had to replace the tattle & daab that was the exterior of the cottage after the south wall had been damaged from a severe rain and hail storm. It’s interesting seeing you create your house. The one room cottage had a huge fire hearth in the corner going up to the chimbley with its chains hanging down for smoking meats and hanging pots over the fire. Great build

Thats a fantastic 'fearless' build. Your world, Jeremy, so the architecture is all yours. If you want a stone portico, fine, [maybe avoid aluminium siding on a canvas tent] but you pulled it off brilliantly. Its the stone steps that tie it all in. Right, I'm off to part two....

Top Notch. This is why I subscribe. Hands down - your channel motivated me to start building my own terrain and start painting minis.

Great job! Voice over was the perfect route for the video

I use cardboard boxes (like from delivered minis I buy) as the base for a building and just decorate it to look like the exterior of the building. Internal play is done on floors with short or no walls for ease. For cluttered cities, you only need to build the front 25% of most buildings, assuming a zero lot spacing. City Tudor styles usually only has the back and maybe front overhang. I also only build the suctions of the city the players would frequent, like the tavern and or inn, shops, weapon/armor smiths, magic shop, etc... Also adventure sites like the haunted mansion, sewers or thieves guild etc... Villages and towns usually need the full buildings.

You're timing is perfect. I'm right in the middle of a similar build and came to the same situation. Now, I'll just go for it and not be so crazy with my measurement - as long as my scale looks good. Thank you!

Love it, such excellent videos. Thanks for making them! fun fact: Mediaeval houses often used oiled parchment in windows; glass was prohibitively expensive. Therefore your parchment paper was the perfect choice for the window.

That trick with the bricks around the door, so simple, so effective... I can't believe I've never thought of That! Good show sir, good ahow.

🏠 Yay! The more complicated builds are so satisfying to watch come together. Great video with a nice message. We all hope you are feeling better. Be brave! Spring is comming, I can see my drive way for the first time since fall.

Oh wow! I literally just finished my first tudor style farmhouse too! Like 30 min ago no joke. I used the same timber building technique- works great! I ended up putting on stucco before timbers. I used foil ball texture on foam walls then painted white. Added a wash and timbers after.

was really hoping you started building again such "smaller" projects again... thanks for that!!! looks awesome and I especially like the middle roof boards! that´s a detail i often forgot about!

Awesome build. I'm not new to building but am starting a pretty extensive project, very nice to see your steps and hear your thoughts on building in general. Thanks!

I like the tutor it looks great, can hardly wait to see it finished. BMC, great job, keep 'em coming.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Love the idea of just start with a basic idea and develop it as to what looks good and not limiting yourself

Enjoyed the video. It w was great to see the laid back methods that you used. Forget the specifics just eyeball the measurements.

Simply magic !!!

As a rule rounded stone arches are for stone buildings or at least stone foundations while square wooden arches are for half timbered (tudor) construction though some have half rounded windows above them set in wooden frames though these might or might not be visible depending on if plaster has been placed over the top of the wood. Sometimes bricks are used to fill the spaces of half timbered walls which can made a nice change in look.

This is the sort of video I started watching your channel for. Nice!

longtime listener, first time caller, been waiting a minute for this one, but totally worth the wait, it was nice to have the little reminders about things like the coffee can tumbler can't wait for your roofing episode, thanks for sharing all your hard work, eh.

Measurements are important if you're doing recreationist builds (like the HO Scale train people who build perfect models of towns from various eras based on photographs). If you're doing fantasy or sci-fi builds, scale it to your figures as 'what looks appropriate'. I would say, though, the overhangs on Tudor style buildings are thought to be so the upper walls cantilever the floor beams to help distribute the load of the 2nd story away from the center of the structure (if that explanation makes sense). This allows a more open space on the ground floor. However, to use that concept the overhang would need to be even (not off to one side)... I always enjoy your excellent and inspiring work! :)

Look at that chimney, what a piece of art.

Awesome man! How about a modular house, similar to your modular ruins??

These style buildings are so good, just looking at them makes me think fantasy, can't wait for part 2/3 etc :D

Hey great tutorial mate. It is really nice to know where to start sometimes as I can just overthink projects and talk myself out of them. Simple example but brilliant finish! Thanks so much

Excellent and inspiring build. I make loads of models in various mediums, but have never made anything using foamcore and foam. Time to start now I feel. Thanks for the inspiration.

Thanks for the tip on the arch above the door

Great build Jeremy. Thanks for this one.

I love this. It looks so good already. I also don't care much about authenticity if the end result looks good. Time of Legends: Joan of Arc did something cool for gameplay inside buildings where it uses a different board to represent the interior. It also means that these boards don't have to match the dimensions of the building models or even have walls, which makes picking up and moving the models so much easier. I like this option better. Well done on this one. Waiting for the next episode, and I am super excited for the painting part.

I miss these kinds of videos. These inspire me to get back on the Proxxon

That looks sweet, great details. I love building tabletop stuff and you give good ideas to make mine look better. 😊 I tend to get to a certain point and think close enough, but after watching and re-watching some of your builds I've been putting more work into building better buildings...🤔 as always great vid can't wait for the next. Well done sir! 👍

Loved this video 100%. Really enjoyed it. And thanks for sharing. 👍👍

I really like this. I also have a cool method the comunity may want to try for Roofing, however i don't make videos. $1 store Twisted Hemp Rope. $1 Store Large Wire Brush. Brush Rope with the wire brush. Take the Rope thin strings out of the brush then wad them up and cut then with scissors to length. This make small lengths of "Thatch" than can be glued onto roofs. Watered down PVA to harden after they are glued on roof. Light Airbrush Paint. (does not take much) Boom, Thatch Roof!

Very cool. I started a building once, but used popsicle sticks instead of foam. I so need a Proxxon!

Thank you thank you thank you. Been waiting on you to do this! Also, theres a lot of craftsfolk and koms that are quite incredible in making faerie houses. Theirs are jam packed full of ideas and little quirky materials that can be used. I hate making roof tiles. So I go collect pine cones and pop the scales off and use those. They look pretty legit for various fantasy creature buildings.

Wonderful video!

Once I made a door. Every build is scaled to that door now

Fantastic! These are exactly the kind of videos I look for. Please do more of these structure building type videos.

the format of the video was perfect for someone who has been watching you for a while

Great video Jeremy! Not likely to be making fantasy buildings anytime soon, but still good to see the process and learn techniques that could be useful for the terrain buildings that I do build.

Your hags hut video is the one that led me to your channel :) I love watching you build such cute little sets, although I will probably never make them because my group has scattered and we mostly just play through Roll20 and discord ... maybe one day I’ll be able to make this 😩

Amazing video. This little house is gorgeous! I always thought it was more complicated.

I am an architect by profession, and I think your advice on scale is very good. often when designing or modeling things in early stages I follow the rule of looks right is right. If it looks right to me then it is right. One piece of advice I would have for people who are worried about scale is to keep a common size miniature on hand, if you are worried about the scale of something hold the miniature up to it and then you know if it is too big or too small. Scale figures help you keep things in scale with no need to actually measure.

I started a similar project and thanks to your help i only need to paint and i will be done

Reminds me a lot of the RealTerrainHobbies tavern which was one of my favorite tabletop art projects to watch

Great video bruh

You are one of my inspirations for building my own christmas village 🙂

You need a second channel with long form versions of the unedited videos. Would be nice having something playing in the background while I’m working on a project. 😁👍👍

I love the offset overhang. That really made the house look so cool and interesting. Great Job Jeremy.

Please make more videos like this!

Trying my first foam house. 🤞

Nothing wrong with a multi-part build. I'm looking forward to it all. Please, don't forget that not all of us have a background in construction. 😉

good slick well planned and produced tutorial. Keep going

Once again. Another great video. Glad to see your feeling better!

Love this I still hot to get a few things... Like pink foam and a tool for my not proton foam cutter.. Something to help straight cuts

Looks great! I can't wait til next Friday to see your stucco process!

fantastic build

You make this look easy!

Very nice. Looks great. Waiting for the next installments.

cool build,if i can get my hands on some foam i gone give this a try

Very cool, man. You always inspire me to work with foam. So many possibilities!

@Black Magic Craft -- For RPG, scale does not matter. In fact, scale is something very loose in the miniatures world. 28mm, 30mm, heroic scale, grand scale -- there is no standard. For most of my D&D sets, if looks good then it is good enough. However, for some tabletop war games scale may matter and may be important to some. But, even then, we have 25mm bases, 30mm bases, 40mm bases and even 50mm bases. What is scale? I have no idea. What I try to do is look at the scenario. I cannot remember the game but there was scenario where 6 miniatures had to start inside a house. They had 30mm bases. I scaled everything to 30mm bases and made the door ways 35mm wide so you could slide the miniatures through the halls and doorways. So, to me scale is based on the situation. Another example is I recently introduced my friend to Frostgrave. The first scenario is the mausoleum, we decided we wanted to have 8 skeletons inside. They had 30mm bases, the size of the mausoleum was whatever would fit 8 skeletons. BTW, we used a modification of your technique. The wall and the roof came off together, however, we left the door way and the first layer of brick as integrated parts of the floor. This way you could see a silhouette of the building. This worked well and have since continued working in this way. Your sculpting doors video has been golden since I do not use standard door sizes and it allows me to make my own. Thank you for all the work you do on your channel. The only reason I have foam cutting tools is because of this channel LOL!

I saw a Miniac’s vidéo in which he used sand paper for the shingles, it looks great with the paper texture. Plus , as crafting shingles can be Time consuming, using cisors for tailoring, (do not know the word that fits well un english...) cisors used for fabrics,that make a pattern on the cut line.

Watch out boys and girls, the master class is in session! 🤘

very nicely done and inspiring as always!!!

Freaking love it! I have a feeling I know what you’ll be using for the stucco 😉

This video is so fucking good dude. The inspiration is just gushing out of my computer screen.

With your background I was half expecting you to stick frame the exterior and interior walls, using craft sticks and a Teeny tune nail gun 😂. J/k awesome video bruh!

Yo I'm so stoked... but I like just finished struggling through making one last week... WELP TIME TO MAKE ANOTHER ONE!!!

cool

Absolutely amazing. Can't wait to see part two.

Another great build.

Beautiful

it is a nice project. it is good the ida is good no rulers :) nice video