TerraScapes: Caves and Grottos - Redux - Tabletop Terrain

Production Fulfillment Update: June Edition
almost 7 years ago – Mon, Jun 10, 2019 at 05:02:03 PM

 Well its still happening!  At this time all but 3 molds have been cracked open to pour out some CnG tiles.  We are only waiting on the 3 Flowstone pieces now for the first runs.

 In this order they have finished off the KS tiles and have begun working on the Large Wall pieces!  I will be picking these up in about a week or so.  I have to get some work done on the mobile transport before this weekend.  One I need it to pick up more tiles.  And two, I need it to get to origins this coming weekend.  If you'd like to meet up with me there and either shake my hand or punch me in the gut for the long wait, let me know lol!  With this order in I will be able to fulfill a few more orders.  However the mass exodus of tiles from my dining room table (and living room floor) won't happen till we get the order with the Flowstones unfortunately.

 I'm told these Large Cave wall pieces are an even bigger pain in the butt than the smaller ones lol.  I believe it!  They are very complex pieces.  Seeing how well these things turned out really shows the craftsmanship involved molding these in rubber.

In other fulfillment news, I hit a snag in painting those rewards up right after the last update.  I had already finished about 90% of the painted tiles when I discovered how easily the paint chipped off before sealing them.  That wrench put off the entire operation until last week when I was able to go back and clean up the pieces.  I cannot stress this enough, wash these pieces 2 or 3 times before priming.  I got much better results after I started double-priming them also.  I decided to go with a semi-gloss for its durability.  I am finishing up the last of these painted pieces today, and those 9 backers waiting on them will be fulfilled this week!

I have sent out emails to all individuals who have either purchased Fungal Forest Digital files to download those from my store.  Prior to this I was using backerkit, but since I have the store up and operational now for digital fulfillment, I figured it was necessary to update those backers who love mushrooms as much as me!

In other news, My Terrascapes: Hextiles campaign went off without a hitch.  Infact I just finished fulfilling that project just 17 days after it closed on Kickstarter!  I know this is bitter sweet for you to hear, but for someone whose life has been on hold for over a year now, I needed a quick win to boost my spirits.  I feel terrible that it has taken this long to fulfill this project.  It is happening, albeit slowly.  I, like many of you just wish it was happening a bit faster is all.  As a special thanks to all of you for your continued patience, I want to offer any backer who is interested, some free digital STL files from my Hextiles Kickstarter campaign.  I will give a code to any backer who emails me at [email protected] with a request for free STL's.  The code will reduce the price of the Hextiles: Hobby Set and the Underdeep set to $0.  That's about a $50 value!  Anyone may also use the code LATEPLEDGE to reduce any/all digital products for $6 off in a separate order.  

 Store Link:  https://mgstudio.myshopify.com/ 

David Higgins

the MiniGrinder of MGStudio

Yet Another Fulfillment Update!
almost 7 years ago – Fri, May 03, 2019 at 04:35:05 PM

Hello most excellent TerraScapees!  It's been a month, but oh my, what a month it has been!  Next week I will be mailing out the first painted rewards!  This will put us at 41% fulfilled.  Almost all remaining backers have pledged full sets.  We currently have only 26 of the 33 different pieces cast, but expect the remaining pieces in the coming month or so.  Remember we are moving at the speed of "the Don' here!  When we receive those pieces the flood gates will open and we will be shipping out a ton of full sets (but not all of them sadly).  Then it'll be time for a remold and that process has already begun.  Take a look at the logistics department!  

I've also settled on a launch date for the TerraScapes: Hextiles Kickstarter to be on my 40th birthday, May 7th!  For those of you with 3D printers, I hope the following pictures appeal to you!  The campaign will be short, as I have a small window inbetween delivery of TerraScapes: CnG pledge rewards to work with.  I want to stress to you all that I am fully committed to that project FIRST!  The only way I am able to launch the Hextiles campaign is because the pace of production has afforded me the time to work on this project.  All stretch goals unlocked during the Hextiles campaign will be sculpted on the fly and finished before the campaign ends!  I also have about 100 different Hextiles ready to go at launch.  I will be fulfilling the project on my revamped website.  You can download some sample Hextiles there so check that out at mgstudio.myshopify.com

So since I have rekindled the online storefront for digital downloads, this allows me to fulfill the Fungal Forest digital files too!  Over a year ago I sent out links through backerkit for those files, but I didn't get much response back from them.  I will send out emails with codes to use at checkout to receive the those digital files next week as well.  For now, if you have digital file rewards, take the time to go download that sample pack of Hextiles and create an account with the website.  Here are some painted examples of the pieces!  More are coming soon!  

I'm happy to share with you guys a first look at what to expect from the TerraScapes: Hextiles campaign.  I will launch the campaign with 2 sets available.  A single set will pledge at $35, and both for $60.  A third set which is already partially complete will be added as stretch goals with an all in pledge level of $90.  Furthermore, all future Hextiles created for this campaign or for any following campaign that fall into these full sets will always be free to download with any purchase or pledge of that same set! Bringing this concept to the 3D printer affords us options.  Lots of options!  I plan on expanding these sets again and again.  Take a look at what's in store right now though!  

I hope that if you are a hobbyist like myself with a 3D printer you'll consider pledging!  If you don't have a printer, I hope I've pushed you over the fence with these pics!  Until the next update, I wish you all the very best!

-David Higgins

Fulfillment update! - no this ain't an April Fool's joke...
about 7 years ago – Mon, Apr 01, 2019 at 02:03:24 PM

So we are just about 25% fulfilled thanks to the Kickstarter Exclusive tiles rolling out the molds! Production is still going steady but they are burning out the first molds of specific packs before moving forward with another pack (for sanity check bonuses I assume).  It's estimated that we are about 40% the way through production but only 24 of the 33 different pieces of the full set have been cast, so full set rewards are going to take some time yet to fulfill.  Good news is I'm sitting on a literal pile of Core packs A, B, C and Kickstarter exclusive tiles now, just waiting for when I have that full set altogether.   

Both Stalac packs, Rocks & Wells and Wall pack A are being cast now which will allow us to fulfill a handful more of Backers, but the floodgates won't really open up until we burn out that last mold of our first run of molds.  In the meantime, I am beginning work on painting up what rewards I can in a batch method.  I foresee many a night,  drybrushing tiles whilst watching Sci-fi shows with my kids in the evenings!  Considering that is precisely the environment in which I prototyped Caves & Grottos, it'll do....  it'll do...  lol!

Concerning production, there is a question of consistency in regards to the coloring of the tiles.  Now that we are deep into production, the color of the tiles is now much more consistent.  However a few of the first production pieces in the Core Packs, Stalac-packs, and rocks & wells vary in tone by a great deal.  I will be using the pieces which deviate from the current and consistent production tone of gray for painted rewards, that way backers who have unpainted rewards will receive a consistent tone of gray throughout their rewards.  If for some strange reason you might prefer a mix of gray tones among your rewards, simply send me a message and I'll sort it out when I pack up your rewards!  I believe in full disclosure and I didn't wish to simply hide that production mishap under painted reward primer!  I should also stress that all finished painted rewards will not suffer any loss of quality or inconsistency due to me using differently tinted tiles.

This fine fella on the right is the man behind the casts!  Your support has both employed him and expanded the casting studio's entire resin casting potential.  When it comes to casting every piece, its a one man show believe it or !  This is precisely the reason why it is taking so long to make our way through production.  I know everyone is excited and anxious to receive their rewards, but please remember that it is just one man getting the job done.  At this point he has cast over 1000 pieces towards this project.  It's an amazing feat to say the least!   Thanks Don for your continued effort!

Lastly, with production in full swing and fulfillment on its way; I am preparing my next project to launch on Kickstarter for mid to late spring.  TerraScapes: Hextiles will be my first project geared entirely towards STL files for 3D printing.  TerraScapes: Caves & Grottos is like a super modular scatter terrain, but it has issues filling up the gaming space with anything but elevating terrain.  TS: Hextiles addresses this with flat, modular hex-shaped tiles, designed specifically to simulate open natural spaces like flat or rocky ground, creeks, puddles, bogs, rivers, seascapes and even gentle rolling hills.   As a scatter terrain, TS: CnG will work awesomely with TS: Hextiles.  For that reason, I am in the process of 3D scanning and designing Caves & Grottos into 3D printable files as well.  However, with CnG fulfillment happening simultaneously, this most likely won't be fully realized until a later KS project down the road as my time is clearly saturated with fulfillment of TS: CnG!

At this point I have over 100 different Hextiles already modeled, tested and finished for the Kickstarter with another 50+ planned for development during the actual campaign.  I have designed these tiles in a way so that I can easily design more Hextiles lickety split!  I know it seems intrepid of me to put forth another project whilst the last one has yet to fully conclude. However, I am fully and utterly confident that Caves & Grottos will 100% fulfill, albeit in its own time (or Don's time, as it were!).  Furthermore TS: Hextiles wilI begin fulfillment 2 weeks after its closing date as I don't plan on adding any stretch goal that cannot be realized within 2-4 weeks after the project concludes.  I would not even consider launching my next project if I hadn't change my business model towards supplying STL files for 3D Printing.  The main reason for this switch is because of the issues in having to rely on a third party for production.  Supplying STL's will enable me to stay independent and free from production woes.  Because I am also the artist behind the files, I can be sure of their speedy fulfillment as well.  TS: CnG is a fine first project that has taught me many things moving forward.  Unfortunately it has impeded and held up my life for long enough.  I'm ready to move forward again.  I have a ton of ideas that I just can't wait to share with my fellow 3D printing hobbyists!

David M. Higgins

MGStudio

Fulfillment begins! - check your addresses!
about 7 years ago – Fri, Feb 08, 2019 at 07:14:23 PM

After a rough week of our house being invaded by the dreaded 2019 Stomach Bug, things are getting back to normal.   I have taken delivery of 46 pieces of each tile from the Core Packs, landing a total of 414 pieces on my Dining room table!  As such we are already able to fulfill a small number of rewards to 10 backers marking a beginning of the fulfillment process!  I will be locking addresses down this weekend so PLEASE go check to make sure your information is correct!

For me, fulfillment begins with having to wash off the greasy spray release from each of the pieces with hot and soapy water.  As a backer receiving unpainted rewards you should do the same even though I've already done it.  This will insure that the priming agent adheres properly!

Even though it has taken what seems like forever to get us fulfillment, I couldn't be happier with their work.  The quality of these pieces are well above my expectations,  especially for such a small casting studio.  The seams are barely registering, and the material has captured every little detail.  

After these first round Core Packs molds burn out,  I've requested the next pieces cast be the exclusive KS tiles.  This will allow me to fulfill up to 40% of Backers before production gets anywhere close to conclusion.  Once the second round of molds are started, I'll be able to address the full set rewards according to their Backer number.

Thanks for everyones patience over the last year.  The light at the end of Fulfillment is finally coming into view!!!

- David M. Higgins 

First Production Runs!
about 7 years ago – Fri, Jan 11, 2019 at 12:55:22 PM

Just a quick update! Here's a first look at the initial production runs.  Clearly still a lot more need summoned! However this Project is now finally in moving !!!  I hope to take delivery on some pieces next week.  Wish us luck! 

The production team have also expanded their ability to produce these pieces by adding more pressure pots.  This has been holding everything up, as only 4 of the molds fit in their current pressure pot!  With this upgrade, the Production team is finally in full swing!

Expect another update within the next week or so!