[unofficial weekender] First of 2026

[pagan8th 13767xp 3]

The problem with ai is that you give it instructions and it responds with an ‘artists impression’ of what you wanted.

You can get very specific about details, but by the time you have created a prompt that perfectly encapsulates what you want it create… you might as well have created it yourself.

As had been said by others, do it yourself.

Get some precise measurements of the room including placement of doors and windows. Figure how much space you need for everything that you want in the room and determine measurements of everything.

Make scale drawing of the room, table, desk, cupboards… whatever you need. Cut out the shapes of stuff you need… slide it around the diagram of the room and see where it all fits.

[sundancer 44259xp 1]

So tomorrow is going to be fun. Schools are still closed due to “snow and ice” and I’m unsure if and how I want to go to work XD

[limburger 22359xp 1]

I know the anti-clanker defense 😀 (I’ve used it myself a lot as well). These things are excellent at doing small repetitive tasks like the good little clankers they are, but they can also help you f*ck up as fast as well.

I like how it helps me get that first artist impression.
I just wish there was an easy route from that artist impression to something a bit more useful, like an export to a file format that can be used in a more dedicated drawing program.

I’m also acutely aware that these things have zero sense of scale, so my next steps in the entire process is measuring in the real world.

I also wished that there were good (and preferrably free) programs to do all of this.
I’ve been using Tinkercad to build and design my wargaming table for example.
Next step is doing the same for the other items on my list, but that requires me first to draw existing items to scale before I can start ‘adding’ the bits I plan which is kind of annoying. If I could simply import existing furniture as reference materials then things would be soo much more convenient.

It really sucks how there is so little of this stuff at the amateur/beginner level. The pro-level bits are needlessly complex (and expensive).

What also doesn’t help is losing focus …  (which is also why this entire design is taking so long as I go ‘squirrel’ a lot more than I should.)

/rant

Anyways … got my first layer of primer down with the tiny bit of primer I had in the one tiny pot of paint.
Need to visit the DIY store as the tiny roller was not useful for getting the paint down.
At least something got done today and I’m one step further along the path to a finished room.

That’s 3/4 of a door done. 3 more doors to prime.
And then it’s on to painting. I’m estimating 2 days per panel, which gives me +/- 8 days to a finished state.
In reality it is probably closer to 8-12 hours painting, but the space is restricted so I can’t layout and paint them all at once.
Plus there’s the required drying time between priming and painting.

[sundancer 44259xp 2]

Up until 2017 SketchUp was a great tool for basic CAD stuff. But ever since Trimble bought the rights to SketchUp you have to buy/subscribe to it.

If you can find the installer for the 2017 version you might want to give that a go. It served me well back in the days.

[avien 2080xp 2]

@sundancer – I loved sketchup, phenomenal little tool. Nothing else I’ve used since as been as easy or intuitive in the free space. I’ve sort of settled for tinkercad but it isn’t nearly as versatile.

@limburger – you could maybe look at the magicplan app – it’s for floor plans and you get a good bit of stuff in the 2 projects they give you on the free version, drag drop and resize furniture etc and gives you 2d and 3d viewing options, found it useful when I was laying out my own hobby space

This week I’m going to aim to get back to my 8mm dark angel project. Two companies sitting base layered on the spray booth since the start of December so need to move that along.

[limburger 22359xp 0]

@sundancer I remember sketchup being a thing, but I noticed it was subscription-only now 🙁
I want something I can own and abuse.

@avien google tells me that it is an android app … and it is subscription based.
I have a *beeping* pc with a gigantic screen. Why the heck would I want to use a tiny screen on my mobile phone for something like this ?

/rant

 

[avien 2080xp 1]

@limburger yes it’s subscription based but it gives you two free projects without having to subscribe. I use it on my tablet and find that better than a pc for things like this personally, easier for manipulating the room, objects and views -but each to their own.

as for wanting to own the software outright, I’m sure a program exists somewhere but good luck finding anything not relying on ridiculous subscriptions. I’d suggest maybe setting sail for the high seas if that’s what you’re after and you’re comfortable with that sort of thing of course.

[grantinvanman 8251xp 3]

Finished my dedicated build table station!

[pagan8th 13767xp 2]

I recognise Bill Murray. Is that John Belushi in the other picture? (Edit: Both Bill Murray – I used google lens – Ghostbusters and Caddyshack)

@limburger When it comes to sorting out any room I tend to buy flat pack furniture and make do. Rooms are seldom perfect… doors, windows and power sockets in the wrong place etc. Striving for perfection can send you insane. I’d much rather have functional than perfect.

[limburger 22359xp 1]

@pagan8th I need a plan of some form myself.
trying to add furniture to my appartment without a plan is kind of why I had no storage space worth a *beep*.

And I always wanted a room/house that looked like some kind of sci fi space ship …  (the joys of not having to convince anyone else except my bank account 😉 )

It’s a bit like playing ‘the sims’ in real life 😀

The infamous blue/yellow store has a few need gimmicks that help design room layout, but it’s either limited to a single solution (like their ‘BROR’ range) or completely incapable of understanding overlap of furniture.

I also wished I had thought of this sort of thing before moving into my new house, but one cannot pause real life like you can with a videogame.

Anyone remember shows like ‘pimp my ride’ where they would turn the most atrocious wreck into something completely over-the-top (and likely impossible to maintain) ?

Why are interior decorating shows always soo tame ?
(ok … I know. It’s because they are sponsored and need to show of the latest designs … )

Am I the only one crazy enough to want a game room that looks game-y ?
I doubt anyone in here is NerdForge levels of crazy …

Surely some of you lot have done / want to be a little more adventurous than merely buying all the RUB’s and basic storage racks you can afford ?

[avien 2080xp 1]

@limburger I doubt a lack of desire is the limiting factor and for most the issue is a lack of money/time/skill/space/consenting life partner

So In reality for most functional beats aesthetics. Sad but unfortunately true

 

all the same I enjoy seeing what those without the common constraints can cobble together

[sundancer 44259xp 2]

So In reality for most functional beats aesthetics. Sad but unfortunately true

Agreed. And especially true if “looking cool” reduces the useable space by multiple levels. Space is valuable.

[pagan8th 13767xp 2]

I’m in the process of reorganising my miniatures cupboard. Lots of really useful boxes with a note on the end to indicate the contents. Some games, like Dead Mans Hand Redux, come is a big box that’s great for storage…

Unlike the GW boxes which are only capable of storing stuff before it leaves the sprues. That’s bad enough when it’s a gang, or army, but when it’s a board game that can no longer be stored in the box, it’s annyoing. And when you consider minis for the like of Cursed City and Blackstone Fortress are often single pose, I think it would be better if GW preassembled them and used a moulded insert.

[jamescutts]

Feldherr used to do good boxed game foam inserts @pagan8th mostly for the likes of boardgames but might be worth having a look to see if they have any for GWulla boxes?

https://www.feldherr.net/for/games-workshop-boxed-games

• This reply was modified 1 week, 3 days ago by jamescutts.
• This reply was modified 1 week, 3 days ago by jamescutts.
• This reply was modified 1 week, 3 days ago by jamescutts.

[grantinvanman 8251xp 0]

Battlefoam also makes GW specific game inserts.

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