A Sunday Post ... Perfect for a little religion

Well, I finally got the Temple finished.  The painting adds considerably to the production time as each side needs to dry before the next can be painted.  However, even my wife, who has nothing to do with gaming and an art background, was impressed with how this one looks when done. 


If you have been reading along with these reviews this kit is once again made out of 2mm mdf (the manufacturer claims 3mm, but that claim does not measure up!).  However, due to the significant amount of layering that goes on in this construction it has a much more solid feel when done.  This temple feels like it will survive the rigors of ham handed gamers!   

 

Nine sheets of MDF come with this kit.  Almost all of the sheets are fully engaged with parts etching.  There are a lot of pieces in the kit and I was a bit hesitant about assembling this due to the obvious level of detail.  I also took one of my kids to two different robotics events during this production cycle so that did not help with getting things done.  But it is done now and I am very happy with the results if I do say so myself

Here begins the Podium (The base the whole thing sits on).  The two pieces running all the way across the base in front of and behind the hole in the base are the front and back of the podium.  The two small pieces in the foreground are the front edges of the sides of the steps.  The two oddly positioned pieces sticking up in front of the front of the podium are an ingenious  way of making sure the steps line up properly. 

That hole in the base plate used to contain these pieces.  They will make up the base of the columns and give an idea of the amount of pieces in this kit.  As an example, there are 18 columns in this kit.  Each column contains up to 11 parts.  There are 182 parts in just the 18 columns. 

Here we see the sides going on the podium.  You will notice the odd "serpentine" looking mark inside the podium.  This is where some more column parts were squirreled away, they really are using almost all of these nine sheets for the kit. 

With the podium base set it is time to get the steps in place so we can all make our religious observances.  Each step is made up of two pieces of mdf.  Each step has the precut holes so they line up properly.  A final small piece locks them all in and then the top of the podium goes over all. 

Here is the podium base in place.  Once again there are two layers of mdf here this is the plain flat sheet another scored with a grid pattern to simulate blocks of marble will be glued on shortly to complete the podium. 

Here the second sheet of mdf with the grid pattern has been glued in place and the four walls of the temple glued in as well.  The frame of the doorway is two separate pieces one glued over the other to create a simple frieze effect.  The four "plus signs" visible in front of the temple will eventually have columns in them, as will the notches visible on the side of the temple. 

Here is an elevated view of the temple just to show that NO attempt was made at detailing the inside.  Of course the real things are pretty plain so it is fine really. 

And now several days worth of irritation are introduced.  Here you see six pieces that will make elements of two columns.  The top two pieces slide together to make the basis of a column.  On the top two note there is a long line etched into the column vertically (when the column is upright).  In the bottom two column pieces there is a short horizontal line (again when the column is upright).  These are two different types of columns and your REALLY need to keep track of which one you are using for which column location as it does matter.  I noted the difference and figured it out, but if messed up the temple will be a lopsided mess so if you build one of these be careful with this mess.  

Here we have a column core assembled. 

These four pieces (plus sign, square gear, large round gear, small round gear, in that order) form the base of a column. 

Here they are piled up in order. 

In the bottom center of this picture please note the oddly shaped stick with the funny round blob on one end.  This is what turns the plus shaped column core (shown to the left) into an actual column.  Four of these easily slide into the four gaps created around the column core. Also note the two portico corner columns in place. 

Here you see the first of the back corner columns going into place. 

And here you can see all the temple corner columns in place. 

Three more columns for one side of the temple. 

Two more columns on the back of the temple. 

Here is a closer view of the columns on the back of the temple. 

Here we have the completed temple and portico plus the beginning of the Pediment (the top).  The locks that run all the way around the top is called the Entablature and makes the basis for the Pediment. 

Here is the underlying support for the roof and thus the rest of the Pediment which is called the Tympanum.  This is the triangular part most people know about with a Pediment. 

The Tympanum continues to take shape.  However, this is THE WORST attempt at Rome roof tiles yet (although I must admit that worse still is coming, consider that a teaser for the next review). 

Here we see the completed construction.  The kit includes two extra columns which my wife claimed as "a folley". 

And here we have the finished piece with a spot of paint (Uber Matte, Crema for the temple, columns, and pediment.  Uber Matte Salmon for the vague attempt at a tiled roof)  The whole thing is washed in Anton's magic washes; Gray for the sunny parts and black for the shaded parts.  When I mixed the gray I sued half and half lighter and darker gray with a couple of drops of copper in it as well to try and get a bit of glitter, but I do not see it so we will see how it turns out as it dries. 


Overall I am VERY happy with how this one turned out.  However, the cost is quite high at $50 for this kit in a stand alone package.  The slave market and bazaar stalls come included in a kit for about 85$ although you can get that kit cheaper if you watch for sales online.  As a single kit I think it is pricey, I think the group price is worth the money overall. 


Next the shops.