Millbridge Hall - help needed! Aargh!

[Caenwyr]

Hey all!

So I have this building in mind that's one part bridge, one part mill and one part stronghold, all rolled into one. I have pretty much worked out what goes where, but I can't for the life of me decide where I should put the section plane. On the one hand I want to keep it as simple as possible, so a regular half cut should do the job:

Bridge House (half cut).jpg

But on the other I'm feeling like I should show a bit more of the action (the water wheels), so showing a section that would otherwise get cut off sounds kinda nice. Except that it would make it waaaay more confusing for the viewer. Plus, I have no idea how to continue in that right part of the image:

Bridge House (3-4 cut).jpg

Choices choices!

Which version do you guys like best?

[Tiana]

The second one feels more oppressive, and the first one feels more open, but also gives the sense that those moving parts could be used, dangerous.

[Falconius]

I like the second one better. First of all I think it's aesthetically more pleasing, but more importantly it gives the viewer better, and more important information.

BTW nice work on using an overshot water wheel. As far as I know though the water gets dumped into the wheel just after the apex at the top:
waterwheel.jpg
This allows the weight of the water to act for as long as possible.

[bkh1914]

I prefer the second one.
In the half-cut one, bare water wheels are sticking out so they look out of place... and potentially confusing.
I think the three-quarter cut is much clearer and easier to understand.

I agree with Falconius on the water wheel design - the water usually enters high on the wheel.

[Caenwyr]

Hey thanks all, for your wonderful advice! I decided to go for the three quarters option. Falconius' tip on the water wheels is of course correct - I should have though of that myself, only I didn't! So thanks Falco, you're a big help!

Below's a minor update: added a gate at the far end of the bridge (why give up control of the river crossing if you can squeeze everyone who wishes to use the bridge, right?), and did some work on the upper floor. Oh, and I adapted the inflow of the water wheels as you guys suggested!

Bridge House (3-4 cut) (2).jpg

As you probably guessed, this is still just the draft stage. Trying things out is what I'm doing here. This perspective drawing is way harder than I thought! In ISO, you can just copy and paste elements (like the windows and the pillars), but here every one of them has to be recreated. Remind me to never do that again!

[ThomasR]

Adding the little building in the back goes a long way ! this elongted perspective reinforces the dramatic effect, pretty good choice I look forward to this one as you really upped your game lately, especially with the Tavernier maps).

[Caenwyr]

Thanks Thomas! Tavernier has sort of woken up something inside of me, or at the very least something inside of my stylus! I continuously want to draw Tavernier-inspired maps now, although I (hopefully!) manage to keep my own style in them as well! Learn from the best, I always say, but keep your own personality too!

Alright, here's another update. I decided to go for a full three quarters cut. So I added the 'superstructure' on the right side as well, while still showing the water wheels. I hope this works in conveying the shape and function of the place!?

Bridge House (3-4 cut) (5).jpg

Looks like i might slowly start inking this thing!

[Caenwyr]

Alright, a first bit of inking!

Bridge House (3-4 cut) (7).jpg

[Caenwyr]

Okay, inking's entirely done now!

Bridge House (3-4 cut) (9).jpg

Next up: colouring and shading!

[Caenwyr]

Colouring, and a first splotch of shading!

Bridge House (3-4 cut) (10).jpg

Still a fair bit of shading and texturing left though