Antique DM screen/players tray. Pictures!!

[ramrod]

Hi guys,

I know some people looked at my original thread. The plan was to turn an antique writing slope into a DM screen/dice tray, that would contain everything I need, whilst screening off rolls and keeping dice from going astray.

So here it is! I hope that the photos come out, I've never uploaded photos onto the forum before. I will post up what I did to the box at the end (for anyone that cares/wants to know).

Box when you first open it. Bottom left, two dice trays. I use one for holding my regular attack roll, so I can scoop 'em up and chuck them without looking. Middle is a tray for pencil, rubber and knick-knacks. Bottom right is an area for holding miniatures, secured and protected by foam.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/12680862965_4301c61b33.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12680862965/)
photo 5 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12680862965/) by drizzt_86 (http://www.flickr.com/people/118319109@N03/), on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12680862965/

The top section flips down, holding DMG/PHB and reveals typical DM screen tables/on hand materials and references. A la -

https://v4s.yimg.com/sj/2861/12681005183_458522efb5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12681005183/)
photo 3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12681005183/) by drizzt_86 (http://www.flickr.com/people/118319109@N03/), on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12681005183/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12681333094/


Lift up the bottom plate and underneath is my new battlemat system. I made the battlemat out of foam core board to keep it light, rigid and so I could cut it exactly to fit in the compartment without wasted space. It is covered in clear plastic so dry erase markers work on it.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7435/12680865135_32810ff87b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12680865135/)
photo 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12680865135/) by drizzt_86 (http://www.flickr.com/people/118319109@N03/), on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12680865135/

Remove the Battlemat and drop the bottom plate in and you have your dice tray. It keeps the dice from going everywhere, conceals the rolls and as a bonus it sounds like a solid dice roll against the wood and leather! (The green roll at the bottom is the dry erase marker, wrapped in felt to avoid it knocking around and damaging the wood)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/12680863025_b99f3de1dc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12680863025/)
photo 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12680863025/) by drizzt_86 (http://www.flickr.com/people/118319109@N03/), on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12680863025/

And finally, with the lid closed. The box locks, to keep everything secure in transport and from nosey players who might sneak and peek at a map :smallamused:

https://v4s.yimg.com/sk/3719/12681335344_ee48c3ea50.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12681335344/)
photo 2 (1) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12681335344/) by drizzt_86 (http://www.flickr.com/people/118319109@N03/), on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/118319109@N03/12681335294/


I hope you like it! I will be doing some more soon, in different styles (provided I win at the auction house this week..). It weighs a little bit. But in this case I love the form over function.

Below is a simple list of things that I did to the box - you may read it if you are interested. Most people probably won't be unless you are thinking of a similar kind of project and want to know the work it entailed.

1) Sanded the entire thing down. Removed scum and residue with spirits. Coated the entire box outside with 40 layers through French polishing (could just varnish for ease). It needs more layers of FP.

2) Repaired the locking mechanism and made a new skeleton key (can be bought from locksmiths if key is missing and not knowing how to do this step)

3) Cut felt to cover the bottom (so it slides and protects base). Cut and stuck felt to inside of cubbies to protect dice from rattling around. Cut foam to shape of cubby to protect minis.

4) Sanded and sealed the inside using shellac.

5) Cut away inside of top leaf to allow PHB to fit. Made new supports to stop leaf falling inwards.

6) Conditioned leather leaves and cut away bottom leaf, so I could pull it out and use it as a dice tray.

7) Made DM screen sheets and stuck in.

8) Made battlemat (can give separate instructions on this if anyone wants.

All over clean and stand back to admire work. Total time cost about 30 hours. Would have been just 3-4 hours if I chose a different finish but wanted to practice FPing. Material cost - £30 for writing slope, £10 lock repair, £30 in felt, sandpaper, and shellac. Again, this would be a lot cheaper without FPing.

Hope at least a few people like this, I am quite obsessive about little trinkets for gaming, like making my own chainmail bags etc.

[weckar]

Looks like a work of art right there. Sweet. Question, though: Isn't it quite lid heavy? Would it topple over easily when open?

[ramrod]

Looks like a work of art right there. Sweet. Question, though: Isn't it quite lid heavy? Would it topple over easily when open?

You are correct sir! Well thought of!

I fashioned some blocks wrapped in felt that hold the lid open from behind. They hold the lid up admirably and it is only really heavy when it still has the PHB in.

Looking at the photos, you might see the felt blocks between the hinge gaps :smallsmile:

[weckar]

I see :smallsmile:

I wonder, is it designed for mobility and travel purposes or in-loc use? If the former, it may do well to have one of those cute carrying handles (or does it already? I don't spot any.). If the latter, you may consider for future designs simply putting a counterweight in the front of the lower half so you don't have to bother with the support blocks.

[ramrod]

It is designed really to stay in place, but seeing as I have to trek to my local geek club, it does have to be mobile. I did think about adding a handle to it, but I don't think the external panels would hold up to the weight.

I will just be putting it into my normal geek bag of holding :smallsmile:

[ramrod]

Added the photos properly this time... lol

[Brookshw]

Very cool, well done sir!

[koboldish]

Great job! Well done! This is a really good idea, and I really wish I had one. Do you have any suggestions on making something like this on a budget without many skills? It would be really handy, and I can't afford the nice antiques. Thanks!

[Palanan]

This is outstandingly cool, thanks for posting those photos.

I have to say, I'm surprised it was only £30 for the writing slope itself--I was expecting a lot more. Maybe those are easier to come by in the UK? Here in the US, antiques like that often go for a good deal more.

I have an old, heavy wooden box that a friend of the family gave me years ago, which I use for keeping minis. Fairly basic, folding lid and sliding drawer, and I've always meant to spruce it up a little. Not sure if I can match your project, though. Very cool indeed.

[ramrod]

Thanks! :smallredface:

Try having a search on ebay in the US. I'm pretty sure that I have seen lots of writing slopes going fairly cheaply. Writing slopes seem to be quite common in auction houses and ebay in the uk. I think it is just one of those things that a lot of people had and now people don't really have a use for them!

There are modern versions that are made out of cheaper woods that can still be made to look awesome.

If you want to have a go, just have a stab at it. The skills needed are really minimal, sanding and applying a little varnish or some kind of wax finish is about as basic as it gets. Tools are also pretty minimal, taking out the french polish finish, I only used a scalpel , chisel and sandpaper. A varnish would just require a brush. The only thing it takes is some time to ponder how to use all of the little cubbies and dedication to sand and finish for a few hours!

I hope someone else has a go.. Lots of potential for different ideas, I should be getting two more slopes from auction houses in the next few days (fingers crossed) one has a really cool secret compartment with switches to open it and the other is a totally different design , but looks like it has a lot of potential!

[Alent]

Nicely done sir, feels a bit cramped in some ways, but makes up for it with style. I'd love to have the time to try my hand at something like this.

On the Foam core board, what kind of plastic did you coat it with, and did you hand draw the lines?

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by ramrod
Try having a search on ebay in the US. I'm pretty sure that I have seen lots of writing slopes going fairly cheaply. Writing slopes seem to be quite common in auction houses and ebay in the uk....

Well, I just checked on eBay and it's full of writing slopes.

Most of which are shipping from the UK. :smallsigh:



That said, now I'm interested in this. Might try to find some plans and work up one of my own.

[ramrod]

Well, I just checked on eBay and it's full of writing slopes.

Most of which are shipping from the UK. :smallsigh:



That said, now I'm interested in this. Might try to find some plans and work up one of my own.

Awesome! :) there are plans for actually making them from scratch around if you have access to a wood shop, of course you could make the dimensions more suitable to needs. If you just want to repurpose one, I'm sure that they have them in the states too :) maybe just needs a little time. Even though there are lots in the uk, I still sit and watch for ones that I want, preferably local pick up ones. Alternatively there are always other similar items that you can repurpose.

When it comes to crafts, I envy Americans... Our hobby stores and woodworking stores are rare, over priced and really basic. My sister lives in the states and loves having access to a wide range of craft materials, cheaply and within a short drive to make projects like this easy!

[ramrod]

Nicely done sir, feels a bit cramped in some ways, but makes up for it with style. I'd love to have the time to try my hand at something like this.

On the Foam core board, what kind of plastic did you coat it with, and did you hand draw the lines?

It's bigger than it looks, it is obviously more compact than the space you might get behind a traditional DM screen, but with everything nicely organised you need a lot less space.

The foam core battlemat was hand drawn, using my meter ruler and permanent marker, then I just cut the A1 board into inch dimensions that would fit snugly into the bottom leaf. Once cut to size I just used backing plastic, that you get from a stationary shop (comes in rolls and is used for mounting displays and a cheaper version of laminating). The advantage is that both wet and dry erase pens work well on it. I haven't used it yet, apart from small gaps between each section, it looks to be just as good as pair for battlemats, but costs significantly less, fits into whatever you want it to and can potentially be printed onto, coloured or drawn on prior to covering with plastic :)

[ramrod]

I see what the problem is in the US, people are just putting them on at ridiculous prices. No one is actually buying them at that price, when they start at 1 cent they go for reasonable prices. I found these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Domed-Portable-Lap-Desk-Writing-Slope-w-Brass-Inlay-/281267367139?pt=Antiques_Decorative_Arts&hash=item417cd76ce3

Looks like it could be really really nice. It is missing some veneer on the sides, but once varnished, it would be less noticeable and just add character.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-cherry-wood-writing-slope-stationary-box-lap-desk-tri-fold-7-drawers-/310878724881?pt=Folk_Art&hash=item4861d0e311

Oddly they don't have a photo of this one closed up, but it's the style that I'm bidding on at the moment, looks like it would actually be even better than my one :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vintage-Style-Folding-Document-Writing-Slope-Wood-Lap-Desk-Slate-Box-/121278736922?pt=Folk_Art&hash=item1c3cc6aa1a

This one is a bit pricier and much smaller, would only really be good for a dice tray and storing smaller peripherals of gaming. But would also be much more portable... Very cute :smallwink:

[ramrod]

That first one actually went for 30usd in the end! Super cheap :)

[weckar]

It's the shipping cost that usually gets ya. I often feel ripped off when I pay more for shipping than the actual object. Not to mention hidden fees like taxation and customs.

[ramrod]

If you're buying them within the states, you don't have to pay extra tax do you?

I would have thought that shipping would be quite reasonable in the state, until quite recently we didn't have many big parcel companies, now we seem to have loads in competition with each other, making it a bit cheaper and more accessible.

Still can't believe that first one didn't even pick up a bid. I don't know what the shipping cost would be for it though.

[weckar]

I'm not from the states.

[ramrod]

Where are you from? I'm from the uk. I was only posting US ones because some Americans were seeing ones from the uk in ebay only.

[weckar]

I travel around a lot, mostly around Scandinavia. Mail order is hell.

[ramrod]

That makes sense now! :)

[Palanan]

I'm in the US, and international shipping is something I try to avoid. I wouldn't want to think what a writing slope would cost to have shipped over.

We're pretty set as far as shipping within the country, to the point of being completely spoiled. Even so, shipping costs for anything larger than a book through eBay tend to be a little stiff, at least for my budget.

I'm now falling for the concept of the writing slope, though. I only wish I'd heard about it a couple of years ago, I could've tried to incorporate some features into my dictionary stand. But it's never too late for a little retrofitting.

:smalltongue:

[ramrod]

Follow the mantra... It's never too late :smallwink: lol

The links above go to show that there are deals to be had. I'm a little bummed, I was actually too busy playing a campaign last night to notice that an awesome slope had been outbid and I lost it... Always more to bid on though!

The good news is that whilst I was busy missing my auction, I did get to use my handy haverbox and it works really well, much prefer it over traditional screen, plus the battlemat system I designed also works really really well!! (Should have taken photos, maybe next time!)

[ramrod]

Anyone going to have a go?

Making the DM screen chest has actually encouraged me to put pen to paper and write my own adventure. It starts next week! First time fully dming :) so something good will hopefully come of it all!