Alba Ceann mu Dheas - Update - January 26th 2014

[rambuckel]

@Dantes, Carl: Thank you very much 

@Cederic: I guess you can thank both of them There's a simple reason why I do not show all pictures here. The "complete" Version of this MD at simforum.de mirrors my own development in SC4. First I was just playing with things that were already there. I didn't know much about the LE and almost nothing about BATing. I wasn't even convinced if I was able to come much farther than the first district before losing motivation to continue. But obviously I've come farther than I thought myself 
The Alba-project has developed a sort of life on it's own. It's not just building but also researching history, poetry and so on in the meantime. It's just interesting to dive into Scottish history, poetry and so on. And as I am a lawyer, much of my life centers on facts. So I really enjoy to be able to leave facts in Alba and create some sort of mix ... let's say a fantastic story based on historical facts

As I read about the locations that I already presented and about those I will present in future, it was not satisfactory not to be able to show the anker points of the locations as most of them are so beautiful. At least you'll find thousands of skyscrapers, industry buildings and other "typical" stuff on the download sites. But I missed those little white houses which are so  characteristic for Scotland.  We will see what future brings, as rural stuff is just beginning to be developed more intensive. So far most of the BATs were made for urban areas. But I needed my little white houses. And so I began to use the BAT  I did not show those little sequences (e.g. of my first BATs) in this MD here as they were in the past. But you can be sure that I will show future developments as soon as both MDs are up to date 

By the way: That car-repair-scene is from Namspopof.

Welcome to Kilmarnock!

I have arranged a little map for you so that you can see where in Kilmarnock the pictures are taken:



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Point 14 (Hier reicht die Übersicht nicht. Die Straße geht schräg Richtung Nord/Ost) :

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Point 15:


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See you soon ...



Slàn leat!

[nbvc]

Great work. The selection of texture mods and houses fits very well together.

[noahclem]

Great update! 

I love the choice and layout of bats (and as always MMPs)

[Dantes]

I love the diagonal streets.  Your shopping streets look fantastic and invite you to shop.    I might very well done as you have built the residential areas.     

[solsystem]

Just discovered your MD here at SC4D and found it in the OSITM section... A little bit late, but congratulation! 

I follow every great update at simforum.de and admire your landscapes and LE work. It's amazing!

[Badsim]

Thank you very much to have taken time to answer to my curiosity , Theresa , much appreciated .

We have all a personal story with SC4 ( and we've all , sooner or later , to wonder why we're so addicted ...  ) and I'm very pleased to see that we have a similar approach so I have and will have a particular interest for your MD and BATing work which is another way to express your artistic creativity ( and  we can learn so much about our real world through our SC4 activities !  )  . I think I'm able to recognize your own BATs , but it seems that I'm more confused about props ! ( I didn't know that « car repair scene » from Namspopof but it was only an example among tens of unknown ones for me ...  ) well , that's a good decision to show them in the future , why not through dedicated pictures ( I mean with boards ) ? It would nicely enrich that already lovely MD .



I can see Namspopof's Sims on some of your Lots but I would be unable to say if they're plopped of LotEdited ... I've created 3 MMPs with them , available as a zip file attached at the end of my last post at AntigOne ( just in case ...  ) , I've created another MMP with SFBT playground props after have resized them all ( 50% with SC4ModelTweakerv2 ) . Being a BATer you'll have to face the « scale syndrome » which affect SC4 custom content ... good luck ! 

Greetings !

Cédric.

[rambuckel]

@nbvc, noah, dantes, solsystem: Many thanks! 

@badsim: Let's see what I can do for you I've already downloaded your Nams-MMPs. But often they wouldn't fit on the lot anymore due to the occupancy size of the Props which are already on the lot. So I usually use LE to set the sims. And even though there those very good tutorials (yours e.g. ) I will not start to scale my props. I pretty much think I'm faster using the LE 

Let's visit Sorn Castle. A castle located in West Ayrshire, surrounded by woods and meadows. Here's an overview:



Sorn Castle seems to have a very changeful history as far as I was able to find out. In WW 1 even soldiers were trained on the premesis. Obviously there must have been a sort of military hospital or some other sort of medical facility. I found pictures but unfortunately no texts to verify my assumption. Well, I don't care as this is a fictional story. In my Alba there are some traditions:
Every year in the time before Christmas WW 1 – veterans of the paramedic and the parachute units used to meet at Sorn to remember those who fell during the war and to exchange memories. This beloved tradition is still continued. Of course there are noch WW 1 veterans anymore. It's the veterans of those "armed conflicts" which took place recently. As every year, the Soldiers listen to Christmas songs warbled by the military choire. And – same procedure as every year – a small group of paracute soldiers glide from the sky to land on the close fields.


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Another tradition ist he Christmas market on the meadows:


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There's a pretty well known photographer who presents his pictures taken last summer at Sorn:


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And there are the gardens which belong to every respectable castle. It's closed for visitors during winter:


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During summer the amphitheatre is very well frequented:



And there's the sawmill:


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I'll finish with a small presentation of the buildings created for Sorn Castle:


Gate House:

RealLife: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/14796295.jpg

TurbineHouse / ElectricPowerHouse

RealLife: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cthonus/5997445830/

Kilknowe Cottage:

RealLife: http://www.ayrshirehistory.com/images/kilknowb.jpg

I wish you some contemplative days until Christmas!

Slàn leat!

[carlfatal]

Oh nobody says a word, they all are stunned like me! 
They only lurk and think: let´s begin someone else to fall down in the dust. Okay, then i will be the first. 
It´s a simply wonderful update, i love every little scene, so christmaslike and well done like always. And so typical without snow, i directly feel like at home. 
I don´t know where to begin nor to end, this is so complete outstanding, i only can say: i´m totally addicted! 
Greetz, Carl

[RickD]

I love the christmas market. Very nice update.

[peter007]

Your BAT's look spectecular.
Only point of critic is that your doors are too wide.
Models looks great we sure do need more of these kind

-Ernst

[solsystem]

Great update!  Your LE and BAT work is amazing.

[Girafe]

looks sweet Theresa

[Dantes]

Wow, that looks fantastic!      You're a great talent and artists. 

[Terring7]

Very interesting creations

[Kergelen]

Nice update! I like the sawmill and the buildings 
Also Kilmarnock town is beautiful.

[vester]

To remove the strange shadows on this roof,
try to add a smooth modifier and turn autosmooth on.

[rambuckel]

@carlfatal, RickD: Thanks a lot

@peter007: Thanks for your remark. I'm still practicing and I'm glad for every suggestion!

@solsystem, giraffe, dantes, Terring07, Kergelen: Many thanks!

@vester: Many thanks for your suggestion! I will surely try to add this modifier!

Back to the journey of Finola and Gavin:

They traveled from Kilmarnock to Trabbochburn which is a spot that consist of not much more than a single farm. On that farm they just finished the grain harvest. That's reason enough to have a party for all helpers and friends. As Finola and Gavin sat in a pub one night they met the son of farmer Ramsay who invited them spontaneously.


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Finola and Gavin travelled back to Ayr where they still wanted to meet their friend who is CEO of the racecourt in Ayr. They met him in his weekend cottage.



The journey lead them past the farm of family Ross ...


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... towards Straiton Mill. There is an old oasthouse close to the old watermill. A group of people enthusiastic about the culture of brewing beer is preserving this oastbarn and they use it for their recreation. Here you see them preparing a nice barbecue.


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The hopfields belong to ,,Ceithir Darag" Farm (Four Oaks Farm) which we will see later.



Behind the mill there is a small leisure facility with a small bridge.



Then Finola and Gavin pass Straiton. A small accumulation of houses around Ceithir Darag Farm.


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They travel on south passing Loch Doon ...


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... up ...



... passing sheep ...


... and horses ...


... to Craigmalloch which is an old guesthouse along the old road directing southwest from Ayr. The carriages of the Moffat family which you might remember also pass this point on their tours.


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The journey goes on in the direction of Loch Riecawar where Finola and Gavin pitch their tent ...


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... and where they meet their friend which they find fishing at the loch.


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After taking the first pictures of the oasthouse I changed some little detail. It now looks like this:


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Slàn leat!

[kelis]

Beautiful pictures, as always your work is fabolous, you've got a special style and I like it.

Keep up the good work 

[noahclem]

Awesome updates!    Your rural scenes are spectacular 

[Dantes]

You present what spectacular again!  I am amazed at the pictures.  The modern farm looks great.  Modern industrial agriculture with charm. 
The hop fields are fantastic. I'm looking forward to the beer. 
The last building I like best. I would like to help build the party.