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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 5h

The professional series cards run much quieter than the gaming cards. Performance is about the same, but they're built better and demand less power, so they don't generally need all those fans to keep them cool. The downside is that they cost twice as much, though!

Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 5h

I'm currently using a 3-year-old Win11 Pro 3D Workstation, 128GB RAM, and a 24GB RTX A5000 GPU. It handles all but the most complex of my 3D scenes reasonably well. The trick is to keep the scenes as efficient as possible using instancing, proxies, and linking, to keep the viewport nice and slick.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 7h

It's never too late to start. Small steps, problem-solving, pragmatism, adopting modular workflows, and committing to regular practice. You'll have all those skills as a coder.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 8h

Thanks. I'm also a former web developer, so the lack of ALT text attached to images annoys me a bit.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 9h

Dover was a seriously intimidating project to take on and tackle all the modelling single-handedly. My experience of reconstructing Windsor Castle taught me a lot about breaking this challenging project down into smaller, manageable tasks. There were many late nights and a lot of coffee consumed!

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 10h

The Sieges of Dover Castle 1216–17 (English Heritage)

The Sieges of Dover

Two sieges at Dover Castle, in the summers of 1216 and 1217, were important events during the First Barons’ War. The circumstances that gave rise to this attack were part of a complex and bitter disag...

www.english-heritage.org.uk

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 10h

To develop the digital model, I analysed laser survey and GIS data, hundreds of measured architectural drawings from Historic England archives, old engravings and paintings, and the findings of three detailed archaeological reports. The Dover Castle at Siege exhibition opened in July 2024.

Digital reconstruction of Dover Castle from the Northern Spur, as it might have looked on the eve of the Great Siege in 1216, when the Castle defended an attack by an Anglo-French rebellion against an unpopular King John of England. Artist: Bob Marshall 2024. © Historic England / English Heritage Trust.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 10h

Two years ago, I embarked on an ambitious 3D reconstruction model of Dover Castle, recreating how it might have looked at the time of the Great Siege in 1216. Working with a team of architectural and military historians, the digital model and 3D renders took over five months to develop. #Blender3D

Computer 3D model reconstruction of Dover Castle as it might have looked in 1216 on the eve of the Great Siege of 1216, when the Castle defended an attack by an Anglo-French rebellion against an unpopular King John of England. Working closely with a team of architectural and military historians, the digital model absorbed over 800 hours of work over five months. Laser survey and GIS data, hundreds of measured architectural drawings from Historic England archives, old engravings and paintings, and the findings of three detailed archaeological reports were analysed to create the digital model. Photographic textures, 3D renders, and manual digital painting helped bring the Castle's history to life through richly detailed images. The completed images were created for the exhibition, Dover Castle at Siege, which English Heritage opened in July 2024.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 12h

It's sometimes easy to forget to add ALT text to Bluesky posts. To remind you each time, head to Settings, Accessibility, and enable the feature 'Require alt text before posting'. ;)

Sarah May @sarahmay1.bsky.social · 12h

My feed seems to have more than the usual number of images without alt text. Particularly on some heritage hashtags. Please folks, inclusivity & accessibility matters. If you really can't do it, tag #Alt4me and folks will help out, though of course they won't be able to share your insight

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 12h

Hi #PortfolioDay!

I'm an Architectural Illustrator from Edinburgh. I visually reconstruct heritage buildings and monuments in #Blender3D guided by archaeology, measured survey data, and by working in collaboration with historians and archaeologists.

Website: bobmarshall.co.uk

ALT: A speculative digital reconstruction of the Bass of Inverurie - a late twelfth-century timber and earthwork castle held by the Earls of Garioch (pronounced "Geary" in the local tongue)- members of the extended royal family of Scotland and the ancestors of King Robert the Bruce. Personal project © Bob Marshall 2017. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Speculative digital reconstruction of Tor Alvie hillfort near Aviemore, Scottish Highlands. The site was identified as a hillfort in 2010-11 (Historic Environment Record: MHG55341). The reconstruction model was created in Blender 3D using a combination of high-resolution digital terrain data obtained from Ordnance Survey, which I used to create my backdrop of the Cairngorm Mountains. Although the fort has never been excavated, the line of its rampart walls can broadly be determined by a stony bank that encloses an area of roughly 85m x 30m, bearing immediate similarities in size and shape to Craig Phadrig hillfort near Inverness. However, unlike Craig Phadrig, there is no evidence that Torr Alvie was vitrified. It is difficult to know how thick the ramparts were, whether there were timber palisades, and how many entrances the fort had, so imagination plays a large part in this visualisation. With grateful thanks to Eve Boyle and Adam Welfare of Historic Environment Scotland and Professor Gordon Noble of the University of Aberdeen for their input and assistance. © Bob Marshall / badenochstorylands.com 2020.

A speculative digital reconstruction of the early sixteenth-century chancel screen of St Mary's parish church in Youghal, Ireland. Using survey measurements, I developed a computer model to help me work out a possible design for the screen and its loft. Its form is guided by the information written in historical documents and from a single piece of decorated timber, which may have been part of this original screen, found underneath the church floor during recent archaeological investigations. I have combined influences from some surviving medieval screens found in churches in several English counties. The depiction of the Last Judgement painted above the chancel arch is imaginary, and also influenced by similar mural paintings found in several medieval English churches. The Last Judgement, sometimes also referred to as a ‘Doom’, was a common feature of medieval churches. It was an instrument for highlighting the contrasts between the rewards of heaven and the agony of hell, intended to guide Christians away from sin and misbehaviour.

A digital reconstruction of Brougham Castle shows how it may have looked in 1388 following the additions and alterations made by Roger Clifford, 5th Baron of Westmoreland. This view of the castle in wintertime is from the northwest. Artist: Bob Marshall. © Historic England / English Heritage Trust. Contact Historic England Archives for Licensing enquiries.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 3d

I never got any punctures with Schwalbe Marathon tyres. Rode with those on for years. But one needs forearms like Popeye to get them on and off wheel rims, unfortunately.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 3d

Hawthorn shrapnel from autumn hedgerow flailing wreaking havoc on my tyres today 🚴‍♂️. About as bad as riding over carpet tacks. If anyone out there can develop better guards to prevent the debris from flail mowers scattering across the road, you'll be my new bestest friend.

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Reposted by Bob Marshall

CFA Archaeology @cfaarchaeology.bsky.social · 4d

We are #hiring! #TeamCFA has a busy autumn ahead, with excavations scheduled across the UK. From prehistoric settlements to a medieval city centre, we have a wide variety of sites which would interest any archaeologist!

To find out more, visit our website: https://www.cfa-archaeology.co.uk/careers

An informational poster with blue background, listing the job positions available. A photo of a smiling woman is in the bottom right hand corner.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 5d

Shell House / Shell Grotto doorway (c1782) in the grounds of Newhailes House, Musselburgh. (National Trust for Scotland). 📷 Bob Marshall Oct 2025. #AdoorableThursday

The Shell House / Shell Grotto doorway (c1782) in the grounds of Newhailes House, Musselburgh. (National Trust for Scotland). Photo by Bob Marshall Oct 2025.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 5d

At Stirling's Engine Shed today hearing from different stakeholders on the issues, challenges, and successes of restoring and conserving Scotland's Castles. Very pleased to hear the resounding success of at least one conservation project I had a lot of personal involvement in. #ScottishCastles

Janet Brennan-Inglis gives a presentation about restoring Barholm Castle (privately-owned) in Dumfriesshire. Her talk was one of several presentations given by different stakeholders as part of a two-day conference tackling the issues, challenges, and success-stories of restoring, repairing, and conserving Scotland's many castles. The event was organised by the Scottish Castles Association and took place at the Engine Shed in Stirling on 9th September 2025. Among the keynote speakers were Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, and the Landmark Trust.

Dr Anna Keay from the Landmark Trust gives a presentation about the recent restoration of Fairburn Tower near Muir of Ord in the Scottish Highlands. Her talk was one of several presentations given by different stakeholders as part of a two-day conference tackling the issues, challenges, and success-stories of restoring, repairing, and conserving Scotland's many castles. The event was organised by the Scottish Castles Association and took place at the Engine Shed in Stirling on 9th September 2025. Among the keynote speakers were Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, and the Landmark Trust.

Bryan Dickson from the National Trust for Scotland gives a presentation about the recent community conservation project to consolidate the ruin of Preston Tower castle in East Lothian. His talk was one of several presentations given by different stakeholders as part of a two-day conference tackling the issues, challenges, and success-stories of restoring, repairing, and conserving Scotland's many castles. The event was organised by the Scottish Castles Association and took place at the Engine Shed in Stirling on 9th September 2025. Among the keynote speakers were Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, and the Landmark Trust.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 6d

It's safe to say this software changed my life. That's why I have continued to support the Blender Development Fund for many years. It feels like Christmas whenever there's a new update!

fund.blender.org

Blender Development Fund

Join the Development Fund and support Blender Foundation to work on core Blender development.

fund.blender.org

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 6d

It's my 20th anniversary of using #Blender3D. 🎂

I can't recall what version I started with, but it was probably 2.40. I was a Maya user before discovering Blender. There were very few tutorials around back then. Help came from a small and quite geeky online community. Perseverance paid off.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 6d

Something like that, yes. A Mixed Reality AR/VR experience of sorts. Possibly voice and gesture prompts (dare I suggest AI prompts) will replace standard keyboard input. I think smart glasses rather than clumsy and bulky headsets, though.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 7d

This thought-provoking question has me contemplating what route creative software will take in the next decade. I can't imagine doing delicate 3D modelling on a tablet. Perhaps 3D will be done via immersive VR headsets and gesture technology. 🤔

Joana Valdez-Tullett @joanavaldez.bsky.social · 7d

People advocate for digital literacy which in our current world is fundamental. But what I’m finding is that kids don’t know how to operate a computer bc their digital literacy is tablet/smartphone based. Is this the end of computers or how useful is this kind of digital literacy for their future?

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 8d

Yet another Jury citation landed through my letterbox. Third year running. The High Court again. Each time I get summoned, I wait around for days, then get dismissed. I know it's my civic duty and all that, but it's such a pain with a small business and tight deadlines to meet. Argh! 😣

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 8d

#VirtualArchaeology #AugmentedReality job opportunity in South Uist 👇

UHI Archaeology Institute @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social · 8d

The UHI Archaeology Institute team behind Uist Unearthed is looking for an assistant for the next stage of the award-winning, virtual #archaeology project.

Western Isles job opportunity with new virtual archaeology project

Augmented reality at Cladh Hallan, South Uist. The UHI Archaeology Institute team behind Uist Unearthed is looking for an assistant for the next stage of the award-winning, virtual archaeology project. The full-time position, which runs from January 2026 to May 2027, is to help deliver the new Barra and Harris Unearthed project. Since it was launched in 2021…

archaeologyorkney.com

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 10d

IDK if Conferences are any good for fermenting (not for proper perry cider, at least), but that's where I'd start ;)

I haven't seen Thistly Cross do a pear cider, but you could ask if they know. Someone once told me they collected windfall fruit, but I may be wrong.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 12d

Managed a full circuit in 50min early on Saturday morning, although at a brisk walking pace (jogging strictly forbidden). Easier with fewer tourists to negotiate in the narrow sections at this time of day. Almost possible to do it in a lunch break from Tanner Row, but probably without the lunch!

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 12d

Walmgate Barbican looked rather splendid in the sun on my Monday morning walk around the City walls.

A view of Walmgate Bar and Barbican Gate, York, in the early morning sunshine. September 29, 2025.

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Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 16d

Spotted in York. My old Jack Russell terrier loved a good pub. I'm trying to get my Dachsie interested, but he's a bit grumpy. #dogsinpubs

A black and white sign outside a pub in York, England, welcoming dogs, on condition their owners behave themselves.

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