Bend Modifier.

The bend modifier is found in the modifer list when the object has been turned into a Editable poly.
The uses for this tool are limited but its results are faster then the other methods of achieving the same thing.
The bend modifier bends a selected section without the need for more Vertex's. How ever adding more vertex will add greater

This tool requires a bit of fiddling with to get the results you want as sometimes if you have the wrong selection tool up it will deform an object.

The use i found for this tool was during a tutorial where we made a basic lam post, and used the bend modifier to get a curv just before the head.

Quick skirting board with , Glossy effects

First i created a box which was made with 4x4x4

This allowed made it easy to work with the shape. 

I selected the the 2nd line and the  4th line from the button holding Ctrl while clicking so it kept them selected. 

I then extrude , just adding reasonable amount  to the extrusion

Then on top add a bevel which will give it a slight  curve , 

Press shift and q just to check if it has been added and have a quick look. 

Then go into material . Press M  and  select and empty default sphere which will allow you to add a texture. 

go into  get materials, Click bit map  and find a texture you want , this one was a wooden texture. 

click "put material in scene".  If this hasn't worked make sure your object is selected. 

it should be textured. Alt Q to see it finished agian.

Now go into Create and then Lights , bring down the drop box and then put in a omni light , 

Shift Q 

this will make a  lighting effect and , add some shadows.   

Applying textures.

Video tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNaXrWcbQfw

By pressing M, you can go into Material editor
It should come up with multiple sphere spared objects, If it does not click the Modes menu at the top left and click Compact Material Editor. You should now how multiple spheres on screen and some box's with values inside.
Click get material this is a small icon under the spheres, The one furthest left and has a Arrow pointing to a checker sphere.
Locate the texture you want and open it.
this texture should take up a space where the sphere was .
To apply this texture to an object click. Assign material to selection. This is a checked symbol a drop down arrow and a green box.

This is the most basic way of adding textures some more advanced ways of adding textures would be using things like:

• Bit maps
• Opacity
• Bump maps

Tutorials online are very easy to find and extremely useful to know about

Idea For Street

Apocalyptic set:
Decaying buildings. Wreckages, burning bins. Skeletons, dusty desert, tumble weeds
Games such as Fallout will show scenery like i mean and also films like the mad Max franchise.

Nature set:
Growth of tree's on buildings, mossy textures. Vines, Cracks,  abandoned buildings.
Much like the scenery in the New lost planet2 and  the film I Am Legend.

Ancient set with nature features:
This is the set I decided on , It will have elaborate designed buildings and features which will set the scene, I want to make at least 1 maybe 2 feature pieces which capture the person viewing's attendion. While all this is going on i would like to incorporate the nature idea into this.

My mind map will help show what I mean

Examples/Inspiration for my street

The following images are things which kind of get across what i would like to see in my own street. The first one has the things in common with the design i have in mind. but it does not get across the wild style i would like to show through mine. 

It also has architecture that i like. 

This image is a good example as the vines and greenery are growing all over the building. This is good inspiration for me, when it comes to deciding how my main buildings will look.

The images underneath show photos i would of used for references when i wanted to create the Apocalyptic scene.