More Trees - part two

Following on from my earlier Blog post, I have now bulked out the base with DAS modelling clay, making sure to add some exposed roots to the lower trunk and blending-in the slate chips.

The ground cover was then textured with a mix of sieved stones, sand and sawdust applied over PVA glue and then 'flooded' with diluted PVA glue to which I have added flow improve or washing-up liquid which fixes the loose particles in place.

The base and trunk was then painted in various browns, greys and even green while the rocky outcrops were painted grey and highlighted with a lighter drybrushing.

The final images, show the base washed with a Dark Flesh or Strong Tone wash to highlight the sculpted detail.

I just need to flock the base and it will be ready for the gaming table.

Tony

 

More Trees

For the last couple of months most of my modelling time has been working on models for magazine articles but just occasionally you have to choose a project that is a distraction and in this series of short posts I will show how I went about adding more wargame table trees to my collection.

The first image shows a collection of toy trees that I have picked up over the years (some are over ten years old) and kept in a plastic bag, hung in a corner of the shed. While sitting at my workbench, I thought it was time I did something with them.

I choose the larger pale green evergreen as my fist patient (see image above) and using 6mm thick MDF for the base/bases set about modelling the first tree.

The trunk was both lengthened and thickened by adding some florist's wire roots and then binding the trunk and the wire with thread until I had a trunk I was happy with.

At the same time I started work on the MDF bases, cutting the MDF into rough ovals and then trimming the edges before sanding them smooth. The base on the right has been modified by gluing a metal miniature base to the top and then adding some slate chips over the top. I found it best to add these over hot glue as I wanted a firm bond.

I chose the thicker MDF rather than plastic card as I find that wargame trees need a little more support on the table and the weighted bases also offer more stability during gaming.

There are a number of Blog articles that show earlier model tree posts, for example - here and here.

In part two, I will show how I finished the bases.

Tony

Gaul Defence Tower from Asterix and the Cauldron

Another month and another magazine article showing how I build scratch built terrain for the wargame table. But this time it's a little different.....

Miniature Wargames issue 463 (November 2021) has this article showing how I built a Gaul Defence Tower from corrugated cardboard, card, egg box card and DAS modelling clay with a lift-off plastic card roof detailed with real wood.

The model was inspired by an illustration in the Asterix book Asterix and the Cauldron - in which the treacherous Gaul Whosmoralsarelastix uses his friendship with the Romans to trick the Gauls into searching out some treasure. I was struck by the illustration when reading the book to my grandsons and thought it would make a great centre piece for my Pax Bochemannica games.

Illustration taken from Asterix and the Caldron (used without permission).

For full details of this comic inspired piece of wargame terrain, check out the latest issue of Miniature Wargames.

Tony

The Yellow Pelican Mining Co. - signwriting

The latest update shows the main Yellow Pelican sign all finished. The design was created on the computer, printed off in black and white and then cut into stencils. I used a pencil to apply the design to the main building and acrylic paint and a fine paint brush to finish off.

Since the last update, I have also weathered the wooden areas with various washes.

This final image of the structures show the main building and loading shed on the layout. I have not glued either in place as I still find it easier to work on away from the layout. For larger images, just click on the pictures.

I'm not sure if I have shown these pictures of my layout storage box which was built from old pallets and nailed together with shop bought nails.

Tony

Justice League Tower from Wargames Illustrated issue 406

The latest issue of Wargames Illustrated, (issue 406, October 2021) features the first of what I hope to be a series of articles showing how I build themed wargame terrain based of images from the movies. The first is this Justice League Tower which features in the DC film Justice League. The tower is on screen for less than a minute but when I saw the structure I just knew that I had to make a model of it.

The model is built from cardboard, foamboard and egg box card with an insulation foam roof and painted with acrylics. For more information, you can pick up the magazine and read the seven page article/tutorial.

I have in the past built a number of wargame structures inspired by movie images, which have been featured in various magazines and books, for example this Star Wars house which was published in Miniature Wargames issue 432

and this model of Bir Acroma which featured in the Humphrey Bogart film Sahara from 1943. Bir Acroma is one of the models included in the Pen & Sword book - Wargames Terrain & Buildings - North Africa and the Middle East which was written by me.

In addition, I have made a model of the submarine from Ice Station Zebra and the Dragon Tank from Dr.No.

If you have any suggestions for future themed articles - FROM THE MOVIES please get in touch and I'll look at using them in future model builds.

Tony

Update;

I've included this Editor's Tour of WI406 from You Tube for you to check out. See this link for full details.

Speed & Power Magazine - a recollection

BBC Radio 5 have been running a feature called Reading Aloud, where various celebrities and members of the public comment on their love of reading and in particular what inspired them them to read. For me it was this magazine - Speed & Power a magazine that really grabbed my attention as a pre-teenager and a magazine that my father had the forethought to subscribe to so I could both read and collect each issue.

There were many issues that would include free gifts and I remember trying to build racing cars from card kits, in particular the Tyrell P34 - the six wheel F1 racing car. I regularly see issues of the magazine for sale on e-bay and have been tempted to pick up the odd issue, but there are sites where you can download copies for free - for example his link.

So to Speed & Power, thank you for the inspiration.

Tony

Dampf's Wargame Terrain Survey - The Results

During the month of September I have been running a simple survey - three questions which should help me when producing articles or tutorials for future magazine articles. The questions were;

Question 1

What scale or scales should I use when building my scratch built models?

Question 2

Do you prefer fixed roofs or lift off roofs?

Question 3

Do you prefer decorative bases or no bases?

The results are now in and I would firstly like to thank everyone who took part, those that replied to this initial post and the few who used either Instagram or The Miniatures Page to supply their answers. I have collated all of the replies to produce this result;

What scale/scales?

Not surprisingly 28mm scale came out on top although with over 93% mentioning this most common wargame figure scale, at least in part or in conjunction with another, I think the dominance of 28mm was more than I had expected.

In second place was 15mm with 44% and in third place was less than 15mm with just 7% with comments mentioning both 6mm and 10mm figure scales.

Lift off roof or fixed?

The response to this question was a almost exactly 2/3rd yes and 1/3rd no with only 2 respondents having no preference. This goes against my own preference as I prefer fixed roofs. So I will have to take a serious look at any future models or tutorial plans.

There were a couple of respondents to the second part of this question - detailed interiors or plain interiors with no discernible winner or preference.

Decorative bases or no bases?

There was an obvious preference for some sort of base, either decorative or just practical, with the remaining No Base or No Preference about the same - between 9% and 5%.

So there you have it; Future magazine articles/tutorials will concentrate on 28mm scale wargame models with lift off roofs and some sort of base although I still see some room for the odd exception.

Once again, thanks to everyone who took part.

Tony