Saturday 28 August 2021

Franco-Prussian War railway station - Wargames Illustrated issue 405

Issue 405 (September 2021) of Wargames Illustrated has the first of what I hope will become a regular feature showing how I scratch build my wargame terrain. The model was inspired by a black and white illustration of Courcelles railway station and a comment on this Blog by Lasgunpacker, see this blog post for more information.

The construction and painting is featured over seven pages of the magazine showing detailed step-by-step notes on how it was built and what materials I used.

For more information see this link. In addition should you have any suggestions for models or inspiration for future projects (particularly Buildings from the Movies) please get in touch via this post.


Tony

9 comments:

Lasgunpacker said...

Lovely! Great coloration and an interesting shape. That tricolor really adds something too.

Tony said...

Thank you.

(Kym) + Warburton + (Classic40K) said...

Beautiful. Really nice work.

One thing I have wondered is if you ever have (or would) adapt your style for a building that you can take the roof off and place figures inside. I would like to see your take on it.

Tony said...

"I have wondered is if you ever have (or would) adapt your style for a building that you can take the roof off and place figures inside."

I have built loads, possible hundreds of masters with lift-off roofs and detailed interiors. Many of them can be seen on the Grand Manner web pages.

My own view is that there is little value in having a detailed interior as in most games it is never an option or needed, however, I can report that I have just sent images and text to Miniature Wargames of a Small Stone Chapel and this model does have both a lift off roof and a detailed interior. I'm not sure when this will be published, but will have details and additional images on this Blog when it is published.

In summary, lift off roofs and interiors makes the model weaker and more difficult to cast, for one-offs a solid structure is both stronger and simpler, plus more wargame club friendly.

But I am aware of others who disagree.

Thanks for the comment and look out for more posts which should feature both types of models.

Tony

Tony said...

There is also The German Farmhouse, a modified MDF kit that I have featured on the Blog.

For more information, see the Blog plus I'll try to post images of the interior at a later date.

Tony
http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/2021/08/a-german-farmhouse-miniature-wargames.html

(Kym) + Warburton + (Classic40K) said...

Thanks for the detailed response - I thought you must have at some point but couldn't remember - I should have thought of the Grand Manner buildings.

I have built a couple of buildings using your method of cardboard profiles and they are really very solid and perfect for my Warhammer Terrain.

But.... I am about to do a 28mm WWII project for Chain of Command rules which does feature troops inside buildings - and I am a bit undecided about whether to do lift-off roofs or not...

Tony said...

"I am about to do a 28mm WWII project for Chain of Command rules which does feature troops inside buildings - and I am a bit undecided about whether to do lift-off roofs or not."

This is one of the few occasions that I would recommend MDF buildings - they just seam to work with WW2 games and lift off roofs would be standard practice for such kits.

You can then use my techniques for detailing the exterior and adding some raised surface texture and don't forget to detail the roof tiles - this one small hint can raise a simple MDF kit to another level.

Good luck.

Tony

(Kym) + Warburton + (Classic40K) said...

That's useful - thanks for your thoughts.

Kym

Tony said...

A more detailed review/tour of the most recent issue can be found here;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnWJDI14yjU

Editors tour of issue WI 405

Tony