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The composite aerial image, contour map and trench sketch image I used to plan the build |
In part 1 of my series of posts on Brécourt Manor I covered
the design elements of my current project, a model of the German guns destroyed
by Easy Co, 506th PIR on D-Day. This post will look at construction of the base
board.
Although I intend to
use 6mm scale figures at 1-2-1 representation, I have used a slightly bigger
ground scale. In order to fit everything I wanted onto a 600m by 900mm board
I’ve used a ground scale of about 1:550. Even so the actual manor itself is not
on the board. I just want to concentrate on the fight for the guns and so need
to give the US some room on the western side of the guns.
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The base board and my tools |
I picked up a 610 by
900mm 6mm ply sheet from a local DIY store. I coated both sides in PVA to
(hopefully) prevent warping.
I screwed some 25mm
by 25mm trim to the 4 edges, countersinking the heads. I then sanded the edges
to make them smooth and fully flush.
Flipping the board
over so the trim was at the top I trimmed some 25mm polystyrene insulation
board using a modelling saw and glued it between the battons.
Next I drew lines
every 10cm, vertically and horizontally across the board. I then used the maps
I’d created to mark the lines of the hedgerows. I believe on the actual field
the hedgerows contain drainage channels or gullies, and that the German trenches
used a set. However I decided it’s simpler to raise the hedges slightly and
move the trenches out into the open for ease of play.
I glued down some
cork along the hedgerow lines.
Next I marked out
the trench lines. I used a standard base size to assist with the size of the
gun emplacements and widened the trenches to give me space to place infantry
figures as well as trench walls. I intend to base figures on 8mm circular bases
and so cut the trenches 15mm wide.
I then cut them out
with a modelling knife. The whole trench area is a fair bit larger than it was
historically. However, as most of the action will take place here, I am happy
to compromise with this oversized element.
I went around with
decorators caulk to fill in the gaps around the edge of the model, smooth out
the hedgerow humps and give a solid surface to the trench system. Or at least I
did for part of the model. I finished a tube of caulk and then started a new one
and finished the work. I then spent a day or two with something niggling me
slightly before I realised to my horror that the 2nd tube had been white
silicone and not caulk. Cue banging my head for a day or two and cursing the
manufacturer for almost identical tube markings.
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OK so it has the product description in great big lettering but I went by colour and they're the same! |
Whilst not ideal I
decided I could live with it. It has subsequently been annoying where bits have
had to be cut out causing more minor damage than necessary but I don’t think
it’s going to be anything other than an inconvenience.
I gave the whole
board a base covering of brown paint.
Finally I applied a
hardening layer of soil and tile mix on a PVA base with a watered down PVA
overspray to protect the base and give the later layers of flock a soil
coloured underlayer in the event of scrapes or thin coating.
This completed the
base and I then began to model the trenches which I’ll cover in my next
post(s).
I took a lot of inspiration from watching videos by Luke APS off youtube. He has a whole range of videos out there and offers some awesome tips to modellers and gamers - well worth checking him out.
Happy gaming!
Charles the Modeller
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