To make the
corrugated iron palisade walls I used cut down toothpicks as posts and
aluminium foil for the corrugated sheets. I found a really helpful video online
which started me off.
Whilst the youtuber
was using tin from a take out tray, I didn't have any to hand so I substituted
aluminium foil instead. I folded some foil over until it was about 8 ply. I
adjusted the height to size, about 5mm high. Then I used a cocktail stick to score
lines in the foil. I painted it completely with rust coloured paint and then
gave a heavy dry brush up and down with platemail. I used a strong tone wash
and added the odd ash grey highlight. By going up and down this hopefully
conveys the idea of rust and water running down the sheet. I then glued the
posts to the foil and placed them in the model trench.
I included two dug
outs in the trench system, the command/ radio bunker where Lt. Winters found
the map recording all the German artillery positions and an ammo store.
The command/ radio
bunker I made larger. I decided to wall this as if it was lined with logs, just
to add variety to the model. The logs are simulated by 1mm diameter leather
cord strands which I laid next to each other and then used PVA to glue together.
I covered the cord with Oak Brown paint and gave a Desert Yellow drybrush.
I used the spoil on
the sides to raise the overall height of the bunker and for there to be an
opening on the south side looking out into the field.
I intend to create
an ersatz desk and radio station but that will be later in the build.
I cut out the ammo
store and just covered the walls with the earth layer. The ammo crates are from
Perfect Six Miniatures.
I built removable
roofs for both bunkers. Again I decided to simulate logs laid side by side.
This time though I used cocktail style toothpicks just over 1mm in diameter.
These were laid side by side, PVA'd and then covered in the earth mix and
flocked with Woodland Scenics fine turf.
I put the
sandbags on the model in place last.
Outside the trench I used a bead of flexible filler covered with the base mix
to simulate the spoil from the trench. I set this back from the trench edge by
a couple of mm.
Between this spoil I put a single depth, single width line of
sandbags. The TV episode showed sandbags on the edge of the trench and it helps
give the model trench definition. I also thought they might be being stored
there for when needed or were bolstering the defence and preventing the spoil
being washed back into the trench.
I made my sandbags
using air drying clay. Mel the Terrain Tutor has a really good video on making
sandbags. He’s working at a bigger scale but the principle was spot on. I made
my sausage 1.5mm wide and gently flattened it to 2mm before using a cocktail stick
to mark the individual bags 3mm apart.
I found the lengths would often split after
about 4 to 6 sandbags. Once dry, again the lengths would easily break apart at joins if you
weren’t careful. However this often worked to my advantage as the ground
changed direction and was uneven. I just placed a little PVA down and then
gently pushed with my finger. The lengths generally broke at a sandbag join and
could then be easily adjusted.
Once in place I
coated them with PVA to harden then and a quick coat of skeleton bone and a
strong tone wash gave me a great result.
Finally I used several
sandbag lengths from Perfect Six Miniatures on the entrance to the trenches at
the western edge.
Next time I'll look
post a quick update on the guns themselves.
Happy gaming!
Charles the Modeller
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