It’s been a while
since my last update on Brécourt Manor but there has been a lot going on
worldwide. Hopefully this will pass shortly. I have managed to make some
progress on the board so here goes.
Flocking
I decided to switch
flocks for this model. Previously I have used the sawdust type flocks by Jarvis
and others. This time I switched to the foam type using Woodland Scenics fine
turf. The fine turf is, well finer, than the sawdust flocks and gives a better
representation of grass at the ground scale I’m working at. Whilst I’d use the
fine turf before I had only ever used it for highlights so this was a bit of an
experiment for me.
Taking advantage of the
rest of the family heading off for a few days I was able to secure the dining
room table giving me plenty of space to work in.
The whole board was covered in a layer of earth and tile grout mix to act as a base layer and given 24 hours to dry.
I used grease proof paper to cover the vegetable patch and trenches and coins to cover the machine gun pits |
The whole flocking
was a frustrating learning experience but having completed it I am very pleased
with how things turned out. I just needed to try things out and find out what
worked and what didn’t.
I purchased the woodland scenics glue and their spray bottle specifically for this project but unfortunately the spray failed fairly quickly. Maybe I hadn't shaken it enough but the nozzle got blocked and no matter how much it soaked, it wouldn't unblock. I switched to a back up spray bottle and sprinkled my flock, darker layers first,
gradually lightening up. I failed to spray glue after each switch of flock - my
bad - and so my flock wasn’t properly glued down.
I tried spraying
more woodlands scenics glue and then a diluted PVA mix and whilst I got the
turf in place it just wasn’t war games secure coming off easily when rubbed.
After an internet search Luke APS offered a way forward. I had some 100%
isopropanol alcohol cleaning solution. I mixed this about 50/50 with water and
sprayed this onto the board. It quickly soaked into the flock and acts as a
flow aid. I followed this up with the War World Scenics glue. I sprayed lots
and lots of the glue which hit the flow aid and dispersed quickly. I sprayed
until the board was a pale white. Then I just had to wait - about 36 hours -
for the glue to dry and clear which was quite unnerving.
Finally the last of
the white bits dried and the foam turf was solidly glued to the board.
So next time I do
this I will
start with a PVA/ water mix
spray after each flock layer
follow it with the alcohol mix flow aid
liberally spray WWS glue as a final glue layer
leave it for 48 hours to dry
Vegetable Patch
I have created a
large vegetable garden. A vegetable patch is clearly indicated on the various
maps of the battle. It also briefly features in the Band of Brothers episode as
Winters and the Easy co advance towards the guns. I am not sure how big this was
historically but I have made it quite large - covering most of a field. The
board is otherwise all grass and so this helps break up the terrain and is a
nice feature.
I kept this area
bare when flocking and then added a number of grassed paths around the various
beds.
I laid additional
lines of glue down and added more of my earth and tile grout base mix to create
furrows.
Additional furrows created by adding additional lines of base mix. |
I couldn’t find much
in the way of 6mm products designed specifically for vegetables so it was a
case of adapting other things. I have only a vague knowledge of crops and
vegetables so my adaptations are very much representational.
I cut the tops off
bushes to give me individual stands. I cut static grass and trimmed it down. I
repurposed bushes and strips and I glued down some light foam.
I also used some cut
down and snipped apart staples to create wooden frames for growing beans.
The Rusting Truck
The end of the
vegetable patch seems to have been used as a bit of a dump. There is a rusting
truck marked on the maps and again visible in the TV episode. I selected a GHQ
Russian truck. I painted it white and then added a variety of rust colours. I
also half buried it in the board and surrounded it with longer grass.
Nearby was a garbage
dump made from my earth/ tile mix. I painted it white and then added a watered
down fur brown in patches before giving it a dark tone wash. It looks like
building rubble and I was quite pleased with the result. I used a remaining bit
of the corrugated iron from the trenches and cost a wheel off another model to
add more variety to the rubbish pile.
Finally I figured
the small holder would also use this area to dump grass and other excess plant
cuttings so placed some dead grass static grass in piles. I also put in the
remains of a bonfire and various other bushes to complete the scene.
With that all done
it’s onto the hedgerows and trees!
Everybody stay safe.
Charles the Modeller
I have just discovered this and am amazed. Will follow with great interest as I have a very large GHQ / Adler collection but just getting started on terrain.
ReplyDeleteAlso love the BoB show and have visited the site in Normandy so very much want to recreate things.
Don’t know your plans for the ‘manor’ but WoW Buildings have released a 3D print model and it looks excellent. Again I feel me sliding into something.
Richard
Thank you for your very kind comments! I also use Adler and GHQ - I’ll be talking about the figures shortly.
DeleteMy object was to create a small board that I could use to fight a short battle and take to war games shows for participation games. Consequently some things got lost and the actual farm buildings didn’t make the cut. The ground scale on the board is actually about 1:550 or 1:600 and still they didn’t fit on!
I hope to be able to run 1 hour long, preferably less, games and the focus will be capturing the guns - retreating like Winters did once the last gun was destroyed.
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