Modular Terrain Part One

Hello there! With the completion of the cabin and the transfer of most of my 'stuff' to it, I now have the space to progress some projects.

The first project will be the start of the modular terrain that I have started many times over the years and has produced desert terrain and the start of some for North West Europe, which will double for my ACW games.

Like the other projects I will be starting at the same time, but will all be related, I will not wait until completion then publish them on the blog, but do them in linked parts

I had already decided that the overall dimensions would be based on 600mm x 600mm squares. To house river sections and smaller features I would also make a number of 600mm x 300mm and 300mm x 300mm tiles.

The plywood sheets are 3.6mm thick and can be cut using a Stanley knife. Now this is obviously fraught with danger so I devised a system where a couple of quick release clamps held a premeasured sheet on to a cutting board, in this case an old sheet of 12mm thick plywood, and also held a 600mm long steel rule in place so I could score a line in the plywood using the steel rule as a profile. It also meant that I would shed any blood for this project if the blade slipped or jammed.

I have used the thinnest and most easily obtainable timber for the surround of the modular tiles. In this case 19mm x 50mm PSE timber. This was cut to the desired length using a cross cut saw and then I cut a 45 degree angle at both ends.

The picture above shows how I held the sides in place with quick release clamps and used solvent free gripfill to glue it together. I also had an engineers square to make sure it was all square.

If it set in the wrong position I used a carpenters plane to square the sides and make sure the 600mm x 600mm dimensions remained.

The styrofoam was glued in place using expanding urethane foam. I recommend wearing some gloves while doing this bit. Do not use too much expanding foam and stay with the job once the styrofoam is in place as it may continue expanding and rise up

Here are the tools I was using to shape the styrofoam board. The item with the red handle in a Stanley Surform. This has been invaluable in getting the shapes of hills and to make things fit without having to get the knives out again. Also the kitchen bread knife is also very useful.

The expanding foam which has set and hardened and managed to creep out round the edges of the styrofoam can be cut off and shaped with the surform.

Once the shaping has been done then the worst of the holes can be filled in with water proof tile adhesive. This does not have to be mixed and is a consistent thickness and texture. I prefer to do this separately because the thicker the next layer of tile adhesive is applied the longer it takes to set.

So in part two we will have the layering on the surface and application of texture.

Walled Vineyard, Part One

Hello there! I found a long forgotten purchase in a box in the loft. It was some bagged walls and opening suitable for the Mediterranean or Spain. These came from Hovels and were obviously an impulse buy!

On closer examination I found that all the pieces did not quite line up properly. I had enough for a square walled enclosure.

I decided to fix them to a base board so it could be a drop on item.

I fixed the gate in place first and then could join the separate section together in a more eye pleasing manner. The joins were filled in with milliputt and glued to the base using gripfill. 

On section was very far out of alignment so I had to place milliputt under the wall section and start to make up the difference with more filler.

Here it is all assembled. I left this overnight to set thoroughly so I can start to paint next

Cemetery Completed

Hello There! This is my latest completed painting work. It is a Total Battles Scenics cemetery. It is in 10mm 'scale'

The model came with separate grave markers which were intended to be fixed with a butt joint onto the base. This was obviously not going to withstand much handling on the wargames table. The only solution I could think of was to add some milliputt mounds in front of the head stones so that they had a little more area to adhere to the base. I realise that graves are allowed to settle over a number of months before a head stone is put in place but a little artistic licence was called for over accuracy.

The finish on the grey paving slabs was an unintentional effect as I painted then and then did a wash of thinned acrylic black paint. they came out like this and I felt that it was realistic so kept it. 

I picked out the block work with a brush and used some off white weathering powders for the mortar. This was held in place with fixative.

The ground was painted in Vallejo 921 English Uniform, dry brushed in 819, Iraqui sand. Then used thinned down PVA to glue some fine Woodland Scenics flock. I added some small tuft.

I varnished this after the paint was dry but before I added the flock. This is because I have found that the spray varnish I use tends to accumulate on the tufts and form bubbles.

 

MAFVA Show 2025

Hello There! I decided to get out of the house for a while and the MAFVA show was about an hours drive away.

I have not been to this show since it was at the Duxford Military Vehicle display and coincided with the book fair.

I was very pleased and surprised to find a much bigger show than I was expecting. Spread across a large sports area and other rooms, including an upstairs area with a bring and buy sale. 

The first club who had their models on display, had a very wide range of desert vehicles which was a good presentation of some lesser known or seen axis vehicles.

The diorama back ground was from a matchbox kit. I like the way the desert round was represented.

This was a partially scratch built and the source vehicle was the matchbox Krupp Protz.

I have a coupe of 'Diana' in my DAK forces. The pictures I have seen include a number on the chassis next to the driver and a small elephant motif on the rear fender

An Sdkfz 254. This was present in the desert and used as a scout car.

An addition to the wide range of German ambulances. I did not see what make or mark this was.

I was told that this is an SHQ model. I have not seen this in their catalogue and it is a large model. I wonder if it is still available from the Grubby tanks list, or where the SHQ range will go when Andy Grubb retires next year?

The fascines on this model appeared to be made of individual lengths of bass broom bristles. The figure was an AB miniature.

Another AVRE made from a combination of an Airfix and Matchbox kit.

There were some lovely Desert Air Force aircraft. The Airfix Kittyhawk was one of the first model kits I ever made.

I would love to learn how to use an airbrush to this level and create a mottled camouflage pattern.

I liked the idea of having a background story to some of the models that were on display. This was a great idea from the Brampton club.

This was a very different idea to use the Airfix tank transporter for!

Here was another combination of desert vehicles, this time using 28mm figures.

I also have a Deacon in 20mm which requires decals and a crew. This photo was to remind me!

This was a very detailed figure and was a change from the normal selection of models that were on display.

Almost hidden away in a side room was a further group of model clubs displays. As I have a proposed project for the Aegean conflict in 1943 I liked seeing this selection of vessels.

The aircraft on the back was so small and well detailed!

And finally a further selection of desert vehicles.

Overall this was a great surprise to see a wide range of suppliers that you do not normally see at wargames shows. Also they were very helpful. I was expecting a much smaller show as I was comparing it to the Duxford show. It was a pleasant surprise! Well worth a visit next year!