In an attempt to get started on my Bolt Action terrain
boards I am getting stuck into the fine detail. I wanted
something extra and typical in a Normandy farm yard,
thus the cider press.
Normandy is covered in apple orchards and is famous
for its drinks made from apple juice. These include,
Cidre(Cider) apple wine fermented from apple juice,
Calvados(apple brandy) distilled dry fermented cider
which is then aged in oak barrels, Pommeau(aperitif)
unfermented apple juice and apple brandy aged in oak
barrels and finally Benedictine(herbal liquer) a mixture
of plants and spices distilled in oak barrels.
All these were made on an industrial scale and more
importantly a very local scale. If you had century old
apple or even pear orchards on your land then all
you had to do was build a rustic apple press from
spare timber and let the happy times begin.
My simple press is meant to look as rustic as
possible and simply works by dropping apples
into the wooden barrel usually within a muslin
or cloth wrap. The long pole will be attached to
the top and would have been turned forcing a simple
wooden block board down squashing the apples. The
pomace(juice) runs out via a funnel/pipe at the bottom.
Obviously at the moment its not complete and requires
some legs and painting. If your wondering what the silver
bands are around the barrel,they are artist foil.
I will post up the finished product soon perhaps with a
scratch built apple run as well.
Oh I have also been making some Cidre bill boards to
advertise on the road side.
Below is a typical Normandy cidre press found
on every farm.
The model warrior 