Archive for the ‘Terrain’ Category

Tithe Barn in Crepon,Calvados(Bolt Action 28mm).

Posted: April 7, 2022 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Scratch Built, Terrain, Wargaming, WW2
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The Tithe Barn in Crepon, Calvados has been around since the early 1500s and is still standing to this day. I spotted the barn on a random Google maps search and immediately fell in love with it and had to try and recreate it for my wargaming board. It fits in perfectly as a unique bit of table top terrain and has the advantage of being multi purpose as covers anywhere from 1500 up to present day. My immediate aim was to drop it onto my WW2 Normandy board.

By a stroke of luck I discovered the barn actually played a small part in the Normandy landings shortly after Crepon was caputured as a Rafadrome. A Rafadrome was a theatre created by the RAF Beach Squadron for some much needed R&R for the troops after battle. Click on the attached link for more information: https://rafbeachunits.info/units/uk-beach-squadrons-april-august-1944/4-beach-squadron/rafadrome/

The barn walls are constructed of foam card including the external buttresses. The doors are made from balsa wood and the roof is plasticard ,covered in York Model Rail roof tiles. The internal roof beams/joists are also made from balsa wood which has been shaped and stained to give the look of age old wooden beams. I hope I carried off the effect ?

Boths sets of doors fully open for gaming purposes and the roof lifts off easily as well. The roof basically sits on the foam card walls via gravity.

A bit of Crepon WW2 history to set the scene. Crepon is 6.5 km inland from the Normandy beaches and on the 6th of June 1944 was held by 7. Kompanie, Grenadier-Regiment 736, 716. Infanterie-Division,4. Kompanie, Ost Battalion 441, 716. Infanterie-Division and 2/Artillerie-Regiment 1716, 716. Infanterie-Division. Crepon was attacked on the 6th of June by 7th Battalion Green Howards Regiment, 69th Infantry Brigade, 50th Infantry Division and 4th/7th Dragoons Guard, 8th Armored Brigade, 50th Infantry Division and was captured. After being taken Crepon became a supply/assembly area for fresh forces arriving from the beaches.

Enjoy the pictures.

Crepon tithe barn1
Crepon tithe barn 2
Crepon tithe barn 3
Crepon tithe barn 4
Crepon tithe barn 5
Crepon tithe barn 6
Crepon tithe barn 7
Crepon tithe barn 8
Crepon tithe barn 9

Chateau Saint-Gilles a Bolt Action terrain project(Part 5).

Posted: June 22, 2021 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Project, Terrain, Uncategorized, Wargaming
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Small update of the project so far. The pictures taken show the first time I have put the whole thing together with surroundings just to get a feel for the project and how it all links together. Lots of work still to do inside and the roof needs a bit more work but apart from that its coming on nicely.

Chateau Saint-Gilles
Chateau Saint-Gilles

Tilly-Sur-Seulles diorama (Bolt Action)

Posted: June 19, 2021 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Diorama, Scratch Built, Terrain, Uncategorized, Wargaming, WW2
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After completing the build on my Churchill and Panther tank and builing a large batch of walls,what better excuse for a quick diorama to show them off.

The diorama is based on a real event that took place in the village of Tilly-Sur-Seulles on the 18/19th June 1944. The 2nd Essex Regiment were assualting the village with support from the 81st Assault Squadron RE. The Churchill AVRE unexpectedly came upon a chance encounter with a Panther tank and fired a snap shot at it unfortunetly missing, but striking a near by telegraph pole or tree and thus destroying the Panther tank.

The diorama wall was simply made from foam card and the tree behind the wall is scratch built from wire. I used a simple photograph as a backdrop. The black and white photograph is actually a real shot taken in Tilly after the battle.

Although not easy to see, the dust behind the Churchill tank is made from Poly Fill which was sprayed cream and then had the dust/dirt from the road glued onto it.

Both tanks and figures are 1/56 scale made for Bolt Action gaming.

Tilly-Sur-Seulles
Tilly Sur Seulles
Tilly Sur Seulles
Tilly Sur Seulles
Tilly Sur Seulles
Tilly Sur Seulles
Tilly Sur Seulles

Chateau Saint-Gilles a Bolt Action terrain project for 2020(Part 4)

Posted: September 10, 2020 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Project, Scratch Built, Terrain, Wargaming
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Very quick update of the progress so far. All my attention has been on completing the roof

and internal roof space. The 1/48 scale Citroen parked outside is just a guide for scale.

Next up is prepping the ground floor for some interior design work and painting.

Chateau Saint-Gilles a Bolt Action terrain project for 2020(Part 3).

Posted: July 13, 2020 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Project, Scratch Built, Terrain, Wargaming
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A much needed update on my chateau project. Things have finally started moving again as I have cleared by back log of painting during the covid 19 lock down.


As you can see, I have been working on the ground and second floor and have just started on the third floor and attic space. It still looks a bit Heath Robinson at this stage but once I get some paint on it will come on really quickly. One thing that has surprised me is the sheer scale of it as it comes together. I wanted a scratch-built Chateau as nothing on the ready built market ticked the box in size or detail, even so this going to be a beast.


Things that have slowed me down are the planning of how everything will fit together and allowing access to all rooms and spaces for figures. Its difficult making whole floors that can be separated for game play and structurally solid at the same time, especially in foam card.


Interior design will include marble floors using marble effect sheet, wooden flooring using model boat planks and dolls house wall paper for a lot of the rooms. Fire places have been scratch built and I intend to fill out every room but in a moth ball type state if that makes sense. So white sheets over chairs etc etc.
Big thankyou to my laser cutting friend who was responsible for turning my very basic diagrams into some fantastic looking windows and doors.


Next challenge will be the roof which is a Mansard and the dormer windows protruding from it. The roof will most likely be the most complicated part of the building and I think it will test my limited building ability to the max. Wish me luck.

M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer 1/56 scale

Posted: June 2, 2020 in 1/56, Bolt Action, Terrain, Wargaming, Warlord Games
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A bit more armour for the allies. An M10 Wolverine tank

destroyer by Warlord games in 1/56 scale. Marked out in

British colours of the 20th Anti-Tank Regiment with men from

3rd Infantry Division. The original picture the mini diorama is

based on is a short distance from Sword Beach on the 6th

of June 1944.

The raised railway line is simple 28mm resin and the embankment

is styrene. The road is real earth.

Bolt Action terrain.

Posted: May 11, 2020 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Scratch Built, Terrain, Wargaming
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Been busy at home during this corona virus lock down

adding bits and pieces . This is a simple large, fallen

oak tree made from wire wrapped in woodland scenic flex

paste. The canopy is made from a floor cleaning pad that

was ripped up and the roots are a combination of sponge, real

dirt and rubberised horse hair. Basically anything spare lying

about was included in the build.

Chateau Saint-Gilles a Bolt Action terrain project for 2020(Part 2).

Posted: March 23, 2020 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Project, Terrain, Wargaming
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Just a small update of progress being made during these strange and worrying times.

The picture is of a mock up for the front entrance of the chateau before I start

gluing things in place. I have an excellent contact who is able to make most

things from laser cut mdf and he is responsible for the brilliant doors and windows.

I now have a large ready made supply of doors and windows for the project so things

should start to get a move on shortly.

Chateau Saint-Gilles a Bolt Action terrain project for 2020.(Part 1)

Posted: January 29, 2020 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Project, Scratch Built, Terrain, Wargaming
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After the success of my foam card French house project in 2019 I have

decided to be a bit more adventurous and go the whole hog and build

a chateau. I love individually built terrain as it brings something

unique to the table top, that combined with a desire for centre piece

for the table fits perfectly with the idea of building a chateau.

On top of this a lack of ready made buildings is driving me on and

the strange discovery of a beautiful abandoned chateau online has

aroused by creative curiosity.

I discovered the beautiful abandoned chateau online while searching

for images. It turns out there is unique bunch of urban explorers who

specialise in discovering and photographing derelict and abandoned properties.

The details of many of the places are kept secret as once a location is

known it often becomes vandalised. Luckily with a bit of research I was able

to locate the said chateau on google maps helping me get a better idea of

the layout. Sorry the chateau location stays a secret and my chateau name

is fictional.

So progress so far is slow, but its a start and I’m finding the scale

and complexity challenging for my basic ability.

I have measured the whole thing out and drawn a master diagram. I have

also started cutting out the ground floor walls. On top of this I have

started on some of the internal room features such as fire places etc.

I am presenting working on the internals wall and will post up pics

shortly.

Chateau diagram

DFS 230 gliders for Bolt Action

Posted: January 16, 2020 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, German, Terrain, Wargaming
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I bought these two very different glider kits for

wargaming Bolt Action on the island of Crete. The larger

kit is by Sarissa and is apparently 28mm and made from a

combination of mdf and card board.

The smaller kit is made by Hobby and is a 1/48 normal

plastic kit.

Pros and cons, cons first. The Sarissa kit is huge, compared

to the 1/48 scale Hobby kit and to be honest is an incorrect size.

It has also started to come apart along some of the joint lines

and will warp if left near a heat source. I also had to reinforce the

wings to support the weight.

The Hobby kit was quite difficult to assemble and the glass windows

were a royal pain to insert into place. The Hobby kit was nearly twice

the price of the Sarissa kit.

The positive points were that both kits look excellent when painted

up and really bring the wargaming table into the lime light. They are

also an essential part of the Cretan terrain if your wargaming the

invasion of Crete.

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