Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: AKULA on May 03, 2011, 05:25:31 PM
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Now that the Battlefield project is done, i've added a new terrain project to my list.
:D
This is the sort of thing I have in mind at the moment (apologies for the rubbish doodle, but I knocked this up, on my ipad, by hand....erm...actually, by finger) :
12 x 2' square boards
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/2011-03-2609_01_410000.png)
The top of the L, with the bridge, will be significiantly higher terrain, with a steep, windy road (meaning that convoys need to slow down), with stepped paddyfields down the side of the hill.
Two villages (one by the river, with a jetty, in white), a temple (T) on a hill, as a useful point for VC mortar spotters, a convent (C), and a small US firebase (F)....oh, and Suzi Q's Bar (S).
Have probably overdone the jungle - some of it will just be scattered trees, rather than dense ground cover, but that is the rough plan for now - 've already redrawn it 3 or 4 times, so don't expect it to look anything like this, by the time its finished.
Bits of it have been influenced by the Battlefield:Vietnam game, but unlike, with the Arica Harbor table, i'm not planning on a copy of any particular map, rather it will be influenced by some of my favourite bits (eg the stepped paddyfields from "Vantage Point", the bridges in "Operation Hastings", the low lying ditches in "Phu bai" etc etc.
I'm also toying with making some elements, such as the firebase, "destroyable" as per the Arica Harbor map, by having a plain/bunker/destroyed version.
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....and this is what i got done this weekend:
As it stands, this project will be 50% bigger than the Battlefield one (with 12 x 2' squares, rather than 8), but hopefully quicker to build, and maybe even cheaper (as i've got plenty of off cuts left over).
Board 1 - the Bridge
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1050630.jpg)
Inspiration for this was from Hamburger Hill (the scene with the caravan being towed over the bridge), and from the Operation Hastings map on BFBC2 Vietnam.
Still clearly a WIP - only started it on Saturday afternoon - should be able to fit a River Monitor between the bridge spans...
Truck is a 1/56th FOA resin truck, for scale purposes.
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Board 2 - Stepped Paddyfields
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1050623.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1050624.jpg)
Inspiration for this is mainly from Vantage Point map on BFBC2:Vietnam, but also photos like this:
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/imagesCAAUACGI.jpg)
Still a WIP clearly, need to build up the sides of the stepped paddyfields etc etc
The road section is intentionally steep, and windy, so that vulnerable convoys will have to slow down on the bends.
:wink:
The two boards together:
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1050631.jpg)
FOA 1/56th Truck and FOA 28mm Mini for scale purposes.
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Looking awesome! :o
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Board 3 - Village with Paddyfields (WIP)
Another ville, this time, with the more "traditional" style of paddyfield:
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1050632.jpg)[/quote]
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Subscribed!
Looking forward to seeing your work on this one (from the internet in Australia). Are you planning to use it at the next Salute?
How are you going to store the terrain?
Happy Gaming,
Allan
One day when my kids move out....
My wife might let me have a dedicated wargames room :-*
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You don't take any prisoners do you.
You are fairly battering on with this project.
Do you have a deadline?
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Are you planning to use it at the next Salute?
How are you going to store the terrain?
hmm....I wasn't planning to - if i did, i'd probably need a van, as its 50% bigger than the Battlefield table. Tempting, but then i'd like to see a bit more of the show next year.
re: storage - I always have one project on table (in this case the Vietnam WIP), but can store 3 more projects under the table - part of the reason I use 2' boards is that they fit underneath the table. So currently i've got the Battlefield Boards, the Hasslefree board, and the start of my aliens project under there. The ten foot long aircraft carrier is sadly looking for a new home, but i'm tempted to build another ship at some point. That will have to wait though, as i've also got a Galactica project about to start bubbling.....which will leave me with quandry re:storage.
My wife might let me have a dedicated wargames room
When we moved, the new house didn't have a garage, so we added one. Then I pointed out to the missus that we just filled it full of junk, so I hired a skip, got rid of the junk, and moved my stuff in.... sneaky!
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You don't take any prisoners do you.
You are fairly battering on with this project.
Do you have a deadline?
No deadline - this is purely for fun.
Realistically though, I want to progress it pretty rapidly because I also want to get on with my Galactica/Aliens Projects.
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I could have sworn I'd replied to this.... oh well, I'll repeat myself just in case....
Yay! Another Akula project! 8)
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Seriously when do you sleep? You never seem to stop.
Looking like a great start, will definately follow this one closely.
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Great stuff, Akky!
Look forward to this project, as well :)
And I assume the rules will be named "V Ar:Se"...
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Looking good already, I'll be watching this one closely. :)
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And I assume the rules will be named "V Ar:Se"...
hmmm....hadn't given it that much thought yet.....
Given the use of radios (for calling in arty, airstrikes, and medevacs) is such a feature, I might call them "Alpha Romeo:Sierra Echo.....(Over)"......
lol
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looking great so far
thought it looked familiar to the BFVN game
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Seriously when do you sleep?
Sleep is highly overrated.
:)
Boards 4 & 5 - US Base
A small US base - will hold a reinforced platoon-sized force - 8 squad dugouts, with roof cover, plus a central command post, which will be full enclosed, and house a heli pad on the roof.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1050627.jpg)
It will be ringed by barbed wire (upright posts, plus probably some concertina), claymores etc etc The engineers have cleared back the treeline, but the ground cover has regrown with alrming speed, meaning that the VC can get pretty much right up up next to the wire, giving a claustrophobic feel to it. Will be littered with ammo crates, sandbags, hopefully the odd tent etc.
Decided to spread it over two boards, both to make it further away from the table edge, but also to allow some flexibility - despite the large size of some of the terrain pieces, different layouts will be possible.
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hmmm....hadn't given it that much thought yet.....
Given the use of radios (for calling in arty, airstrikes, and medevacs) is such a feature, I might call them "Alpha Romeo:Sierra Echo.....(Over)"......
lol
That'll work.
Alpha
Romeo
Sierra
E cho
As I said elsewhere, you need medication....and gunboats!
;)
The Commander
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Imagine you'll be buying a shedload of those brill ebob trees?
For the uninitiated;
(http://www.ebobminiatures.com/recon28/products/ptrees1.jpg)
http://www.recon28.com/
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yup - i used a handful on the Battlefield game, and the quality is excellent.
8)
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Dangnabbit, that's a beauty. I really, really need to paint my FoA Vietnam stuff (and assemble the M113s, argh).
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Imagine you'll be buying a shedload of those brill ebob trees?
I'm losing faith that Ebob will ever release them, to be quite frank.
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I'm losing faith that Ebob will ever release them, to be quite frank.
+1. Only a mad genius like Akula is a welcome visitor to unreleased beauties.
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tbh, I think ebob wants to ensure that he is able to supply a product, in quantity, with his usual quality, before he makes it available in his shop. I was very fortunate that he let me get hold of a handful, as I had the Salute deadline.
Last nights effort:
Board 6 - VC Tunnels/Temple
The hill base, on which i'm going to put a small temple. the temple will sit on a 6mm MDF base, concealing the tunnels underneath.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1050629.jpg)
My initial idea is that the larger room will be a small field hospital, and the other room a store area. The two pairs of tunnels are a combination of tunnel entrances, and "Spider holes" used by sentries to protect the tunnel entrances.
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Quick Update - got the river edges done, so you can see roughly what I have in mind:
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1050650.jpg)
River at top of screen, and a smaller tributary flows into it, on the left hand side - both boards on the left will be dense jungle.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1050652.jpg)
On the left of this picture, you can see another tributary, flowing into the main river - this tributary is just to the right of the temple/paddyfields, on the previous photo. The plain board in the foreground will be dense jungle, with several trails, meaning that the US base has a degree of separation from the paddyfields etc. The board, top right will be the site of the second village.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1050658.jpg)
View lengthwise down the board - there will be some tall elephant grass between the US base, and the second village.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1050659-1.jpg)
The layout is designed to present some challenges to the US player.
Firstly any riverborne patrol could face potential fire from the bush on either bank, from above (as they cross through the canyon/under the bridge), or from the temple, or village.
Secondly, foot patrols from the base will inevitably end up having to traverse close terrain, leading to ambush opportunities.
Thirdly, the height differential provides scope for snipers, or mortar spotters to look down into the base - there will be a position covering the bridge, but does the US player split his force, or leave it to the local ARVN to cover...?
Fourth, the road allows for convoy scenarios, which again may require the base to offer support.
Fifth, the limited room for resupply by huey (only room for one at a time on the base pad) means that any reinforcements will most probably have to land elsewhere, and walk in.
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I know you show a 1/56 scale truck but is that scale you are going to do this in?
Liking you plans so far. Loads of scope for fun games.
I am needing to plan my board better.
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I know you show a 1/56 scale truck but is that scale you are going to do this in?
Liking you plans so far. Loads of scope for fun games.
I am needing to plan my board better.
Yup, 28mm figures, based individually.
By a strange coincidence, some of the tiles can be swooped around. Clearly the streams/ tributaries mean that it's not completely interchangeable, but the main river section on the top right (ie where the second village will be) is the same width as the section on the far left.... Also the two base boards, the "plain" jungle board, and the paddy fields, could all be moved if needs be - I didn't want it to be completely swappable, as it becomes too formulaic.
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tbh, I think ebob wants to ensure that he is able to supply a product, in quantity, with his usual quality, before he makes it available in his shop.
I think that's it, along with wanting to do a simultaneous release of the line in it's entiry. Having spoken to a few of the independent manufacturers about the general feel of the business one thing becomes increasingly clear, i.e. releasing a gaming line as a small business takes a lot of effort, physically, mentally and financial. I've no doubt about the Recon28 being realised and with the highest quality humanly possible, like a lot of the small makers.
There's two things we can all do to help, one is to maintain the enthusiasm, and the other is to support it with purchases as it's available - and that's simple compared to doing a line eh? ;)
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Only an hour or so today:
Trimmed the edges of the river banks, roads etc, now that the glue has set, to remove any staight, hard lines. Next step will be to add some filler, glue/sand mix.
Also raised up the level of the US base firepits, with a bit of polysterene.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1050660.jpg)
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Looking good. Do you need any spagnum moss for when it comes to foliage/ground cover etc?
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Akky you are mental, in a good way, but mental ;D
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Just discovered this thread. Great stuff! Having been raised on news reports of Nam in my youth and watched pretty well every film on the subject, I can't wait to see this finished. I'm hoping there will be lots of ideas to nick for my own jungle building project.
It's great to have Akula ARSEing about in Nam :D
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akula you should do operatin metro from bf3 with subway an all
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How is this project coming along?
I would really like to see more pics
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How is this project coming along?
I would really like to see more pics
Currently its in pieces under my table, as i've been working on one of the games for Salute (a WW1 Fantasy Trench game).
The good news is that i've finished that, so once Salute is out of the way in a couple of weeks, I'm going to crack on with the Vietnam Boards AND my Galactica Project.
The other good news is that the Trench game has allowed me to experiment with water effects, which i'll need for the Nam boards, as I'll be making some river sections, and rice paddies.
:D
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OK, The WW1 Fantasy Boards and Salute are out of the way now, ad i've progressed the Galactica project, so its time to turn my attention back to the Vietnam project:
Got plenty done this weekend - polyfillered the boards, and then added pva/sand to give some texture.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1060742.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1060743.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1060744.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1060745.jpg)[/
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Looks like its going to be a cracking table with loads of gaminng ideas already present.
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Looks like its going to be a cracking table with loads of gaminng ideas already present.
Cheers Mac - although the bridge/ravine takes up a lot of storage space I wanted something with real height on it for spotters, snipers etc As it looks down upon the US firebase it should complicate matters nicely, as well as giving an entrance point to the board and an objective.
Quick Update - have given the boards a chocolate brown basecoat, and then a quick dry brush with a much lighter(almost grey) brown.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1060746.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1060747.jpg)
Next up, I need to paint the rice paddies, and the river.
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Sweet! Now all you need is dozens of 1/56 Ontos and Sheridans pouring all over your terrain boards. I'll prep an invoice ;D
Where do you store all this great stuff?
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Sweet! Now all you need is dozens of 1/56 Ontos and Sheridans pouring all over your terrain boards. I'll prep an invoice ;D
Where do you store all this great stuff?
And a very just question that is, my dear Company B. Where does he keeps all that stuff. Perhaps some secret and dark WW2 bunker hidden below an assuming grassy knoll, where in medieval darkness he works his magic......SCRATCH!# Ohh shut you retard. Can't you give these people a straight comment for once! Oww, why do i bother.
Sorry about that, i lost my pills.
Anyway, i love your work Akula and will keep an eye on it. Kudos to you.
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Akula is obviously the 'Doctor' and has the Tardis :)
Fantastic looking table so far
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Where do you store all this great stuff?
Most of my boards are 2' squares, meaning that they can be stored under the tables when not in use. To give you an idea, the Battlefield Arica Harbour board (8'x4) and WWI Fantasy Trench board (10'x4) both fit under the tables at the front of this picture, ie the bit shown by the nearest 6 squares of the Nam boards. The Galactica project (10'x4) is under the furthest table).....
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1060747.jpg)
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Well this sure looks promising!
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Can't wait to see more and those trees by Recon look fantastic pity they are currently out of stock I have a sneaky suspicion you bought them all... Really looking forward to the rice paddies. I love the smell of napalm in the morning.
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Can't wait to see more and those trees by Recon look fantastic pity they are currently out of stock I have a sneaky suspicion you bought them all... Really looking forward to the rice paddies. I love the smell of napalm in the morning.
Drop ebob an email, you never know he might have some that arent on the site yet.
Painted the Paddyfields, and added resin water
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/Vietnam/P1060749.jpg)
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Tìm kiếm tốt người bạn đế quốc của tôi!
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:-*
Mammoth project which is coming around real nice.
Keep the updates coming!
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Update:
I've binned all of the boards.
I'm not happy with how they were going - particularly the water effects on the river sections. In retrospect I think that smaller boards would have made more sense - I used 600mm x 600mm baseboards for the Nam project whereas my latest project (Planet of the Apes) is based upon 450mm x 450mm ones making them easier to store and transport.
Rather than try to rescue the Nam boards, I'll come back to this project at a later date, and start afresh having learnt from my mistakes.
Space wise I can fit 3 projects under my tables, with another obviously on top - currently I've got the Battlefield and WW1 Fantasy boards (both finished) under my table plus the Galactica Project (WIP) so anything else has to be spot on otherwise it gets binned.
For now i'll turn instead to the Planet of the Apes project, before I move the Galactica project on a bit more.
The King is Dead, Long Live the King!
:D
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Tìm kiếm tốt người bạn đế quốc của tôi!
Gobble-di-Asian!-)
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Sad news.
On the other hand, that means that you'll soon start work on your Galactica board again. ;)
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That's a shame as I enjoy your build threads but applause for being so decisive. :)