Australian Gold Rush / Tent City Terrain Ideas

[von Lucky]

So I am watching 'Deadwood' while I try and concentrate on completing non-Western wargaming projects.

Well that was a mistake.

I started building a barn (which can be used for ACW and Walking Dead games too), but then I started Google image searching things like "Australian gold rush" and "gold rush tent city" - ah dammit.

Found this site of photos of the Australian gold rush that might be of interest to others:
https://artblart.com/tag/gold-fields-town/







Has anyone done an Australian gold rush table or a tent city? I'm toying with both/either as it'll be nice as something with a point of difference.

[Poiter50]

Played Bushrangers using LOTOW, have some Eureka Kangaroos to add to the next game but my friend with the OPFOR had returned to Nu Zulland.

[Vagabond]

Von Lucky thanks for the link, there are some amazing pictures there. Do you have any idea what the matting type material they use for the roof in the 2nd picture is.
The wood work that holds it down is a model making dream.

[Poiter50]

It's probably tree bark, cut in one continuous strip, then held down with wood struts.

[Elbows]

If you're looking for more inspiration check out Hell on Wheels - the series about the railroad works in the US.  While the actual aesthetic may differ, they show a ton of facade buildings made from a single wall and a tent/canvas body, etc.  Something which could easily collapse down and be moved with the railroad crews, etc.

[dinohunterpoa]

von Lucky, thank you very much for sharing the link, lots of nice ideas there!  

[von Lucky]

Vagabond - as Poiter50 stated, it's bark and for me so distinctly colonial Australian.

More info here:
http://www.myplace.edu.au/decades_timeline/1820/decade_landing_18.html?tabRank=3&subTabRank=4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slab_hut
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=australian+slab+huts&hl=en&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-1IXuqIPVAhUFlpQKHZZ8BzcQ_AUIBigB&biw=1920&bih=947

Thanks for the tip Elbows, I think I like the idea of a gold rush tent city appeals as it'll provide cover for miniatures while not taking up as much room as a traditional 28mm Old West table. It'll also allow to switch settings with ease (including locations such as Klondike):

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=gold+rush+tent+city&hl=en&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjm5amcqYPVAhUDEpQKHV-gAD0Q_AUIBigB&biw=1920&bih=947

[Mason]

Something similar that I made for my Old West town of Upsheet Creek.
It is basically a frame of a building with a cut up t-shirt stuck to it in sections and painted with PVA glue to harden it.


Time to introduce you to 'Dirty Dirk's'....










A newcomer to town, Dirty Dirk travels between towns, opening his 'House of Heaven' to the locals until he is asked to move on.
He uses a large tent with a false shop 'front' to attract his customers.


Some better pictures with the usual suspect for scale....









As you can see, not so yellow as in the previous examples.




And the obligatory shot of Brian's Mum having a nose at Dirk's goods....





Dunno how long the piccies will last before Photobucket kill them....

[dinohunterpoa]

Mason, that's a really nice build, CONGRATULATIONS! 

I remember a movie in which inside of such a "tented bordello" there was a hot tub (with a Lady and her rubber duck inside, of course)!   

[Poiter50]

Must have been the inspiration for the Eureka vignette.

[dinohunterpoa]

Must have been the inspiration for the Eureka vignette.

I think it was the movie "The White Buffalo" with Charles Bronson!  

That Eureka Lady is mandatory in ANY respectable 28mm bordello! 

[Poiter50]

respectable 28mm bordello = Oxymoron?

I think it was the movie "The White Buffalo" with Charles Bronson!  

That Eureka Lady is mandatory in ANY respectable 28mm bordello! 

[dinohunterpoa]

respectable 28mm bordello = Oxymoron?

Where I live, these girls are called "respectable young ladies"! 

[Mason]

Where I live, these girls are called "respectable young ladies"! 

Yeah, but you live in the 'Horny Jackalope Saloon'....what do you expect?
 

[Etranger]

Von Lucky thanks for the link, there are some amazing pictures there. Do you have any idea what the matting type material they use for the roof in the 2nd picture is.
The wood work that holds it down is a model making dream.

Looks like bark from a gum tree, probably stringy gum.

You can get away with most 'Old West' buildings for Australia. For many, even the signs would be similar. A fair number of the '49er' gold miners came from Oz in the first place.