Quick Normandy Table...

[V]

A few images of how I quickly layout a table for our WW2 games. For storage reasons we tend to make all our scenery as place on items, to use on our sets of terrain boards or on mats depending on the size of game. We also try to make as much stuff as generic as possible to aid in multi use, but we try to add specific details to reinforce the visual keys to the period and setting.

For example, in WW2 games, the most key visual often is to reflect the building styles of the chosen area. This makes a table in Normandy look different from one in Holland or Germany simply by changing the buildings. Other stock terrain is easily re-used but the themed buildings do a great job of scene setting.

The tables usually take around 20-40 minutes to set up depending on size and breakdown far faster. All items are made and stored in a manner to facilitate fast set up and breakdown despite having the luxury of a specific games room. 


Stage 1 - Lay out the old Arnhem boards for a 6 x 4 area...




Stage 2 - Lay out the houses and walls...




Stage 3 - Fences, Telegraph Poles, wrecks and other scenery dressing...




Stage 4 - Add some trees...




Stage 5 - Add a bucket of scatter...




...and the obligatory eye candy test pics...

[Kane]

Love the fishtank pebbles! 

Nice table overall!

[von Lucky]

Great tips and great photos!

[Andym]

Love the fishtank pebbles! 

Nice table overall!

That’s what that is!!! I’ve trying to figure that out for ages!

I love how realistic your layouts are. Do you use maps that work out what goes where or is it just what looks ‘right’?

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Excellent.

[V]

Love the fishtank pebbles! 

Actually its dyed cat litter... 

Luckily... we have a dog.

[V]

I love how realistic your layouts are. Do you use maps that work out what goes where or is it just what looks ‘right’?

Most of the time its just what looks 'natural' but old aerial photos are handy too...

[jon_1066]

You have really perfected that WWII look.  The rubble scatter really makes it.  How do you clean up at the end - dust pan and brush?

[V]

How do you clean up at the end - dust pan and brush?

Just tip the cat litter onto the sheet covering the table and pour back in the box... Takes seconds. 

For city scapes I just use the brown sheet and work off that. Will be doing one this week for a Budapest game...

[Jemima Fawr]

Beautiful!

I wish I still had the photos of all the AB Figures WW2 demo games we did when the WW2 range first came out...