Vimy Ridge The Game, Photos (Heavy) and AAR

[wrgmr1]

Canadian trenches in the foreground. 1st German trench then, 2nd and 3rd with interconnection communication trenches 4th, 5th German trenches in the back. Hill 145 on the right rear.



View from the German side, Hill 145 just out of the picture on the left.



I went over to my friend Chris Leach's place, to use his table and space for this phase. Together we painted white glue on all the edges, then Chris painted the edges brown.



This morning Chris put white glue on the top and I spread sand.







The next step is to create piles of dirt around the shell holes and scattered around using coarse sand and glue.
Then paint the whole top with dark brown.

[scrivs]

Looking good, hope to see this develop more.

[tim in saskatoon]

This looks fantastic!

I'm also currently working on a project for the 100th anniversary of the battle. Just trying to finish up painting miniatures, then I'll be on to the terrain.

[wrgmr1]

Thanks Tim!
I have your blog on my favorites list. Thanks for all your tips for terrain!

Cheers,
Thomas

[wrgmr1]

Phase 2 is completed, phase 3 is started.

The sand was applied and an initial coat of dark brown latex paint applied.



Then a heavy dry brush applied to the dark brown, with a lighter brown, as you can see. Also painted corrugated to simulate the iron used to support the walls.



Also matchsticks cut to size and glued to the trench floor as well as a wood veneer glued to the side. Support posts will be added as well for both types of wall.







Comments and thoughts are welcome.

 

[carlos marighela]

Fantastic project and great looking terrain layout! 

I suppose someone has already pointed out that the gun sponson on that MkIV is upside down?

[Driscoles]

Looks really good!

[wrgmr1]

Thanks Carlos, I didn't know that. Bought that model many years ago, it came with no instructions. 

Thanks for you kind comments Gents!

[Wirelizard]

Man, this is looking spectacular!

I suspect you're staging this game on the Sunday at Trumpeter, the long session, which means I've already scheduled myself to run my pulp Cthulhu game in the same time slot. I shall have to admire it in the tiny breaks from my game I'll get!

Too many games, not enough time!

[wrgmr1]

Wirelizard - I'm putting this game on Saturday afternoon. If you want to play this game maybe contact Terry Sawchenko directly.

Cheers,
Thomas

[aphillathehun]

Glad to hear the 1/4" hardboard is not warping.  I was building a frame for mdf and that whole process kind of made me pause.  If I could just glue the foam straight onto the hardboard with no problem that would be better.

What did you cut the foam with to make your 2'x2' squares?

[wrgmr1]

I was concerned about warping myself but the 1/4 boards are solid, heavy as well.
I used an Olfa knife with extra sharp blades to carve everything except the shell holes.
The pink foam comes in 1 1/2 thickness 2' wide and 8' long with an interlocking notch.
I just made sure the notches went one way on all the boards.
One problem is the corners are fragile, so black hockey tape along the sides gives it rigidity. I have not done this yet as it was just suggested by a friend. I may still add some.
Thanks for your kind comment.

[wrgmr1]

Phase 2 continuing.
Progress with 4 boards completed through phase 2 only 8 more to go. However I tackled the more difficult boards first, 2 of them having 3 trenches 1 more with 1-1/2. The next three will have 2 trenches each with the last four only 1 trench each.
One time consuming detail was cutting matchsticks and gluing individually to the trench floor. This was replaced by a suggestion from one of our group to use bamboo mats cut to size. Works Great!

Phase three will be painting the trenches with dark brown and dry brushing lighter colors on the ground everywhere. Adding bits of green and grass towards the rear trenches.

Bamboo mat.



Heavy Mortar position on Vimy Ridge.



2 Boards finished phase 2.





Tools of the Trade.



Shell holes.



Sections of trench.


Comments are welcome.

[fred]

Lots of work there!!

I like where you have broken the parapet up a bit. It breaks up the lines, which is good. Its good to have some areas of wood and others with corrugated iron. A few mixed up bits would be good too, either bits that have been repaired, or just different periods of building.

I'm impressed with the sheer volume of work you are undertaking for this though!

[carlos marighela]

Fantastic project! Really impressive work. If you want to add some variety to the trenches then wickerwork was a common method of revetting trenches, used by both sides. Renedra and others make wickerwork fences which with suitably cutting and sizing would probably work.