Zeriba thorn hedges

[James Morris]

A bit of a modelling enquiry, really.  I need to make some zeriba thorn hedges to use as barricades for my 28mm African models - has anyone made one?  I'm suspecting some kind of doctored vegetation would do the job, but does anyone have any tips?

Any thoughts appreciated.

James

[Smokeyrone]

"Colonial Angle" website has a   zeriba made from moss or something. 

http://home.comcast.net/~theangle/LastOutp/loreport2.htm

Nice guy, great siege rules (I mix them with Chris Feree's Rorkes Drift rules and throw one HELL of a siege game)

[OSHIROmodels]

Rubberised horse hair might be your best bet as it will keep together over time and generally keeps it shape quite well. I would recomend basing it aswell, just to help.

cheers

James

[john Hollyoak]

The standard way for 28mm seems to be rubberised horsehair strips. It is difficult to get hold of but if you can find it you can make a lot of zeriba for very little cost and effort.
Personally, I don't think it it is that accurate. I made some for my 15mm Egyptians using branches from Woodland Scenic trees. For 28mm all you need is larger branches.
My method is as follows:
Make a base to match your normal terrain.
Cut the branches off the trees, paint as required (I drybrushed light grey) and cram as many on the base as possible.
Add odd bits of foliage to represent leaves that weren't dislodged when they were dragged into place.
This method is very straighforward but will cost a lot more than horsehair.

Regards
John

[James Morris]

The standard way for 28mm seems to be rubberised horsehair strips. It is difficult to get hold of but if you can find it you can make a lot of zeriba for very little cost and effort.
Personally, I don't think it it is that accurate. I made some for my 15mm Egyptians using branches from Woodland Scenic trees. For 28mm all you need is larger branches.
My method is as follows:
Make a base to match your normal terrain.
Cut the branches off the trees, paint as required (I drybrushed light grey) and cram as many on the base as possible.
Add odd bits of foliage to represent leaves that weren't dislodged when they were dragged into place.
This method is very straighforward but will cost a lot more than horsehair.

Regards
John

Many thanks, would you happen to have a picture?  This sounds interesting.

[john Hollyoak]

Sorry for the delay, I'm new to this photo lark but I've given it a go and opened a Flickr account. Hope this link works:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46754282@N08/4298904410/in/photostream.html

Looking at them now I think they could do with more branches but hopefully you get the idea.

Regards
john

[Smokeyrone]

That's one heck of a strong zeriba.   

I like it.  Heavy duty, but it looks good.

I like your figures. Who made them?

[Barry S]

Sorry to chime in so late but I seem to have overlooked this thread

I made a zeriba in 15mm using rubberised hair, cut into small squares, rolled into small balls which were then glued into place.
There are some photos of the finish project here: http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/LeadBear/
An added bonus is watching the 1939 version of Four Feathers for research purposes 

John,
They look good and strong. If you're interested, these fellows sell some bare plastic trees quite cheaply which maybe can be cut down to size:
http://www.virtual-village.com.au/20-model-railway-winter-trees-with-no-leaves-ho-scale-003550-051.html

I've bought from them before with no hassles as I had considered using them, along with the WS armatures, for abatis in 15mm. I used some old plastic christmas tree cut up and even though it turned out reasonable, I'm still not overly happy with it.

[Smokeyrone]

Nice stuff, Barry, and that link to the tree salesmen down under is a good one.

[James Morris]

Gents,

Thank you, especially for the effort of posting pics.  These look great.  I like both the branches and the rubberised horsehair approach, and for 28mm, might consider combining the two.  Where does one buy rubberised horsehair?

[Barry S]

Antenociti's Workshop in the UK sells it: http://www.barrule.com/workshop/scratch%20builders%20paradise/trees,%20arbres,%20baume.html

Cheers,

Barry

[john Hollyoak]

Thanks for the comments, glad the pics were useful. Principles of War allows individual units to construct a zeriba so the finished article is only 9cm wide by 2 cm deep. Couldn't afford to go too delicate although it would be easy enough to do - I just don't think it would stand to up to the rough handling I dish out.

Smokey - Figures are Essex Egyptian Gendarmes painted and given to me by the great Mark Copplestone (namedropper aren't I!)

Regards
john