Battle Arena Idea - Help Needed!

[Jagannath]

Hi All,

Inspired by this Syd Mead painting and some recent Tatooine type ideas I've had I want to build a battle arena for some 28mm-40mm (I'm currently converting a load of wraithguard) warriors to battle it out in a gladiatorial style, but I want them watched by a 15mmish crowd. This means I can also include my 15mm terrain within the arena and some giant alien beasts.

Does anyone know where I could begin building the stand? and the crowd? What size are n-gauge? I'd be happy to roughly sculpt alterations to them in order to make alien crowd members etc.

Any help much appreciated.

[Jagannath]

I've just realised how big this would be - so perhaps a better idea would be a few large skiffs in either 6mm or 15mm scale like Jabba's skiff:



These can carry dignitaries and gangsters and the great unwashed of my not-Tatooine out to the battle ground where the avatar-titan's battle it out to watch. This might also let me give a greater sense of the scale of these warriors and perhaps allow for teams.

I'm getting pretty stoked on this idea!

[Steve F]

What size are n-gauge?

N-gauge varies from 1:148 (British model railways) to 1:160 (US model railroads) - it's roughly compatible with wargames figures sold as 10mm or 12mm.

[Diakon]

That's a cool pic and a great idea. Yeah N-Gauge goes well with Dropzone Commander stuff so I'd say approx. 10mm. If you use this scale then I think the 28 and 40mm stuff will look huge in comparison, like the picture. I'm liking the idea of using skiffs instead of stands.

[Jagannath]

Thanks both -I've just been googling mode railway sports stadiums and even in N they're pretty big, so I think I'll stick with the skiff idea now.

This is also an excuse to a)still use most of my 15mm terrain and b) gives much more leeway in the battlefield. I'm imagining Hutt type gangsters (those who can afford the upkeep of these avatar-titans) battling it out across the designated battle grounds. They could also be used to hunt giant beasts, and then the skiff makes sense as it allows the spectators to keep up (and gives an alternative target for the beasts).

Now to ebay for 1:100 and 1:87 kits to kitbash skiffs....

[The_Beast]

Well, I'd think a good start on 'the stand' would be a cheap plastic serving platter turned over. You could cut the center out, or get a bunch of 15mm waist-up torsos for the crowd. The more I dwell on the image, I'm assuming the REAL work would be making the spectators.

Doug

[Michka]

He's another idea, and it's dirt cheap. In the Phantom Menace, the effects guys used match heads and toothpicks painted in different colors to represent the crowds in the stands. With them all bunched together, and the focus being on the main arena, the eye just fills in the blanks. This would work even better if you sprinkle in a few lone figures wandering around inside the arena. Maybe managers, pit crews and couches.