Explosives

[Pentaro]

I want to make a couple of markers for explosives (28mm scale). However, I don't know at all what explosives did WW1 sappers use, and how they should look. I grew up watching Looney Tunes, so to me "explosives" means red dynamite sticks and a big, box-like detonator labeled ACME

[Plynkes]

In mining operations British sappers and miners used an explosive called Ammonal. Not sure what this looks like. I think it was a powder that came in rubber sacks. Time for some googling, I reckon. Or go to Picardy or Flanders and start digging. There is still loads of it buried underground! 

T.E. Lawrence used gelignite to blow up trains on the Hejaz railway, with cut-up rifles used as detonators. Gelignite can come in stick-shaped packages. A wooden crate with an open top filled with sticks might be one way to portray it.


I'm sure other things were used, but those are two I know about off the top of my head.

[bluewillow]

Allied TNT is wrapped in light brown wax paper, fuses are yellow or black detonators are silver or black. The TNT was round  about 20cm long or in blocks about  20cm x 10cm x 6cm.

TNT was in rectangle timber boxes with hemp rope handles, when opened dark brown wax paper surrounded the box inner, the outside was marked in black writing
long side
Danger
TNT
explosive
short side

Nobel
60


Unsure of German TNT markings
cheers
matt

[Pentaro]

I'll try Google first and leave the digging as a last resort, thanks. I forgot to say that I'm looking for the French ones, but maybe there's not a lot of difference. Plain boxes or sacks should do the job for every other player in the campaign.

[Stecal]

The various crew figures that come with the Woodbine or Brigade (or is it Great War?) Trench catapults are engaged in assembling "Jam Pot" grenades.  Those bits might be good explosives markers too.