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Author Topic: Askari - several years in the making  (Read 25991 times)

Offline has.been

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 8236
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #75 on: September 01, 2019, 07:53:27 PM »
Thanks for the picture Plynkes, without that I wouldn't have ever thought of
modelling rolled up mats stuck in a tree!

Offline juergen c. olk

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Scatterbrained Genius
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  • Posts: 2388
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #76 on: September 01, 2019, 11:46:16 PM »
That is a great looking game..the buildings ,especially the Gunboat..WowWWWW!!!

Offline blacksoilbill

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1487
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #77 on: September 02, 2019, 02:30:56 AM »
Splendid! What a visual feast, and it sounds like it was loads of fun too.

Offline has.been

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 8236
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #78 on: September 02, 2019, 06:49:42 AM »
The buildings & boats, in fact the whole idea of doing WW1 in Africa, is done to Bob (Flatpack),
The rest of us just tag along for the ride, & bacon butties.

Offline has.been

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 8236
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #79 on: September 02, 2019, 06:57:52 AM »
Oops! Should have typed 'down to Bob'  (not done to Bob).
It is too early in the morning for me.

Offline flatpack

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1383
  • Hiding in the shed
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #80 on: September 15, 2019, 07:12:49 AM »
Thought I would add this, when we talk about boats.
I’ve always wanted a paddle-steamer for these games, to add to the adventure.
I’d looked at scratch building, but never had the nerve to start.
I’d looked at resin, but they cost serious cash.
I finally looked at the build it yourself from an mdf kit from sarissa.
Now these too cost some cash, approx £45, and where would you store it after it’s built ?
Then I’m sure I saw an article on LAF one day, from a chap that had had the same issues, but he gave me a few clues to the answers.
So I plumped for the sarissa rear paddle steamer, after the chap said it could be dismantled so that it could be stored. He also modified his, to remove some of the upper roof on the upper deck, which was good, as it allowed you to get troops onto the upper deck. I also wanted to be able to mount deck guns up there too.
So birthday time comes round, and I “push the boat out” and spend my saved up pennies on the sarissa kit.
Now the boat itself is very easy to build, and it was a pleasure to put it together. The nerves kicked in when I was deciding where to cut the rear roof off.
Here’s what I ended up with...


So here are a few stages I went through to get there.

Here you can see I have cut off the rear roof and made myself a frame to get a canvas roof that can be offered into the space. I’ve kept the mdf roof sections to use under the canvas roof.
Cocktail sticks and coffee stirrers were used for the frame.
Here I am checking, sandbags and figures will fit.


Here are those roof sections being used to make the frame.


Then I decided to make another frame to be covered in canvas ( made from kitchen paper and watered down pva glue), that could sit at the front of the boat.


Here I am, checking figures will fit again.


Going back to the rear upper section, you can see I have used coffee stirrers to add strength to the roof, before the canvas goes on.




Now the canvas is added, front and back, using the kitchen paper and watered down pva glue method. This took a few days to dry, before it could be painted (note, first time I’ve ever tried this, but got clues from the canvas master has.been)






So there you have it, one finished paddleboat (and a small steam boat for comparison)


The next tricky part was finding sailors and deck guns, but after a bit of digging, they were sourced, painted and made it to the table.

Hope this inspires someone to take the plunge and get big boats into those African waterways.





Flatpack

Offline dartfrog

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 302
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #81 on: September 15, 2019, 08:23:02 AM »
Very nice paddle boat. Tempted, but a large project to add to the pile for me  :? I'm sure it's further back in the messages, where's the boat from?
Cheers.

Offline has.been

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 8236
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #82 on: September 15, 2019, 08:27:04 AM »
Having seen it in the 'flesh' I can honestly say it is even better than the pictures.
It really scared the Germans when it came around the bend in the river.

Offline dartfrog

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 302
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #83 on: September 15, 2019, 08:53:39 AM »
Just went through the whole thread. Very very nice. Inspiration for me to finish my East Africa stuff. Have enough Congo bits to give it a try. Loving the animals. Have had loads of fun with those in Congo games. Good to see others having fun with African wildlife.
               Next stop rail system and boats I feel. Oh and giraffes, need plenty of giraffes.

Offline flatpack

  • Mastermind
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  • Hiding in the shed
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #84 on: September 15, 2019, 09:31:39 AM »
Glad it’s got your juices going for Africa again.
It’s a good period to game, with different elements thrown in (and animals !)
The paddle boat is made by sarissa btw.

Offline dartfrog

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 302
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #85 on: September 15, 2019, 09:52:36 AM »
Cheers. Sarrisa, not seen it. Time to go schmoozing their site.

Still having trouble finding good sized giraffes, all seem way too tall on ebay  ::)

Offline flatpack

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1383
  • Hiding in the shed
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #86 on: September 15, 2019, 02:52:51 PM »
I think we are using old airfix Tarzan box giraffes  (has.been is that correct ?)

Offline has.been

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 8236
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #87 on: September 15, 2019, 05:59:32 PM »
Not the Airfix ones, they are closer to 15/20mm.
I went to the great (ha!) expense of buying a couple of jungle animal sets
from Home Bargains (cheap shop). They provided quite a few animals,
though our lionesses are repainted tigers.

Offline DintheDin

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  • Posts: 6214
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #88 on: September 15, 2019, 06:03:20 PM »
The paddle boat is awesome!
Excellent and inspiring!
Thanks for sharing the WIP pictures also!
Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates. – Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

Offline flatpack

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  • Hiding in the shed
Re: Askari - several years in the making
« Reply #89 on: February 29, 2020, 11:40:21 AM »
Back with more boats.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed Sarrisa had released a new Retro Americana Shantyboat.
I ordered a couple as I’ve always had the idea of making my own paddlesteamer, using my imagination...Gulp.
I already had a couple of paddles from Blotz in mdf, so my intention was to just smack them on the sides of the shanty boat.
I also needed to add a steam engine in the rear of the boat to power it, and I didn’t really like the way the boat had square ends at both ends.
Below you can see the fruits of my endeavour.
Just got one more to make, and of course paint, before we have another WW1 East Africa game in a few weeks time.