The project building a earth fort 28mm (Hammerhead show)

[nevermore]

The project building a earth fort 28mm (Hammerhead show)

At Hammerhead again this year with a game for the Boxer Rebellion period, idea is to have a river with a colonial gunboat with support to exit across the table while being fired upon by the Imperial and Boxer army, talking lots of artillery here and the project has began to create a sort of Taku earthwork fort.

We just don't want it to be only for the Boxer Rebellion but also for the AWI and ACW and a number of other periods, it has to be 28mm size and fit on the river edge to bombard anything that seems to be a enemy.

First picture is blue foam cut to size, i used a MDF board for the base and this was painted with emulsion paint on both sides to stop any bowing.


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The Mdf board was first given a number of small pin nails i half hammer into the board, the 2ft square foamboard was given a slope cut around the edges - i then used transuluscent silicone and just squeezed it all over the MDF  board, i then pushed a the 2ft square foamboard onto the MDF board, the nails half entered the foam holding it into place.

I then cut up long sections 65mm wide by 350mm long, i cut up four sections as these would be my walkways inside the fort, i used for the walls section as follows 50mm high 350mm long and 25mm wide, again everything was given the transuluscent silicone but with matchsticks instead of nails to keep it in place, i used a bread knife to cut sections out for the gun emplacements.


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The entrance -gateway was to have a slope which again i cut out with a bread kife and sand papered down.


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I then used Daz clay to hide the joints and build up around the perimeter of the fort, its cheap and once set is rock hard perfect for the job.


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So now onto the inside of the fort, i created a slope walkway from foam off cuts, the walkway is coffee stirrers, you need lots of these, best way to fit these is to glue them onto cardboard once dry use silicone to fix the cardboard onto the wall sections then the walkway,saves you alot of messing around, i used balsa wood to hide the joints and it looks nice and neat


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So far so good, here is what it looks like so far, long way to go but i should have it done by the end of the week.


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[Captain Blood]

Great stuff 

May I refer you to my (now quite ancient) threads on building an earthwork bastion?

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=7777.0
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=7778.0
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=7779.0

Much the same approach as your own, as you'll see. There might just be something useful in there for you though, although I'm sure you've got it all covered 

Looking forward to seeing the finished build.

[nevermore]

 Nice project blood, I found it pretty difficult to stick the planking to the boards as p.v.a. Glue just does not take, I tried that method and took it all apart and figured out the cardboard is the best way forward to cover that part. Should be interesting to see other problems that will hit this fort, I just might come up with a few solved problems ..... But yea a lovely piece you did blood.
                                                                                     

[tomrommel1]

nice project indeed

[nevermore]

Part two of the fort so far so good.

Once the planking was done i used balsa wood to tidy up the edges and make them look neat like so.I used PVA glue for this


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I look at it and thought it i don't like the part of it looking abit to tidy, so i used a knife to cut away at those wood beams and the sharp edge got a small nail file on it.


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Next was the entrance, same method of cut and file, i think i am going to leave the gate till last, because i want a gate that can open and shut, depending if the enemy breaks in, so i need hinges off ebay for that.


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The two ramps i decided to plank, might look abit off at the bottom but later i can easy put that correct, side panels were abit of a pain, but the cardboard cutout got the shape and i bostik the coffee stirrers on, use a pair of sissors to cut it to size once dry, don't bother with a knife.


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Another pic just to show how that extra balsa makes a big difference, small details do help, i will be cutting it up abit later and making it not so neat, you will find once painted it will make the wood stand out more.


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Overall view of it, i have cut up wicker sticks and placed them in the shooting gaps, you can get these from poundland for a £1, fantasic value for money


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[nevermore]

Update - so now i used the Daz clay again, this time against the wooden beams, i shaped a slope on each section of the wall so when i get round to the texture it should look like earth dirt


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I then used the clay for where i think earth dirt would be on the planking


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Once i was happy with the clay, i allowed to dry and used a cheap ready mix interior filler, once dry i gave it a rub down with sandpaper, you only need a thin layer so no need to go overboard with this, i was going to use a knife to spread but the mix came with a plastic spreader, much better than a knife so use this.


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Outside walls, same way of doing things


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Never went over the clay slopes as it was already created


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Black matt car spray £1 for poundland, i only used it for the wood planking no need to spray everywhere.


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I used PVA glue with a small brush and gave it a sand texture between the wicker sticks, again small details mean a lot.


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Once the texture was dry i just push cocktail sticks i cut in half into the foam, once on place i gave the PVA glue touch.


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[nevermore]

part 4 of the building

I painted the wood planking dark brown matt DIY pot paint and a nutmeg for the ground inside the fort


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The inside was given a magnolia matt highlight, i used this on the gound and fort , it was then given a white touch of dry brushing


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Time for the outside groundwork, nutmeg, small brush first for all the neat touches followed by a large brush, need to wait for it to dry now.


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Almost done, still have to create the gate and another barricade inside, plus more painting.

[Captain Blood]

Great job 

[nevermore]

Update so far, i have now highlighted the outside groundwork, and thought it might need another colour just to break it up, so i used PVA glue and sprinkled grass, once dry i touched up with another paint pot from the DIY store - matt yellow


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Also i thought why not add a touch of grass in the places i thought it might grow inside the fort, again its just a break up of colours. but i think it works.


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The cocktail sticks i cut down, i did'nt want the sharp ends, coud be a pain in the hand when picking up the board piece and i did not think it made that much difference.


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I came across this box for £1 in a craft shop, looks ok, but its the hinges i wanted for my gate door, i will try and get these off and put them to good use.


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I created the door with balsa wood and again coffee sticks, the rivets i made is plastic putty, just put a blob on a what ever you have and use a sewing needle - dip the needle in the blob and place it on the gateway where it should go, just wait till dry.

So far so good, got to get this gate finished then it will be time to weather it up, i think it makes a massive difference to anything you create.

[Vagabond]

It's coming along very nicely

[nevermore]

Thanks vagabond.

[Peithetairos]

Very cool project and the wooden structures as well as the soil looks very good. I would suggest to add a bit more static grass to blur the transition from grass patches to soil, other than that I look forward to the finished piece.

[tomrommel1]

very well done 

[Andym]

Nicely done!