Japanese/Samaurai Terrain: Rice Paddy

Japanese/Samaurai Terrain: Planted Field

Japanese/Samaurai Terrain: Garden & Wood Deck

Japanese/Samaurai Terrain: Bamboo Forest

Cut 1/8" diameter dowels to various lengths and prime paint. (2"-6" for 28mm)

 

Separate/trim the plastic foliage into smaller branches.  Also cut about 2-2 leafs per bamboo trunk.

 

(1) Paint the dowels an olive-green color.

(2) Paint tan colored horizontal lines about every inch or so.

(3) drill a small hole in the top of each trunk and into the side of the trunk (varied around the diameter) at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd rings (for tall bamboo trunks) for the 'leaves'

(4) glue the branch into the top of the trunk.

(5) glue the leaves into the sides of the trunk.

 

I used 1/8" mdf for the bases.  I drilled 1/8" holes for each trunk.  I glued each trunk into the holes, starting with taller trunks in the center of the terrain and working my way to the outside with progressively smaller trunks. 

 

'Branches' can be glued to the base without a 'trunk' to represent new bamboo growth.

 

The bases had glue and sand applied.  When dry, the base was painted.

 

The painted base had glue and 'grass' applied.

20mm WWII: BAB- Moscow Campaign: Part I.

Our local gaming group really enjoys playing 20mm WWII skirmish-level battles, with a variety of rules sets including "Fire & Maneuver" and the "Brother Against Brother-WWII Variant". Our recent game is turning into a 3 part mini-campaign as the German Forces are advancing on Moscow during November-December 1941.

Part I: The Germans are advancing across the frozen rural lands located north-north-west of Moscow.  They are following the frozen river, snow covered roads and railroad tracks.  The Russians troops are putting up a spirited defense in order to stall the rapid German advance on Moscow.   

Here is one view of the table top before forces are deployed. The rail line running to the lower left is heading southward towards Moscow.  The Germans will be deployed along the opposite, long edge of the table which is NNW of the Russian Capital.

The Germans will enter the table from the edge containing the rural wood structures, capturing the rural countryside as they advance across the frozen land.  Just to the left of the center copse of trees, the Russians will be trying to retrieve their heavy artillery (a 203mm tracked artillery piece) before it gets captured and falls into enemy hands.

This is what you do when you buy up the discount, snow-covered miniature trees after Christmas each year. You end up with plenty of terrain for a winter Russian offensive. The mostly 'barren' area running through the center of the table is a frozen, snow covered river.  The bridge at the far end of the table is where the road crosses the river.  The rail line is located in the upper right hand corner of the picture. 

The German advance squad crosses the frozen river and the bridge. The road is snow covered, but you can follow it's path by the adjacent telephone poles.

The Germans advance through the rural area.

Looking through the trees and across the railroad tracks, the hidden Russian troops holding the railroad cut spot the advancing Germans coming down the road and across the frozen river. 

The Germans will need to cross the open terrain quickly as the Russian MG's start to pepper the troops with sporadic fire.

German Tank support reinforces the German infantry crossing the open terrain and draws some of the Russian fire.

Trying to protect the withdrawl of the Russian heavy artillery piece, two Russian Infantry squads take heavy fire from German Infantry advancing through the woods and down the snowy slope.

Here, the German infantry (in winter camo) is making steady progress while supported by their German Tank Escorts.  The Tank HMG's are keeping the Russian troops, trying to hold the rail line, pinned down and licking their increasing wounded rate.  The Russians would end up capitulating the rail line and retreating with what troops were remaining.  

Sable Palm Trees & Cabbage Palms (Florida Palm Trees)

Here are some pictures showing how I made my Sable Palm Trees (State tree of Florida and South Carolina) for my Florida Terrain project. I'm planning on running skirmish level gaming (28mm) for ACW, AWI, Seminole War, Patriot War, and earlier eras (Dinosaurs), set in the State of Florida, Florida Territory or La Florida, depending on the era and ownership of the area known as Florida.

This same technique can be used to create trees and foliage for scales from 54mm on down to about 15mm.

Typical Florida palm scrub or hammock areas. 

Sabal Palmettos

 Typical Florida palm scrub or hammock areas. Cabbage or 'Sawtooth' palm in foreground

 A bunch of plastic foliage found at Michael's craft supply store.

 Individual 'branches are separated from the main stem. Notice each 'leaf' represents a palm 'frond'.

 Here, the 'fronds' have been removed from the stem.  Leave enough for the 'front' stalk.

 The Construction process: (1) Cut a wood dowel to the appropriate length. For 28mm, I used a 1/4" or 3/8" wood dowel. Use a smaller diameter for smaller scales and a larger diameter for larger scales. (duh!) (2) Wrap the dowel in masking tape, starting at the base and working upwards to create the palm 'rings'. (3) Glue (I used hot glue) a wood bead to the top. (4) Start gluing and layering the palm fronds, larger to smaller, from the bottom to the top.  The lower fonds will represent the dead/flapping palm fronds. (sorry, they didn't have landscapers back then that regularly removed the dead fronds.)

 (5) I spray the top 'foliage' with a forest green spray paint. (6) I dry brush the fronds with lighter greens/yellows, with the lightest colors at the top of the tree. I paint the lower fronds with browns and tans.

(7) I paint the trunk a tan color and highlight the rings. (8) Lastly, I drill holes in a 1/8" mdf base, and glue in the trees.

 (9) Finish off the base with assorted foliage and details.  Can you see the Seminoles hiding?  The other plastic plants are other pieces from various Michael's plastic plants and ferns.  You just have to find the right ones that look to scale. Think small.

 Here is some of my other 'Florida' fauna.  The plastic palms are from a Chinese distributor and can be found cheaply and easily on ebay.  They work well for understory trees, cabbage palms, and 'Sawtooth' palms. These haven't received a final paint job or highlighting, just based and flocked for a game. 

Some other foliage to represent some of the pines, cypress, bushes and ferns abundant in the Florida wilderness.

Bob Miller's Florida Terrain Workshop

I was at a local model railroad show @ H & R Trains in Pinellas Park, FL in October, 2010, and watched a seminar on building Florida style terrain. (Palm trees, Cypress trees, and etc.)  I also picked up his Florida Terrain modeling book for a mere $5.  What a bargain. It is proving to be somewhat useful since I was building my own 'Florida Terrain' for my 28mm Skirmish level gaming in the Florida Territory, State of Florida, and La Florida. (AWI, ACW, All 3 Seminole Wars, Patriot's War, and possibly more/earlier.  I've even got some Cavemen and Dinosaurs that I'm dying to let loose in the Florida swamplands.)

Here are a couple of pics from the Bob Miller seminar.

(left) pine trees, (center) cypress trees, (right) palm trees, (far right) orange/citrus trees. 

HO scale 'Florida vehicles.

A Cypress Swamp scene along the railroad tracks.