28MM HARBOUR (FOR U BOATS)

In order to play our u boat game we needed a dock/harbour. One that we could transport, one big enough to take two 28mm u boat (each 1 metre long).  So it would need to long and sturdy.

This is what we did and how we did it.

We had some 40 mm thick blue foam sheets around 6 foot x 4 foot. We also were able to get hold of some dis-used signage boards (2mm thick foam board).  So we decided on a height that would place the submarine a lot lower to emphasis the height of the dock to a u boat. It would need to be in two sections for storage and transport.

 We thought it would look good if it had train /rail lines recessed into the ground and had perhaps a cobblestone and concrete look.

We used the foam board as a sturdy base and then covered it with the plasticard (to make it flat). Then placed wooden sticks along the front.

The height (5 inches) looked good (see previous post on the u boat - for more sub pictures) next to the boat.

Its big...6 foot wide x 1 foot wide (5 inches tall).

Our intention is have two 6x4 tables (cobblestone mat and sea mat) but have one table with the legs heighten by the same height as the dock. Thus giving the sea level effect. 

 

With the wooden strips as supports

So we then had to choose on how we get the cobblestone effect. We could etch into thee board (that would take ages), put clay over it then whilst wet run a cobblestone roller over it. But in the end we went for simple and quick ...paper and double sided tape!

The next stage was to print out sheets of 28mm cobblestone (which  almost match our battlemats) and concrete. Then use concrete paper sheets to cover the dock front. We also burned into the surface with a foam burner blade to create the illusion of rail tracks. 

We then painted the entire track black then highlighted it with oily steel. Them stuck the sheet down with double sided tape.

Concrete papered

Painting the steel rail

We burnt in one set of train tracks and one set of crane tracks. This meant... we had to burn eight 6 foot straight lines! e.g. 2 sets of tracks x 2 rails with each rail needing 2 lines each side of the rail. A nightmare. LOL.

We then added mooring points, air brushed a water line mark for high tide and added dock drainage pipes on the front concrete wall.

We added ladders along the concrete front. But we used magnets to hold them ....mmmm not sure if its strong enough may just glue them. But it gets more fragile with more details. 

                                     

We also added "sea" to the bottom to blend into the battle mat.

Next is the dock cranes...

28mm U Boat

 28mm U Boat (s) U201

                                                                           U201 - table ready

So its all go after Christmas...this was a reasonably priced 28mm scale 3d print from Highland 3d Prints. This is a fantastic print, great quality and arrived well packaged and arrived on time. I can recommend them.

https://www.highlands3dprints.com/shop/p/u-boat we (my gaming buddy and I) actually ended up buying each other one of these each for Christmas. 

The U boat is huge… 1 metre long. 

Below : On our Deep Cut mat. That camo effect really works

The print provides a great starting point from which you can add as much detail as you wish. I decided to model my boat on U 201 (The Snowman Captain Adalbert Schnee - Knights Cross). I really liked the idea of the Snowmen emblem on the tower and a camouflaged boat.

Below: A great Christmas table centre piece...LOL. 

These are the bare "starter" models from Christmas Day. They are huge. 

We wanted the boats to be the centre piece of our war-game table but still remain playable and be able to store/transport. So this is when the real work started. We wanted to add lots to them.

In the tower tonnage flag were designed and printed. Wood veneer was added along the inside (apparently this was used to stop the crews hands sticking to metal in icy weather on the actual).

Below: the  pre painted model with the rivets (I used nail decorations) added to the tower. You can also see the maintenance doors (below the rail on right) and on the nose (far left) that were added. It also shows the air intake pipe (made from green stuff).

You can see crew figures in my previous posts.

Here is a list of modifications I made to mine:

1.      Magnets were added to: the deck to secure the tower; the A.A. and deck gun and periscopes – so that they would be easily stored and would not break during play.

2.      I glued the boat into 2 sections – it arrives in 5 parts plus tower (for storage).

3.      Tiny nail decoration circles (small 1 mm circles – approx. 100 off) were used to simulate the rivets on the tower. These were positioned and glued in place individually.

4.      Both periscopes were extended (using wooden dowels) to a better height (I wanted to display the tonnage flags on it.).

5.      Gun barrels were drill out. A deck gun cap/seal was added (rope and gun cap / cover). A sight was also added using green stuff and wire.

6.      The two air intake pipes on the rear tower basket (made from plastic and green stuff)

7.      The entire deck was re-surfaced with cardboard (printed to a more feasible scale – the original drainage rectangles were about 2mm too large). So I designed a pattern and then printed it out on cardboard…. then cut all the small water drainage rectangles out. Then stuck it down. We just thought a 28mm figures foot would have dropped through the original printed deck. Plasticard was just too thick and we tried wood veneer but it just broke up.

      Periscopes / guns are painted German Grey as these were slightly darker that the ships light grey.  

     Below is a good picture of the Snowmen (with Knights Cross) LOL based on the actual boat pictures. I printed out “tonnage” flags and a German Flag (magnetically attached the flag to the cradle), printed out 2 snowmen (at the right scale) and the Coat of Arms of Remscheid for the tower.

  I made the sail/tower side  navigation lights from green stuff, the thin hand railings (from wire), compass (from tube), the tower deck was lined with veneer (like the original), telescopic radio antenna and its storage box and ring (made of wire and green stuff, veneer), lifebelts (are green stuff), I used plastic 1mm square box piping to go around the base of the tower were it meets the main deck. This was just to add detail.

9.      Small maintenance squares cut from cardboard and were also added to the tower (at the nose and tail).

10  Below; The tower seat/standing on the rails was cut from wooden sticks. You can also see the small square  maintenance hatch on below flag on the left.  You can also see the rivets (nail decorations). 

11 

12Side railings were designed on Tinkercad. Then positioned again with small 1mm magnets to reduce breakage.  These were tricky as I had to make them 2.0mm thick to get them off the printer bed without breaking them…they are a bit rough (but I thought I'll keep them on - with magnets - so that I can use them or not use them).

13Paint – the original Light Grey  (Ral7001 deckfarbe hellgrau) paint was used and the darker grey strip (RAL7024 dunkelgrau. I actually spray primed - then brush painted two coats and one airbrush coat of the light grey. Then air brushed the dark grey. The RAL 7001 is very good paint but very thin.

Below: The Deck Gun - painted in a German grey as these were replaceable items (like periscopes etc.).

Deck (I wanted to be able to see the structure through the new deck).

Below: the new card pattern on card ready to be cut out.

The deck after one coat. Actual U boat decks were wooden, with rubberised black paint.

Then it was onto just weathering…more weathering…more weathering. I wanted the deck to look worn and the ship to look used but not too rusty just surface rust.

We are currently putting together the other Christmas u-boat  - a modified version. Something that looks more like a “Flying Fortress” to me LOL. The tower has been re designed with even more deck gun cradles (with AA guns everywhere)!

But for now ...this one looks great in its WW2 colours... especially on our new Deep Cut mat.

References books I found really useful...(as well as Google)

So the next post will be either a dock (6ft long x 1.5 ft wide) for them or the other u boat...chicken or egg? LOL

28mm u boat crew

So as Christmas fast approaches I am hoping Santa brings me a U boat for our next game (doesn't everyone? LOL).

With that in mind....I did some special crew to sit on top of the u boat deck on a clear base. These guys needed tools and I found a ho-oo scale set that I was able to use for 28mm (i.e. a slightly large ho-oo is a small 28mm etc.).  So some of these tools I can use ...some not.

At the same time, I also took an idea from John Bonds war-gaming blog....he sparked my interest with a guy using a signal flare gun. Thanks John. This is ideal for this new game we are planning.

So when the flare goes off - "get back to the u boat".

So the u boat crew are made from Warlord Marines with green stuff (Kneadatite) around the boot gatter, and used as a life jacket. They have the grey weatherproof shell.

The guys below are loading a torpedo into the ship. The clear base can be removed when completed. Its just to add a bit of time trail to the game.

Torpedo is a 3d print. with a wooden dowel pole and spare mdf squares 

On the above pic... 

I have one more guy not in the picture ... he is holding the end of the pulley line and has wire coiled between his hands and landing at his feet.

The spanners look cool on the prone guys - I recommend these tools for any engineers etc.

                  I also got the free Wargame Illustrated German Fallschrimjager Winter sprue...

                                         

and decided to grind/file off the hood and and make it look like another Captain... standing on a box of Johnny Walker Whiskey (looted/confiscated). 

Still to dry brush his map bag...!

I think the bulky jacket and trousers fit the idea...

I googled the black leather captain u boat jackets (with a fur collar) and ended up with this guy.

So those German Fallschrimjager Winter guys can be useful...in other settings.

Now where is that whiskey glass! Cheers.

28MM COMMANDO KAYAK

So after putting together the 28mm Commando land force...and putting some pictures on here - I had some comments (from the blog readers) and I had some more thoughts about my original inspiration - the old Airfix 1.72 guys .... they had boats and ladders! Now I have some 28mm ladders (but no boats) but I also assume commandos don't carry ladders on every operation especially on their kayak! So here is what I managed...and how I did it.

The end game...

Here is what I did...

So I got out the 3d printer and started experimenting with kayaks. I printed out a test piece and it looked ok. But I would also need crew for it.

So out came the bits box and I manged to find some spare heads and arms (some were from the Warlord US Marines).  I then rolled out some green stuff and began the process of making some crew.

They were a bit rough to start out... 

                             

But this was the result -at this stage.

With some causality markers...a boat anchor/tie up point was added to the front using wire and a small drill.

A thread was added to the it and passed to the front position.

I still need some paddles- or we will be up that creek without one!

So the next stage was to blend the kayaks into the battle mats. So I got out a hot glue gun.

What I did was run a thin glue line along the bottom of the boat. Pulling the glue upwards with a cocktail stick as it drys...but not too much or it dulls the glossy effect.  I have tried gloss varnish, mod podge etc. but I have found this to work best for me.

Then it was onto dark blue, light blue and white paint..in the sea bits of it.

So that at a distance it hopefully appears to moving or swishing in the the sea.

So now for those paddles...from reference photos they seem to have used various shapes. 

So out came the green stuff and I sourced some wire at the correct gauge - then I began cutting up the wire.

 

This was going to be tricky and time consuming. Small batches and small amounts is the key. Its tricky to shape. and green stuff drys out quickly. But I am hoping its stronger that the usual putty mix. The wire has a plastic coating which took paint easily.

I placed the paddles under the boat on the causality markers.

So that's a big chunk now done! 

The boat race can begin lol.

I think the beach is that way!

mmm... I might print out some "sunk/overturned" boats... watch this space...

and here they are some destroyed kayaks as markers!

So that is the Commandos DONE!

Well apart from these...LOL

Get that guy to the Doc!

All done!