SMOKE GRENADE,MORTAR SMOKE AND BARRAGE MARKERS.

These are  my smoke markers I will be using for Chain of Command game, they include markers for smoke grenades, mortars and Barrages.
There was a need to  be able to differentiate between smoke from a smoke grenade and smoke from a 2" mortar or off-table mortars.
As smoke grenades do not block LOS but add a -1 to the die roll To-HIT a target behind the smoke while smoke from a 2" mortar or off-board mortars does block LOS

SMOKE GRENADE

British Infantry throwing another smoke grenade to cover their advance.

Filter made from Polyester sheet cut into  circles 3 inch diameters.
(Stryene material can be used for the base instead of the sheet filter material see Smoke markers for Mortars below)

Plastic tubing or model plastic sprues can be used to represent the smoke grenade.
here I have used Evergreen plastic tubing painted black and cut in small segments.
Polyester pillow filler is used to represent the smoke.

A small portion of the Polyester pillow filler is glued onto the tube and onto the fiber base using super glue. 

Set aside and allow the glue to set 
Having a base that is the right measurement is a good gaming aid that helps with clearly, marking out the area that is covered by smoke and avoiding any disputes. 

I was inspired by Ste Sheeran who made these great smoke markers unfortunately I can't find a link to where I saw his markers.

MORTAR SMOKE

  

Smoke from a 2 inch mortar covering the advance of  the same British Infantry.

I used thin dense styrene for the base.
Sheets were cut into  circles 3 inch diameter with a hobby knife.

The edges where tapered using the hobby knife and then smoothed with fine sandpaper.



PVA glue was placed on top of the base and the Polyester pillow filler was placed on the glue and set aside to set. 
I turned the marker over so that the Polyester filler was on the bench and the base was on top , 
I then placed a light weight over the stryene base to increase the contact between the PVA and the Polyester filler and set aside for the glue to set.

Completed smoke marker.

BARRAGE MARKERS

Unlucky British section caught in a Mortar Barrage.

The Mortar Barrage in all its devastating glory. 
The dreaded weapon of CoC.

Items needed: 0.90 mm metal wire  and large mud guard washers.

Cut 3 wires of different lengths with the longest being 18 cm . 

Bend the wire at the base 90 degrees and glue in place with a hot glue gun.

Coarse turf ,clump flock and a mix pipe cleaners to construct the smoke..

Cut the pipe cleaners in a variety of lengths and start gluing them onto the base.

First stage finished.

Top view on stage 1.

Position some of the clump foliage in the middle of the pipe cleaners using the hot glue gun. 
An alternative to using clump foliage is to use the larger shaped bits of pipe cleaners spray them with adhesive and roll them in coarse turf.


Secure the thick pieces of pipe cleaners onto the metal wire length ways using the hot glue gun.
Ensure that the metal wire is covered with these pipe cleaners on both sides.

Next step is to use the thin pipe cleaners around the recently covered wire and secure with the glue gun.

The red line show how the thin pipe cleaners are wrapped.


To taper the thinner individual pipe cleaners projecting out of the clouds of smoke. 
Use a match and run it underneath the pipe cleaner starting from the tip to the base.

Carefully spray the 3 long areas with spray adhesive and flock with coarse turf.

Next step bind the surface of the Barrage Marker with either Spray with watered down PVA or a spray can binder  such as Fixative ..

You can use a cheap black spray can  to coat the marker
and fill in any missed spots with cheap student acrylic black paint.


Using Student white acrylic paints dry brush the black areas to create a bit of depth and finally paint the base a Earth colour.
 Once dry I give it a coat of Spray Dull coat to matt up the surface.

I have to thank Mark "The Tactical Painter" for Inspiring with his  Barrage Markers.

Cheers John.