MINEFIELDS, BARBED WIRE, EXPLODED MINE CRATERS AND CZECH HEDGE HOGS

Just completed 4 x Minefields, 4 x Barbed wire obstacles,4 x Czech Hedge Hogs and 2 explosion markers  to add to my Support List for Chain of Command Game.

http://toofatlardies.co.uk/product-category/chain-of-command/

MINEFIELDS #1 

British Mine clearance team clearing a minefield. 

Instead of throwing out plastic sprues, they can be recycled to  create unique defensive structures.

Minefields are 6" x 6" square, with the aid of a ruler cycle thru the sprues until you find a section that complies to this measurement or very close to the measurement.

Using clippers trim off the excess plastic

 Remove the excess plastic on the inside of the square

 you are now left with 2 x squares 

Use a sharp modelling blade to trim off any remaining fine excess plastic.

Use a  hand drill to create holes. 

 Fit and twist the matchstick in hole.

Circular shape is created on the base of the match stick ensuring a snug fit.

Use pre-measured matchstick as a guide to trim each matchstick.

Matchsticks fitted 

Place superglue into the hole and replace the match.

Matches on both plastic squares super glued in position

Wrap pre made barbed wire around the post,

Do not to pull the wire tight between each post as this will pull the base up, instead allow a slight give in the wire between the posts.

Once the bottom wire is complete construct the top wire.

Secure each point where the wire wraps around the post with a drop of super glue.

Plastic stryrene sheet was used to construct the sign

and super glue in place

completed minefields

Undercoat with black primer

Dry brush base with Model colour 977 Desert Yellow

Use Model color 984 Flat Brown to dry brush the posts and wire. Mix 984 and 819 Iraqui sand at a ration of 1:1 and highlight, then use 819 with a touch of 984 to further highlight the wire. additional step if you wish is to use gun metal to highlight very small areas of the wire.

The warning sign was download from countless images on the internet and reduced in size to fit,  Great idea from Tiny Hordes blog.  

Flocked 

Completed minefields 

 MINEFIELDS  # 2
This minefield is ideal to use  over terrain that encompasses different terrain features which may vary in height.

British Mine clearance team clearing a minefield.

As before use plastic sprues

Select suitable pieces 

Trim off excess 

Drill holes, note the holes on the edges where the barbed wire will be placed inside and secured.

Fit matches

Trim height and super glue in place

Construct sign boards

Start by wrapping the post leaving 2 equal pieces of wire.

bend the wire to meet the base and do the same with the top wire.

Super glue 

Super glue board in place

Undercoat with black primer

Dry brush base with Model colour 977 Desert Yellow

Use Model color 984 Flat Brown to dry brush the posts and wire. Mix 984 and 819 Iraqui sand at a ration of 1:1 and highlight, then use 819 with a touch of 984 to further highlight the wire. additional step if you wish is to use gun metal to highlight very small areas of the wire.

Secure printed cardboard warning signs

Brush on wood glue and flock

completed 2 x minefields 

 Include a exploded mine crater in the middle. Added bonus are the rounded pieces of plastic which pokes up from the flock which resemble exposed mines, note that the boundary of the minefield should be 6" x 6" .

 EXPLODED MINE CRATER

Use 2 pieces of Stryrene plastic sheets

Construct a rugged shape using a modelling knife

Add pieces of plastic sprue material to form the center of the crater and glue in place

Use Milliput to fill in the inner portion of the crater.

pull the material into the center.

Add a roll of Milliput onto the exterior of the crater.

Blend the roll onto the plastic sprue and down onto the base

Add a smaller roll of material on top of the sprue.

Blend 

Add some spots and blend finely over the base.

Use a pointed instrument to add some detail

Add  points of interest by adding a helmet and a boot.

undercoat with black primer

Base with Flat Earth

Wash with Agrax Earthshade

Paint the inside of the crater with Black Grey and wash with a black wash. Using the 50:50 mix of Vallejo Flat Earth 983 and Iraqui Sand 819  dry brush the whole crater  but only lightly dry brush the black grey  center of the crater.Finally paint the helmet and boot.

Add flock and they are completed

View of crater inside the boundary of the minefield

BARBED WIRE

British Wire cutting team clearing Barbed wire.

Using a ruler, select a piece with a border of 6" x 2".

4 pieces ready for trimming.

Trim off most of the excess pieces leaving 2 struts in the middle for stability.

Trim up the excess

Unfortunately I could not find the 2" width I needed so I needed to reduce the width.

measure 

Cut

Trim the length to fit onto the inner portions of larger piece

Glue in place and hold down while it sets overnight with Bluetak.

Following day fit match stick

Glue match stick in place.

Trim length

start adapting the wire.

Do not to pull the wire tight between each post as this will pull the base up, instead allow a slight give in the wire between the posts.

Use small pieces of wire to secure the main wire in place. this adds to the effect of barbed wire.

1st outer wire complete

Top outer wire added and position the inner wire.

Weave another wire around the over the existing wire and glue in place.

completed barbed wire.

In the course of making the barbed wire obstacle I ran out of preformed barbed wire and my local hobby store was also out. I visited my local arts and craft store and purchased this roll of wire for a DIY project for making Barbed wire.

First step is to cut a long length of wire an fold in the middle.

anchor the folded side 

Start winding one wire over and under the other piece of the wire.

finished DIY barbed wire

Undercoat with black primer

Dry brush base with Model colour 977 Desert Yellow

Use Model color 984 Flat Brown to dry brush the posts and wire. Mix 984 and 819 Iraqui sand at a ration of 1:1 and highlight, then use 819 with a touch of 984 to further highlight the wire. additional step if you wish is to use gun metal to highlight very small areas of the wire.

Add flock

4 x  6" x 2" completed barbed wire obstacles.

CZECH HEDGE HOGS 

British Demo team clearing the Czech Hedge Hogs

They are actually constructed from metal, I used the metal strip that reinforces the rubber on car window wipers. I trimmed and shaped the strips of metal using a Dremel type hand motor, glued in placed and used Green stuff to create the bolts.

Undercoated with black primer

Painted with gun metal paint

Washed with Reikland Fleshshade.

Intensified the rust in key areas with Vallejo Model colour 982 and highlighted very small areas with gun metal colour. 

A easier way to construct the Hedge hogs is to use plastic Styrene strips, follow the link for Tiny Horde's useful link on how to make Czech hedge hogs: http://tinyhordes.com/field-defences/