Boats for the River Oudear

I needed a few boats for my river marines to patrol in and also to represent small trading craft or smugglers. The 'shipyard' has been busy today; I had bought 3 Playmobil boat sets (item 4295) and I had small Playmobil rowing boat I got at a car boot. I stripped off the fittings and sanded down the rough edges to give four basic hulls.

I worked out the required height of the decks and cut them from cardboard and trial fitted them. Then I made up the masts; these were made from some cheap plastic paintbrushes with 'spars' ready for sails made from various spare bits from some viking longship plastic boat kits. The masts were then fitted to the decks and the decks to the hulls, and also added rudders. Here they are:

Next job is to paint them, then add some swivel guns. I've also got 4 boat 'captains' to paint to represent civilian crew. The river marines are now on my painting desk ready for undercoating.

I also need to make some wider river sections for my gaming table, with also some way of having maybe a small lakelet as well - some interesting scenery projects for me !

40mm: Freikorps Uhlans

The Uhlans of the Wittenberg Boritzy Freikorps; a 2 squadron regiment (using Charge unit definitions as a basis).

I think I might move the guidon bearer to the command group and do another uhlan for the 1st squadron; perhaps I may add a 3rd squadron later as well. A closeup of the command ...

[figs: All cast from Creartec 40mm hussar moulds converted to uhlans, except officers who are Irregular Miniatures hussars]

Mortars and Wagons

I've slowly been working my way through the goodies I bought from Reiver Castings. I've got the pontoon bridge, pontoon wagon and a copule of guns to paint yet; but have finished the mortars and baggage wagons. I made removable loads for the wagons, so they can be used for raid scenarios where you start with empty wagons.

Two Reiver AP4 10 inch siege mortars

I modified the front of the wagon to provide a seat for the driver,

Driver Front Rank; Reiver AP16 Tumbrel wagon with four horses

Driver Front Rank; Reiver AP17 Baggage wagon with four horses

Grand Designs (7) - Palace Diorama

Its late in the afternoon and the King and Queen are returning to the Palace after the building works have been completed. The King can see his foot guards on parade as the coach approaches the palace.

The sentries from the Garde Suisse stand to attention as the coach approaches ...

The coach draws up in front of the palace; the King and Queen stand back to admire the new portico ..

Count Hermann Munster (who had been supervising the building works), welcomes the king back ..

Some of the court are having a late afternoon walk in the gardens ...

A closeup of the golden cherub fountain (I wonder where the water comes out from when it is operational ?) ..

---oXo---

Materials used:

1. 6ft by 9 inch board, with backscene board using 3mm MDF.

2. Backscene sky - model railroad sky backscene paper sheets.

3. Backscene garden - adapted from photos of Stourhead gardens and printed on 120g paper.

4. Grass - grass sheet from Dolls House hobby supplier.

5. Paths and Gravel areas - medium grade sand paper.

6. Low relief buildings - constructed from foam board and cardboard.

7. Columns for portico - 5" greek column cake stands

8. 'Roof scape' - adapted from photos of Stourhead house and printed on 120g paper.

9. Garden urns and fountain - smaller Dolls House garden accessories.

Grand Designs (6) - The Palace Door

I've finished off the central section of the palace for my diorama; the palace door will be partly obscured by the columns of the portico so here is a picture of the door (the moulding above the door was sourced from a local dolls house shop).

The door is painted onto the low relief building section made of foam board. I have to finish the portico and assemble the rest of the palace on the diorama shelf.

The rest of the palace diorama is coming along nicely, the original building with viewing baclony now looks out over a larger 'parade' ground area; and the palace garden section is completed altough will probably need some additions.

All wiil be revealed when the complete diorama is finished.

Pontoon Wagon

I've felt a little better the last couple of days and managed to do a couple of things. I've also been fiddling with my palace diorama. Also I've assembled by Reiver castings goodies. I really like the pontoon wagon, shown below with some spare front rank artillery crew.

Grand Designs (5) - Palace Exterior

The King has just approved the architects drawings for the improvement of the main entrance of the palace,
I've kept my viewing 'balcony' model as part of the new palace diorama, adding a formal garden. Plenty of space for the King and his court to be posed outside. Below is a trial arrangement for the main entrance portico, using 5" plastic cake stands

I'll be constructing the diorama on a 6 foot by 9" shelf (recovered from an old model railroad shelf layout).

The internal rooms will be be built later, so far I have a short list:

- main entrance hall

- ballroom

- library

- gallery

- day room

and more as needed when the mood takes me.