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you´re heading in a direction I wanted to go for quite a long time, I envy you^^...
the way you are setting this trench up is a nice idea, I think the main part with all trench ideas is to get that different height issue solved...which I think you got down to a t already!

the sandbags do indeed look a bit akward... I think when working with procreate or other such sculting stuff I would do just sausages and then cut then deliberately smaller than you would originally think they need to be... I made some on my own some years ago and it helped me to have some kind of device to get the right thickness ... I used fitting wooden sticks left and right from the "sausage" and then rolled over the material and the wood and thus shaped the flat under and upper side... the flanks still stayed a bit rounded...but in essence after each cut you need to resculpt the sandbag still... it is an adventure^^

the repair works on the emplacement is something I really like

Nice work.

Something else for when you're making sandbags; pressing some cloth onto the putty before it sets will give it that sandbag texture.

This trench is interesting! can't wait to see how it will be supported, and how extensive it will be

Hey guys.....

Thanks so much for the comments! I will definetly take them onboard and have a go at the sand bags again tonight.....

Shasolenzabi..... i am going to add some horizontal support beams between the "black" concrete pillars to give it some strength and also have some concrete floor beams...... with wiring and drainage underneath a slightly raised walkway..... thinking of adding some wall damage and patch work to it also.....

On a totally diferent note...... I have had an idea as to the model i want to build to "celebrate" my induction into the LoER.......
Now it is VERY early WIP..... and this is the only image i am going to put up until the 3d model is completed....... It is taken from a partial and ancient STC that was found in the oldest and darkest vaults of my forge!

Anyone crack a guess!?

Cheers & Thanks all,

looks like some heavy artillery...

on that subject... would you like to get a take on designing a standard leman russ like tank chassis?...I never was the man to use 3D software to an extent that I can benefit from it...

Ahoy!

Vik.... I can certainly have a look at it buddy!

Managed a second shot at the sandbags again..... made them 50% smaller and rolled them out betwen 2 pieces of thick card to get the thickness..... IMHO they are a lot better! Thanks for the tips!!
Added the base floor panels that the drainage and actual floor panels will sit on..... and some mesh to the sides of the emplacement.... and then added a horizontal reinforcement to the trench wall.

Still a lot to do......

Cheers Guys,

that is definitely a huge improvement... specially the lil creases I see is a very convincing detail! those boards look very good too....but what is that black piece in the trench? is that a supportive structure?...

Looks like a Minotaur artillery piece

Yeah, that's looking nice.

What are you going to sit this in/on when it's done? You need a table with a hole in it...

This is an excellent piece already - I love the damaged concrete - this will put your weathering and damaging skills to new heights
Thanks for the tip with the grid material - I will see if I can find some too.
Have you tried to make the sandbags between some cloth? It will give them some structure, makes them look less blank.
Cheers
Klaus

Hey All!!

Thanks again for all the comments! Plenty of food for thought.... i will definetly press some sort of fabric into the sandbags and see if i can get some texture there...... also thinking of how to make some bullet holes in the sandbags.... maybe just simply with a pin?!?

Also Vik..... the horizontal peice is meant to be a "spacer" to stop the walls falling in... but it doesnt look great in its current spot..... i am thinking of inverting it and having it at the base... and constructing something a bit nicer for the upper spacer..

Dr H.... haha.... I am going to look to add a base and block in the sides.... so it is like it is like it is a box.... with the trench inside.... lol

Also thinking of adding a firing step along the side of the trench.. or maybe not.... as i want this to be about the gun epmplacement primarily..... might keep the trench detailed.... but simple.......

Oh... and last thought....... i am conciderin trying to work the Wrecked Land Speeder into this peice but i am not sure i have the space and it might make it feel way to cramped......

Klaus: Heres the link for the IKEA STOPP product.... UK website... but i am sure it is the same in Germany....
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80227877/

Thanks again guys!

Fair enough. I didn't know if you were going for something that could be used on a gaming table.

If you're going more for a diorama, maybe have a cutaway in the bottom of the box and have either an underground bunker/HQ or some enemies tunnelling in underneath...

Good stuff, looks really cool, as soon as I'll try and remember that next time I go there. Some Czech hedgehog tank traps would fit pretty well with that I think.

I wouldn't worry about adding a texture to the sandbags, at 28mm scale its pretty pointless. fingerprints and dry-brushing are good enough.

Mind sharing your source of thick card? I'm always on the lookout for it, my last batch came from a pharmacology lab.

Hey guys,

Mad weekend so not a whole lot of progress.... working on the mesh/metal tread panels for the floor of the trench..... tonight my aim is to add some drainage..... wiring... and tread supports and then get the tread plates down........ also looking at how to add some bullet holes to the sand bags.... i think just a needle should do it... have had a go but it just doesnt look right.....

OneManNoodles i use simple grey modeling card that i pick up from an art stoer in Glasgow..... its about 3mm thick and really resiliant...... can take a lot of cutting and scratching too......

Updates later... cheers guys,

I would use a pencil rather for those bulletholes. Stick it in the soft foamcore and wriggle it about a bit...to leave a small "craterlike" indent...

Thanks for the tip Vik.... i will give it a try this evening.....

Also... just a small note.... I have had a change of heart for the Minotaur....... i am now looking at an option to fit 2 earth shakers to a Crassus/Praetor Hull........ and add the additional armour like the Minotaur......... Oh..... and i have my idea set for the LoER competition! VERY simple design but i am hoping to push for effect and atmosphere for this one......

Updates tonight!

Evening All,

Hope all is well!

Managed to get some more details done on the trench diorama tonight..... primed the roof and structure and managed to add a couple of the tread plates also..... put together a little barbed wire (there will be lots more) and added a small antena to the roof! added some more detail to the "ad hoc" defenses too...

Cheers everyone!

Nice progress, liking it.

Don't forget a cable for the satellite/radar dish.

Excellent work.

Holy crap that looks amazing. The completed project is going to be incredible.

Cheers guys! And Dr H never fear..... have got quite a lot of cabling planned for this peice.... for the dish... and want to add a small vox unit within the emplacement..... Also need to add a small drain under the walkway.... and think i am going to add a lot more sandbags to the sides and then some mesh on the back side...!

Then it is time to get the earth and dirt sorted...... so plenty to do!

And thanks for looking in Cap'n Facebeard appreciate it

Holy Emprah MB, this stuff is uh-maze-ing!

I think your new additions look pretty darn cool...

how did you make that barbed wire? looks plastic to me???

Elnibbus wrote:Holy Emprah MB, this stuff is uh-maze-ing!

Cheers buddy! Appreciate it!

Viktor von Domm wrote:I think your new additions look pretty darn cool...

how did you make that barbed wire? looks plastic to me???

Hey mate.... it is the same material as the mesh.... STOPP from IKEA..... only this time i cut it really thinly... (one grid width). I then wrapped it round a pencil.... glued the ends and gently warmed it over a candle.... then let it cool and snipped the ends so it came loose from the pencil..... and that was the end result.....

Lol...that is great,multiple uses for one material is always something not to he sneezed at

Ahoy!

Just a quick message.... I am looking for a couple of DKoK troopers to add to my trench dio....

It is a cheeky thing to ask but does anyone out there have a couple of spare ones? Really like the troopers "at ease" .... but any of them would be awesome...... willing to swap or pay.... pretty much all of my bits and bobs are available to swap..... any help would be cool!

Cheers All,

PM me your address, should be able to sort you out, just bought a couple hundred of these bloody things from Graven. No worries.

really cam???...

my only two got jpaint recently...sorry^^

Hey guys!

Awesome! Cheers Cam..... PM sent!

I've got a bag of Korpsmen on the desk to assemble so if I have any left over and you still need some, let me know and I'll if I have any suitable ones.