Building Stalingrad

Ritter · Post by **Ritter** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:14 pm

Hey All.

Well having finished the first 300 pages of my new book on the Red Barrikady battles of November, I am now embarking on a project of monumentous proportions...

I am going to build it!

Don't tell my wife!

Just looking around at materials and construction ideas but I am thinking of modelling the terrain along the lines of 1 hex = 1 bulding, be it the Kommissarshaus or the Apoteke or School Nr.2...etc...etc...

I would like to make terrain to represent the area East the Barrikady factory to the edge of the Volga, North to the Landing strip Gully and South to the fuel tanks. This would be apx 1000m long by 600m deep and would be somewhere around 20" x 12" at 1 " = 50m scale or 3 x 5 hexes (15 in total) using SK rules. It is really amazing the amount of troops and artillery crammed into this tiny area! And how the Soviets managed to hold on to such a sliver of land!

I will probably try and model all the significant buildings/structures and am thinking that I would like to use a cheap, durable material - perhaps a bit more robust than the paper ones (although this does seem like a good way to do it too.) I am thinking about Fimo clay. Anyone tried this?

Troy

Vdmfighter · Post by **Vdmfighter** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:09 pm

Troy,
I have used Fimo for 10mm and in 6mm for redoubts and bases/stands.
To answer your question, I would use thick card and/or thick plasticard (behind) + Fimo Clay (in front) . Thick card will be of use for the structure of your damaged walls, and Fimo for the look... Of course for heavily damaged walls reduced to a low level, Fimo will be good without card of any kind.
Just an opinion,
Cheers,
Vdmfighter

dnichols · Post by **dnichols** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:29 pm

You will of course post pictures when your done...right?

Good luck on your project.

---Daryl

ACWBill · Post by **ACWBill** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:36 pm

Troy, that is an ambitious undertaking indeed. I can't wait to see how you handle the construction. I am looking forward to seeing the results.

bejart7092 · Post by **bejart7092** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:12 pm

Troy ---
I too was inspired when I read 'Island of FIre.' I've written a couple of scenarios for it and posted an After Action Report for one entitled 'East of the Barrikady' under the AAR thread here.

http://www.ghqmodels.com/forum/viewtopi ... &start=120

I used cardboard buildings as well as some other resin models from here:

http://stores.ebay.com/WARGAMER-Products

It was a lot of fun, although I made the initial German advantage too stong. That's been corrected on the scenario I have on my website. I plan to run a revised and expanded version at a HMGS South Convention in Orlando, Florida, hopefully in September.
Bill

intobattle · Post by **intobattle** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:33 am

I'm excited to see it Troy

Stalingrad, and the battles around it are some of the most intriguing on the eastern front in my opinion. I can only imagine that gaming them would be very enthralling.

Good luck!
Tanner

El Grego · Post by **El Grego** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:40 am

An ambitious project Troy - can't wait for pics

Ritter · Post by **Ritter** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:33 am

Hey All.

I am currently looking at the GHQ line of square 2 and 3 bay apartment blocks. They are good but may not be easy to make into semi-destroyed buildings. Though there are destroyed versions, I think they may get repetitive over the course of 15 hexes. Also, I think I will be making slightly bigger buildings to house the squads of the 138th Infantry Div. to hide in!

After looking into it, I think FIMO is the answer. It allows a lot of fine detail and also can be cut, sanded and scribed after firing in the oven.

Troy

intobattle · Post by **intobattle** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:30 am

Troy,

There is a specific terrain company out there (not sure I can mention their name on here) but they make some 6mm Stalingrad buildings in resin... including the Grain Elevator. It's HUGE and Expensive but I've always thought it would be an awesome piece. Although that's a different sector of the city than what you're modelling. Just a thought.

But, I agree with you on the GHQ buildings... and they just don't look like Stalingrad buildings in my opinion. I wish you luck in your endeavor because I'd love to see the outcome.

Tanner

ZMONSTER · Post by **ZMONSTER** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:30 am

Ritter,

FIMO wall sections might be a good way to create a model to make a silicon mold, then make a resin casting. Cut the detail in the FIMO, fire it, then finalize the detail desired. Then pour your mold(s). Once your mold(s) set, mass production can begin with a 5-10 minute curing time. Make 4-6 molds and you will be rolling.

Bill

dougeagle · Post by **dougeagle** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:23 am

Can't remember which site I saw it on, but they way the gamer builds his buildings is with the styrene sheets that have the squares on them. I think the squares are the 1/8" with the sheets themselves being the .40" thickness.

Oh, in the typing of this reply...I found the site. It's Red Ricks website.

rct75001 · Post by **rct75001** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:46 am

intobattle wrote:Troy,

There is a specific terrain company out there (not sure I can mention their name on here) but they make some 6mm Stalingrad buildings in resin... including the Grain Elevator. It's HUGE and Expensive but I've always thought it would be an awesome piece. Although that's a different sector of the city than what you're modelling. Just a thought.

outcome.

Tanner

The terrain coy with the elevator is Timecast.

Leva also make some ruined buildings for Stalingrad

supertsar · Post by **supertsar** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 3:37 am

Can anyone recommend a book or web site that has lots of pictures of the main buildings at Stalingrad?

Ritter · Post by **Ritter** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:26 pm

Leaping Horseman Books are a great source for Stalingrad Books and pictures.
]http://www.leapinghorseman.com/index2.php

Google 'Stalingrad' images and have a look at what you find...
Some of favorite pictures...

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Troy

Mk 1 · Post by **Mk 1** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:46 pm

rct75001 wrote:Leva also make some ruined buildings for Stalingrad

For what it is worth ...

I contacted Alain at Leva within the past few weeks. Wanted to know if he was still selling any of the micro terrain products listed on his LevaMain website.

He seemed somewhat surprised to even hear that the website was still up. I provided a list of items that I wanted to buy, and he said he would rummage about to see if he still had any of them left around. I haven't heard from him since.

I believe he sold off at least some of the molds to "Wargamer's Hobbies" in Poland. Sosna at Wargamer's is fairly active on eBay. I've bought a few items from him that were clearly Leva-original designs. Seems like an OK vendor.

I can't say I have the official word, but it seems to me that Leva is no longer in the business.