PolishGI’s Working Thread (WWII & Vietnam)

[PolishGI]

Test run






Board integration test run




Setting up a test FSB as hexes become available


A bit sparse, will have to add more junk to the hexes












FSB under construction from afar…

[redleg]

That's pretty amazing Dude!

[PolishGI]

Thanks redleg!

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

I am down to only 3 pieces left for this FSB. This is a bunch of work. If I went with a larger base, I would have to start incorporating roads for vehicles to move around. But I would start to exceed the types of scenarios I will be playing on the tabletop. Arguably, I may already be there… haha But who doesn’t like a good scenario covering a FSB defense?

Then I have to start on the concertina wire surrounding the perimeter. Argh. I plan on making wire in sections of 1 inch, 2 inches and 3 inches. That way if any section is breached or demo’d, I can remove/move around pieces to reflect the missing section of wire.

Some additional sections being added to the base. I put together my first observation tower. I was trying to think of what else I could place near the tower. Tents for storage? Grunts? So after researching everything… it made sense. The military did not put ANYTHING near the tower for if/when it would fall. Lol Nobody wanted to be near it. Tons of sandbags walls around it… So I turned the tower, supported by sandbag walls, into more of a fighting position.

I added an additional tent/barracks area for the grunts to live in.

I created a new bunker type that I prepared with its associated trench line. I created a sandbag machinegun next I noticed on some of the base layouts. Its uncovered and a built up sandbag area (nest) that is on the trench line. I tried making one of those to see how it turned out.

Pics transition from WIP pics to being integrated with the base and hex general population.

[PolishGI]

Board




Sandbag Nest






Initial bomb/blast crater test for markers (for Burt)

[PolishGI]

Village test run…

I will start to add additional items for each village in future versions. But the initial test run didn’t come out too bad.

Also working on two different models of paddies… each with four different variants for variety. I like utilizing the printer as I can consistently control the height of the berms for scale to the models.

WIP











Finished up, palms and buildings are weathered and sealed. I needed to tone down the palms color a tad while also trying to eliminate the shiny plastic look/reflection.
Need to get it into the board to see if it flows

[redleg]

Did you say "didn't come out too bad"? Your work looks like a photograph from a history book on the war! Pretty amazing!

[PolishGI]

Did you say "didn't come out too bad"? Your work looks like a photograph from a history book on the war! Pretty amazing!

Thank you redleg! I am hoping to improve with each round.


Finished up the FSB trench closure. Working on a million pieces of concertina wire now. Yay! Will probably need to make additional hexes with just dirt in order to surround a future FSB to increase the amount of flat land between the trenches and the vegetation. (kill zone with room for wire)

[BurtWolf]

Polish - what a board! Dying to see it full of marines being swarmed by black clad adversaries! Great work as always, inspiring!

[Hoth_902]

Yea, I would say your work is insanely good polish.

[pmskaar]

Hi Polish!

Your terrain really looks excellent! I also use Terrain Maker and yours looks really well done.

Your layout definitely does look like Vietnam.

I am curious as to what you used to texture the bare ground areas. It looks very realistic and convincing.

Pete

[PolishGI]

Polish - what a board! Dying to see it full of marines being swarmed by black clad adversaries! Great work as always, inspiring!

Thank you Burt! At some point, I need to shift gears and quit building in order to start playing more. Lol Thank you.

Yea, I would say your work is insanely good polish.

Thank you for the kind words Hoth.

Hi Polish!

Your terrain really looks excellent! I also use Terrain Maker and yours looks really well done.

Your layout definitely does look like Vietnam.

I am curious as to what you used to texture the bare ground areas. It looks very realistic and convincing.

Pete

Hi Pete! Thank you sir. As far as texturing the ground… the empty hexes? Just dirt? Or the grass as well?

On the hexes, I have found a rhythm that allows me to use multiple layers. After painting the hex with an acrylic brown base coat (white elimination), I cover the hex (top side) in a decent layer of elmers glue. I put it on and use an old brush to cover the hex. Then I lay on old fashioned dirt from outside to cover the hex.

If the hex is intended to be what I call an empty hex (just dirt), I wait for the glue to take in the dirt and start to bleed through. When the glue starts to come through the dirt, I add another layer of dirt for the glue to attach. I continue to do this until the glue no longer comes through the layer of dirt. As it starts to dry, the multiple layers of dirt add texture to the hex so it gives it a cool effect. Whatever I do not use, I shake from the hex back into my dirt container.

Now if the hex contains grass… similar process. I cover the hex in glue so the top is all white. I start with my layer of dirt. Now, as the glue starts to come through, I will add the color of grass that I am looking to achieve. For Vietnam, it is a darker green blend from woodland scenics I believe. So in theory, you have glue as Layer 1, dirt as Layer 2, dark green grass as Layer 3. Sometimes, the glue will even bleed through the dirt and grass, allowing you to add another layer of your choice. Lighter green grass or dead grass for contrast? Or if content with dark green, then just add another layer of dark green.

I hope this helps. I like the process as it allows you to bring a few things together in the hope it adds realism. One thing that is big for me is variety of hexes. No two hexes will ever look like because you do not know where the glue will bleed through. There are times where I need grass to be a major player on the hex and sometimes the glue does not cooperate with coming through the dirt… in that event, once I add a layer of grass on top of the dirt, I use my thumb is gently press the grass down a little forcing it to come into contact with the glue below. Then tap the hex over my grass container in order to shake off anything left over.

Once a hex is dried underneath with the elmers glue, I shoot it with a dullcote on top to seal everything in place. That seems to be working.

With dirt collection… I use and old tin coffee container. Not the monster sized container, the smaller one that allows me to sneak my hand in it. I have a colander that I use as well. So I go outside, move the rock landscape to the side, get a handshovel full of dirt, toss it into the colander and shake the dirt into the coffee container. The colander is nice bc it filters out all of the larger pieces and just gives me the dirt I need. Anything larger and you have scale issues with the 1/285 models.

I am trying to figure out my path for the Northern Africa stuff. Last time we spoke, you pointed me in a direction and I have been off noodling what I can do. Im trying to use actual sand now for the hexes. But the sand I bought is a tad lighter than I would like… so I found myself using a brown weathering wash mixed with water. I use this solution to tint the sand a slightly darker color which appears to have worked. Nice unexpected byproduct is the wash gets in everywhere and starts to highlight individual pieces of sand for added detail in the finished product. Pretty cool effect.

Jeff

[redleg]

I find myself getting angry when I look at your work, Polish! Like, a person should not be able to make terrain and vehicles look like that! It's amazing!

[chrisswim]

Incredible set up, terrain! Nice layout.

[PolishGI]

I find myself getting angry when I look at your work, Polish! Like, a person should not be able to make terrain and vehicles look like that! It's amazing!

Thank you! I think? Lol

I equate it to a young upbringing in this crazy area of modelling. My father and grandfather are/were model railroaders (HO scale). (like they had an article or two published in the magazine at the time on their paint jobs or layouts) So as a kid, I got to help with adding electricity to the tracks, the paper-mache prep work, a layout frame work and application. Once dried, then it starts the process for bringing a train layout to life. I sucked as a kid but I did stick with it and try to learn from the top two generations (still off). I do not believe my stuff is the end all be all, I am just shooting for something that kind of looks fun/realistic and can bring a board to life as two opponents shoot at each other. Lol The modelling portion is fun! But what if you can use those models to wargame? Now that is really fun and useful!

If that inspires someone, that is great. Reading on everyone’s posts here and on the internet, you tend to get inspired and see what boundaries you can push or what you can add to the community. I try to get getter or more detailed with every round I do. What could I have done differently? Better? Any additional detail that I can add? You research with the books you have, internet research etc to find areas in your modelling that you might be omitting or missing all together.

I get made fun of by my group of friend that model in 1/35 military or 1/24-1/25 cars. But they are starting to see why we model this scale and that there is detail we can pull out of these little guys. And then when wargaming starts, you can have a pretty decent sized board and watch the battles develop. We like to consider more like 3d chess! (like chess but many more variables to consider)

By all means, if you have any questions, Id be happy to try and help. I am not a snob, nor is it G14 classified information on this stuff. I love to learn from others or help where I can. In the end, we all get better and succeed and maybe have a little bit of fun.

Cheers,

Jeff (PolishGi; PGI)

[redleg]

It's definitely inspiring, Jeff! Please keep the pictures coming! And I hope you're going to post some pics of the game afterward!