We have just ordered an assortment of figures and will be putting on a 10mm Irish Civil War game at Triples. I will be posting pics as the preparations progress. More info soon! 8)
Welcome to the Forum! I'm looking forward to seeing you progress with this, and also getting some pics of the game at Triples.
8)
It is going to be a challenging layout. We are doing the landings at Fenit, where Freestate troops used the harbour to land 450 troops artillery and armored cars to outflank the Republican forces in muster. There is a pier and railway to build, a collection of houses to fight over and the single road out. The actual battle reports say the landing was 'largely unopposed' but the potential for things going wrong is huge. The republicans laid charges on the viaduct linking the landing stage to the mainland, which 'failed to go off', there is the possibility of some local forces turning out, or changing sides, or the republicans forcing a 'Hail mary full of grace' boat landing from the Freestate forces, which could turn nasty.
Also lookout for for Father Ted, Dougal, Father Jack and Mrs Doyle, and 'faraway cow' all of whom I hope will be represented for light relief.
Looking forward to see this evolve! Post some pics in the painting diaries!
Here is Fenit at 10mm scale (approx) overdrawn from the 1913 OS map. Each red box is 2ft square. Yellow/sand is below high water, grey is coastal strip/harbour/railway yard. Black lines ate track, grey roads. Black boxes are buildings. As you can see the total table size would be 16 x 8....Too big for the show.
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/Fenitactual.png)
Here is the 'squashed' version for 8 x 10
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/Fenit8x10Mk1.png)
And here is a second option. Haven't decided which one to go with yet, have to consult with my OpO/naval gazer for how much water he wants.
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/Fenit8x10Mk2.png)
The narrow bit of the harbour is a viaduct, so the Freestate could end up capturing the island, only to find themselves cut off from the mainland by a well placed train.
The outlined rectangle near the middle is the size of an a4 sheet.
Wow, that's gonna be a big table even in the reduced version. Are you gonna have rolling tables in order to have good access to units in the middle of the table?
Nice maps :)
This is going to be an impressive table - looking forward to seeing more of it 8)
Finally we have an 8x8 option.
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/Fenit8x8.jpg)
Opinions are welcome on the best layout, as I have yet to start on that. Yesterday the first figure order arrived, a collection of ww1 Brits, SCW and Boer War, with assorted vehicles. (Though it looks like I picked the wrong armoured car code for the Republicans :( ) most of the figures can be used as are, with suitable painting to represent the irregularity of the anti treaty forces. One exception are the lewis gunners.
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/lewis.jpg)
The original lewis gunner figure is in the centre, Helmet and leggings, in a walking pose. Helmets were rare to nonexistent amongst the Freestate forces, so they are all replaced with uniform peaked caps, (to the left) whilst the Republicans sport a variety of flat caps, trilby types or no headgear at all (right) the addition of greatcoats/overcoats breaks up the uniformity. Finally I discovered by accident that the walking post can be modified to a kneeling pose too (though i'm not too sure about the kneeling overcoated gunner on the right, he looks a bit like a cross dresser. - hopefully the painting will solve that)
Pictures of work on the scenic tiles, this is most of the coast, the paper covered area is the rail yard, with the 'town' in the centre
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/coast.jpg)
This is the to scale plan for the town centre layout. The trouble is that I'm not entirely convinced about the scale. I think I have less room than I thought. Might have to fiddle it a bit. (http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/fenittown.png)
I'm looking forward to seeing this one at Triples. 8)
That's a nice start! You going for the 8x8 table then?
Been promised a 8 x 10.
Here is a test fit of the houses
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/test.jpg)
I actually think I can get them all on. The large house is the constabulary house.
this is it now:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/francis-foley/4661330968/
Its about the same footprint. The large area to the left seems to have been a bit of a vacant lot even into the 1960s, weird, though there are more houses down the road by the railway at this point. Still lots of work to do.
Latest work:
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/mail-1.jpg)
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/mail.jpg)
Scratchbuilt (using Metcalfe card) Coast Guard Station. This will be at the back of the table but will also be the highest point. there are no photos available of the actual station at Fenit, but a map plan shows a typical layout of houses with an enclosed yard. A lot of the photos that are available show three storey watchtowers, so i have included one. then there are 4 2up/2down houses and a crew room/workshop at the far end, where the road runs in.
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/DSCF2817.jpg)
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/DSCF2818.jpg)
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/DSCF2819.jpg)
In the actual landings, there was little resistance, as the Freestate caught the republicans by surprise, however, with places like this to serve as a stronghold, the republican garrison has the potential to make a fight of it and to hold until relieved by flying column, by road or rail, from down the coast. One senior Freestate was certainly justified in his fear that the amphibious landings would result in forces being cut off.
That is brilliant!
That's a great looking model!
Now, how do I convert it to resin.... :-\ :D
Top-notch =D>
The railway yard and cutting.
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/DSCF2829.jpg)
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/DSCF2830.jpg)
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/agtfos/DSCF2831.jpg)
There are two ways into Fenit, road and rail. The Freestate must control these to have secured the landing and to win the game. The Republicans were adept at blowing bridges and launching ambushes. Though the bridge shown here is not essential to the advance to Tralee, blowing it would prevent a swift rail advance, but this would be the last act of a Rupublican defender, as it would equally stop reinforcements arriving too.