Hi All,

for my ITLSU 1917 project I need to create a simple and flexible trench system.

I use a base cloth over foam and/or cork hills to represent the desert terrain so the system will need to sit on the top of the terrain rather than be a more accurate system dug into terrain boards.

At the moment my thoughts are to use felt with caulking compound edges to give some 3D effect. They would look similar to the wadi in this game.



Given the need to put 25x25 and 30x30 bases in the trenches I don't think I can represent the zig zags of actual trenches. I will need some T intersections to allow for communications trenches.

I need to create enough trenches for the Battle of Sheik Sa'ad by the end of January

Any other ideas or suggestions are welcome.

Timecast river sections, painted brown? Or Battlefront type front edge trenches (I made some for nam with skirting board beading, covered in filler, sanded, etc)

Of course, now I want to reference it I can't find the picture but there was a 6mm Western Front terrain board I saw which was composed of 300mm square terrain tiles.

The trench system was sunk into the tile (or more likely bits of thinner tile added on top) to around a depth of 6mm or 1/4" and was about 25mm or 1" front to back.

The zig-zag of the trenches had been painted on to the base of the "trench" and created quite a realistic look to empty trench sections. I think he'd just taken aerial pictures of trench systems, pasted them in and over-painted them.

Some tiles had communications trenches, cut-outs for machine gun nests or gun pits for artillery.

Not suggesting you go for terrain tiles but you could filch the idea of the painted base to improve the look of caulk trenches.

If you want to pend some cash, ironclad miniatures do some nice trench sections, for 15 mm but work nicely for based 10 mm.

They make zigzag sections too!

Here are mine!
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,10821.0.html

Off course, depends on how many you need , because lots of them might get expensive!

Another thing you could do, is get small balsa wood triangles like these:




Just cut your felt wider than usual and glue one side to the balsa and let it 'flow'over, creating a raised edge.  Look at my proffesional made drawing to see what i mean

Hardest part is finding the best size of balsa

Thanks all for the suggestions

I'm looking at enough trenches for 2-3 lines plus communications trenches to cover half of an 8'x4' table so commercial products are probably price prohibitive 

Peter, the balsa idea is interesting but I want the trenches to be able to 'flow' up and down hills. Putting the caulking compound under the felt might be an option

Ithoriel, that is a really interesting idea. I might be able to do away with the caulking compound and just use the felt with trench lines painted on
That would speed up the process and reduce cost. It would also increase flexibility as you wouldn't need specific specific T intersections etc.

I would be keen to see some pictures if you can find them. The key would be picking what scale to paint the trenches at
Figure scale 1:150 ... Ground scale 1:2,250

I think I need to do some experimenting, I might start with Wendy trenches 1:300

Can't find the set-up I was talking about - when will I learn to bookmark things when I see them instead of thinking I must go back and bookmark it "when I have time" ... OK probably never!

Did find these on RPGNow while looking for something else. Resize, print out on paper, glue to felt, drape?

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/103693/Ground-Set-%2314---Trenches&affiliate_rem=362786

I've done a quick experiment triggered by Ithoriel's comment about "the zig-zag of the trenches had been painted on to the base of the "trench" and created quite a realistic look to empty trench sections".

I've roughly painted the edge of the trench in a couple of different colours and tried three different colours to add shadows to try and give a 3D effect.

I'm interested in some honest feedback on how these look and hopefully some suggestions to how to improve them.



The final version, if I go this route, will be on felt which should lie better than the paper used for the experiment.

Howdy Paul,

To be honest I think it looks more like a board game with counters on it. I can understand it if you want something to play fast and easy and depending on the ratio of men to figures you'll have to scale down things of course. Even so; it I don't think it does the figures justice. If I were you I'd go with the caulking to get a 3d effect and maybe just use some zigzag on the front edge to make the trenches maybe look a bit more authentic but I feel it would give the whole game/table much more appeal.
But hey, whatever makes YOU happy (and ready in time!)

Cheers,
Rob

What's your infantry base width, Paul?

Quote from: Ace of Spades on 16 December 2015, 08:01:40 AM
... depending on the ratio of men to figures you'll have to scale down things of course...go with the caulking to get a 3d effect and maybe just use some zigzag on the front edge to make the trenches maybe look a bit more authentic...

Thanks for the feedback Rob, figure : men is about 1: 20 and ground scale is 1:2,250
I want to avoid straight line trenches so they "look a bit more authentic", zigzagging the front is an interesting thought
Another thought that has just occurred to me is to use caulking but to make the trenches about the size shown in the picture and have the figures sit on top of the trench area

Michael, infantry bases are 25x25mm, dismounted cavalry are 30x30mm

I think 'deep' trenches with the figures sitting on top wil give a much better look indeed than this 'flat' system!
When I did my figures I did them on 1cm deep strips on purpose so I can make trenches that look convincing. Then again; we play a 1:1 ratio rule system so it is easier. (You just have to paint a lot of figures )

Cheers,
Rob

Thanks again for the feedback Rob.

I have been considering the two 3D options over the last few days
- wide trenches that figures fit in
- narrower more accurate trenches that the figures sit on

I discussed it with our regular gaming group tonight and Roy, our host, hit the nail on the head. "Your regular punter will understand stands in a trench"

So I will be going with wide trenches that will look similar to the wadi above, about 12-15 feet to do by the end of January

I was going to say looks ok but unfinished and a bit "counter-like" but that's been covered and they're prototypes on paper instead of felt anyway! I was also going to suggest using coloured or paintable caulk for the edgin but quicker minds than mine have already done so

Good idea!

Quote from: paulr on 19 December 2015, 09:13:58 AM
I have been considering the two 3D options over the last few days
- wide trenches that figures fit in
- narrower more accurate trenches that the figures sit on

I've been busy with work but I've found time to try out a design as an option for you to consider. I'll post photos soon.

Michael