A NEW PROJECT...

I have started (or rather resumed from earlier this summer) a new project – 1/72 Modern US forces.  The plan is also to build an insurgent force to play against as well – something set in Iraq or Afghanistan. I know we can never really simulate a completely what is going on in those two lands, but some insight into the challenges the combatants face could prove enlightening.

I also really want to get the 1/72 scale stuff going at the shop.  The models are pretty darn good, they are very affordable, and they are available in a wide variety of periods. In addition to the modern stuff, I have a bunch of WWII stuff ready to base up and use as well.  Plus I also have my eye on some WWI forces, Vietnam and Korean War era battles, some…well, I digress.

These forces are being based for use with the Combat Cards (yes, they work for modern as well!) which means they have to be based into some sort of unit structure. I chose “fire teams” for the US stuff as that is a fundamental part of the small unit deployment. A problem arose though, when I tried to mount the figures on my favorite round style bases. On a smaller, more manageable base the figures were too crowded together and looked a little silly. But when I mounted them on the next bigger size base, they looked too far apart and the base itself became rather cumbersome to handle.

So I had to find an alternative solution. Since the command units were going to be a single figure on a single round base, the thought occurred to me to mount the teams on “joined” single round bases – i.e. a chain of single bases that resemble a stream of bubbles (or so I think).  By flattening a small section of each round base, joining them with wood glue and then reinforcing it with a small section of craft stick over the top I was able to quickly and efficiently create the needed bases. I then mounted the figures on them (after a painstaking process of removing them from the circular bases), added some water putty/plaster to hide the underlying structure and then proceeded into my usual routine for painting them. So far it looks like they are going to work out very well.

I also have a pair of Stryker personnel carriers and an Apache helicopter to finish up to go with the troops. Then I will have to get the insurgent forces ready, but hopefully those should take quite as long as I now have the method down. I will update the blog as soon as I get more stuff done.

Until next time…

Happy hunting!

Dan