WWI Trench Section

[rdclaeps]

As a bust painter, I’ve never had much need for groundwork. So this is my first attempt at something like this.

Everything was scratch built using techniques obtained from friends. The wood retaining wall is made from strips of brass wood, aged with washes of India ink and rubbing alcohol. The “H” wall supports were made from Evergreen strips. The corrugated metal was made using a jig and sheet aluminum.

The corrugated metal supports were made using steel pins hammered flat. The duckboard was made using the same technique as the support wall. And the groundwork and sandbags were done with Magic Sculpt. As side from the fact that my sandbags look like little submarine sandwiches, I’m pretty happy with the results.

Everything is undercoated and ready for shading, highlighting and weathering. Now all I have to do is go through the gray army box and find a figure.

 

[Roc]

Hey Roger,very nice, you did a good job.

Keep up the good work,

Cheers,

Roc.

 

[rdclaeps]

Thanks Roc. I do have one little problem, I have no idea how to weather it. Any sugguestions?

 

[Roc]

Hey Roger, I would would give it numerous washes of Sepia and raw umber, the wash should be a bit thicker then normal.

Cheers,

Roc.

 

[rdclaeps]

Thanks Roc. I going to have to dirty it up quite a bit.

 

[captnenglish]

Looks great mate. Don't forget to include the same color you've used on the dirt and make muddy.

 

[rdclaeps]

Thanks Matt. The make dirty part I think I can handle, but mud .

 

[rdclaeps]

Thanks Terry,

I scaled it to 75mm. After going through my gray army last night, I found a Fusilier WW1 Brit that will work out great.

 

[Pete_H]

Rog,
Looks really good, amigo! As Rocco suggested, washes of sepia and umbers work pretty good. I also found that feint washes of grays (Payne's & warm gray) tend to give wood a somewhat "aged" look. Also, mud would look good as well, but I'll let the resident "MudMaster" address that one.

 

[rdclaeps]

Thanks Petey. I was contemplating going with the “dry stroke” with some light grays and tans on the wood. I’ve have some Hudson and Allen mud that I’ve never used, not sure how well it works. I’ll play around with it on some scrap wood and see what kind of effects I can achieve.

 

[Dan Morton]

Your trench section looks awesome. Beautifully painted also. And I agree - I'd like to see the figure mounted in it.

My only concern about the trench is that maybe it looks a little too well-constructed. Most of the photos of trenches I've seen show them to be pretty slap-dash construction. According to the references I've read, the Germans were well-built, but the British and French ones, particularly early in the war, were poorly constructed.

 

[rdclaeps]

Thanks Dan. It's still sitting on my workbench awaiting weathering and a figure. Haven't had much motivation to continue with it. But there is a nice coat of dust weathering on it :lol:

 

[garyjd]

C'mon Roger, that trench section is too nice to just sit and collect dust. Sit and watch a couple of WW1 movies, maybe that will motivate you.~Gary

 

[Pete_H]

Rog,
I think a figure of the 9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers (1916) would look great on it
Yes, I've got the kit here and it's collecting enough dust to fit right in with your trench section Just say the word and I'll get it over to you.

 

[rdclaeps]

Thanks Gary.

A WWI movie is a great idea and I just happen to have a couple of them.

take care,

Roger

 

[rdclaeps]

Petey,

Sorry about the no-show at the meeting last Tuesday. It was a long day and about all I could do when I got home was sit on the couch. I'm praying that it rains tomorrow. Heck, I'm about to the point that I hope it rains everyday. If it does, I'll give you a call to see if you’re at home.

see ya

 

[Pete_H]

Rog,
You're in luck, amigo - it's raining here in Eastlake!!! So if the powers-that-be make you go to work, you're going to have one helluva time chasing my cousins on your bike :lol:

Talk to you tomorrow ..

 

[Patrick Kirk]

Roger,
Excellent work here my friend...really am eager to see how this all comes together. How did you get the texture on the sandbags?

Hope all is well; you going to Atlanta?

Patrick

 

[Lou Masses]

Had Roger lived during WWI that would have been his trench section. Neat, clean, recently swept, etc.... :lol:

That is a good job. If you don't want to use it, send it to me. I have the perfect figure for it!

 

[Pete_H]

Rog,
Did you ever find a use for the trench section?