I've placed my first AK order for a summer painting project... The beginnings of a Warlord force for the (less than) Democratic Republic of Malitania. Now I need some scenery for my Warlord to trundle his T-55 through (or over!). Since I'm taking my inspiration from Mali I thought a new addition to my scenery would be a mud hut village... the historic site of the Malinke people, Kirina seems a suitable subject... another build in styrofoam, card and milliput thatch I'm thinking...
I thought Peter Pig used to make mud huts like that, but I can't find any on the website today
Am I imagining things?
Simon
Hi Simon
They are on the scenery page , under AK47
Stewart
Great video - I happen to have place mats that I was planning to use for Japanese fencing in much the same way and many spare Woodland Scenics tree armatures I can hopefully now morph into acacia-like trees... Good shout, many thanks, Julian.
While I like the PP round house, I'm blowing much of my budget on mechanised transport for both sides, so will be scratchbuilding the huts... I also particularly like the decorative tops to the thatching. I'll have to revisit my stock of Wills corrugated sheeting...
Neil
Quote from: Stewart 46A on August 10, 2022, 09:40:06 PM
Hi Simon
They are on the scenery page , under AK47
Stewart
Thanks Stewart - I didn't scroll far enough on my phone!
Simon
My first attempt at modelling round houses start to roll off the production line...
A carved expanded poly core rendered with filler around the walls and dressed with cocktail stick timber work with sculpted Milliput thatch...
The one at the back of the pic shows the stage before 'thatching'.
Neil
A less labour-intensive bit of desert terrain... light brush screens / hedging that act as wind/sand breaks and keep livestock from straying too far... A Tuareg/Berber version of the non-thorny zariba enclosures found all over Africa.
Made from strands of plumber's sisal glued to small strips of card and then glued into bases with slots made up of styrofoam wedges and filler. The sisal is then roughly trimmed / thinned with a pair of scissors. Just paint groundwork and add scatter to taste...
Neil
And finally, looking like badly wrapped Viscount biscuits, a w.i.p. shot of a trio of temporary Berber huts or yurts/gers covered in cloth and tarps...
A carved expanded poly core clad in lead foil scraps with cocktail stick timberwork...
Neil
Very nice, Neil. I particularly like your round houses.
Maybe you could do a short article for The Mill on how you did the thatching, as that could be relevant for a number of periods?
Simon
Rolling off the production line - my scratchbuilt Malinke inspired round houses and zariba...
A two tone paint job (paler on the thatching) almost black under the eaves blended into the wall colour followed up with a dark brown ink wash and greyish white / pure white dry brushed highlights...
I noted some houses had small enclosing walls connecting them so coupled a pair with one made from styrofoam with scribed mudbrick detailing. This little detail would make an interesting addition to anyone's table
Neil
Lovely work, Neil - these look great!
Simon
Thanks, I'm quite chuffed with the way they turned out.
If you'll forgive the duplication (posted recently on FB) - my only image of all 4 round houses in a suitable vignette
Neil
Smart job Neil.
Do you have some animals too?
martin :)
Thanks Martin,
I have a full range of assorted livestock and dogs that I plan to add for local colour. Even my Tuareg encampment (under construction) will have a couple of camels parked... :D
Neil
Very nice. They make for a great looking village template.
Nick
And hot off the production line just before Christmas, my scratchbuilt Malinke style mosque as a 7x7inch objective/base...
That is very nice, Neil. And plenty of room on top to place your troops - lovely :)
Presumably it's based on a real-world prototype?
Simon
indeed... I discovered this on the interweb - Samatiguila, on the Ivory Coast, part of the Malinke/Mandinka culture.
That's wonderful, Neil. They've copied your model very nicely ;D
Simon
A very nice model indeed.
Contemplating another building objective... a former French Foreign Legion desert blockhouse/outpost on a rocky crag... crumbling walls, sandbags, barbed wire, a barrack block, watch/signalling tower and artillery emplacement all packed into a 7" x 7" footprint...
I like a challenge! :o
Neil
W.I.P. shot of my next objective (and a tall one at 6" high, Martin), a Sahel region 'Bordj' - a watchtower designed to police caravan routes. They were often strategically situated on rocky outcrops and made excellent fortified positions for Govt. and rebels alike. Many were adopted as outposts by the Foreign Legion during the French Colonial period and some continued as arms caches, depots and supply points for army and police after independence. Others reverted to civilian use or were robbed for their building materials...
Not much scope on the restricted 8" x 8" footprint except for a couple of ancillary buildings but I hope to squeeze in gate, stone walls, possibly a bit of barbed wire, sandbags and an artillery emplacement/sangar. Access to the tower will be by stone/brick steps...
Designed to fit neatly inside a Christmas panettone box!
That tower would look good in a Sudan game too, Neil
Simon
Absolutely, the Sahel encompasses that desert fringe right across Africa from the Atlantic Coast to the Red Sea. Watching a doc on Chad it struck me how similar the scenery was there with Mali, Niger etc. Just as well the Mahdi never had access to Toyotas!
Neil
Another template - this time a desert village comprising 4 adobe buildings in the Sahel style. Almost finished apart from a few details and homely touches to give them a lived-in look...
Neil
Very nice, Neil - you're getting rather good at these :D
I particularly like the rainwater channels, which are an additional dimension relative to what we are used to seeing in other such models.
Simon
Good job there Neil.
martin :)
Very nice collection you are building up there.
Derek
A couple of days on and the Sahel 'bordj' / outpost is nearly there... some small details to paint up, some highlighting and then set dressing with scatter and vegetation. One of the additional bits and bobs is a tube in the watchtower ramparts to take a flagpole which can be swapped out for whoever is occupying the outpost at the time...
Neil
I like it!
Simon
That has gone together extremely well.
Finished now with scenic scatter and tufts, fuel dump courtesy of Debris of War, sporting an appropriate French No entry sign on the gates...
Neil
That's a lovely model, Neil, which all hangs together particularly well with the addition of those latest details.
Simon
Just posted on the AK47 FB site
The Lancia 3Ro - arguably one of the best resin vehicles on the PP roster!
Neil
That's a very nice paint job, Neil!
Simon
Indeed, a nice piece Neil.
Very much like the door sticker
martin :)
My take on a French Foreign Legion insignia. The green and red party field with a grenade and horseshoe for one of the old cavalry units...
Neil
One of my two main 'Sahara' film inspired objectives has finally been completed... 1:100 'Spirit of St Louis' has been re-tasked as an objective...
Smashing work, Neil ;D
Simon
In case you missed it on the FB site - I've been putting Martin's Normandy Petrol Station accessories to good use... A w.i.p. shot of a rural garage in the French speaking Sahel c.1960 sans tin roof...
The completed version...
That is a lovely, unique piece Neil!
Simon
Thanks, Simon ;D
It was good to finally top it out and finish it off... The Gendarmerie is done, as is the Post Office. Just the Restaurant at the a.e.o.n. to go. I just have to figure out how to model a few tables and chairs and fix two sun umbrellas. I thought of using the WW1 HQ scenics table and chairs but I wanted a bit more of a modern vibe. My fat fingers aren't up to the work atm.
Neil
Neil,
The 4D Model Shop has a number of 1:100 sets that might fit the bill, e.g. https://modelshop.co.uk/Shop/Item/1-100-chair-basic-Pk24/ITM1607
Simon
And a chair and table set, here:
https://modelshop.co.uk/Shop/Item/1-100-Panton-chair-table-set/ITM8088
Simon
Thanks for the tip, Simon :)
Neil
A taste of the wildlife of the Republique de Senemal... Scimitar-horned Oryx find that their usual watering hole has been occupied by some West African Crocodiles waiting expectantly for a take out...
Irregular Miniatures Antelope with add-on wire horns and PP Crocs
Neil
Excellent pieces Neil.
It is good to see those touches that link the game mechanics with a visual tick
martin :)
Thx Martin,
Those Crocs of yours are a joy to paint. As soon as I discovered I had a legitimate reason to use them in a desert setting I had to have some! The question is do I populate every river/water hole piece with one or keep some in reserve as pets for my Warlord? A 'Live and Let Die'-esque set piece springs to mind...perhaps with an arms trader trying to shoo one away by waving his hat!? Since I have more than one figure, one could be 'expendable/lunch'! ;D
I was a bit disheartened at first to see the Irregular antelope without horns but the notch and U shaped copper wire adaptation worked out rather well I thought...
Neil
Neil,
I have some crocs on a marsh scenic base, and another on my general's base as his pet / enforcer.
I think the general rule is that you can't have too many PP crocs in an AK47 game!
Simon
I used the sunny holiday weather to lay out all my AK47 R scenics for the very first time... not in any particular gaming arrangement but simply to show the extent of my Sahel world-building to date...
Neil
That is a nice collection, Neil. And all the pieces blend in well together - these will no doubt look fantastic in a game!
Simon
The Alfellaga gain two powerful additions to the roster, a pair of second-hand Comets (courtesy of a wealthy patron named Butler ;) ). They are decked out in ID flashes with the popular red 'yazz' motif of the Tuareg, and lettering in Tifinagh script ('one' and 'two'). The sky blue crescent and star emblem of the movement are also emblazoned on the turret bustle and the front glacis to deter wannabe rebel RPG heroes scoring a blue-on-blue hit.
I'm not sure whether to indulge in small Alfellaga pennons flying from the aerials.
Neil
Nice, Neil!
I think tanks should always have aerials with pennons on them when historically justified (as they clearly are here). They just look cool :)
Simon
Wow !!
All your elements bring an atmosphere to the table... This is superb !
Great work !
Cheers,
Xavier
Thanks, guys,
I'd better get the pin vice out... ;D
Neil
Simon do you mean something like this ?
Miles
(https://i.postimg.cc/DSpqwhk0/IMG-0490.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/DSpqwhk0)
Very nice, Miles.
You're just missing the little flags on top ;)
Simon
Hickzackerly!
Just need to figure out how big they should be - the flag wielding insurgents seen on the news riding Toyotas tend to brandish quite large banners... I guess there'd be an optimal size to attach to a radio aerial without risk of breakage.
Neil
Quote from: sukhe_bator (Neil) on April 19, 2023, 06:55:55 PM
Hickzackerly!
Just need to figure out how big they should be - the flag wielding insurgents seen on the news riding Toyotas tend to brandish quite large banners... I guess there'd be an optimal size to attach to a radio aerial without risk of breakage.
Neil
It also depends on what you use for the aerial. I have some 0.33mm nickel silver "rod" for my aerials, which is nice and springy. I'm assuming that 0.35mm would be almost as good ;D
Simon
I usually use 0.4 brass as it's the most resilient and springy. Yes a little over scale but these are Wargames models and not going to a Model competition. That's then mounted into an aluminium tube that holds 0.4 rod, so it's a snug fit. I usually allow 5mm into the turret and 2/3/4 mm above the turret so plenty of rod as the Ariel base ?
Like I said slightly over scaled but I ve found it does give them a longer life and resilience.
Miles
As I posted in "fortuitous finds":
For aerials for vehicles, try searching for "security loops fasteners" the things you get attached to new clothes.
For example:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yesallwas-2000Pcs-Security-Plastic-Fastener/dp/B083JWQWF9/ref=asc_df_B083JWQWF9?tag=bingshoppinga-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79852124627163&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=t&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583451676864810&psc=1
They come in black as well as white. The end even looks like the base of an aerial. Cut to preferred length.
Neil
Thank you guys for all your suggestions :)
I have a bunch of piano wire and brass rod in a variety of sizes from when my local Modelzone closed down :( . I'm never entirely sure of the precise sizes and am working through all my accumulated scraps etc. for shorter lengths since I don't want to cut down potentially useful spear stock etc. unnecessarily.
I also have some plastic rod that I tried out for making my own Nobori and Sashimono banners. I was considering using that since it was springier (if it doesn't look too thick).
The clothes security tag idea is definitely to file away under 'extremely useful supplies'...
I found this really useful gen on aerial flags on ww2Talk.com
Apparently flags were discontinued from 1942.
This guidance would make pennons in 15mm scale between 3x9mm down to 2x3mm. Overscaling these a tad for WW2 seems sensible. I think I made Medieval lance pennons 3x6mm back in the day. Throwing out the rulebook for AK47 R probably sensible...
"Since 1930 there had been a system of flags to identify commander's vehicles. This was still in use with 7 Armoured Division and its predecessors in 1939 and for some time afterwards.
The 1930 system as used in 1939 was:
Brigade Commander. A plain triangular pennant 12" by 36", in the brigade colour or other colour at the discretion of the commander. Red was the usual colour for the senior brigade. Green for a second brigade.
Armoured Regiment Commander. 18" by 36" rectangular flag in the regimental colour and with the AOS number in white.
Senior regiment red.
2nd regiment yellow.
Junior regiment blue.
Tank Battalion Commander. 18" by 36" rectangular flag in the RTR colours of brown over green over red with the AOS number in white or black.
Armoured Regiment/Tank Battalion Headquarters tanks. As Commander but with HQ in white.
Armoured Squadron Commander. 9" by 18" swallow tail pennant in the squadron colour with squadron letter in white.
A squadron red.
B squadron yellow.
C squadron blue.
Tank Company Commander. 9" by 18" swallow tail pennant in the company colour with company number in white.
1 company red.
2 company yellow.
3 company blue.
Troop Commander. 9" by 12" triangular pennant in black with two coloured stripes in the troop colour.
1 troop red stripes.
2 troop yellow stripes.
3 troop blue stripes.
4 troop green stripes.
5 troop white stripes.
Individual tanks. 9" X 12" triangular pennant in troop colour.
1 troop red.
2 troop yellow.
3 troop blue.
LAD. Blue pennant with red disc.
There were, as always, variations on these.
The recognition pennants remain a mystery. It seems that various numbers of pennants in various colours could be flown at various heights on the aerial. These could be ordered and changed as required.
In 1941 a blue flag could be flown to indicate a friendly vehicle.
There was a comprehensive range of signal flags which could be used to give orders to subordinate units. Most of these were hand held but three were commonly fastened to the aerials.
Rally. Red over white over blue square.
Come On. Green/white diagonal.
Out of action. Red/yellow diagonal."
Neil
After a long hiatus I have some holiday to finish off those 'too long on the workbench projects'. Apologies for those who have already seen this on the FB forum but I wanted to share this milestone. The concept that first started me on my AK47 journey has reached fruition. Finally, the wreck of the CSS 'Texas' has been uncovered in Malitania. Speculation is rife whether it is full of Confederate gold or an arms cache for the Alfellaga movement... Neil
(https://i.postimg.cc/VdcCDHzW/IMG-1917.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VdcCDHzW)
That is a lovely model, Neil - well done!
Simon
Thanks, Simon,
The main armoured sides were some re-tasked scraps of plasticard sheet and batten roofing from my Dad's model railway bits box. The stanchions from the Airfix/Dapol water tank kit, and some scrap plasticard wooden planking. The rest is scrap card, track pins and some scrap chain on a bed of hardboard with expanded poly, filler and scatter material. I'm particularly pleased how the crumpled funnel came out - made from the foil from a (now empty) wine bottle ;D .
Neil
The moral here being that scratchbuilders need to drink more foiled wine bottles? ;)
It's the little details that can often make all the difference on these special template models. Miles has included some nice pipework and valves on some of his WW2 industrial buildings, and the chain on yours is a lovely little touch that adds another dimension to the otherwise largely straight lines.
Simon
I'm planning a fuel dump/depot objective and some spare brake wheels off the PP flat wagons will come in handy as shut-off valves for pipework.
Neil
I look forward to seeing how you approach the fuel dump, Neil - these can be handy things for games. Big Mike made a number for the Ardennes mega-game some years ago.
Simon
Quote from: sukhe_bator (Neil) on April 21, 2024, 08:19:53 AMI'm planning a fuel dump/depot objective and some spare brake wheels off the PP flat wagons will come in handy as shut-off valves for pipework.
Neil
Hi Neil,
That's a good idea using brake wheels as shut off valves. I have used plastic knitting needles (from a charity shop) for pipework.
Best wishes,
Martin from Grimsby
Since I learned that N or 009 gauge track is the equivalent of RW 3foot gauge (a common narrow gauge) in 15mm, that opens up the possibility of using my small collection of 009 locos and wagons in a 15mm wargaming setting. I'm thinking of reviving my abandoned Mex Rev mine workings and maybe constructing a Mineral quarry objective. It turns out Spanish West Africa/Western Sahara/Mauritania (the region my AK47 'Malitania' is notionally based on) has rich iron ore deposits served by the Mauritania Railway since 1960-63. I do have a German Eggerbahn loco and mineral wagons which could serve as static rolling stock to add colour to a smaller pre-Independence vintage mineral concern run by the Malitanian equivalent of the RW 'Société nationale industrielle et minière' (SNIM) which controls the Mauritanian railway line. I could even roll out my pair of Ruston-Bucyrus steam shovels. I'm thinking an abandoned slatted timber barn/warehouse structure with tin roof, broken clerestory windows with a rail entrance set into the hillside would fit the bill rather nicely. Time to get whittlin' the ole modelling matches again...!
Neil
Considering desert terrain, I am reviving my concept of terrain pieces imitating 'Harrat'. This volcanic lava plateau terrain is like a lunar or martian landscape littered with jagged rocks, stones and boulders. The name is arabic and the largest is a dark basaltic area around W Saudi Arabia. I happened across a WWII map of W Arabia in my work. It marked out harrat as impassable to vehicles and camels alike and pinpointed the only cleared and traversable routes. Only infantry could occupy and traverse it. I would defy any 4x4 to cross. On the table it would act more like a minefield or an area of Dragon's Teeth and could prove an interesting addition. In North Africa and W Sahara it is known as 'Reg' and 'Serir' in E Sahara.
Decades ago I tried simulating it with cork crumbs and lumps sprayed black glued to a terrain base but it was far too 'tame' looking. Variations on this like the limestone pavements of Derbyshire or the stony deserts of Morocco would be easier to simulate with a wide variety of scatter. Funnily enough now I'm sieving my way through my stock of limestone chippings I have some pretty good candidates for an experiment probably using liberal amounts of bonding material... This img from Wikipedia Commons illustrates one region.
(https://i.postimg.cc/K4p8M3xC/Harrat-Lunayyir.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/K4p8M3xC)
My 'Alfellaga' are getting more mobile with PP Tuareg camels joining the Minifigs ones I started out with. Some are being modelled sans shields and I've even had a stab at modelling (crudely) some RPG rounds in the javelin cases. I'm seriously considering adding some Dervish rifle armed camels to the mix as well ;D
Apologies for the poor quality of the pic - I was in a bit of a rush
Neil
(https://i.postimg.cc/ppqNkCxq/IMG-1922.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ppqNkCxq)
Seems like its been a while since I last posted but for the benefit of those who've not yet seen them my Tuareg mobile HMGs or Zamburacks with a brace of BPM DShKs, and a mix of PP gunners, various crew including Tuareg with sitting Colonial desert patrol camels as mounts...
Neil
BPM = Butlers Printed Miniaures?
Neil I can see an article about your Tuaregs coming along?
martin :)
I'd happily do one but aren't you chaps all bored with them by now?
Neil
Nope, an article would be nice Neil. Just keep the swearing and saucy pictures to a minimum.
martin :)
Quote from: sukhe_bator (Neil) on October 04, 2024, 08:16:41 AMI'd happily do one but aren't you chaps all bored with them by now?
Neil
Never! :)
Well, the Tuareg will have to keep their heads down now... or invest in some anti-air hardware. A w.i.p. shot of a Del Prado 1:110 scale model of an A1 Skyraider almost complete from its makeover to become a potent air asset for my dastardly Senemalese Dictatorship army. The hardest part has been hand drilling a 6mm hole in the die cast metal to take my home made flying stand...
This is the second of the 4 air assets I have on the workbench atm slowly taking shape.
Neil
That looks great, Neil!
Simon
I do like that camouflage Neil.
Is the stand a custom job rather than a Del Prado item?
martin :)
The stand is a custom job - 6mm dia. acrylic rod glued and lightly drilled into a hardboard base about 2.5" square. I figured the die cast metal would need a stouter support. I made 3 stands, all about 5" high.
Neil
Well, the Tuareg Alfellaga are assembling at last, though there are likely to be a few more bases to add in a while thanks to Martin ;) . I have 3 cavalry units of mixed camels and horses supported by 4 Zamburaks, and infantry with the usual mix of HMGs, RPGs, Mortars and RRs. For artillery support there are 2 towed AT guns, and in the wings some armoured cars, technicals and a couple of tanks... Figures are a core of PP AK'ers, Tuareg, Dervishes etc. supplemented by Minifigs, Irregular and Blue Moon.
Neil
They do look very nice and tidy, Neil.
Simon
After a long hiatus, finally some AK47 related stuff finally off the production line. For those Saharan desert locations where zebra are scarce... some African Wild Asses (Equus Africanus) with Pendraken 10mm versions as foals...
Neil
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZCbVRzrn/IMG-2014.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZCbVRzrn)
Good thinking there, Neil, and nice as always!
Simon
Great stuff Neil. Maybe a MILL article?
martin :)