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Owen · Posted: Mon 30 Apr 2007 10:02 am Post subject:

Whilst Searching/reading the article, particularly the one about Sandhurst Wargames, I came across these links mainly about defenses that are well worth reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GHQ_Line

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillboxes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taunton_Stop_Line
- Some good pictures of anti-invasion structures. The anti-tank posts and railway barriers are good examples that should defiantly be incorporated into the design.
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Ratch · Posted: Mon 30 Apr 2007 21:14 pm Post subject:

There was a programme on last year showing lots of these defences around the country. One that stuck in my mind was that Pillboxes were placed to support each other with covering fire and anti-tank cubes were positioned between them. Some of this type of defences ran for miles

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joe · Posted: Fri 04 May 2007 17:32 pm Post subject:

we can scratchbuild that stuff

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Ratch · Posted: Fri 04 May 2007 18:02 pm Post subject:

Which stuff Joe

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davecov · Posted: Fri 04 May 2007 20:40 pm Post subject:

Sad person that I am, whilst trying to have a snooze this afternoon I kept thinking about the diorama. I think it time to move on from this thread now as it's primary purpose has been achieved, namely choosing a basic design.

It is now time to discuss the actual components that will make up the diorama. This would be easier to do in three threads, one for each board and I will set these up in the next couple of days. Each thread will have it's own list of components at the top of the thread so that it will be easy to see what has been agreed. I will, in turn, a master list of all components in one single thread.

I will continue to oversee the overall diorama but I will need three "volunteers" to co-ordinate each of the three sections, "Fields", "Village" and "Landing Area". These do not need to be the persons building the actual bases but if they are not, then there has to be a lot of discussions so that we all know what is going on. After all, it's no good somebody suddenly deciding to add or take away a component when the base has already been started or completed.

Talking of the bases, we need three volunteers to build those and they should now be chosen before we go any further. That way, they can advise on which components can or cannot be fitted on the boards and perhaps update their boards with paper templates so that we can all see how the pieces all fit on. Having the sketches by Owen were fine to get the design into shape, now we have to deal with the realities - how much can actually fit onto the board.

Once we have the three volunteers, we should let them have a while to make templates, to the correct scale, of the items that have been discussed so far and appear on Owen's drawings. Once that is done, then we can discuss what else to add afterwards. They may need help with dimensions of items etc so we should assist in any way we can.

Anybody wishing to be considered for the positions of the three diorama overseers or diorama base builders should PM me saying which one they wish to oversee and/or build.

So, that is the way forward now, as I see it. Does anybody else wish to add anything?

Dave
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joe · Posted: Sat 05 May 2007 09:48 am Post subject:

i'd like to thank owen for designing the base. it was a good design too.

i cant wait till this is underway

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Owen · Posted: Wed 09 May 2007 16:43 pm Post subject:

I'd like to put myself forward for the 'Fields' (or feilds as I called it!) design because it had the railway. I think there might be quite a few problems with scale, but surely these can be overcome.

BTW, and I've already mentioned this, a company called ScaleScenes might be the answer to all our building problems for the town. They do downloadable kits that you can print onto card using an inkjet printer and they look very good. I'm using them for my layout. Plus, you can use the design over and over again. (http://scalescenes.com/)

I could probably compile an exact list for the boards too, if we were to use Airfix/Railway Kit type manufacturers.
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joe · Posted: Tue 15 May 2007 17:50 pm Post subject:

I would think that its fair enough for owen to do the feilds!

having a working railway would be awesome

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airfixteen · Posted: Wed 16 May 2007 12:57 pm Post subject:

I would quite like to do AFVs and softskins and figures for Allies and Axis.

I wouldnt have to do a base would I Dave
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joe · Posted: Wed 16 May 2007 15:01 pm Post subject:

hmmm...thats not really a job that one person does alone.
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airfixteen · Posted: Wed 16 May 2007 15:42 pm Post subject:

Richard M · Posted: Thu 17 May 2007 06:34 am Post subject:

I don't think it's practical for me to do the boards purely on logistics. As I'm not a 1/72 vehicles or figures person, and I haven't done any diorama stuff in 1/72, I'll volunteer for any aircraft that might be involved (Stuka's, Hurri's, Spit's, 109's etc). Failing that if there is an S-boat or MTB floating around offshore.
Best
Rich
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davecov · Posted: Thu 17 May 2007 06:45 am Post subject:

We will be discussing who will be building what in the relevant components threads, once we have the design in place and we know exactly what components will be needed. Of course, we will be taking into account participants' preferences.

Dave
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Owen · Posted: Sun 20 May 2007 18:33 pm Post subject:

There's a program on telly at the moment about the Home Guard with plenty of references to Dad's Army!

Its on More4

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Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Sat 13 Oct 2007 21:13 pm Post subject:

Here's a thought.....Why not build the 'Operation Sealion' display as a playable wargame?

The components could be built individually on a smaller scale than building whole diorama boards. Components could then be placed onto a base-board/cloth as needed/available at different outings. The overall match between components would not need to be so close as the board would now have no 'hard edges'. This idea would allow interactivity at various meetings and would be more fun than a static display alone in my opinion.

Components might include:
A house, houses or even whole terraces thereof if you are feeling ambitious.
A town hall with gardens.
A church with graveyard.
A tradiitonal coaching inn.
A length of riverbank, perhaps including bridges, fords or even a mill. (Disguised Fallschirmers for the drowning of!

)
A railway station and tracks.
A length of main road, perhaps tied in to the river & rail features.
A hill, perhaps with a windmill or wood at it's top.
A wooded or Marshland area.
etc.

The various components of an airfield could also make an excellent wargaming board and would allow display of all those strange 'wingy-things' in an appropriate setting.

I know that there are others here interested in wargaming here and between us I'm sure we could produce a set of game rules that would be fast and furious fun to play.....I could knock up an adaption of the 'Operation WWII' rules fairly quickly if it came to it.
http://www.alzozero.it/eng/

Just a thought.....All the best

Richard M · Posted: Sat 13 Oct 2007 21:25 pm Post subject:

No idea what war gaming involves. Is it sort of like "I'll see your King Tiger, and raise you two Shermans and a Churchill!".

Does it work in 1/72? I would imagine the distances involved would be a bit restrictive?

Interesting idea though!
Best
Rich
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Rich
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"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

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davecov · Posted: Sat 13 Oct 2007 21:29 pm Post subject:

Andy, we have already decided on a basic design, size of boards, features etc and it isn't being changed now. Although work has been slow, it hasn't stopped. Indeed I have a large board sitting behind me with some buildings and vehicles kits to help me work out just how much can be put on the three sections. We want to present it to an organisation/museum/group etc when it is finally finished so it must be a static display anyway.

I think your idea is great though and should be pursued as a totally separate entity.

Dave
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Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Sat 13 Oct 2007 21:47 pm Post subject:

Hi Richard,

Wargaming works pretty well in any scale.....It's a matter of abstraction an suspension of disbelief.

The Alzo Zero rules linked to above are intended for 1/72 scale (they were originally produced in conjunction with Italeri but are now independent again) and use a combination of card play and dice rolling to simulate the mayhem of small unit action in a close environment.....Just what we would need! (You can download the FULL rules on the site for free and check them out for yourselves!)

Another very good option might be the 'I ain't been shot mum!' rules from 'Too-Fat-Lardies':
http://www.toofatlardies.co.uk/IABSM.html

The advantage of this idea as I see it is that nobody has to build a board to match anybody elses, everything is semi-modular. We might have to agree a standard end width and paint colour for roads, rivers etc. but the rest can be built as the builder wants. Also a fixed time-scale is less of an issue as the overall component pool can be added to over the course of time. We might start off with a smallish demo game for 4-6 players on a 4'x8' board using a dozen major components and 10-20 models + infantry.....After a year or two if people remain interested we could find ourselves fielding companies of tanks on gargantuan boards!

The ATF might even make the 'OperationSealion' wargame a regular fixture for outings and events, recording the results and perhaps determining the outcome of a larger overall 'Operation Sealion' campaign with a series of smaller battles.

EDIT: Sorry Dave, I'd not realised a finished design had been agreed upon!

As I've mentioned to you before I'm very interested in this idea and would like to contribute as best I may.

Just more wargamey wafflings really.....All the best

airfixteen · Posted: Wed 07 Nov 2007 18:18 pm Post subject:

Any more news Dave?
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Owen · Posted: Wed 07 Nov 2007 18:20 pm Post subject:

I was thinking today, could we have a nice big sit down to chat about this at SMW, with those of us who are going. If I remember, I can bring along the rough plans I made and have a natter.
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