Monday 5 December 2022

UPDATE.

It has been over six weeks since I last updated on my activities. However the simple fact is that I have not done a great deal...again !!!!! Ordinary life seems to have continued to get in the way of modelling. I had hoped that with the miserable autumn weather I would get more modelling time but that has not happened, at least not yet anyway.

Having just said that, on reflection I have to admit I have not really tried that hard to get modelling time. If I am being totally honest, I have not actually had that much enthusiasm for modelling recently. I am sure this is a passing phase as I have really enjoyed finally getting the cavalry and heavy artillery battalions finished after so many months of them sitting on the work bench gathering dust. I think it is just a case of getting going again after so many months of modelling inactivity.

Above are the cavalry just finished on the work bases.


And here set up, with the foot elements of the regiment and most of the vehicles, on the display shelf before insertion into the display cabinet.


Here are the soldiers of the heavy artillery battalion on their display shelf. No vehicles or equipment has been built yet for this battalion.

The next vehicle construction project will be a batch of field kitchens. The next battalion to be painted will probably be another infantry unit.

Readers may have noticed that I have started updating and republishing the organisation tables of my armies. These now reflect the several upgrades I have introduced over the past couple of years.

A considerable time ago I realised that my armies lacked a bridge building capability. My initial thought was to create a couple of bridging battalions at army group level but then I decided the best way forward would be to provide the capability within each Pioneer battalion. Ever since I have been searching for some object to represent a pontoon boat. 

Scratch building one or two would be easy but I need 32. I have found a model within the Pendraken range that is the right size but it is a slab sided square shaped pontoon that does not look good in the scale I use. I want an actual rowing boat shape that can be placed upside down on a flat bed wagon. I am coming to the conclusion that I will have to make a master and mould my own. However if any reader has another suggestion please let me know. Size needed is 30 mm long, 13 mm wide and 5 mm high.


 

8 comments:

  1. We all have peeks and troughs when it comes to our hobby Tony. I've had some games and painting planned for ages, but only have managed a few bits and pieces here and there due to lack of motivation. The wet weather in November didn't help things for sure.

    Re: the boat for the pontoon, have you looked at any 3D printed options that might be out there?

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    1. Hi Steve....Yes I am sure you are right...its just a passing phase. 3D is another option. I had some heavy weapons 3D printed but the quantities were much higher which spread the cost of the design work. For only 32 pontoons it would be costly. Worth a look however. Regards

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  2. Tony -
    Rather than the 'rowboat' shape, you might prefer something that looks like a punt - simply a rectangular piece of something, with the ends bevelled down to the waterline. I'd suggest balsa, but that is probably too light. Just wooden battens, say. Rather than hollow them out like dugouts, maybe paint the upper surface black to suggest their 'boatishness'. They could be placed upon some sort of wagon, with other wagons carrying the timber (perhaps) for a road bed to be laid across the pontoons.
    I'm hoping this link will show you what I have in mind...
    https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=105070.0
    Just scroll down a little for quite good pictures.

    Years ago I Made a 'generic' pontoon bridge for my own armies (1700-1865), though I lacked the transport for them. I do now have a token train comprising just 2 wagons, but at least 3 more would at least look persuasive that it is indeed a bridging train!
    Cheers,
    Ion

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  3. Hi Ion...The Pendraken model is exactly as you describe. I have to say it does not look too good in such a small size, just like a slab, just not visually interesting hence why the dingy shape appeals more. I think making a sample or two is the next step. Thanks for the link, very interesting indeed. Regards.

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  4. Hi Tony - from my research, most pontoons in the later 19th century were like the Pendraken model, rather than being more traditionally 'boat shaped'. Flat bottom, square vertical stern, and a bow that was only slightly tapered in from the sides. Also, whilst British Army practice was to stow pontoons 'the right way up' so that they could store bridging materials inside, other armies (like the German) usually did the opposite. Hope that is useful

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    1. Hi Ian...Thanks for this....my research suggested the same with "boat" shaped pontoons being more Napoleonic. However for me its more about the "look" and a slab sided pontoon would not look right in my scale even if more historically accurate. My armies are representative models more so than accurate scale models. I did not know about the pontoon stowage variations between British and German armies....that is interesting. I think I prefer the German method. Many thanks for the information. Regards.

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  5. Tony - in that case, have a look for either N gauge or OO gauge 3d printed rowing boats - there are quite a lot on e-Bay in various sizes from 25 to 35mm long - and not particularly expensive, e.g these: 'Model Railway Small Row Boat or Motor Long Boat 1.76 OO Gauge x5 pack' for £5-48 - just search on eBay as I can't embed links here

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    1. Hi Ian...Thanks for that. I actually never thought of looking on ebay...!!!!!! There are quite a lot out there in fact. I will let you know if I find something I can use. Thanks again for the advice...Regards.

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