Trench Builder

To complement the previous post about the Trench System I would like to share with you a video of a small program that I wrote at the time that I was building the Trench System to help me visualize all the possible trench configurations, given a set of available trench modules and the desired width of the system. Back then, I used this information to decide how many trench modules of each type to build and, just recently, I replaced the temporary images for actual pictures of the trench modules. The program also allows you to order the available pieces and specify how many of each you have, which in turn influences the order in which the resulting configurations will be 'discovered'. The program will pause a configurable amount of time (1 sec for this video) between each solution. I only recorded about a minute of the program's execution, but the program can actually run for hours and hours. Notice that there is also a setting to display configurations that end up leading to a 'dead end', meaning that some pieces remain with open connectors, and therefore the solution is not valid. Selecting that option makes the display a lot more interactive, but it also slows down the program, so I only turned it on during a portion of the video. If I ever find the time I might rewrite it for the web and let you play with it first hand. Even if you are just considering a hypothetical trench system I still find it fairly entertaining to watch.

Follow this link to watch the Trench Builder video.

Here are some pictures of German Infantry fighting from the trenches.

Trench System

By now, the trench system used as the backdrop of some of the pictures from previous posts might be starting to look familiar, so today I'd like to share with you how that looks in its entirety and how it was built. How it looks really depends on how you want to set it up and how much space you have. The system is modular, with each piece measuring 1 square ft. The entrances to each trench piece are always located in the same place so that they can connect with any other piece as seen below.

I have built 18 pieces so far, and that allows me to build quite a few scenarios. There are corner pieces at a 90 degree angle, corner pieces at 45 degree angles, straight sections, semi-straight sections with a bend in the middle, a 4-way intersection, 3 way-intersections, a command bunker, a firing bay for a tank, an end section, a couple of firing bays for artillery pieces, and a couple of filler sections with craters on them.  Below are a couple of assembled configurations from past setups.

A setup in depth

A stretched out setup

In terms of how it was built, each piece is made with a plywood base. The trench itself is made with little wooden pieces from twigs and branches, glued with hot glue, using a 'glue gun'.

The slopes of the trenches are made using styrofoam, cutting away and scraping off what you don't need in order to give it some realistic profile. Note that the slope always has to be at the same angle if you want to ensure that it will align with any neighboring section.

The styrofoam is then covered with paper mache. The paper mache I use is called Celluclay. You just mix it with water and add some Elmer's glue to it and you are good to go.

Inserted into the paper mache you can add little rocks, logs (more little branches) and vegetation (decorative moss). When the paper mache dries it can painted over with acrylic paint.

Another configuration of the assembled trench system. This is as compact as it can get.

Click here to explore the many different configurations that can be built with the Trench System.

Here are some pictures of a company of German Infantry fighting in the trenches.

Upcoming CTS Release - The votes are in

Today I got an email from CTS with the results of the poll mentioned in an earlier post and unfortunately the GIs lost by 23%. I guess we'll just have to wait a little bit longer for those GIs. The email did not specify a release date, but the orignal note had mentioned September.

UPDATE: the release of the second set of GIs just happened last week, third week of September!

Here is a picture of what they look like.

Here is a post with pictures of what the first set looks like.

A Company of German Infantry in Action

Here are some pictures of last post's German company in action on the eastern front. These guys are defending a well prepared position which they've been able to build up while the Soviets were getting ready for their next offensive. I was inspired to build this setup by some of the scenes in the film Cross of Iron.
You may notice that the paint job on the figures when I took these pictures was still lacking the final blackwashing coat, and therefore they still have a less realistic, glossy finish. Maybe someday I will rebuild that scene and get some updated pictures, but for now, let's pretend they are a bit dirtier, as you would expect from a unit in action.
You may also notice that I have made wide spread use of all those little accessories that come with Forces of Valor figures and vehicles. When you get each of those sets, you get a few cans, boxes and the like. Not much from each set. However, when used in bulk on a scene like this, they can add some nice touches.

The main firing line

  

Command post bunker as MG nest

Also inside the CP, a 21 Century Toys Pak 40 

Rushing to the front

21 Century Toys 88 mm gun, anti tank role 

Making good use of those craters

Forces of Valor 88 mm gun - shows the 'kills' on its armor plate

Another 21 Century Toys 88mm gun

That was a brave Kamerad charging that MG armed with just a pistol

The enemy is getting close... time to break out those potato mashers!

Forces of Valor King Tiger in firing bay

Here are some close ups of the German Infantry.

German Infantry - Part I

One downside of trying to assemble larger units is that most of the time you end up having to deploy multiple guys with the same pose in order to make your numbers. That is still the case for most countries/branches of the service that participated in WWII. In recent years, a series of new sets have improved the situation for American GIs and for Soviet Infantry. However the ones that have really made it possible for me to get to my magic number have been the German Infantry. A company -100 strong- of unique poses. All painted in the same style to blend them into a single unit. Note that I avoided pre-painted figures and figures that had winter uniforms or cammo smocks. I also tried to stick to 'action/battle' poses, therefore you won't see any marching guys or dead guys. Lastly, I did not want to have more tha 10 prone figures. The chosen ones are featured below, grouped by manufacturer.

Conte Collectibles German Infantry Set 1 

Click here to see one more pose that I did not paint

Conte Collectibles German Infantry Set 2 - First Half

Note that Conte introduced plug-in arms which allows the creation of new poses by just exchanging the weapon/accessory. In the case above, the guy with the MG-42 is the same figure as the guy with the phone.

Conte Collectibles German Infantry Set 2 - Second Half

Again, by using pluggable arms, I was able to create four figures out of two base running guys.

Conte Collectibles German Infantry Set 3

Airfix German Infantry

Airfix Afrika Korps

Here I borrowed figures from a different 'branch of service', but once they are painted they look like German Infantry, which I guess is what they actually were. 

BMC German Infantry

Click here to see 3 other poses that did not make the 'paint cut'

Classic Toy Soldiers German Infantry - First Half

Classic Toy Soldiers German Infantry - Second Half

ESCI German Infantry

Marx German Infantry - First Half

Marx German Infantry - Second Half

Click here to see a couple other poses that I did not paint.

Matchbox German Infantry

Note that to the right there is a bazooka/panzerschreck guy which to my knowledge is not part of the original set. It came in a bucket of clones, but it must be based on Matchbox figures as the sculpting and all his equipment is just like the other guys'.

Matchbox Afrika Korps

Again, here I borrowed from another 'service branch', but they look like normal infantry...

MPC German Infantry

These guys are not my favorite. A bit too stiff for my taste, but I included some of their poses so that they would be represented. There were three other poses that I did not paint.

Revell Afrika Korps (left) & Reproductions of Marx 6" figures (middle, right)

Same branch story with the Revell guy. The manufacturer of the 54mm versions of the 6" Marx guys is unclear to me. I bought them advertised as SWTS figures (Steve Weston Toy Soldiers), but I have not been able to comfirm that claim. He does not mention them on his web site.

The whole unit.

Click here to see a post of the German company in action.

Here you can see pictures of additional German Infantry figures.

Click here to see German Paratroops in action.

Click here to see German Waffen SS in action.