Secret signals

Here's another little tutorial using the new semaphore tower from the Peninsular catalogue, linked below.

This is a very simple project as it only involves one building and some landscape work but should prove to be a useful addition to the battlefield as a major objective.

Peninsular buildings

No plan for this model was really needed as it's just the tower on a hill. The main shape was carved from expanded polystyrene and a 3mm mdf base was cut and chamfered.

The rocks at the 'front' help to reduce the footprint and give some visual appeal. They are plaster casts from the Woodland Scenics moulds. They are primarily used for railway modellers but have proved themselves more than useful for wargaming terrain.

Making sure there was enough flat space on the top of the mound for the tower, the whole thing was given a decent covering of 'Sculpt-a-mold'; which is basically paper mâché made from tissue paper and mixed with plaster powder.

When used, it's mixed with water until a thick paste is achieved. This can then be spread over the model and either smoothed out or given texture. The work time isn't too long so don't mix up a large amount. It's better to add in small amounts.

The groundwork was covered with my usual gloop mix and painted with my usual ground colour (see previous tutorials for details on this).

The building was primed all over with Colour Forge Desert Sand and then the walls were given a couple of layers of Pebeo Antique White. The roof was painted with a base coat of Foundry Orange Shade and several tiles were picked out in various hues/colours (around seven in total).

Once all this was dry, the building was given a wash of watered down GW earth ink and the groundwork was drybrushed with several layers of tan, getting lighter with each application. The building was drybrushed with Pro-Acryl Titanium White and the roof Foundry Orange light mixed with a bit of normal white.

I went heavier with the drybrushing on the ground as I wanted to give the impression of more parched earth that is ubiquitous with the Peninsular.

The rocks were painted in a very light grey and then given a wash of a mix of GW earth and camoshade. Once dry, a quick drybrush of the titanium white helped to finish it off.

The grass is actually a mix of generally 2mm spring and summer. I watered down some wood glue (about 60-40 glue/water) and brushed it on the base. Taking a clump of the grass in my fingers, I dabbed it on the glue, going over it several times. A heavy tapping removes the excess before going on to the next area.

Its best to do smaller areas so the glue doesn't go off too quickly as you want the grass to 'sink' into the glue. I find grabbing a clump of the grass between my thumb and first two fingers and dabbing from there gives the best result if not using a static applicator.

To add some variety, I applied some neat wood glue to a few small areas, mainly around the building and added a mix of sponge flock. Like the grass, this is a mix of suppliers and I think there are around seven/eight different types in there (including some bright yellow which can look like flowers). The flock something that can be added to over time if you find yourself running out and as long as the flock is pretty much the same as the original, it works fine.

For a final touch I added a few 'bushes' from Tajima and attached them with neat wood glue.

The actual semaphore was quickly sprayed CF Trench Brown and given a drybrush of several lighter shades of tan. The metal elements were picked out first in a gunmetal and then highlighted with silver.

Hopefully, this will be quite a useful objective for our games in the peninsular and it could be used by it's own or part of a larger settlement.

On a final note, many of these tutorials tend to have differing styles of photos for the wip pictures. This is because I don't do the tutorial all at the same time and it can be several days in between photos so there will be a difference in light and location. I hope it doesn't detract from the projects too much.

cheers

James

OSHIROmodels

info@oshiromodelterrain.co.uk