On the Workbench: More use for Rubber Steel sheets and Dirt Roads update.

Casting my eye around other uses for the recently purchased Rubber Steel sheets (see previous posting) my attention was drawn to my collection of 6mm rail tracks. I always intended to base these at some point but had not settled on what sort of base.

As with the dirt tracks they proved to be simple and quick to produce, in fact even more so. Cutting them in 15mm widths the track was merely pushed onto the adhesive side of the material. 

I did not trust the adhesive to adequately hold the Woodland Scenics blend turf so painted PVA glue along each side before application.

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On the Workbench: Dirt Roads

Over the Christmas holidays I noticed an interesting Facebook posting on how to make roads. The poster cut his roads from a thin rubber steel sheet. He attached felt to the self-adhesive surface which he then painted. The result was impressive and not something I had come across before.

I am in need of dirt tracks/roads and had it in mind to make them from decorators caulk as I had done for my existing roads. The downside with caulk is maintaining a consistency in thickness and can be messy. My thicker pieces are less flexible and therefore more difficult to bend over terrain. Some have also frustratingly developed a camber.

This method looked tempting so a couple of 'Self Adhesive Rubber Steel Ferrite Ferrous A4 Sheets' were purchased from Amazon. They are 0.5mm thick and magnetically-receptive (magnetised versions are available but thicker).

 The reverse side is adhesive and the material is easy to cut.

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On the Workbench: Pony Wars Dismounted US Cavalry

The first batch of figures have been completed this year which consists of all I need of the dismounted US Cavalry for the Pony Wars project.

This is the entire pack supplied by Baccus and consists of 80 dismounted cavalry in 4 troops of 20 each and 20 horse holders with 60 horses.

The dismounted cavalry are based in a mix of pairs and plenty of singles to allow for casualty removal, a breakdown into sections of 5 figures each, and ease of placement within terrain features.

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Plans for 2022

With the arrival of 2022 it is time to reveal my plans for the year! This will be broken down into Battles, Campaigns and Painting/modelling. 

There is potential for disruption this year with what should be my final house move - all being well in late March / early April. 

I will no longer have the benefit of a room within the house dedicated to wargaming although I have secured the smallest bedroom as my painting room and library. It will be back to the garage but I do not intend to endure the cold dusty environment of old. There are restrictions in our neighbourhood forbidding a full garage conversion to accommodation. They have to be retained in their primary purpose of car use (even though almost nobody uses them as such!). However, I have found at least one company that will insulate it and install a decent floor and ceiling. The garage door will have to be retained but that can also be insulated with all gaps sealed still allowing it to be used.

If all goes according to plan, I should be able to increase the maximum size of table to 8'3" (possibly even 9') x 4'6". The downside will be the time taken to complete the works which could halt my wargaming. If that proves to be the case I am considering a stop-gap of playing skirmish games such as Chain of Command which recommends a board size of 70cm x 50cm for 6mm. I may just be able to squeeze that into my painting room! 

With all that in mind on to my plans:

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