Nope nothing to do with a rather good film of the same name. I am afraid it hardly looks impressive but it is the next vital stage . 
The first shot shows the board drying and with a thick layer of sand covering it. The sand is attached with paint(water based ready mixed poster and acrylic) PVA (resin W aka white wood glue) mixed with equal amounts of water. This is the mixture I add to a cheap filler either from pound land when I am luck or from Wilkinson's when Poundland has none in stock. It is 3 times more expensive than poundland, but needs must when the devil drives. So once the mix is the correct viscosity I liberally paint it on the board and then using a sieve sprinkle very generously "builders sand" over the top. Wait a couple of days and then tip the board on it side and give it a couple of whacks to remove the excess sand and then it is ready to paint.I am fairly sure you can't see too much difference in the boards. Yes it is the same one, but the second picture shows the board after the excess sand has been removed.
Workspace is limited at the moment so I am only working on 1 board at a time. This is because when I mix the final paint colour I want it to match as much as possible so I will paint them both in one go.
Additionally I have offered to put a game on for the Rejects. (A SCW is already in the planning. but this is another one) I plan to use these boards to run a WW1 Skirmish game. The observant of you will already have noticed the poll top right. Please take a moment to read on and click the single choice on the poll.
Being WW1 Middle East I have three possible opponents to the Turks. The Rejects I have asked have all been very non committal about what they would prefer. No option will cost me more than any other at this stage and all options have both advantages and disadvatages.
Option 1 Turks Vs Arabs. This allows me to expand my Arab revolt Game. But the Arabs being an irregular force at this time are very limited in equipment and disciple as we understand it in wargames.
Option 2 British Vs Turks. WW1 British army in Palestine tend to be wearing sun hats (very like Pith Helmets) and sometimes in shorts as well. They would also be better disciplined and equipped. Possibly including Lewis Guns)
Option 3 Turks Vs Indians. The Indian army were also as part of the Empire aiding in the middle east to fight the Turks. (Hindu Regiments only as Muslins were regiments were fighting in East Africa). These Are well equipped comparied with the Arabs and very disciplined. But for game purposes they would not be as well equipped or as disciplined as the British, Although better then the Arabs.
So those are the three options. If the Rejects get back to me and say they want a particular option I will of course go with that. So just for fun which option would you prefer.
Have a good weekend and I should post again on Monday.
All the best Clint
I voted for Brits verses Turks. I want to see Tommy Atkins giving Johnny Foreigner the damned good kicking he deserves! Come on, you Brits!
ReplyDeleteThank you Bryan
DeleteNice progress! You don't do another layer of PVA to seal the sand on the board after you knock the excess off?
ReplyDeleteI've voted Turks vs. Arabs. I find that the most "exotic". But then again, Brits vs. Turks is also a good pick, with somehow even armies. And well, Indians sound more exotic than Brits, too. Ah, I hate choices.
Thank you Mathyoo. You see the problem with choices. I really could go any way with this. All options have plusses and minuses.
DeleteAh, I think I'd go with the Indian Hindu regiments. They were likely to form the bulk of any British Empire forces in the region, I imagine. But hey, just go with what you would like yourself!
ReplyDeleteHmm - would a British force have armoured cars and aeroplanes? That might change my mind :-) .
Any force could have armoured cars and aeroplanes The Arabs definitely did. But they will not be featuring in the game I am thinking 1 squad per player. And Big items like Planes or Cars would upset the balance.
DeleteWhenever I've painted terrain boards requiring a texture to them I've always mixed the sand in the paint/filler beforehand, and then pva'd the final piece with sand too.
ReplyDeleteInteresting choices, but I think the Turks v Brits will give you the better options for multipe uses of the forces involved, but the Indian forces wouldprobably be more interesting (read difficult) to paint.
Thank you Jo. There is still a paint and PVA layer to do to get the final colour.
DeleteAs I keep saying all 3 options have positive and negative aspects, so It really is open in my head.
The boards are moving along well! Still to cold and snowy here for large works.
ReplyDeleteI had to vote for the Turks vs Indians, but that may be influenced by the hope of seeing some smart looking lancers and dragoons!
I cannot remember the battle or movie done of it, but it was an Aussie/Kiwi cav force that trekked through the desert and attacked a turkish force from an unexpected direction. They won by suprise and audacity and were exceedingly lucky that the water supplies of the Turks were not sabotagged. Before the battle the horsemen gave their horses the last drops of available water. Like Sun Tzu, no option left but victory!
I can't think of that film I am sorry. Nice to get some Indian votes. I don't think there will be any lancers or dragoons. At least not to start with maybe in later skirmishes..... But by that reasoning there could equally be Arabs or Bitish oh horses or indeed Camels!
ReplyDeleteThank you David
Sounds like an episode from the TV Series "Anzacs" or even the epic "Lawrence of Arabia"
DeleteDefinitely not Anzacs. After Galipoli all the action is Western front. Absolutely cracking series though. In Laurence of Arabia there is the Arab assault on the town Akaba (Aquabar) Through the Nefu desert. That actual battle lasted 4 days in real (un-film) life.
DeleteCould it be "The Lighthorsemen"?
DeleteColgar6 got it! The Lighthorsemen made in 1987 of the Australian horse attacking Beersheba. Drove me nuts so I had to consult the wise and all knowing Google! ;)
ReplyDeletewonderful film but the actual accounts were greater, still needs lancers and AmerInd scouts to make it even more epic! ;)
I have not seen it, but it sounds like my sort of thing I will ake efforts to secure it. Thank you Both.
DeleteI know the pictures don't do them justice, but I imagine these will be awesome when complete. Making a desert board is tough to make visually appealing, I mean after all, its just sand... I'll be interested to see the WWI recap, that is an era that never seems to get much play (at least around here...) unless its in the trenches.
ReplyDeleteWell we all tend to think of WW1 as being synonymous with trench warfare and the stalemate that resulted. But it was actually a world war and not just a European war. East Africa would be good for some WW1 skirmishes for example. Thank you Nobody
DeleteThe boards are looking good Clint and I cant wait to see the finished. Isnt strange how wargamers use sand and then paint it just for to look like sand? I can second the Lighthorseman film and if you enter Australian Horse Light on Youtube you'll find some footage of the charge from the film. Its totally mad.
ReplyDeleteI shall check out Youtube this morning. I agree it is funny that we paint sand to look like sand. But this should seal it and stop it coming off.
DeleteThe terrain will also be used for a Very Arabian Civil War! (as you know)
Thank you Pete.
I cant wait to see that in progress Clint and remember to read it up on VBCF please
DeleteI shall post it to the forum when finished as I hope others might like to see..... but that is probably me being vain. Thank you Peter.
Delete