I had these lovely buildings made for me a while back by Oshiro Models. I asked for them to be unbased to cut down on the footprint if I needed to squeeze them in somewhere. Unlike Napoleonics for example, where a couple of buildings might represent a small hamlet, individual buildings on an AWI/ACW battlefield usually represent just that - individual buildings. House to house fighting was fairly rare in these conflicts, so it is quite important to prevent them from dominating the table space too much. That said, they can look a bit "bald" on their own and the bases set them off nicely I think.
The small yard bases is simply placed adjacent to the church; although it isn't too clear in the photo, there is room at the front to enter. Nice and easy to make and the tree adds a little something too I think.
All in all, worth the effort I think and I will do the same with some of the other buildings as I try and make my battlefields a bit more attractive and interesting. I am also working on a load of fencing; post and rail and worm and am looking at adding some very attractive stone fences cast by Battle Honours. I have also recently picked up some very nice "short haired" teddy bear fur on EBAY which should make great looking wheatfields. Hopefully I can do an ACW battle report soon to show it all off.
Terrain of course is just as time consuming as painting figures but really worth it if, like me, you are really into the aesthetic side of the hobby.
Those are great looking buildings. They really will perk up your table top. Looking forward to seeing action around them. I'm a big fan of the aesthetic part of games myself. I work hard to train my players to keep the clutter off the table.
ReplyDeleteThank you and Amen to that. Tabletop clutter is one of my pet hates!!
DeleteThank you for sharing your ideas. I, too, have embraced the fun and rewards from creating buildings and terrain, although there is a level of crafting I do not go above. I really enjoy the art of the wargame in all its components.
ReplyDeleteI am now basing trees, hedges, fences (wattle, garden, rail, snake, stone), and buildings. For flexibility, I am creating bases for buildings but without affixing the buildings to the bases.
I covet yards of Battle Honours fences and walls!
Because there is a limit to the HO scale plastic and wood building kits appropriate to the AWI era (particularly rural outbuildings found on farms in the Carolinas), I surprised myself, suspended my bias, and embraced paper kits. I've learned there is much that can be done to combat the dollhouse look one sometimes sees in paper models. There are some wonderful paper kits of American colonial structures.
Absolutely. Time spent on terrain is never wasted. A nice looking table adds an extra level of game enjoyment for me.
DeleteThey look quite superb, lovely looking models and really well painted, they really should look the part on the table top.
ReplyDeleteCan only claim credit for the groundwork I'm afraid. James at Oshiro Models really does a nice job.
DeleteThose are great and very useful.
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DeleteThank you. It is handy to have 2 options for each depending on space available on the table.
Superb looking models
ReplyDeleteThanks Neil, much appreciated.
DeleteThey are exquisite looking buildings that will look grand on your table.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, James
Thanks James. Yes, they are nice. I have a few more still to do.
DeleteSteve, very nice.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much!!
DeleteSteve, where do they show them on their website for sale?
ReplyDeleteHi Simon. The buildings were scratch built for me; they aren't commercially available.
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