'Toy Story' from Kerry T - Somewhere in Spain

Morning, afternoon & evening all

These days I suppose it would be unusual for a kid to take a bath, its all showers these days isn't it. I recall many Saturday evenings shivering in front of the fire while trying to get dry. If kids don't get a chance to bathe because they shower, they're losing out - they're never going to get a chance to play with toy boats in the bath!

This is where my entry comes from, playing in the bath and developing a love for ships as a result. I do recall at some stage modelling the Victory but it never received a lick of paint and is long since gone.

For me entry I decided to print off a sailing ship from Printable scenery. I'd originally intended to print a 28mm ship but found that a trial run with a version scaled down to 15mm could be printed off in one go. The project grew when I added some of the lovely British landing party from  the AB figure range

Ships need water and not having any sea terrain I decided I would need to make some

The basic hull and my current terrain boards including a river section

Polystyrene sheets added to match the level of the boards and the course of a river

Making the river flow to the sea was a problem, so it was built up with caulk

The sea was painted in a  range of blue hues and varnished with at least 5 coats

 

The wave pattern formed from layers of toilet roll soaked in dilute PVA

Ships boat from the AB landing party range

The range is made up of British infantry, Royal Navy marines and sailors rowing

A 3D printed boat

When I finalised my plan to produce a landing I placed an order with Eureka and added a note to Nic asking if he could dispatch them with urgency and he duly obliged. The problem was I made an error by not ordering more than 1 boat so printed off another 5 fishing boats from MMF

 The fishing boats were given some additional seats and the Frigate rigging built from brass rod and plastic rod as the recommended doweling for 28mm would not fit

My wife dyed some muslin in weak tea for furled sails

She also recommended I used Topstitch for the rigging

The British would often land naval parties in support of Spanish guerillas for quick raids with the French utilising or perhaps even building small fortifications. This is again from the printable scenery range

AB command wondering what to do

Young Guard skirmishers occupy the tower

The tower commands the surrounding town and range

Next I decided I'd add some Spanish troops and found some old left over Spanish line and I also bought some of the Spanish guerilla & townsfolk

Spanish regulars race to block the bridge

Women folk look on

The French try to clear the locals

The Frigate was painted in a  plausible Nelson chequerboard pattern

Furled sails allow for troop placement

Don't think the captain would be too pleased by the looseness of the sail!

Thanks for viewing, I had great fun but found it a lot of work putting this together

So in summary points wise then

32 x 15mm Spanish regulars @ 2 points  = 64 points

8 Spanish guerilla & 1 mounted = 20 points

14 French foot 7 2 mounted = 36 points

20 British infantry, 10 marines & 14 sailors = 88 points

5 ships boats @ 8 points = 40 points

I have no idea what to claim for the frigate - please don't say 8 points for a 15mm vehicle (its 20 cms long and the masts are 20cms high)

Please would Byron consider points for the terrain board (120 x60 cms) and tower (11 x 8 cms)

4 Squirrels - British Napoleonic, Royal Navy, French Napoleonic and Spanish (all 15mm)

Many thanks

Valleyboy