Saturday, June 6, 2015

The British Are Coming! (in cheap homemade boats)

Here are some Foundry British Grenadiers which will be used in a beach assault for a Musket and Tomahawks game. Wanting to replicate Wolfe's seaborne attack at Freshwater Cove during the Siege of Louisbourg, a few boats were needed. There are some pretty nice (and decently priced) boats on the Old Glory 25's site, but they were a bit longer (9.5 inches) than I wanted for the scenario. I ended up constructing these boats using a base of foam core and glue-gunning card stock around the edges. Rather crude, but it was quick and easy.  They are 6" long by 2 1/4" wide, and can fit up to 10 figures on 25mm round bases.
As the boats will only be used for the initial movement onto the beach using one Movement Action, they didn't need to look very pretty. Upon reaching the shore, the Grenadiers will have a free movement onto the beach up to 2" from the boat. While still in the boat, they could fire if they have LOS; the boats provide light cover as well.
For the scenario, a detachment of Rangers and a unit of Fraser Highlanders will already be on shore upon a bluff to the east of the cove. General Wolfe will be in one of the boats with the Grenadiers.
The next images are WIP shots of the boats. Took about an hour from start to finish.
Foam core used as the base for the boats.
Card stock quickly glue-gunned around the foam core bottom. They ain't pretty but they'll get the job done.

38 comments:

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    1. Thanks, Phil! Appreciate your visit and comments. Best, Dean

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  2. A very effective approach to a problem Dean!

    Christopher

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    1. Thank you much, Christopher. And the price was right too :)! Regards, Dean

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  3. Great stuff - I've just built a larger sea boat along with the pirate ship from cardstock and plasticard. It has a swivel gun and at least 12 figures can be fit inside, I think it can hold 16 or 18 as well. I'll build more because it's very simple and a great tabletop addition, just like yours.

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    1. Thanks, András! I've seen your impressive scratch-building. The Pirate ship is coming along nicely too. Best, Dean

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  4. Cheap, homemade, and very impressive! Great work Dean...

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    1. Appreciate your visit and comments, Phil! Regards, Dean

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  5. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks, Neil. Happy to hear you like them. Best, Dean

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  6. Very nice - and a great idea.

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  7. Fantastic!!!! Very impressive Dean. best wis.Mike

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    1. Thanks, Mike! Appreciate your kind words. Best, Dean

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  8. They look just fine to me Dean!

    That title made me laugh!

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    1. Lol! Thank you, Anne. Warm regards, Dean

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  9. Brilliant! That is a great idea Dean!

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    1. Thanks, Rodger. Appreciate the visit and kind approval. Best, Dean

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  10. Nice to see a little scratch building going on mate! Very well executed and I'm sure you'll get a load of use from them.

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    1. Thank you much, Michael. I think they could be used in a few more scenarios - possibly something Napoleonic later. :) Warm regards, Dean

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  11. Great idea with the boats Dean - British Grenadiers look excellent as well.

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    1. Thanks, Mike. Hope to have a game report in a few weeks. Best, Dean

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  12. Very nice, simple and effective :-)

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    1. Thanks, Paul. And with all the material already available, it made it almost instantly gratifying ;) Best, Dean

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  13. Cheap but visually effective solution, looking forward to the AAR then!

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    1. Thank you, Soren. Hope to get the game the weekend after next - next Saturday, my youngest son graduated from HS ;) Best, Dean

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  14. Replies
    1. Thanks, Bartek. And basically free too - all the material was on had already. Best, Dean

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  15. Great idea and an impressive view...

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    1. Thank again, MM. They photographed far better than they deserve :) Regards, Dean

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  16. Cheap homemade boats are the best type. Great work!

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    1. Thanks, John. They certainly are - especially when used in a gaming scenario. Warm regards, Dean

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  17. Top work Dean, simple but very effective!!

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    1. Thanks, Ray. In retrospect, I should've bent the front portion a bit better, but too late now. :) Best, Dean

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