Garden Modifications ?

[Steelhammer]

Now then. It can't be just the model train brigade that make and modify features in their gardens/yards to fit in with their hobby. Have any of you created any outdoor features for running your tanks around/through/over ? I'm looking for some idea's and of course I'd love to see any photo's if you have any to hand please

[wibblywobbly]

I have often thought about doing mine, kind of make it a model villlage with shrubs and things so that it still looks decorative when its not a battlefield. It would be good to see if anyone has actually gone down this path (excuse the pun )

[jtracks]

I've started collecting pieces like this tower in the back ground. I have given this one some new paint and a star. I have done one with the German cross as well. Hopefully this spring I'll put it all together and make a battle ground for my tanks.
Joe


And here.

[Steelhammer]

That's a good start jtracks. "Model village" is a great term wibblywobbly - I really used to love going to those and to me it describes stuff that CAN be left outside more or less permanently like the model village that I used to visit as a kid. I fancy a "stonebuilt" bridge in mine going over a small river and a few buildings of course.

[wibblywobbly]

If it helps anyone, I used to be in contact with a guy who built model villages for tourist resorts. His advice was to make the buildings out of plywood and coat them with bitumen, then paint them. That way they stayed waterproof and could be left out all year.

Another tip, and I used it on an RC bridge that I once had. Use waterproof tile cement for stonework. Skim it on, wait till it starts to stiffen up, then scribe lines in it where the cement would be. While it is still damp, spray it with greys and browns. The paint then soaks into the cement and when it is all set it is all totally immune to the weather.

The road surface that I used on the bridge was a cheap as chips. Get some fine topsoil, and mix it into a slurry with PVA glue diluted with about 3 parts water. It will look white but PVA dries to a clear colour. The result is a surface that is as hard as nails and totally waterproof. I used to use old tracks to put an imprint into the slurry before it dried (it takes a few days) which added that little bit of realism.

Theoretically you could make roadways using this, as it will give a hard surface that looks like bare earth, but that is impervious to weeds etc.

[Horses45]

Thanks wibble thats a great tip and one I might have to whip when I start building mine lol

[Steelhammer]

Great info' wibbly! Using wood and then proofing it sounds like a master stroke as wood is far easier to fashion than bits of brick and tile. I will bring them in for the winter anyway so they'll probably last forever like that. Making the road surfave is a good plan too - I've still got about 3L of PVA somewhere left over from building jobs.

[jtracks]

Good stuff there. I'll bookmark your ideas for future use.

Joe

[wibblywobbly]

You guys are actually making me think about doing this during the year, it might even turn out to be the only battlefield available to the Bristol Group if we can't find anywhere else!!

[Steelhammer]

You guys are actually making me think about doing this during the year, it might even turn out to be the only battlefield available to the Bristol Group if we can't find anywhere else!!

Excellent! A bit of FIBUA might be a good thing

If I have any other crazy idea's I'll be sure to let you know. It could well turn out to be something really good. I will do a bit of research when I get some time - some of those old town houses look amazing. Could even have a Reichs chancellory