Monday 15 August 2016

Bridging the Gap

I still want a church for my WWII terrain and that should do it unless I decide to move into town, but for now I have enough buildings for the Norman countryside, what I did not have was a bridge, not only would it look good but it would come in handy for games where it was the focal point of  the scenario.

I bought some pre-painted rubbery stream sections a long time ago to use with Dux Britanniarum but only ever used them once, so I am hoping they will get more use with Bolt Action. To this end I ordered up a bridge from Sarissa Precision, they have several bridges to choose from but I stuck with the traditional stone one.

I looked online and most bridges I saw were greyish, with the odd one which was more of a sandstone, as I did not have any grey primer but did have some brown leather sitting forlornly on the shelf, I went for sandstone.
 

 I gave the bridge a coat of Vallejo Desert Yellow once built and primed, at this point like my buildings I gingerly dip the brush into my basing sand and this gives me a textured finish without buying a large tub of masonry paint. I then stippled it with the same paint but with a dash of green and then to finish off a dab here and there with a very dark grey. I then coated the surface in sharp sand and patiently waited for it to dry.
 

Once dry the decoration started, some late summer grass along with flowers and the odd tuft completed the piece. I now look forward to using it at some point.


The only thing missing to be honest is proper tiles on the top of the walls, there is a thin line of card glued to the top which represents said tiles but the top is plain. I might at some stage cut some card tiles out and lay them on the top to match the sides, that will depend on how much spare time I have and how often I use it, because it will bug me everytime I look at it.

7 comments:

  1. Ah, good tip about adding some slabs on the top. I've got the exact same bridge sitting in my to-do pile.

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    1. I shall look forward to seeing your bridge Andy.

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  2. I think that's a good piece you've added to the store. The stabbing will make it look less MDFy if you see what I mean.

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    1. Thanks Dave. What it really needed of course was to sit for hours picking out stones but my patience went years ago and I have to husband the small amount I have left. Dipping the paint brush in fine sand really works a treat for texture. I should have put those bleedin' top tiles on.

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  3. Lovely bridge sir! Good work :o) Capping stones would be ideal but still looking very tidy!
    I think a church may be out sooner rather than later. ;o)
    Cheers
    Matt

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  4. Don't know why they didn't think of capping stones, would have been easy to do on the same card as the rest. But, as you say, it is a nice piece and it's looking fine.

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    1. You also need a troll to go under it! ;o)

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