Adventures in Caulk: Road Construction Part 2

Version 2.0 Roads on the table,  going for a less muddy look and more of a graveled road.  These roads will be used in our Quatre Bras game.

On the left of the above you can see the base cotton material.  Spread out thin and smoother layer of caulk.  Lay down some gravel/grit/sand in thin lines with a bit scattered about.  Wait 10 minutes and press the grit into the caulk some more to try to ensure longevity. 

Some end of the tube thoughts... Hedges! for battle field scatter or maybe some skirmish gaming later on.  Spare 1 inch balsa/basswood sliced up with a cheap .02 cent pencil (from Office Max) sliced up and glued down the middle.  Apply caulk.  Press Woodland Scenics bushes into the caulk as soon as you're done forming the berm.  

Same as above, except I shoved a spare tree into the mix.  

The Tools of Battle.

Soo... Note that above we used "Dynaflex 230" Cedar Tan which retails at $4.30/ tube.  Same price for this very similar looking "Alex Ultra" but we found the "Alex" caulk to be more difficult to work with and generally not recommended.

Adventures in Caulk: Road Construction-Part 1

The gaming group has managed to reserve a big room for Thanksgiving weekend so we are committed to putting on a game in the "grand manner".  Leading candidate is Quatre Bra as part of our 1815-2015 campaign using Carnage and Glory II.   I was running through what we would need for the battle.... new terrain mat... check.... trees for Bossu Woods... check... buildings... check... roads--no check.  We've been using a lot of brown felt and it was time for an upgrade for this big game.  

Thus begins our Adventure in Caulk (hilarious, I know), which I've had on the back burner for some time.  My first foray in to terrain making was disastrous.  Attempted to work with some open cell Styrofoam and hated it.  This project, however, was near stupid proof.  All credit goes to for the ideas and directions goes to these two bloggers: Lloydian Aspects and Maiwand Day.

The scene of battle.  Plastic garbage bag on the kitchen table made clean up take ~30 seconds.

Step 1: Purchase acrylic caulk.  I got this at Home Depot for under $4.50.  There wasn't a lot of selection for none silicone based caulking in brown (see the linked guides re: no silicone, apparently it doesn't take paint well).  There was some white acrylic caulking for under $2.00 for the same sized tubes.  The cheapest caulk gun was another $3.00.

Step 2: Backing material.  I purchased a yard of thick cotton cloth from Joann's Fabrics for ~$11.  If you see Maiwand Day posts he doesn't use a backing, which probably works too. 

Step 3:  Cut out cotton in desired shapes.  Leave a little extra room so you have a place to hold on the fabric, while you apply the caulking (or ignore this and just embrace the mess).

Step 4: Deploy Caulking.  Apply popsicle stick and spread it around fairly evenly.  Wait 20 minutes. The caulking is very sticky and kind of annoying when newly applied.  Apply sand, grit, or gravel for texture as desired.

Step 5: Texture with available popsickle stick, stylus, or nearby vaguely pointed object. Work the grit into the caulk so its not just sitting on top of it.  As discussed on Lloydian Aspects there is definitely a sweet spot, where the caulk is pliable but less sticky. A couple of pieces were allowed to sit to long and texturing them was more difficult, and the sand did not get worked in very well.

Step 6: Let dry... a long time.  24 hours and it seemed to finally dry out.  The caulk was fairly well set after 4 hours or so. 

Step 7: Dark Brown Wash.  Dry brush a few highlights in.

Prussian IR 12 (Calpe) marching to Frischermont from Warve on a muddy track.

Conclusion: In reviewing, my first prototype might be a bit over textured... more Russia 1941 than any given dusty dirt road.   There will likely be future iterations improving on the texturing.  I have not decided yet if I want to flock the edges.  The cotton/caulking can be cut easily with scissors if you want to get rid of extra bits of fabric or road.

Overall, I'm very happy with the result. The one tube made ~7 feet of road and the whole test run cost me less than $25.  Even if the prototype is a bit over textured, its an easy future fix.  The end product is durable and flexible.   The roads will conform to whatever you put them on, can be bent in half while not losing their shape, and can be stepped without damaging the texturing (besides maybe a bit of sand/flock). The whole process was easy, required very little planning and did not overtax my limited crafting skills.  Overall, I foresee future Adventures in Caulk, likely to including more roads and rivers/streams.  If my Dux Britannarium project ever gets out from behind by Waterloo ambitions I think a paved Roman Road or dykes for the big siege battles could be a lot of fun. 

Westphalian Landwehr Cavalry

For various reasons I have not painted in several months.  The Nine Month Plan is in shambles.

To get back in the saddle I made a push to get the Westphalian Landwehr Regiment off the painting table this weekend

Calpe Figures as always. Custom flag to follow as based on the orange and black flag on Mont St. Jean

Defense of Vauchamps

Its been several months since we have been able to get a game together so we put together something small this weekend and had a nice time of it.  Scenario was the first two hours of the Vauchamps--Von Zeiten's 11th Brigade has just ejected Marmont's pickets/outposts from Vauchamps and is trying to hold his newly gained ground as the vanguard of the Army of Silesia.  The OOB was based on Nafziger lists and the best guess possible for two hours of research and prep work.  Rules were Carnage & Glory II.  Apologies for the photographs... only my phone camera available.

Marmont advancing with his depleted corps

General de Division Lagrange chooses to aggressively assault the Prussian six pounder battery; the assault renders 165 men of the 1st Marine Regiment hors de combat and sends the battalion to the rear for the day. French Cavalry contesting Von Zieten's left against the 7th Silesian Landwehr Cavalry.

The results--Landwehr Cavalry hold on through two rounds of combat, but are ultimately defeated, allowing the French to flank Vauchamps.

On the Prussian left the Silesian Hussars have returned the favor, running off the French skirmishers and forcing the french battery to alter facing and the supporting infantry into square.

French Cavalry hoping to saber some unprepared gunners!

Leval's fresh 7th Division coming on table.  The Prussians are starting to evacuate after holding the town for an hour and fifteen minutes. 

The supporting closed columns are not quick enough to cover the retreating guns!  The French Cavalry charge and saber 176 of 200 gunners, capturing 5 guns.  In the ensuing flight a lack of draft horses causes another gun to be abandoned.

At this point the game was called having reached a decision. Game time we had played an hour and 45 minutes (7 rounds)  in about 2-2.5 hours.

 It was determined that the Silesian Hussars and reinforcing Russians would be able to cover the retreat of everything except the two closed columns of the 10th Reserve Regiment that were now almost surrounded. 
The French lost 1478 causalities including over 600 dead and almost 200 captured.
The Prussians lost 700 casualties, and 6 guns, in addition it was determined the two cut of battalions would surrender or be near total losses bringing the Prussian casualties to approximately 1700.

Historically, the French lost only 600 for the entire day, so our Von Zieten managed to pull of an "even or better" result inflicting more losses and incurring similar level of causalities. 

The Royal Scots Greys

Breaking News: The Live-In Painting Assistant Accepts First Commission—Horses for The Scots Greys

Lady Butler's Scotland Forever

Due to the massive effort to implement the Central Planning Commission's Nine-Month Plan for the Uplifting of the Prussian Kingdom and Victorious End of the Befreiungskrieg, the Live-in Painting Assistant currently has 44 horses of the Von Roder's I Corps Reserve Cavalry on the table, which fortuitously allowed the prototyping of various Greys (also here, and here).

First a "White":

Trumpeter of the 3rd (Brandenburg) Uhlans

 Greys:

Dapples:

Artillery Officer in Progress

Comparison:

Selection of the (8) prototypes.  White to Dark Dapple.

Painting Notes:  

For White Horses Mid-Tone is Ceramcoat Oyster White, Bridgeport Grey and Americana Snow  in a 1:1:1 ratio.  Highs are American Titanium White or Blick White.  Shadows Ceramcoat Bridgeport Grey.

All models are Calpe Figures (the ones with the horse furniture are Calpe Dragoons).

Taking Stock for 2015, June Report

For June the Live-in Painting Assistant and I did not quite hit our target 22.6 figures.  Total that passed final inspection and sealed was 18 figures, including the F/6th Line and 6 of 8 figures for the 6th Uhlans.

The final two figures of the 6th Uhlans (Lutzow's Hussars) and the 8 figures of the Brandenberg Uhlans are three-colored and awaiting the Live-in Painting Assistant's final detailing and TLC.  On top of that the Live-in Painting Assistant completed 9 of 44 horses, including prototyping figures for her first painting commission (separate post to follow) and also prototyped 3 figures for our Berg units (Calpe Saxon Lead).

Lutzow's Legion Uhlans, w/ the figures of the F/6th Line in background

Bremen Volunteers

Taking Stock for 2015 Summary:

GOAL: 22.6 Figures/Month

JUNE: 18 Figures--FAIL+

Completed: F/6th Line; majority of 6th Uhlans

Taking Stock for 2015

Zieten's I Corps for 2015 is.... well a work in progress and most likely will not be done in time for Ligny in Spring 2015....which is not to say that the 1815/2015 Historical Campaign isn't going to be ready.  Between all of us we currently have 7 brigades painted, just one short of the two corps worth needed for Ligny and Waterloo.

And so the Nine-Month-Plan... with a heavy emphasis on Cavalry and Officers.

Cavalry:
6th Uhlans (75%+) - 8 Figures
3rd Uhlans (75%+) - 8 Figures
Westphalian Landwehr -10 Figures
3rd Dragoons - 8 Figures
5th Dragoons - 10 Figures

Total: 44 Figures

Generals:
·   Generalleutnant Hans Ernst Karl Von Zieten—4 Figures; 4 inch Round

o   Chief of Staff Von Reich—2 Figures; 2.5 inch Round

o   Generalmajor Karl Friedrich Franziskus von Steinmetz—3 Figures; 3 Inch Round

§  Oberstleutnant von Othengraven (12th Line)—1 Figure; 2 Inch Round

§  Major von Laurens (24th Line) —1 Figure; 2 Inch Round

o   Generalmajor Otto Karl Lorenz von Pirch II—3 Figures; 3 Inch Round

§  Oberst von Kemphen (6th Line) —1 Figure; 2 Inch Round

§  Major von Quadt und Huchtenbruck I (28th Line) —1 Figure; 2 Inch Round

o   Generalmajor Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Ludwig von Jagow—3 Figures; 3 Inch Round

§  Oberstleutnant von Seydlitz (7th Line)—1 Figure; 2 Inch Round

§  Major von Hymmen (29th Line)—1 Figure; 2 Inch Round

o   [Generalmajor Wilhelm-Ludwig Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck--3 Figures; 3 Inch Round]

§[ Major von Stengel (19th Line) —1 Figure; 2 Inch Round ]

o   Oberstleutenant von Rentzell (Artillery Comm.)—3 Figures; 3 Inch Round

§  Kaptain von Reuter 1 fig +horse; 2 inch Round

§  Engineering 1 or 2 figs????

o   Generalleutnant Friedrich-Erhard-Leopold von Roder—3 Figures; 3 Inch Round

§  Generalmajor Karl-Alexander-Wilhelm von Treskow—2 Figures; 2.5 Inch Round (Need one more)

§  Oberstleutnant Adolf-Ludwig-Wilhelm von Lutzow—2 Figures; 2.5 Inch Round (Need one more)

No Highlight = Have Figures; Yellow = Have Some Figures; Red = Need all Figures;

Green = Not in the Nine-Month-Plan

Total: 32 Figures

Infantry:
F/6th Line - 12 Figures
28th Line - 12 Figures x 3
29th Line - 12 Figures x 3
19th Line - 12 Figures x 3
3rd Westphalia LDW - 12 Figures x 3
4th Westphalia LDW - 12 Figures x 3

Green = Not in the Nine-Month-Plan

Total: 120 Figures

Artillery:
6-pdr Foot Artillery Battery Nr. 1
6-pdr Foot Artillery Battery Nr. 3
6-pdr Foot Artillery Battery Nr. 15
6-pdr Horse Artillery Battery Nr. 2
6-pdr Horse Artillery Battery Nr. 10
12-pdr Heavy Foot Artillery Battery Nr. 2
12-pdr Heavy Foot Artillery Battery Nr. 9
Howitzer Foot Artillery Battery Nr. 1

Green = Not in the Nine-Month-Plan

Total: 40 Figures; 10 Guns

And the Grand Total: 204 Figures, 10 Guns, ~40 Horses or 22.6 Figures per month (not including guns and horses).  I highly doubt such a rate of production is possible.  I typically am closer to 12 figures per month (so far for the year I'm at 13.6/mo. with 68 figures painted).