3rd Field Company RCE - Bridge Builders

I'm still working on my LAF BSC2021 entry, but the contest rules are that I cannot post photos once I start painting.  I've got the base coat on the boards, so no more photos for a while.  Don't worry, I'm still taking photos and I'll post an update after the contest is resolved.

In the meantime, I've been assembling some sappers, aka the 3rd Field Company RCE.  These lads will be responsible for building the Bailey Bridge across above-mentioned the terrain boards.

For starters, they do some surveying.  These figures are kitbashed from the Perry Miniatures Desert Rats with extra bits from the Perrys' Zulu War British. The Dumpy level is assembled from two heliographs.  These men take arms and equipment (like the notebook and binoculars) from the Zulu War pack but are based on the Desert Rats.  The level rod started as a pair of arms carrying the colours.

And here they are with some paint:

These men are carrying a 600-lb bridge panel.  They make it look easy!  They should be standing straight, like these ones from the manual:

My modelling skills being a bit limited, my lads look like this:

These men are carrying the transom:  it is normally an eight-man load, so these four men are obviously quite buff.

When I started on this project, I posted about the Wespe Models Bailey Bridge here:  https://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2021/04/bsc2021-background-and-plans.html

To add some interest for gaming purposes, I've taken the extra sprues and built an 'under construction' version:

The angled portion in front is called the 'launching nose'.  It consists of a couple of bridge panels, and is lighter to help the sappers on the receiving end to direct it onto the base plates on the other side of the gap.  

I added some sprue segments to transform the base plates into rollers:

Here are the bridge building sappers in action:

BSC2021 - Getting Started

 Today is a lovely, warm and sunny spring day, so I was able to set up the tables on the patio and get started on building the hills.  😃

Over the past couple of days, I managed to get some paint on the Bailey Bridge, allowing it to take pride of place to test fit the hills to ensure that I build a gap that it will fit.  Even though it's just green and brown, it was a real nuisance to paint.  Getting paint inside the tiny bits was no fun at all:  when (or if) I build its sister, I'll paint first and assemble after!

Following the plan I'd prepared, I set out the insulation board and got to work.  (and reminded myself to take photos to document the build process 😉)

I checked my assumption that 2" was enough height for the bridge over the gorge.

Looks OK to me!

I started cutting:

Following the advice from Pat Smith's "Setting the Scene", I was careful to just use points of glue - he points out that if the entire surface is covered in glue (especially with white glue), it will not create a bond.

Moving on, I traced the desired cut lines on the next hill as the glue was setting for the first.

It was about now that I realised the white glue was not creating a bond between the insultation board and the plywood base.  So I decided to try an alternative: double sided carpet tape!  

Carpet tape turned out to be just great.  I probably overdid it, but the only way those boards will shift is by tearing them apart.

To mask where two boards come together, I decided to put a mini-gorge.  Not the best photo, but the gorge can be seen in the shadow.  Hopefully it will be a bit clearer as the build progresses.

I got into the swing of things, and didn't photograph everything.  This is how the boards looked at the end of the day.

My original plan was to go for a 4" maximum height with the boards, but I now think that 3 layers (3") will be enough.  Compare the current progress with the photo of the valley.

I keep reminding myself that this is a representation for gaming on, not an exact scale model.  If I need additional height on the side slopes, I might add some removable hills to fit the corners.  Any comments greatly appreciated!