Battle of Seven Pines

February 7, 2022February 7, 2022 ~ anthony ~ 4 Comments

*Close up of the redoubt (original: John Banks Civil War Blog)*

So looking at making some terrain features for ACW battles, I found myself drawn to the twin houses and redoubt that formed such a focus of the Battle of Seven Pines. While a few detailed photos taken in June 1862 show the twin houses clearly and from differing angles the redoubt that formed a contested focal point of the battle is difficult to make out in most of them.

The close up at right comes from the fantastic blog of John Banks, which I think of as essential reading for Civil War gamers and buffs alike. The photo shows a basically dirt rampart construction, it is difficult to make out if any internal bracing existed, though I suspect it in all likelihood did, and apart from the records that and maps that show the redoubt was occupied by artillery, (1 NY Coy A) other details of the redoubt are hazy. For the twin houses, I am going to try and replicate them in 3D-modelling software as close as I can before I print them for battlefield use. Given that the twin houses really are just a mirror of each other, I will design one, and just let the software flip the whole model for me.

Casey’s* Redoubt

Luckily I had already made a redoubt earlier and while it has less earth ramparts than the photo above and below suggest it will suffice for my needs. (see redoubt post)

*Close up of a twin house*
*(original: John Banks Civil War Blog)*

Twin Houses

2 story square clapboard, brick chimney on east side, door on west (offset to the south), 2 windows upper and lower floors on north and south sides. 12 pane sash windows open (so only 6 panes visible). half circle detailed fascia, chimney detailing at top. hip roof, almost pyramidal. (Design note: 3 part print for FDM printers: roof, fascia detailing, main building.)

Other

The Battle of Seven Pines is also a notable battle for the use of observation balloons by the Union forces, and while McClellan ignored much of the intel that came from the use of the balloon, I do think it would be a fun vignette to model for the table top. (So this is possibly something to add to the list for the future)

* Brig. General Silas Casey was the divisional commander when the redoubt fell to the confederate forces under D.H. Hill. Wrongfully blamed by a sick McClellan for turning certain victory into an inconclusive draw, Casey was to spend the rest of the war in largely administrative posts.

Reading (still): Welker, David A., The Cornfield, Antietam’s bloody turning point. (2020) ISBN: 978-1-61200-832-5

Lutheran Church II

November 30, 2021November 29, 2021 ~ anthony ~ 9 Comments

Following on from my post: Lutheran Church I.

Lutheran Church, Sharpsburg
(photo by A. Gardner)

Although I scaled the model for 15mm during the design process, I also designed it to use a .2mm print head with a layer height of 0.06mm, which although vastly increasing the print times, does give me the flexibility to scale up the print for 28mm without losing detail.

Overall I am very happy with how this turned out, but I do wonder what the “box” on the roof ridge to the left of the steeple is? I would guess it’s some form of chimney for heating the church, but have decided to omit it since I can’t get a clear picture of what it actually is. Likewise I completely made up the far side and back of the church, reasoning that the far side would be a reflection of the near side in respect to the arrangement of windows, and that it would exhibit far less damage. As for the back, I just completely made it up and added a small door for rear access.

Reading (still): Welker, David A., The Cornfield, Antietam’s bloody turning point. (2020) ISBN: 978-1-61200-832-5

Snake Fences – Update

November 4, 2021January 6, 2022 ~ anthony ~ 3 Comments

So a few weeks ago I started making fences, and then more fences, which is something I continue to do in my spare moments and while I am still about 10 feet short of my desired goal for the snake fences, I did decide to hit the pause button and do a test paint on one of the smaller sections so I could get a feel for what they would look like once done.

Progress: snake fences 32/40′ . post & rail: 4/8′ . rough stone: 6/8′ . picket 0/3′

Snake Fences: Matt Black (spray paint), liberal dry-brush Raw Umber(247), dry-brush 50/50 mix Paynes Grey/War Grey(065/078), dry-brush Warm Grey(078), dry-brush/highlight (bottom rails only) Army Green(AP)

I’ve also been a bit distracted with the “bits” that go alongside wargaming, the markers, firing sticks, movement trays and such, the little things that add to the “feel” of the game more than the look, though they can also enhance that too. So there has been some progress on planning for some of these, namely a 3D printed Minie Ball to act as either a casualty marker, or even a disorder marker for ACW games depending on the ruleset. I saw some used in a similar fashion on this video: Markers and Aides for Fire and Fury, and was inspired for a theatre specific gaming aide.

Reading (still): Welker, David A., The Cornfield, Antietam’s bloody turning point. (2020) ISBN: 978-1-61200-832-5

Reading (distraction/inspiration): Back Issues of WSS (Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy) In a nutshell I am a long term subscriber that kept my subscription going while not really reading any issues, so I am at 92/117.