Islands (in the sun?)

I acquired two sets of islands from Irongate Scenary at the Wirral Warboot. Although I was tempted to make them look more fancy I decided on keeping them robust enough to cope with normal game/club usage.

I may make another set with a more mediterranean colouring when I get the chance and inclination.

Fairmile MTBs

I've completed the four Fairmile D class MTBs for my Cruel Seas collection. I had some problems with two of the hulls not printing cleanly, but that has mostly been hidden by filling with putty.

The armament was printed seperately, but in retrospect I should have assembled the model in 3D Builder before printing. A couple of the ships have 6pdr quick firing guns to add a little variation.

Ancient triremes and penteconters

These are the WI digital ships for Thalassa, which I printed back in June. Hopefully I now have enough for a reasonable game in an evening. I would like to add some emblems to the sails, but that will have to wait till I can print ome decals the right size.

A Spartan squadron

An Athenian squadron

The triremes have slots intended to be occupied with bases depicting the crew of the ship. Unfortunately all of the figures that would normally fit were presupported and the supports were impossible to remove.

Back to WW2 Cruel Seas

Some 3D resin printed additions to my coastal forces, a assortment of various merchant ships, a trio of R-Boats and a single Fairmile MGB

The detail on the R-boats was a bit soft as I suspect they were printed just before the FEP failed.

The fairmile was a really lovely sharp model and I'll have to print some more.

Renaissance Galleys

They've been a long time coming, but it has been a sequence of stops, starts and odd diversions that didn't work, until I had them close enough to call it a day. First up with Ottoman crews

They take my standard units based on 45mm square bases

A total of 5 bases, one command/crew, three sailors/marines and one gun

The Ottomans can be swapped for European crews

Similar crewing, but not as colourful

I haven't bothered with a rear awning as I haven't worked out how to do it and keep it removable and I'm also not sure whether it would be kept up during combat. If they furl the sails then I would expect the same for the awning.

basic construction is foamcore, with the edges covered by cardboard then planked, the ram is a left over piece of hard plastic, and the oars just matchsticks. The mast and spar are wooden stakes used for supporting small plants, with a kitchen roll sail. Hopefully I can use them with 28mm figures it it every becomes necessary.

First boats for Cruel Seas

So I've managed to finish all the small boats I have accumulated for Cruel Seas, certainly enough for a range of scenarios.

British MTBs

German S-boats

US PT boats, these are in grey for the European theatre of operations, rather than the Pacific green.

Dutch Frigates and brigs completed

It's taken a long time to complete them, but at last they are done. The acrylic bases will certainly protect them in use A frigate A brig Once I have rcovered from this task I might acquire some third rates.

For the record here are the bases I used from Fluid 3D Workshop thanks to JJ's Wargames

Bases for Brigs
Bases for Frigates
Bases for 3rd Rates
Bases for 1st & 2nd Rates

Black Seas - Final Work in Progress

I'm almost there, with on exception the ships are all rigged an ratlines and sails added. All that is needed now is the Dutch flags and pennants.

THe exception is the free ship I got with WI, which didn't come with any ratlines or sails. I've copied the ratlines onto a transfer sheet and fixed that on some acetate sheet. I tried copying the sails, but they shrank when I glue the two sides together with PVA. I'm going to try again using contact adhesive instead. It's a bit unforgiving of mistakes.

A close up of a frigate


and a brig
I have also ordered some clear acrylic bases so they don't get touched too much.

Brigs rigged

Having added the rigging to my Brigs, my small fleet is fully rigged


A close up of the Brigs, you will notice on some the difficulties of getting the tension right for the different standing lines


I now have to fit the ratlines, which on the Frigates means fitting them around the guns and rigging.