RAPID FIRE! ....................

A Pacific Island Construction Project This article is about the construction of a 'typical' Pacific island for gaming various scenarios from the famous American WW2 island hopping campaign. The island is due to make its first public appearance at the Battlegroup North show at the excellent Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, York on 13/ 14th May 2006. The terrain features an airstrip, various integral emplacements/ trenches, two large hill features with tunnels/ gun positions and various 'drop on' scenery pieces. The island is approximately 14' x 4' and is a jigsaw of 4 irregular shaped base pieces (so it can be transported in an estate car). This base is a sandwich of 12mm chipboard over 8mm MDF. The first job was to cut out the chipboard shapes and the gun/ trench positions. This was then glued onto the MDF which formed a base for the cut out positions and areas of beach. The MDF was then cut and sanded (wear a suitable mask!!) to shape. Both sides were given two good coats of emusion to seal the wood and help prevent warping.
The two hills were made from two pieces of polystyrene (the type used to insulate walls) struck onto pieces of hardboard. These were shaped and tunnelled. The hardboard base of the hill top and hardboard top to the bottom trench section are the same shape to ensure a good fit/look to the hill.
Gun postions and coconut log sea walls were added using barbeque skewers and wood glue.
Beaches and the the airstrip next - silver sand spinkled over UVPA glue. When dry other areas were tackled using flexible ceiling paint (Polytex) and sand. Rocky edges of the island were added using 'a mix' of filler (Polyfiller, UVPA glue and small stones.
Gaps and tunnel walls/floors in the hills were filled using ceramic tile adhesive/grout.
Painting - The whole island and unfinished hills received a thorough coat of yellow emulsion (Dulux 10YY35543) and woodwork/rocky areas received a wash of dark brown.
Texture and and scenery was added to the hills (the greenery is a mixture on plastic palm trees (cake decorations) or plastic plants for pet fish aquariums . When dry the hills received another coat of yellow.
Various bunkers and terrain pieces were mounted on pieces of (painted) hardboard and textured.
Then everything received two heavy 'drybrush coats' - mid beige then magnolia.
13th/14th May 2005 and the Island is finished ready and makes its debut at the Battlegroup North show at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington.
Two pics of the action.......
....and just for a little bit of air support!
Two 20mm (yes 20mm) flat tops scratchbuilt by Dave Johnson.