Now that I have a general grasp of Red Actions!, it’s time to work on game/period specific terrain and buildings to complement my old Geo Hex terrain system (here’s some  backstory on what happened to the company).

I’ve messed around with on-line research on Central Asian architecture, but just haven’t been ready to start working on structures.  So, I decided to focus on something that has a practical application to tactical situations; a trench system.  The challenge with this is GeoHex.  When you remove the tiles, you get a lower level of a little over 1/2 inch in depth.  Ugh…another design problem.

Seeking a path of least resistance, the decision was made to start work on the barbed wire entanglement placed in front of the trench.

Without going through all the bloody details, the entanglement has to be 36 inches long.  The longest available bass wood section is 24 inches by 3 inches.  So, two sections, with barely enough room for my troops.

I started by marking 3/4 inch (and later 1 inch) sections on wood dowels.  I drilled two holes in each section, intending that wire would be run through each hole.  The next step was to cut the dowel sections and mount them on the 24 inch base Beta.

As I was gluing in the second row of posts, I realized that I needed to make room for individual stands. What’s the use of something like this if your troops can’t “use” it?   I was able to create separate “sections” of the entanglement by placing posts at intervals connecting each lateral post line.  I then ran thin metal wire through the holes.  This was tedious and somewhat frustrating – especially when I missed a post and had to restring.  Many expletives later, it was time to prime, add ballast and talus, painting all of this with a basic coat of brown and splotches of green.

To finish things off, the posts and talus were dry brushed, and fine turf added.  Gunmetal was used to paint the wire.  Here’s a few shots of the finished product.

New challenge:  I have to complete the 12 inch section, and make it look like the 24 incher.  Good luck on that!  What’s that old saying…”Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Small Minds”