The tower sections of my modular fortress were constructed from two 50mm x 50mm squares of MDF and eleven sections of 50mm-long pine. I used a water-proof white wood glue to glue the various components together.
To construct a single tower I began by gluing the narrower edge of one of the pine sections to one of the squares of MDF, thus:
I then glued the narrower edge of a second section of pine to the square of MDF, thus:
I then trimmed a third section of pine so that it fitted into the gap between the first two pieces, and glued its narrow edge to the square of MDF, thus:
I then trimmed a fourth section of pine so that it fitted into the gap between the first two pieces, and glued its narrow edge to the square of MDF, thus:
This completed the first level of my tower. I then turned the tower through ninety degrees, and glued and trimmed (where necessary) the next layer of four pieces of pine to the first level, thus:
This completed the second layer of my tower. I then turned the tower through ninety degrees, and glued the narrower edge of the ninth section of pine to the top of the second level, thus:
I then glued the narrower edge of the tenth section of pine to the top of the second level, thus:
Because I wanted my tower to appear to have firing slits/windows on two sides of the upper levels, I glued two of the trimmed off-cuts to the top of the second level, thus:
I then glued the second square of MDF on top of the third level of the tower, thus:
(This formed the roof of the tower)
I finished by gluing the narrow edge of the eleventh section of pine on top of the tower's roof, thus:
(This created the tower's parapet.)
The construction of the tower was now complete, and as can be seen from the following photographs, my 15mm-scale Essex Miniatures fit rather well atop the tower.
I have now constructed six such towers. It took me three days to build all six as at each stage in the construction process I waited for the glue to completely set before moving on to the next stage.
The final part of the modular fortress that I intend to build is the gateway, after which I will seal all the wooden surfaces with PVA glue prior to painting them.
To construct a single tower I began by gluing the narrower edge of one of the pine sections to one of the squares of MDF, thus:
I then glued the narrower edge of a second section of pine to the square of MDF, thus:
I then trimmed a third section of pine so that it fitted into the gap between the first two pieces, and glued its narrow edge to the square of MDF, thus:
I then trimmed a fourth section of pine so that it fitted into the gap between the first two pieces, and glued its narrow edge to the square of MDF, thus:
This completed the first level of my tower. I then turned the tower through ninety degrees, and glued and trimmed (where necessary) the next layer of four pieces of pine to the first level, thus:
This completed the second layer of my tower. I then turned the tower through ninety degrees, and glued the narrower edge of the ninth section of pine to the top of the second level, thus:
I then glued the narrower edge of the tenth section of pine to the top of the second level, thus:
Because I wanted my tower to appear to have firing slits/windows on two sides of the upper levels, I glued two of the trimmed off-cuts to the top of the second level, thus:
I then glued the second square of MDF on top of the third level of the tower, thus:
(This formed the roof of the tower)
I finished by gluing the narrow edge of the eleventh section of pine on top of the tower's roof, thus:
(This created the tower's parapet.)
The construction of the tower was now complete, and as can be seen from the following photographs, my 15mm-scale Essex Miniatures fit rather well atop the tower.
I have now constructed six such towers. It took me three days to build all six as at each stage in the construction process I waited for the glue to completely set before moving on to the next stage.
The final part of the modular fortress that I intend to build is the gateway, after which I will seal all the wooden surfaces with PVA glue prior to painting them.
Very formidable looking towers. Pity there wasn't room left over for a parapet on the front half of the left and right faces allowing the tower to project forward from the wall allowing flanking fire. None the less the final result should be both impressive and very functional.
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
ReplyDeleteI would have liked to have added a parapet that went around the whole of the top of the tower, but if I had, the figure base would not have fitted on top of the tower.
I hope to add some more ornate towers in the future - and some gun platforms as well - but as I wanted to keep the cost of building this modular fortress as cheap as possible, I had to use what I had available 'in stock'.
All the best,
Bob
After looking at this a bit more, would it be possible to cut base and glue a piece on each side to make admittedly narrow sides?
ReplyDeleteOnce painted the discrepancy in thickness shouldn't be too glaring and there would still be room for a garrison.
Enough from the peanut gallery, I have just assembled my new table and am about to touch up the paint before laying down the new grid.
Step by step Bob, keep going!
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
ReplyDeleteI might have some suitable MDF somewhere in my wargames room. If I can find it, I may well do what you suggest.
Good luck with your new table.
All the best,
Bob
Jim Duncan,
ReplyDeleteSlow, steady progress always seem to work best with projects like this.
All the best,
Bob
Extremely solid construction - it will take more than a Gunboat to dent these works.
ReplyDeleteWell done Bob. KEV.
Kev,
ReplyDeleteI suspect that any gunboat sent to deal with these fortifications will be suitable sturdily constructed as well!
All the best,
Bob