Natalie's WWI Trench now finished And now marked.

Discussion in 'Modelling' started by Deacs, Sep 25, 2011.

  1. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Hello guys was wondering any of you modellers out there who could give me some tips on how to make a model of a ww1 trench.
    My daughter is doing it for her school project which she is starting to learn about ww1 at the moment and she as been asked to do a model of a trench.
    So any tips and ideas would be welcome.

    Regards Michael.
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Deacs likes this.
  3. ritsonvaljos

    ritsonvaljos Senior Member

    Deacs,

    If you are going through to Carlisle any time and can make a visit to the Border Regiment Museum inside Carlisle Castle they have a model on display. If your daughter were to make an appointment (perhaps through the school) and explained exactly what she was interested in they could make further helpful suggestions how to go about it.

    When the Museum moves to a different building (still inside Carlisle Castle) which is much bigger I think the intention is to have a lager model of a WW1 trench.

    You could also go to St Bees when the tide is on the way out, start digging in the sand and see how you get on (before the tide comes in!).
     
  4. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    I had to help my 9yo daughter make a model of canyon last year.

    I took two 12in x 18in x 1in sheets of syrofoam and glued them together, so the model would be thick enough. If you can find foam already thick enough, that'll do.

    I then took a modeling knife and "sculpted" the "canyon" in the foam, including any side canyons and what not. When I was done with the cutting, my daughter covered the entire block of foam with a thin layer of brown modeling clay. She then covered areas to simulate woodlands using some green, moss looking stuff. She used dark and light blue clay to make the "river" down in the canyon.

    You could probably do the same thing for a trench complex, using twigs and the like for dead trees and popsicle sticks to make the roofs of the dugouts, which are then covered by clay. Maybe you can find small enough soldiers to use also.

    We found everything we needed at a modeling store and it was fairly inexpensive

    I've included some photos.
     

    Attached Files:

    Deacs likes this.
  5. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Owen and Slipdigit thanks very much for the tips have got a bit to go on now and see what we come up with.
    Ritsonvaljos are you trying to give me a heart attack go and dig up St.Bees beach but it would be a good example to show Natalie what it could have been like to build a proper trench like the poor guys had to in the war.
    I really need to get my arse into gear and get to Carlisle Castle to visit the museum one of these days.
    If it turns out any good i will post a picture of it (unfortunately i was never good at Blue Peter stuff) so i am not promising miracles.

    Thanks guys regards Michael.
     
  6. gunbunnyB/3/75FA

    gunbunnyB/3/75FA Senior Member

    oh, just a tought, i know this is gonna sound goofy, but you can use chopsticks to simulate the wood used to stabilize the trenches.
     
  7. Goodygixxer

    Goodygixxer Senior Member

    Get her to dig a real one in your back garden, then she can just sit down nearby and make a model of the real thing in slow time! :lol::p
     
  8. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

  9. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  10. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Here's some good info with some diagrams from a service manual .
    Trenches and Field Defences in 1914

    Remember the front line trenches will need a fire step & will have fire-bays that give a joined-together-squared pattern.
    The communication trenches wont have a fire-step & will zig-zag.

    [​IMG]
    10 October 1916
    Aerial vertical view showing trench lines of Beaumont Hamel, British trenches, bottom left.
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    If she can't be bothered to make the trenches just make a heavily cratered landscape & say to her teacher that there's been a heavy bombardment over several weeks.

    Mouquet Farm, near Thiepval with trench systems surrounding it, prior to 1 July.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Mouquet Farm, seen as a small outline in a sea of mud in the centre of the photograph, showing the effects of sustained artillery fire.
     
  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    This will come in useful too.
    Products For Wargamers

    [​IMG]

    Barbed Wire - 2 Meters

    2 Meter length of our barbed wire.

    £2.00 (Pack)

    [​IMG]

    Barbed Wire - 5 Meters

    5 Meter length of our barbed wire.

    £4.00 (Pack)
     
  13. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Modroc
    Handy stuff for this kind of business.
     
  14. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Modroc! I hadn't read this name in decades, litterally! :D
     
  15. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  16. La-de-da-Gunner Graham

    La-de-da-Gunner Graham Senior Member

  17. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I belong to a scale modelling forum. There are some really detailed examples on there. The below link relates to s WW1 diorama complete with photos. The chap even tells how he accomplished it. Beware - it looks like hours of work!

    FLERS-COURCELETTE SEPT. 1916. A 1/72 mini Diorama.... - Page 3

    Keith

    Can't see pictures as I'm not a member of that forum.
     
  18. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

  19. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Thank you everybody you have given me some great ideas am really looking forward to helping Natalie with this project.

    Thanks every one Regards Michael.
     
  20. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Michael, it would be grand if you kep tthis thread open and posted some progress photos, or at least of the outcome :)
     

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