5P - Ship Log 1 - Rumour list - Current

Hi Everyone,

                    A bit of info for my Five Parsecs From Home Wargame / RPG.

Previous post - 5P Ship Log 1 - Out and About

The Five Parsecs Rumour list

Planet Hugemont, Port Rudolfus, Pilot's Bar - Carrington Starship Museum.
(See Ship log 1).

Planet Hugemont, Port Rudolfus. - Capture a Monkeything for Unity Bio Labs.
(See Ship log 1). It has now been recaptured. (Not by us.)

Planet Hugemont, Port Rudolfus. A wounded fugitive escapes from a bungled robbery at the Spaceport.
(See Job log 1 pt3). No sightings of the suspect, it is presumed they have gone to ground.

Reward for his capture - 2 Credits.


Next post -  5P Ship Log 2 - A guest arrives

Regards,

Ivor Cogdell

Review - 4Ground Walls

Hi all,
          I was going to do a review of the 4Ground Disposable Walls I brought from the 2015 Alumwell Miniature War Gaming Show. But, as I had guessed, someone has beaten me to it.

     http://gravengames.co.uk/damageable-walls-terrain-review/

Its a good review. Take a look.

I plan to use mine in my 6mm "Camp Livingstone" upgrade and as obstacles in my 28mm Wastelands Campaign. The bottom line is that I have now bought another item of theirs, Corner ruins type 3, (Build shown elsewhere), so that points to their quality.

Ivor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

W3 - Denizens of the wastelands

Hi Everyone,

                    My first denizens of the wastelands have just been painted. A bunch of four cavemen. These will be added, as leaders, into a bunch of zombies, taking on the job of mutants, until I can get some. Also newly primed is one of the good guys, a Police officer on a motorbike.

Faction - Mutants    Gang Name - The Outcasts.   Resources 19.  Rep = -2.     Morale = 5+

                                         Move Aimed Combat  Kill   Special         Equipment     Cost
Feathers (Warrior)            2.5       4+          3+        4+                         Club                16
Bowman (Leader)              2        4+          3+        4+                          Bow, Knife     18
Stag (Shaman)                 1.75     4+          3+        5+    Farsight          Knife               31
Axeman (Deputy)              2         4+          3+       4+                          Club                16

The Leadership Battle is shown in another post.

5P - Ship Log 1 - Out and About

Previously 

My 5P Characters

Planet - Hugemont, Spaceport Rudolfus at the Rostof Mine Complex

Captain Martin is on guard duty, Lucy is doing an inventory of the Med Bay stores and the others are checking out the local traders. We get a visit from Hilton Stayright, a Unity Tax Audit Official, who announces that we have to be checked over before we can obtain a Lift Clearance.
                Martin has to get Lucy to stop her inventory and assume the guard duties in the control room, so that he can escort the Officer around The Magic Carpet. As we are just starting out, there is little to Tax. Just a few weapons are confiscated in the way of payment. Hilton logs into the Control Tower and registers our good LC status. Captain Martin shows the Inspector out and then sighs with relief that the fines were not worse, as he had expected.

"Melody here, Captain. 

Ship report follows.

Tower Computer confirms our LC Green status and requests we give 60 minute notice of our impending departure.  Systems all green. Fuel is at 70%. Consumables at 95%. Oxygen tanks being topped up, water tanks full. Emergency Batteries currently 89% and charging. 

Melody out."

One by one, the others return. They all gather in the Mess Hall to discuss what they have discovered and how to make best use of it.

Firstly, the captain fills them in on the little visit by "The Devil's Assistant". He concludes, "At this point, at least we are good to go now, if needed."

Rose began next. "I was in the Pilot's lounge, checking on the fuel situation, when I overheard the name "Carrington". As you know, the Carrington family have built some of the best trans warp engines on the market over the years. It seems that Young Master Carrington wants to start a museum. Not just any old museum, an orbiting museum complete with all the Starships made by man. But there is a catch, they must be space-worthy, I suppose, so that he can play with them. This chap was telling the other guy he had just delivered a Tornado Spacehog to them. I did not find out the location of this "Museum", but I can ask some discrete questions. How did you get on, Shorty ?"

"Well, You heard on the news that a Monkeything had escaped from the Unity Bio Lab. I went up there and spoke to James Dobson on the desk, asked if there was a reward. They said only if it was brought back alive and unharmed. I sort of lost interest then. I suppose some sort of knockout drug could be obtained from them, but it takes all of the fun out of it." He looked at the other crew member, "You look pleased with yourself, Ted. Spit it out."

"I am grinning like a Cheshire cat, whatever one of those was, for rather a good reason. I was coming back from the recycle area and I bumped into Alex Hanson, literally. I was pleasantly surprised when she did not run a mile when she saw me, as your females usually do", he nodded at the ladies, "present company excepted. She is the Director in the Maintenance section. They have just taken delivery of the latest model of the "Klunk n Klean" maintenance droid. Which means they have 15 of the old models to get rid of. Complete with Unity bill of sale Authenticity Paperwork."

Martin looked rather pleased at the news too, "If you can pull this off then we should be able to make a Klean bit of profit."

He ducks as a shower of cushions head in his direction.

-----------------------

Next post - 5P- Roumour List - Current.

Lots more Postings- just look for 5p.

Ivor Cogdell

5P - My 5 Parsecs From Home Characters (Updated).

Nordic Weasel Games,

 5 Core Rules,
5 Parsec From Home expansion
Every star an opportunity supplement

Version 2 of 5 Parsecs From Home and more supplements are available from Nordic Weasel Games.

My 5 Parsecs from home campaign

Characters

Captain Martin Taggart

He was brought up by Brent Farlane, the First Officer on The Rising Tide, a deep-space survey vessel, after his parents were killed in a gravity sled accident. His first job was in the Laundry, which at first he thought was pure drudgery, but it built up his muscles and he could see the benefits of it. He was later helped by a buddy who had a cargo hauler, The Big Fist. He was able to sign on with him and learn the trade from the inside, what to do and not to do. He found out that the cook was smuggling diamonds in some of the food crates. He spent most of the reward buying The Magic Carpet. He likes the spacer way of life.

Petty Criminal - He has bent the law on occasion to earn enough credits to get by. So long as no one gets hurt, he is willing to be flexible with the law when it suits him. Now he has his own ship he is trying to tread a straight path.


Medical
Current Status Mental - Shock (Killed attacker) - rest and counselling to be given by Lucy and David.

Weapon -Blast Pistol.

Dave "Shorty" Muldoon (Mercenary)

He is from the Blue Bandana Tech Guild, on Hougemont. He scavenges old equipment and turns them into items people can use again. He has been caught up in assorted skirmishes, which taught him how to take care of himself and his friends. He likes to go hunting alien life forms, not that he gets much chance to do so.
          He believes in a supreme being that is out there somewhere, laughing at the rest of us.

Rocker - He wears his hair short and plays oldie rock music loudly in his cabin, soundproofed naturally.

Medical
Recovered - (Plant reaction) Jellytosis. Symptoms - a loss of balance and uncontrollable shaking. Severe forms can last for three days.

Current Status - Aiding with Martin's counselling.

Commendation - He tracked down a child who had gotten lost in the bush.

True Believer - A true fanatic with a cause, "we are in the right, so don't mess with us".
If a Bail result is applied against this figure, immediately move 6” towards the nearest enemy and attempt to initiate a Brawl.

Weapon - Hand cannon.

Rose "Spike" Sharpe (Pilot)
Alien Screand

She is from Purgalis. A member of the wealthy Sharpe family, merchants who transport Unity gear about the systems. She is a survivalist and wants to make her own way in life. She was arrested for underage flying, but daddy's money made the charge go away. She is a very good pilot. She has not seen any of her family for three years.

Scoundrel - She has falsified information of rivals in the past, to get where she is now, just to make sure the job would be hers. She likes to keep an eye on what other pilots in the area are doing. Planting rumors here and there, nothing specific or anything that could be traced back to her. She has a contact in the control tower who feeds her any interesting information he comes across.

Weapon - Hand Gun.


Ted "Cracker" Greene (Tech expert)
Alien Orakkg

From the continent of Tremis on the planet Craagie. Currently in the "Wanderlust " stage of its development. It is another of the Blue Bandana Tech Guild graduates. It uses a variety of Martial Arts to keep fit.
              It believes that Order is the way forward for mankind and that things, in general, are getting worse rather than better. It fell out with the rest of its family, who do not work, sitting about playing holo games.
              It collects old ceremonial knives.

Medical - It was refused permission to Bond because it had poor prospects for advancement. (It aims to prove them wrong.)

Current Status Wounded right arm - Light duties.
                      (It is not suffering from any shock for killing another being - It sees it as bringing Order to mankind, weeding out the defective units.)

Primitive - The old ways were best. It likes dishing out justice personally. It took a personal survival course, living off the bush with no modern technology, it passed with no problems.

Terrifying - Roll a Shock die against each enemy when approaching within 4”.

Peculiar mating habits (Loud) - No game effects but can be uncomfortable for the rest of the crew.

Weapons - Knife. Engraved Hand Blaster.

Lucy Ronin (Nurse)

She comes from the overcrowded planet of Mastrect. Trained in the 4078th M.A.S.H unit. She saved a patient's life by giving her a dose of an expensive drug intended for a rich senator. (The hospital got another dose for the Senator). She was sacked for Gross Misconduct. The unions fought her case and she won ("Treat everyone equally") and with her compensation money, she bought a ticket off-planet.
Motivated by what she had missed out on in her earlier life, wanting a slice of adventure, she came to the frontier planets.

Working class - Has done quite a few jobs. Has a wide skill set.

Stalker - No one is sure where this breed came from. Likely a mutation or military experiment, Stalkers have spread throughout the Fringes. They have dark blue, crimson or purple skin tones with gleaming, unnatural eyes.
On any event roll of a 6, the Stalker may teleport to another location within 3”. This does not prevent its normal activation.

People Skills - One other figure in the group may ignore 1 Shock die result per game.

Lack of initiative - If more than 4” away from friendly figures, she may not move except to seek cover. She will only fire if an enemy is within 12” or if returning fire.

Counter Attack - If attacked in Brawl, may re-roll dice roll. She has been taking martial arts lessons from Ted, she is a natural at it.

Weapon - Hand Tazer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background

They all met on a rainy day in a starport bar on the planet Hugemont, while taking part in a quiz night. They won, celebrated and realized that they all got on well together, so they decided to stick together on the Magic Carpet.

See also - Reginald "Pinky" Farnsworth.

The Magic Carpet is an alien vessel that the Used Transport dealer thought was haunted, so he was willing to sell it at a knockdown price just to get rid of it. It was a troop transport in a former alien war. In fact, the ghost was a malfunctioning ship Artificial Intelligence, it is now repaired and called Melody.

See also - The Magic Carpet information.

Droids 834 and 811.

Droid 834, now fitted with an upgraded memory and operating system is now doing light maintenance tasks, getting to know the ship operations.  Droid 811 is being worked on by Pinky in his spare time.

Passenger Information

 Chris Don Roytona -  freelance reporter and Eric Vickers - cameraman,

Equipment

Dazzle grenades.
Scanbot.

Trade Goods

Alien shiny bits.
500 Copper Bar Ingots
13 Humanoid Droids

Next

Ship Log 1 - Out and About.
Ship Log 2 - A Guest Arrives.
Job 1 - Droids Part 1.
(Here is the news 1) insert.
Job 1 - Droids Part 2.
Job 1 - Droids Part 3.
Job 1 - Interlude.
Job 1 - Departure for CL.
Job 1 - Trouble Pts 1 + 2.
Job 1 - Hologame Pts. 1 - 4.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please note that I do not have many miniatures for my NPC's yet, so any suggestions as to where to get futuristic-looking miniatures (with or without space suits) from in the UK? Please leave your suggestions in the comments section.


Regards all and stay safe,

Ivor Cogdell

5P - My 5 Parsecs From Home Characters

Nordic Weasel Games,
 5 Core Rules,
5 Parsec From Home expansion
Every star an opportunity supplement

Characters

Captain Martin Taggart

He was brought up by Brent Farlane, the First Officer on The Rising Tide, a deep space survey vessel, after his parents were killed in a grav sled accident. His first job was in the Laundry, which at first he thought was pure drudgery, but it built up his muscles and he could see the benefits of it. He was later helped by a buddy who had a cargo hauler. He was able to sign on with him and learn the trade from the inside, what to do and not to do. He found out that the cook was smuggling diamonds in some of the food crates. He spent most of the reward buying The Magic Carpet. He likes the spacer way of life.

Petty Criminal - He has bent the law on occasion to earn enough credits to get by. So long as no one gets hurt, he is willing to be flexible with the law when it suits him. Now he has his own ship he is trying to tread a straight path.


Medical
Current Status Mental - Shock (Killed attacker) - rest and counselling to be given.

Weapon -Blast Pistol.

Dave "Shorty" Muldoon (Mercenary)

He is from the Blue Bandana Tech Guild, on Hougemont. He scavenges old equipment and turns them into items people can use again. He has been caught up in assorted skirmishes, which taught him how to take care of himself and his friends. He likes to go hunting alien life forms, not that he gets much chance to do so.
          He believes in a supreme being that is out there somewhere, laughing at the rest of us.

Rocker - He wears his hair short and plays oldie rock music loudly in his cabin, soundproofed naturally.

Medical
Recovered - (Plant reaction) Jellytosis. Simptoms - a loss of balance and uncontrollable shaking. Severe forms can last for three days.
Current Status Mental - Shock (Killed attacker) - counselling.

Commendation - He tracked down  a child who had gotten lost in the bush.

True Believer - A true fanatic with a cause, "we are in the right, so don't mess with us".
If a Bail result is applied against this figure, immediately move 6” towards the nearest enemy and attempt to initiate a Brawl.

Weapon - Hand cannon.

Rose "Spike" Sharpe (Pilot)
Alien Screand

A member of the wealthy Sharpe family, merchants who transport Unity gear about. She is a survivalist and wants to make her own way in life. She was arrested for underage flying, but daddy's money made the charge go away. She is a very good pilot. She has not seen any of her family for three years.

Scoundrel - She has falsified information of rivals in the past, to get where she is now, just to make sure. She likes to keep an eye on what other pilots in the area are doing. Planting rumors here and there, nothing specific or anything that could be traced back to her. She has a contact in the control tower who feeds her any interesting information he comes across.

Weapon - Hand Gun.


Ted "Cracker" Greene (Tech expert)
Alien Orakkg

From the continent of Tremis on the planet Craagie. Currently in the "Wanderlust " stage of its development. It is another of the Blue Bandana Tech Guild graduates. It uses a variety of our Martial Arts to keep fit.
              It believes that Order is the way forward for mankind and that things in general are getting worse rather than better. It fell out with the rest of its family, who do not work, sitting about playing hologames.
              It collects old knives.

Medical - It was refused permission to Bond because it had poor prospects for advancement. (It aims to prove them wrong.)
Current Status Wounded right arm - Light duties.
                      (It is not suffering from any shock for killing another being - It sees it as bringing Order to mankind, weeding out the defective units.)

Primitive - The old ways were best. It likes dealing out justice personally. It took a personal survival course, living off the bush with no modern technology, it passed with no problems.

Terrifying - Roll a Shock die against each enemy when approaching within 4”.

Peculiar mating habits (Loud) - No game effects but can be uncomfortable for the rest of the crew.

Weapons - Knife. Engraved Hand Blaster.

Lucy Ronin (Nurse)

She comes from the overcrowded planet of Mastrect. Trained in the 4078th M.A.S.H unit. She saved a patients life by giving her a dose of an expensive drug intended for a rich senator. (The hospital got another dose for the Senator). She was sacked for Gross Misconduct. The unions fought her case and she won ("Treat everyone equally") and with her compensation money she bought a ticket off planet.
Motivated by what she had missed out on in her earlier life, wanting a slice of adventure, she came to the frontier planets.

Working class - Has done quite a few jobs. Has a wide skill set.

Stalker - No one is sure where this breed came from. Likely a mutation or military experiment, Stalkers have spread throughout the Fringes. They have dark blue, crimson or purple skin tones with gleaming, unnatural eyes.
On any event roll of a 6, the Stalker may teleport to another location within 3”. This does not prevent it's normal activation.

People Skills - One other figure in group may ignore 1 Shock die result per game.

Lack of initiative - If more than 4” away from friendly figures, she may not move except to seek cover. She will only fire if an enemy is within 12” or if returning fire.

Counter Attack - If attacked in Brawl, may re-roll dice roll. She has been taking martial arts lessons from Ted, she is a natural at it.

Weapon - Hand Tazer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They all met on a rainy day in a star port bar on the planet Hugemont, while taking part in a quiz night. They won, celebrated and realized that they all got on well together, so decided to stick together on the Magic Carpet.

See also - Reginald "Pinky" Farnsworth.

The Magic Carpet, is an alien vessel that the Used Transport dealer thought was haunted, so he was willing to sell it at a knock down price just to get rid of it. It was a troop transport in a former alien war. In fact, the ghost was a malfunctioning ship Artificial Intelligence, it is now repaired and called Melody.

See also - The Magic Carpet information.

Equipment

Dazzle grenades.
Scanbot.

Trade Goods

Alien shiny bits.
15 Humanoid Droids


Next

Ship Log 1 - Out and About.
Ship Log 2 - A Guest Arrives.
Job 1 - Droids Part 1.
(Here is the news 1) insert.
Job 1 - Droids Part 2.
Job 1 - Droids Part 3.
Job 1 - Interlude. (Coming next.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please note that I do not have many miniatures for my NPC's yet, so any suggestions as to where to get futuristic looking miniatures (with or without space suits) from in the UK ? Please leave your suggestions in the comments section.

Camp Livingstone 1

Camp Livingstone Base

This is my section for my Angel Barracks setting and their (c)  KR16 rules.

Here is a picture of Camp Livingstone, on the planet of Kountermelodie, my base for the good guys, the Regional Defense Force. This is the quiet before the shower. The vehicles are nearly all by Angel Barracks, in their boxed set. (See the rules page or click on the Angel Barracks link above). They also have 6 mm houses, figures and terrain available to purchase on their site. I do have some 6 mm figures but they are only partially painted. so they will not play a part in the scrap on this occasion.

Layout

Top Left - Planted fields and Security Pillbox (in the Zig-zag section of the fence).
Top Center - Hydroponics / Research Lab.
Top Right - Transport /Storage Hangars.
Middle Center - Residential Unit and experimental garden.
Lower Center - Water storage and Fuel Dump.
Lower Right - Main Gate and junkyard.

Camp Livingstone-Rebels begin the attack
"Camp l - 1" by Ivor Cogdell

I did have a "Battle Report" to go along with this, but I could not find it, so I am going to "wing it" from memory. Note - I have used non-AB vehicles as well, (by the rock outcrop - middle, it was from a magazine collection) to give the rebel Junkers a bit more firepower.

Junkers
2 x Bullfrogs
2 x Bullfrogs and Rockets
1 x Warthog  (A Special Project Armoured Personnel Carrier and General Machine Gun )

Objective - Get fuel and /or disrupt the RDF base.

RDF
1 x Pathfinder GMG
1 x Pathfinder GMG CMD
1 x Pathfinder SM
A defensive "Pill Box" + Light Cannon. (SV =10.)
Electric Fence and gates around the compound.

Objective - Defend the RDF compound. Capture or kill the Junkers.

 You can see the Junkers forces (a "Warthog" attack Vehicle - middle left) moving into position to attack the main gate and a secondary target, a pillbox (Top middle, by the brownfield, the bend in the fence) being attacked by a Bullfrog.
                 The two-man "Bullfrog" buggies are armed with personal machine guns (operated by the passenger- on the road and top left by the field- out of focus in this picture) or a mortar battery on the back (middle left and far left),
                  There is a standoff at the main gate. The main unit towing the command car (at the far end of the road, by the left black hangar) has developed engine trouble.

From a higher viewpoint

One of the defending vehicles have driven to the west of the compound (by the garden and water tank) to defend the residential module (painted in yellow by the garden). They have destroyed two of the buggies, a fast one, and a mortar unit.
                Meanwhile, mortar fire has hit the fuel dump and the RDF unit has come under fire, (White tissues represent smoke and burning). it has advanced to attack the other rebel forces. This has left the gate unguarded and a buggy has just driven inside the main gate compound in the confusion of the fire. (The dice were to show if they have been activated this turn or not).

A closer look at the tussle at the main gate, the lone surviving Mortar unit in better detail.

The rebel attack vehicle keeps the RDF forces under attack and the Bullfrog with the mobile mortar unit sets to work against the fence.

The RDF vehicle is put out of action.

The Junkers have penetrated into the Fuel Dump and are stealing some fuel

The command car has finally got its engine repaired and is on the move (Top right)

 The other RDF Mobile is coming to stop the theft. (Top middle). But they are too late!

With a little help from the attack vehicle, the fence is breached and the Junkers make their way out of the compound. The attack vehicle fires on the RDF Mobile and the Habitation module. The Mobile moves in the way of the fire to protect the Habitation module from taking more damage.

Habitation Module and defending RDF.

The command car makes it to the main gate.

Too little too late?

One last volley

The attack vehicle then makes a strategic escape, giving covering fire as it goes. The command car is too slow and soon gives up the chase.

Battle Aftermath Report

The RDF forces took out one Bullfrog and one Bullfrog with rockets, worth = 40 Victory Points. The crews went to cover to sneak off later.

The Junkers took out 1 Pathfinder worth = 20 Victory Points. (I would have thought a Pathfinder would have represented more value as it is a better quality item and harder to repair or replace).

The Junkers also did damage to the habitation module, blew up part of a fuel dump and fences and stole fuel. I was wondering how to represent that in exact VP terms, although I would class it as a major victory for them. One up to the Junkers, they will be talking about this raid for a while.

I hope you enjoyed it.

Ivor Cogdell

Making a Post Apocalypse Watchtower from Polystyrene and Cardboard

Making a Post-Apocalypse Watchtower

What you will need.

1 - Find a suitably shaped piece of polystyrene, that is, a piece that has a flat stable base and a pointy part going upwards. Bits sticking out can also provide standing room for your models. Remember, it needs to be smaller when it is finished than what you are going to use to store it in.

2- A modeling file or craft knife, a chopping board or another non-slip safe cutting surface.

3- Five small paper clips or blue tac, two small nails and some thin pieces of a twig.

4- Cotton thread and glue. 

5- Black primer, assorted poster paints and cheap brushes, protective cover.

6- Cardboard (about 1mm thick) 10 and a half inches long along the side by 4 and three-quarter inches wide. (12 cm by 27 cm).

7- Flat hardboard or similar to mount the model on.

The Base

Just primed, Note the un-even notches cut in the top edge. "Watchtower 1" by Ivor Cogdell 

Using a modelers file or craft knife, carve your steps into the polystyrene to get to the various levels and up the one corner of your pointy bit. Carve the top of the pointy bit level to what will be the ground. You can either have a small bare platform top without any protection for your lookout (using an old credit card or similarly sized cardboard shape, leaving it as it is in a worn rubble state or you can create a platform for multiple warriors. You can carve secondary lookout positions or passages, broken bricks that have come loose. 

Once you are happy with the layout, paint with black or dark primer outside. You may need two or more coats of primer to get good coverage. (Note_This will make the item flammable, so keep away from naked flames). 

(Tip- If using spray paints, do it outside, put the polystyrene in an old Pizza box or put plenty of newspapers down if you do not have a protective sheet, so you will not get paint where you do not want it to go.)

Note - Showing the original twig "Watchtower 2" by Ivor Cogdell

Next, using small lengths of twig, add climbing supports for your figure, staggering their positions, left and right to either side of the notches that you have cut into the tower. Make the hole with the nail first, otherwise the twig might snap. When selecting where to cut your twig, cut the section to be left sticking out at a Y section, cutting the base and one arm of the Y very short and the long arm of the Y going into the hole,You can add cotton to the tops of vertical stakes to give the impression of ropes and the Y joint gives a better securing point for the cotton.

(Note - Since the watchtower turned out to be bigger than I had initially imagined it to be, the base needs some extra support to balance it at the back, not been done as yet. An inch thick pillar added at some point along the back should do the trick).

The Watchtower

All the cardboard laid out "Watchtower 3" by Ivor Cogdell

For the watchtower itself, we move to the cardboard strip. The main section measures 3 inches along the side by 4 and three-quarter inches for the front of the roof. (75 mm by 12 cm). The measurements are based on 28 mm models, for other sizes, just reduce the size accordingly.

The back wall is 3 inches high and 3 and a half inches along the front.(75 mm by 9 cm).

 The floor is 2 and three-quarter inches by 3 and a half inches along the front. (75 mm by 9 cm).

 The front wall is 1 and a half inches high by 3 and a half inches along the front. (75 mm by 9 cm).

The windows can be done to your taste, mine were three-quarter inches deep by half an inch wide.
 (22 mm by 12 mm).

"Watchtower 4" by Ivor Cogdell

The sidewall pieces are 4 and a quarter inches long by an inch high. (11 cm by 25 mm). Cut out the individual firing slots to suit your model height.

The roof timber is 3 and 3/8 high by three-quarter inches  (85 mm by 2 cm), bent at the top to give whatever roof angle you prefer, a steep or shallow one. I used 2 and 3/8 inches (6 cm).

(Tip - this gives easy access for your hand to move your models about inside the tower.)

The trapdoor in the floor should be cut last and positioned over your entry point (maybe yours has two or more - that's fine), with a wide enough gap for your soldier to go through. Cut along three of the sides and bend the other side up.

"Watchtower 5" by Ivor Cogdell

Secure the watchtower to the supporting pillar (or pillars) with a small nail or two pushed through the floor. The position of this spot should use the weight of the cabin itself to aid in the stability of the overall model, not just put at the center spot of the floor.

Use the small paper clips or blue tac to fasten the side wall flaps to the structure, slip the wall pillar behind the left side wall flap, then you can attach the final paper clip to the pillar support flap under the roof.

Build complete "watchtower 6" by Ivor Cogdell

 (Tip - The reason for the paper clip attachment instead of glue is that they can be taken off again and it can be stored flat in a container, or you could use "Blue- tac" on the inside.  To disguise the paper clips, plop a bit of goo on them and stick another length of cardboard board on top of them or stick of foliage in front of them.)

Front View "Watchtower 7" by Ivor Cogdell

For extra stability, glue it to a larger base of cardboard or similar. (I am still looking for the right material to base my items on.)

Side View "Watchtower 8" by Ivor Cogdell

That completes the main construction, all that is needed is to paint it to taste, including the paper clips, a dark brown or black.

It does look a bit bland at the moment. Draw on or paint the planks of wood, occasionally change a plank colour, suggesting it has been scavenged from the wasteland. Carefully peel the top layer of the cardboard roof to produce a tin roof effect - (This is what I am doing now).

Maybe stick some patches on the side or distress it a bit. Add timber supports underneath it if you want, or walkways across to other structures, some foliage and extra rubble mixed in for effect. With a different thickness of twigs, you could produce a ladder.

 You could modify it with a gap in the sidewall and a quick exit rope coming from the roof to the ground or a zip line to another model!

The front roof strut (shown on the left corner) could be replaced by a pole (chopsticks ?).

The more little details you add in the better it will look.

A quick coat of brown paint to dull it.

Adding Corrugated roof look

Added detailing to the back

I am currently adding broken lolly sticks to the outside of my outpost, but first I added detailing with a black pen.

Here is the tower stretched out flat. Various colours of painted wood recovered from assorted locations in the wastelands were used in its construction.

This is the rear of the lookout tower. I need more lollies and they are yet to be painted. The roof is done, apart from painting it.

Lookout rear and roof painted

A second option would be to use the lookout section as a shack on the ground with an underground escape route.

I have some more wood to add to the front and sides. (25 May 2016).

It still needs to be given a weathered look to it.

Finally, bring on the massed warriors, let the battles commence and have fun.

Please send me a link to your site in the comments section.

Ivor Cogdell

Coming next (then)..

Coming in the near future

Hi all,
         I am three quarters through doing a post of how to make a Post Apocalypse watchtower from polystyrene. I am just working on the optional top part at the moment. (Now completed apart from painting it). I have just bought a few 28 mm items today from my local board game and roleplaying shop,Waylands Forge, the have been painted up in the character sections.

Ivor Cogdell

The Beginning

Greetings to one and all

This is the beginning of my wargaming site. It is not exactly spectacular at the moment. I began my wargaming, like many others, with 28 mm  Warhammer 40K © Rogue Trooper and Warhammer Fantasy games. This got me into Role Playing Games, Dungeon and Dragons ©, Advanced D and D ©, version 2, then 3.5© and then into Pathfinder © on the net, which is where I am now. The latest "Mad Max" © film, "Fury Road", perked up my interest in the Post Apocalypse setting. I am playing Solo at the moment.

The rule sets I have been reading at the moment include DBM Ancients ©, 6mm Starship Troopers © (Only played a bit),   Two Hour Wargames - Free rules (CR.3.1 ©  and Swordplay © ), Dungeon Crawl ©, 5150 Urban Renewal © and Star Army ©), Angel Barracks - KR16 © and Nordic Weasel Games -5 Core skirmish supplement Five Parsecs From Home. ©, with the Every star an Opportunity expansion and Wastelands 3 ©  on the Post Apoc Wargames Forum.

Please join me to see how my miniatures will fare - Death or Glory.

Ivor Cogdell