10mm Wargames Terrain: Trench Sections
Scratch-Built Trench
The BKC rules allow for the purchase of field defences including trenches. Trenches can be used by the defending player in scenarios that have a clearly defined defender. Most of the scenarios that come supplied in the rulebook provide for an attacker/defender set-up.
I wanted some trench sections for these types of games and rather than pay for commercial models I decided to scratch-build my own.
Base
Cut a piece of card 18cms x 4cms. Using a pencil, mark off a 1cm border on three sides - this is where the berm will go and marks the line of the trench walls.
Front Wall
Using the pencil line of the berm, stack three lengths of balsa (16cms) one upon the other with PVA glue between each length. The wall should be placed behind the pencil line in order to give enough space for the berm at the front of the entrenchment and within the lines marked out for the side walls. Glue the upright supports in place to steady the wall.
For the record, I used balsa strips that were 4mm wide and 2mm thick. This produces a front-wall that is about on eye-level with a 10mm figure based on a 2.5mm MDF (available pre-cut from East Riding Miniatures).
Side Walls
Construct the side walls using the 3cm lengths of balsa in the same way as the front wall and then allow 24-hours for the PVA to set.
Berm
The berm is made from modelling clay (Das Putty in this instance). Roll a lump of clay into a long 'worm' and then wrap this around the front and sides of the trench and press it into place.
To keep the putty in place put PVA glue on the base and on the lower part of the wooden wall. This will help adhere the putty to the trench wall and the base.
While the putty is still workable, create a textured surface using whatever is at hand (I used various sculpture picks) to make it look like piled-up earth.
Leave the putty to dry for 24-hours.
Scatter Material
Coat the inside of the trench with a suitable scatter material such as sand. Trim off the standing uprights that extend beyond the top of the walls.
The trench is now finished. Leave to stand for 12-24 hours and it will be ready to paint.
Detail
This detail shows how roughly the woodwork was put together. I did everything by eye. Just make sure that you cut your balsa to the right lengths. There is no need to be overly-fussy about this construction - after all, it is a trench!