The Citadel – 28mm Foam Build in Memorial of Covid 19 Wargamers lost.

So with the concept in hand it was time to start thinking practical;

What size to I want? = 24x24x40 Inches

What Base Build Material? = XPS foam and Expanded Polystyrene

Playable or Display? = Playable

Before you start any large projects I advice asking yourself some of these questions or similar before you start spending. It can be great to just jump in from time to time but with something as large as this it needs a good plan.

I happen to have a large collection of expanded packaging polystyrene, the great advantage of this is no cost to me, keeps the build light and an easy material to work with. As such the core of the whole build will be polystyrene.

The Tools

Through out this build I will be using my Hot Wire tools. A critical point when using these kind of tools though. Ventaliation. The fumes are toxic in high quantities so use either a mask or work in a well ventilated area. These tools are great but please stay safe.

The table I’m using is very basic and only cost be £35 from eBay. It’s a great first table for anyone wanting to give it a go. As for the pen tool again it was a £15 purchase for a 3in1. Both of these are great for new starters. Before you try a big project though have a play with some scrap to get used to the tools limits.

Now I knew by materials and gathered my tools it was time to sketch out a base plan. For now I’m only making a plan for the core of the build so I have something I can keep close while building. The logo itself though is only avalibe in a front on view so their are a few creative choices. This will make it easier to build and play on.

After I was happy with the quick design it was time to map this on a 1/2 inch grid plan. I’ve used these myself for a long time with builds like this to make sure I know how much material I’m using and also for tricky angles. As such the main focal point is the gate tower. I’m working in inches in this build as it’s just what I use;

Gate tower = 6 inch round

Hall = 8×5 inch

Back tower = 5 inch round

Side tower = 5×4 inch

Wall thickness range from 1 to 1/2 inch.

Time to start building

Hello and welcome to the first log of this project.

Firstly this project once completed will form a memorial for those lost during the Covid 19 pandemic. This includes any wargamers, gamers, hobbiests, painters, sculptors and of course friends and family from across the world. I hope to incorporate the names of those lost in some way into the build.

Now into the concept and planning before the build

During lockdown I took the oppitunity to clear out the old shed, something I had been avoiding for a fair while. At the back corner though I found an old spray can of Chaos Black with the original ‘Citadel’ logo. Amazingly the can still worked and I managed to get a few bits base coated. When it was finally empty I didn’t want to chuck it though. I’m not sure how long it had been waiting to be found, like myself locked away in isolation. The logo as well brought back a wave of memories from when I joined the community and the years making friends. As such I thought, why not build it?

And so here we are. Next comes the planning stage.