Saving Alice’s Xmas presents !

The above is the name that has stuck for what will be the central building of the table. It is a lovely well detailed bit if 3d printing but was a bit of a mare to paint.

I started trying to do roof and floor peive at same time, colour by colour but decided there lies madness.

So thought when looking at it the roof is going to be the main  focus, so initially concentrated on that, using mainly contrast and Speed paints. GW’s Aurelian Green and Space Wolves Grey being the primary roof tile colours, Stone work was GW Grey Seer Grey. Trouble was it was a bit bright and too fantasyish  bow it will get used for that, but wanted it to be able to cross genres so, tried coating tiles with the Painters friend Gzw Agrax Earthshade and that did a good job of actually toning down the Brightness . Finally I gave it a white dry brush highlight which worked wonders.

The main part of the building was awkward to paint to say the least, accurate painting with the weird angles was nigh on impossible and although I tidied it up as went along , still needs odd bits doing, but think it is table length eyesight ready  and I can try tidying it up later( Particularly the interior) but will do for now.

Now with it and the newly finished Micro Arts Farmhouse I have the layout nearly finished.

Built the shed for back of Garage   and played down final pits of tile after figuring out best ones to fit pattern. Also brought anoyherbunch of bigger xmas trees for less than a tenner, which I have played out . Currently in mid build of the Farmhouse  but, layed out the finished ruin insert  and it will go in the right side corner of the coachouse courtyard.

Now I have a finalised layout I can work on filling in bits  I brought some of Warlords Stone walls. So it’s a toss up if they or the ones shown go along road.

Whilst awaiting the final tiles, I decided to do an OTT type concept layout to see how it looks and what else I need.

I have brought a couple of Micro Art Studios Normandy buildings, Pre painted   to add to my central 3d printed  building  . They are some of the nicest and easiest to build mdf buildings that I have built  even for a clutz like me.

(In fact I have noe brought the farmhouse and Brick built shed to add to collection, having found that the New Element games in Brum stocks them)

For trees , now I didn’t want to re paint my current collection or pay a fortune for more, searched of Amazon again and found that at this time of year,  there are lots of minature xmas trees for sale, so brought a bundle of mixed sizes at £14 , and was suprised how many I got. OK a lot are small ones, but thought put them together for a newly sown nursery bit of wood.

Finally I have put the ruins from the base Battle of Bulge starter up one  corner, to provide more cover and to break up lines of sight.

I have got some more ordered, slightly bigger which should be enough, they will need reading but that should be easy enough.

Anyway this is the base  table layout so far . The central 3d print building needs the lower part painting but the roof is finished  and a farmhouse to be added to the Farm area  and the Brick shed will placed at back of Garage  but think I now have base table layout. The Track is the FLAMES OF WAR one  15mm in theory but it works. I do have a 28mm highway but it is a bit modern , wide, and has a white line on it which might be a bit too modern  plus no curves.

As said with the extra buildings and trees should be nearly there, debating as small amount of hedgerows along road but will see.

This little idea has carried on   whilst painting figures etc.

How to do the base table, could have done down the mat idea, but that was pricey, likewise getting more Hexon and painting it white. Some of the xmas snow material or just a white tablecoth had  crossed mind  but thought would look crap   plus could get pulled mid game.

The smaller of my games tables , was the survivors of 2 tables  my father made for my old flat, fo some reason 3ft by 3ft 9 approx ( even he couldn’t remember why the odd size,  probably came to the size of some odd boards he had in the garage.

He also  I think out of habit varnished them. But over years that has been marked etc, so re covering the surface had always been a plan.

Now blue sea effect had been the original idea  but with this project thought white.

I could have just painted it white, but remembered an old project fir sea boards , using self adhesive floor tiles , which as they needed to be stored, gave them strength by sticking them on the Same size Cork tiles. This had worked well  but they eventually split as the tiles became brittle with age.

As they were to be stuck straight on table, no need for Cork backing.

In the old days I would have just gone round the various DIY stores in town for the suitable items . But they have gone the way of the dodo, to a handful of mega stores on town outskirts  so I resorted to Amazon. I Initially only brought one pack of 10 x 1ft or 30cm square , at £14.99.  Not totally sure if that would be enough, plus didn’t want to have a big pile of tiles if it didn’t work.

Anyway this is what turned up, I quite liked the idea of the marble effect .

I pre played them out and this is were I remembered the odd table size. So the last tile was cut down to 9″ , meaning I need 2 more!!

On bright side I can make terrain features out if the unused from the just ordered 2nd pack.

Getting the pattern of the marble effect to flow was easier than thought, apart from one, though sticky they do allow for re positioning and were pliable enough to go over odd indentations and marks on table.

I get nearly as much fun laying out nattative hame tables as I do playing the games, and even without the Terrain Challenge I would have been considering setting up this table around the theme for my Xmas game.

‘ A sudden temporal distortion has zapped all of Alice’ xmas presents from Santa’s Grotto to deserted road side hamlet in the Ardennes in the Winter of 44.  They should zap back at midnight on the 24th of December, but Hitlers astrologer have told him that one of these presents could be instrumental in turning the tide and bring about Germany’s ultimate victory.  As Such he has sent a unit of Elite Falscrimjager to secure it. Unbeknown to him, a lost retreating ragtag unit of  American G.I. s have decided to hole up in the hamlet whilst making for their own lines’.

Anyway with a very loose narrative I needed to set the table. As I have absolutely no Winter Terrain I would need to start from scratch. I have been looking at various Winter trees , but all look a bit pricy,  so wiil get some bog standard Fir trees of fleabay and Winter them.

But 1st I need the centre peice for the game, and found this 3d printed fantasy hovel on fleabay.

With this being the focal building of the table, I also brought this Micro Arts studio building to go with it.

Now I am planning g to use ‘Nut’s to run game and the layout only needs to cover my small games table which is approx 4′ by 3’.

I intend to also use the ruined Hamlet set from the Bulge starter set.

I’m considering the Micro Art Normandy Garage, but think will need to see how cluttered table gets 1st.

Postscript

Having rewatched the Historicallly accurate Battle of the Bulge movie I think I will need an abandoned  fuel depot as well !

( Have also watched Battle of the Bulge Winter War  which is essentially a cheap remake, cutting out all the German side and ant attempt at acting, but does have some authentic German kit, rather than the American vehicles with crosses on)