Gern's D-day

[Gern]

Whooppee! I've actually got to be first somewhere!

Here's what I've picked for my D-day build. At the moment I'm only planning a simple base with some sand but that may change!

[ATTACH]75039.IPB[/ATTACH]

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Hope I'll be sober enough to start on Jan 1!

Gern

[Alan 45]

Cool mate

If your anything like me it will expand into a full scene from the longest day

I'm looking forward to this

[Ian M]

Go mad with it Gern. You got the whole of 2014 to play with.

Ian M

[Gern]

I've thought about scratching some of the beach defenses - not the fortifications. Does anyone have any pics of these 'cos the ones I've found tend to focus on the people so details of the defences are unclear.

Gern

[spanner570]

Dave, when I did my Normandy G.B. diorama, I had a good look at Google Images before I had a bash at these obstacles for my model.

Plenty of beach defence pictures to look at.

Ron

[Gern]

I'll have to have another look then Ron. As I said, the only ones I've found so far don't show enough detail.

I've checked out the figures here:

http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=937

There are some rather good looking set pieces here. Hope I can do them justice.

I've got some budgie grit which I've used on dios, but the particles are much too big to represent sand in 1/72 scale. Could I use something like baking powder as an additive to emulsion paint to get a sandy texture? (I know you can buy textured paint but pennies are very tight so I'd like to find a cheaper alternative).

Gern

[Alan 45]

Dave in the us sectors Utah and Omaha most of the beach defenses were the cross iron gurder type and huge concrete block type I would say about five feet tall.

The cross gurder type reached a fair bit outto sea so at high tide they could damage landing craft

[Gern]

I was thinking of making some of the girder type from plastic strip but I could do with a picture. Am I right in thinking they were called hedgehogs?

Gern

[Alan 45]

I was thinking of making some of the girder type from plastic strip but I could do with a picture. Am I right in thinking they were called hedgehogs?Gern

Yes they was called hedgehogs here a pic of how they looked

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Hope this helps

[eddiesolo]

Yep, hedgehog barriers, also slightly off shore Belgium gates-tetrahedron concrete structures topped with mines. On the beach don't forget to add shell holes from the rockets that landed to clear the obstacles, most fell short and many soldiers walked into them while getting off the landing craft and drowned. You also could add a few wooden posts, sticking at an angle pointing towards the land-like an angled letter A.

Si

[Gern]

You also could add a few wooden posts, sticking at an angle pointing towards the land-like an angled letter A.Si

Yes, I saw some of those in some of the images I found. Why were they pointing inland instead of seawards?

Gern

[Gern]

Thanks a lot for the pics Alan. It looks like just three I-beams welded together with a triangular reinforcement. Now I know what they looked like I may be able to scratch some.

Gern

[Gern]

Knowing they were called hedgehogs, I managed to find this. Could be useful to anyone else doing the D-day build.

[flyjoe180]

Yes, I saw some of those in some of the images I found. Why were they pointing inland instead of seawards?Gern

The idea is that a tank or some other vehicle rolls up onto the obstacle and gets stuck there. If it pointed towards the sea it would not work. They are called Czech Hedgehogs.

[Guest]

Nice figures Gern!

Good luck with your project!