Monday, 4 December 2023

Fort Vaux....sort of

 A few months ago I began working up another 54mm Great War game.  This involved another visit to Verdun - this time a bit further east, near Fort Vaux.  This meant I'd need a fort.  Big forts were very impressive fashionable things for late 19th century governments to build, but they were very expensive.

I opted to avoid the 'impressive' and 'expensive' elements, and indeed accuracy as I instead hacked about a slab of 2-inch insulation board with a bread knife.  Some of the offcuts were used to make the outer banks of defensive ditches.  Observation cupolas and a gun turret were added from mdf and the ensemble daubed with emulsion paint. It's pretty ghastly but I think it gets the point across.




Our other Verdun adventures include the left bank, Douamont and of course the real thing!


15 comments:

  1. Looks great! Surely this is Fort Faux?

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  2. Looks like a right proper fort to me!

    Also, using a bread knife is genius. We have one which we never use (as members of the less cultured class, we buy our bread pre-sliced) - loos like I need to pick up some insulation board!

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  3. This fort is named "FORT DE VAUX". That's not very important but I'm sure you prefer use the right name. It's in vicinity of the village "Vaux-devant-Damloup".
    Rised in 1915 june the 9th, The first great victory of my former regiment RICM was to reconquier the "FORT DE DOUAUMONT" october the 24th 1916.

    Good luck for your interessant project.
    I'll follow you. Have a good day

    LCL (H) Lechevalier

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  4. Well, it looked the part and was very scary to attack in the game. I'm glad I gave that job to Graham!

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  5. I hope the defenders have a figure ready to release le Vaillant.

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  6. I think it fits the bill quite well Tim, very nice job!

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  7. Peter Douglas
    I wish I'd though of that!

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  8. John Y
    Genius? Your standards must be even lower then mine!

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  9. French Follower
    Quite correct - though I'm not sure the name is the biggest departure from accuracy! I hope you enjoy the forthcoming game report.

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  10. Tradgardmastare
    another one with the puns!

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  11. Martin Rapier
    I did notice you giving him the toughest sector!

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  12. Nigel Drury
    Cdt Raynal did indeed release carrier pigeons during the game!

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