Sunday, November 1, 2015

Omaha Beach Project Update #1

Made some great progress today.  I stopped by Bob's Foam Factory on Saturday and bought all the blue foam I needed to make my Omaha Beach table.  Today I hunkered down and was able to cut and shape all the foam and get the base table completed.  It's been a while since I broke out my Tippi foam cutter --- I really can't recommend one enough if you have to cut foam ... way better than the other types on the market that use the flimsy little wire that breaks constantly.

I wanted the cliff to be imposing.  There will be two large bunkers that hang over the cliff and either side of the bunkers will be trails that lead up the cliff face (so a total of 4 trails leading up the cliff face).  I've included a picture below from Saving Private Ryan that shows roughly what I mean by the large cliff face bunkers.

Picture below taken using my phone camera (some with flash, some without).

Front on view of the base table.

My inspiration for the cliff face bunkers.  Each will have
an approach/trail up either side to reach the top of the cliff.

The cliff is 7.5" above the sand.  I'll be painting
the foam black so it looks more like a finished product.

I really love this particular terrain mat - especially since
it will be very easy to store and transport.


Looking up from the water.


Profile view of the cliff face.


I've started on landing craft assembly - here you can see
one of my LCA's ready to land some armour on the beach.

There will be a sand berm a little before the cliff that will be lined with barbed wire and hedgehogs.  Any infantry section that makes it to the berm can spend an action to detonate a Bangalore torpedo to create a gap in the wire and a crater that will provide light cover.  Bangalore torpedoes will be able to be used twice during the game (creating two gaps in the berm obstacles).

I have a ton of beach obstacles to assemble now ... so moving on to that stage.

13 comments:

  1. That's really off to a great start!

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  2. Jay, This looks great! Can't wait to see pic of your first game.

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    1. Thanks Jon --- trying to get everything assembled so I can at least play test the game ... but I'm looking forward to the first "complete" game as well :-)

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  3. Sorry, I would have commented early, but I just finished picking up my jaw from off the floor! To say that wall is imposing is an understatement!
    So you're attaching the mat directly to the board then?

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    1. lol ... you are too funny! Yes, I just lay the mat over the foam ... I'm likely going to use some small pins to hold it in place ... I'll just paint the tops of the pins to match the mat --- I will not need all that many ... it stays in place fairly well just laying on top.

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  4. That looks great! Is that mat in straight out of the box so to speak or have you modified it in anyway (not talking about the foam underneath obviously). /Mattias

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    1. Thanks Mattias! That is the mat "straight out of the box" :-)

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    2. Thanks! It will be spectacular with your terrain additions to it. /Mattias

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    3. You are most welcome. I hope so ... starting work on the "big" bunkers next :-)

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  5. Looks awesome Jay. Make sure you paint the sides of the blue foam black or similar. It will frame better.

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    1. Thanks Adam. Yes, I need to glue the layers of foam together and paint the sides black ... already in the plan ;-)

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