Berlin 1945 « Steven's Balagan

Category: Berlin 1945

Battle of Berlin 1945

Planning my Cool Ruins for Crossfiregrad and Ponyri Station

I have lots of ruins already, but I’ve mentioned “cool ruins” a couple of times over the last couple of years. Most recently in my 2021 Confessions of a Megalomaniac Wargamer and Amateur Historian where I planned to “Buy, build, paint more 3″ x 3″ sectors so I can play both Crossfiregrad and Ponyri Station solely with cool ruins”. So what do I mean by “cool” Ruins? Well Ruins that look the best in my collection (i.e. commercial MDF structures that I’ve enhanced) and that are 3″ sectors. I don’t have enough. I want more of them, lots more of

Painting 15mm Jarvis city barricades

A long time ago I got some 15mm Jarvis city barricades. Perfect for WW2, perhaps Stalingrad, or Spanish Civil War. I finally got around to painting them. There are a lot of different bits on these features but it was pretty straight forward. I’ve paint almost everything on here before … except the corrugated iron. That was new.

Do I have enough Ruins?

I have been collecting, making, and painting Ruins for quite some time. All for my long term Stalingrad project. So I thought I’d get all my ruined buildings, rubble piles, and shell holes out and see if I had enough. What do you reckon … do I have enough ruins?

Mark Bretherton on Scratch Building Ruins, Urban Boards and a SU-152 Game

Mark Bretherton played my SU-152s Up Close and Personal scenario again. In his previous battle report he described the scenario as “cracking”. It seems he still likes it.

This time Mark included some photos of his game and of his urban Crossfire set up. I really like the effect Mark has achieved with his terrain and table so asked him for more details on how he did it. Everything is scratch built and looks fantastic. An inspiration. All words and photos are Mark’s…

2016 Confessions of a Megalomaniac Wargamer and Amateur Historian

Megalomaniac surveying all those unfinished wargaming projects in 2016

It has been a year since my Confessions of a Megalomaniac Wargamer and Amateur Historian so definitely time for the 2016 update. I figured that, by sharing what I’m working on (far too much) and where I was up to with it (not far enough), I’d feel bad enough about my lack of progress to limit my work in progress and get some projects finished. Well, it worked, but only partly. I still worked on seven projects this year and finished none.

How to Make Your Own Rubble Material for Stalingrad

My big Crossfire game set in Stalingrad is going to require a lot of rubble. Although I’m happy with the sand I use for flocking, it isn’t chunky enough to be rubble. I needed something grittier. So I made my own. It is pretty simple. Brute force simple.

Stalingrad Ruins from Warbases are Great Value

Every time I order anything from Warbases I order a set of their 15mm Stalingrad Buildings. They are great value. For £7 I get two buildings that are robust, can be assembled in two configurations and, when used en-masse, give me variety of town layouts.

Large Ruined Factory For Crossfire – Now Painted

Painted WT Ruined Factory - Config a - 3

After some discussion of How to Use a Big Ruined Factory Feature For Crossfire I’ve gone ahead and painted it. Actually it comprises the two ruined factory features from Wargames Tournaments and a lot of rubble that I added.

How to Use a Big Ruined Factory Feature For Crossfire?

I picked up a 15mm Ruined Factory feature from Wargames Tournaments. Perfect for snipers perched on an upper floor. The trouble is that Crossfire demands that building are made up of regular shaped building sectors. Mine are usually 3″ x 3″. So what should I do? How can I use that big feature in Crossfire?

Ruin Painting Style – Brick or Black?

Ruin painting styles - Brick v Black - Top

I made up some ruined buildings for Crossfire. Initially I painted the ground quite dark but a feature of Stalingrad was the brick dust, making everything pink. So I tried one of those. Which do you think is better? Pink or black?

Steven's Balagan

Category: Berlin 1945

Planning my Cool Ruins for Crossfiregrad and Ponyri Station

Painting 15mm Jarvis city barricades

Do I have enough Ruins?

Mark Bretherton on Scratch Building Ruins, Urban Boards and a SU-152 Game

2016 Confessions of a Megalomaniac Wargamer and Amateur Historian

How to Make Your Own Rubble Material for Stalingrad

Stalingrad Ruins from Warbases are Great Value

Large Ruined Factory For Crossfire – Now Painted

How to Use a Big Ruined Factory Feature For Crossfire?

Ruin Painting Style – Brick or Black?

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