Real scenery for Dust Tactics-Updated with bridge building tutorial

By sparkybrain, in Dust Tactics

Hi everyone, I just would like to share some pictures of our Dust battlefield. I've been playing DT since the beginning, loved the amazing miniatures but did not enjoyed the cardboard terrain that much. I've been playing wargames for 15+ years (I started with 40K like everybody) so I got a lot of experience making scratchbuilt terrain. Making terrain for Dust was really fun. All buildings are 3D versions of the buildings found in Operation Seelöwe. The rubble piles are considered Cross terrain and the walls are impassable terrain. I'm planning on making a couple more plus a bridge and river used in Victory Bridge. (With 3 or more buildings from Operation Cerberus) While I made all the scenery the minis are Dust premium because I just don't have the time to paint whole armies with all the projects I'm currently working on. ( I need to find a way to increase my lifespan so I can complete all my projects!)

Comments are more than welcome. Enjoy!

PS: Sorry for my pictures I'm no professionnal! And it's really dark in my basement.

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Nice, but rather small.

I can't see anything in the pics. IS there any way you can post them larger?

Sorry for that! I just fixed it

Much better, looks great!

By far the best scenery I have seen on here. Would love to play on the board.

Very well done. Kudos.

Great board, very nice buildings.

Sweet, I've been thinking of doing the same but storage would be an issue.

Thanks for the feedback guys! Today I'm starting the basic layout for the Victory bridge. I'll make two 2x3 squares bridge sections so we may use them as either a long 2x6 squares bridge or 2 smaller bridges crossing the river. I'll try to post some pics once the foamcore and the balsa is starting to look like something...

Outstanding! The Luther debris looks great,

Major Mishap Hope this is of assitance, Eileen and my self buy plastic shoe containers type that go under the bed, approx 3ft x18" about14" deep,Buidings are designed to come apart, usually at each floor. Thanks to a loving wife, models over shoes. Merry X-mas.

Ok so I'm back with some pictures of my bridge project. It is not completed yet, still have to build the bridge pillars, then finish painting the water board and the bridge but you can have an idea of the finished project. I also decided to go all out with water features so I made a second water board so I may use both of them to create a coastline for use in amphibious assaults scenarios. I bought 3 LCM46 from Dust Models (very nice castings) but might add 1 or 2 more. I'll post more pictures soon.

@Major Mishap: I have 2 rooms dedicated to the purpose of gaming! cool.gif

Comments are welcome!

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Wow, superb!

Sweet bridge! Tutorial?

Very nice, I mean Really NICE!!!. I thought I was lucky with just one room dedicated to gaming.

Well done. Was the bridge bought or built? Would love to see some "how to's". Keep up the great work. Also, jealous of your two rooms, I have...a closet.

Thanks! Your feedback is much appreciated! A tutorial? That's a good idea! By chance, I took some shots during the building process. Are you interested in a tutorial for the bridge or the buildings (or both)?

@theguildlc: Apart from the large Ammo dump(Dust Models casting) all the scenery is scratchbuilt by me.

I'd like to see one for the bridge more than the buildings but if you have the time and inclination then I'd like to see both.

I would love to see how you built the bridge for sure! Please keep it coming!

I wana come over and play at your house. Ill bring nothing but painted models !

please?

Sgt. G said:

I wana come over and play at your house. Ill bring nothing but painted models !

please?

Well, that would be great! The downside is that I live in the Montreal area in Quebec. If there is anybody living in this area, you can send me a message. We are only 6 players right now but we want to increase the numbers of our gaming group. There is also another player in our group who builds 3D scenery so with all our stuff combined we are able to make about 5-6 9x9 gaming boards with all the scenery!

And please be patient for the bridge building tutorial, I know I'm slow but I'll try to post it this weekend!

Thank you again for your positive comments!

Ok guys. Sorry for the long wait. But here it is the ''How to make your bridge tutorial''. First, you need to know that it is not hard to do but takes quite some time and patience.

The inspiration:

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I don't use the exact same size as the regular Dust Tactics tile so I won't give you any measurements. If you plan on building the bridge, you won't have trouble figuring them out. I used balsa wood for the bridge frame but plasticard should work good too. Here's a little list of what you will need:

- Balsa wood:- 3/32'' x 3/8'' x 36'' (I'll refer to this one as a flat piece)

- 3/32'' x 1'' x 36'' (I'll refer to this one as a large flat piece)

- 3/16'' x 1/4'' x 36'' (I'll refer to this one as a square piece)

- 3/32'' x 1/8'' x 36'' (I'll refer to this one as a thin piece)

- Foamcore: 5mm thick

- 2 mm Styrene hex rod

- Pink insulation foamboard 2'' thick

- Ribbed cardstock (not sure about the name for this one but you will see a picture)

- PVA glue (white glue)

- Super glue

Step 1:

Draw a 1:1 scale plan of the bridge side structure.

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Step 2:

The point is to create an ''H'' beam structure using the balsa wood. To do so, you'll have to glue together different sizes of balsa pieces one on top of the other. Starting by a Flat piece, then a Square piece and finally another Flat piece. Put the Flat balsa wood piece directly on your plan and cut your pieces exactly as your plan shows. You should start by cutting all the flat pieces then assemble them together using the superglue. After this, cut the square pieces using the same pattern and glue them on the assembled Flat pieces using PVA glue. Finally, cut another set of Flat pieces and glue it on top of thesquare pieces with PVA glue.

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You will have to repeat this operation 3 times to have your 4 bridge side structures.

Step 3:

Next is the reinforcement plates. Use the Large Flat pieces and cut them to create large plates to reinforce the ''H'' beam joints (and hide some gaps that might have occured). Glue the pieces using PVA glue.

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Step 4:

Now you'll have to add some texture and realism to the structure by adding bolts. Take the hex shaped plastic rod and cut it in 1/16'' pieces. You are going to need a lot of them! Then, using the superglue and a metal pin, glue them on the reinforcement plates in a constant pattern.

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Step 5:

Now its time to make the bridge floor. Grab some Foamcore and cut it the size you need to make the floor. In my case, the floor is 2 squares wide by 3 long. Use the PVA glue to assemble the 2 side structures along the sides of the floor. Let it dry for at least 30 minutes. To create the texture I did on the floor, I started by making the grid using Thin pieces of balsa wood glued on the floor. Then I cut some squares using the ribbed cardstock to fit the grid squares and glued them using PVA glue. Let dry for 30 minutes.

Sorry, no picsof the floor!

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This is what I call ''ribbed cardstock''. Great to create a steel plate effect. You may find this in any arts or craft stores.

Step 6:

You're almost done! Making the bridge pillars is quite easy. Just cut some Pink insulation foamboard according to the size and height you need. You can add some texture by adding strips of balsa wood on the foam. You may glue them under the bridge floor, but it is up to you.

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Step 7:

Last but no least, the primer! Before painting your bridge, should apply a coat or two of primer on it. You'll have better results during the painting. I gave a first coat of cheap dark brown latex paint, then applied a coat of grey paint using a brush to get all details then gave a last coat of grey using a spray can. Don't spray the foam without applying a coat of acrylic or latex paint first. The solvent in the spray can will eat the foam.

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Step 8:

Once the primer has dried you may paint it or leave it as is. You have already spent too much thime on this project. Now it's time to play!

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Have fun!!!

Thanks for posting this! It's Awesome!!!

Fantastic work! Thank you for posting the how to!