I had one of these when I was a kid and spent many happy hours playing D-Day games on the carpet with my Airfix British commandos and German mountain troop figures. I wonder how many middle aged wargamers did the same? Anyway, the gun emplacement set has recently been reissued by Airfix, which has given me a cunning plan.
I reckon that with a bit of modification and the removal of the obviously 1/72nd scale bits, this could be converted into a 28mm version of a small coastal bunker, ready to be sabotaged by my Foundry commandos. The drop in pillbox and radio bunker would be left off, along with the heavy gun, which could be replaced by a flak mounting or the relocated searchlight.
This wouldn't be difficult and would look very effective, especially if I added some 28mm scale features like sandbags, ammunition lockers and barbed wire. I was also inspired by what some scale modelers have done with the Airfix coastal defence fort, which wouldn't be as easy to re-scale but does give you a good idea about what can be achieved with some skill and imagination.
http://airfixtributeforum.myfastforum.org/Airfix_1_72_Coastal_Defence_Fort_06706__about10271.html#p103995
Anyway, I think this is a good plan, so will see what I can find on eBay, where I'm sure I can get hold of a second hand gun emplacement set for a few quid. I also wondered if the mdf radar that Sarissa Precision have in their WW2 catalogue could be used in place of the gun, but I think I'll just try to use what comes in the original set, give or take a few 28mm bits and bobs.
This sounds like great fun, really looking forward to seeing it progressing - good hunting.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed many hours playing with the gun emplacement. Maybe I should get one for my boys. Not sure the 28's will fit in the corridors though. Could it not be replicated completely using styrofoam and a hot wire cutter? Just a thought. Replicating it for 28mm would be a nice homage. Maybe I should do that for my 15mm forces in due course!
ReplyDelete40 years ago with Airfix were great days! Good luck with this wee project. Keen to see how you get on!
ReplyDeleteI'm not too bothered about the figures fitting in the trenches but depth might be a problem as it wouldn't look too good if they only came up to knee height!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of scratchbuilding a 28mm version...cork tiles in layers might work well for this?
I had the same model as a kid (in fact, I think it's still in my work shed somewhere...). It looks very much like a 6" gun battery that was sited north of Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast to cover the port against a repeat of the German naval raid of WW1.
ReplyDeleteI'll be watching the cork trenches with avid interest if they go ahead.
ReplyDeleteI remember both the Gun Emplacement and the Coastal Defence fort. I spent HOURS playing with both, having my commandos storm bravely across the carpet in another assault, paddling their plastic canoes in the face of withering fire. Just seeing them brings back a lot of memories. Good luck with the project!
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