LAF BSC 2025 - Backwater Ferry - Change of Heart

 Had a few good hard thinks, and dumped my original idea overboard. I would be using almost all the parts of the original kit and that's not in the spirit of the challenge....I'll save all of the part for a later date though. 

So, going for something smaller that will be almost completely scratchbuilt, and also a Ferry.

So, something more basic. Plasticcard pontoons, wooden platform, some H0 spare bits for the cabin and engine pod. Enough room for a tank so the deck space will be 4cm wide at least.

Warbases.co.uk 15mm Landing Pad and Ramp - Built, painted and reviewed.

 The Warbases 15mm Starbase 962 range has some nice bits of kit, including the very versatile Landing Pad and Ramp. I picked up 2 of these in my pre Xmas spend of 2024 and built one pretty quickly after that to see if it would work for 28mm as well. And it does, quite well actually. 

Landing Pad and Ramp

Quite affordable, it sets you back 6.67 GBP and for that you get a platform, 4 legs and a ramp. This also means build time is quick, with most spent on the 4 legs...stilts...supports....you know what I mean. It comes with no pre lasered numbers or markings so anything goes and you can easily paint it up to match your table, scenery collection or even force. I went for a basic weathered grey, yellow trim, a simple code and some wear and tear...negating the rust for a change. KISS was the motto this time so weathering was minimal (for me).

I left the ramp seperate as that helps with storage and I think it is meant that way, but don't quote me on that. If the pictures make you feel it isn't completely straight, trust me, it is. While assembling it I put it all on a glass plate and a bit of weight on top to make sure it set as flat as possible. But my large cutting mat will never ever lay flat, no matter what I do.

Using some 28mm scenic items to show it works fine for 28mm as well. The Buzz Lightyear Fighter makes for a great Point Defence Fighter in 28mm, the weathered blue green scenery in the back of the shot is from Games Workshop, the orange and green canister are Ainsty's 28m  Upright Octagonal Containers and the blocks in front are from a Jenga set with a coating of wall filler and 2 paperclips to turn into cheap barriers. The 28mm drone and the 2 metal barrels on the platform are scratchbuilt.

Using some 15mm scenic items to show it works for the itended sale of 15mm. The Buzz Lightyear Fighter makes for a great (Heavy) Fighter in 15mm. The orange and green canister are Ainsty's 28mm  Upright Octagonal Containers that work great as heavy cargo for 15mm, and the block in front is from a Jenga set with a coating of wall filler and 2 paperclips to turn into a cheap barrier. The 2 metal barrels on the platform are scratchbuilt. The yellow robot is a not AT-AT walker from Germy's 3mm range, sold through Brigademodels.co.uk these days as the Mercenary Heavy Mech GMM-334 with some minor modifications,  the 2 robots on the platform are from Groundzerogames.co.uk, the small one from the SG15-V13 pack with a scratchbuilt cooler added to have my own 15mm Wall-E, and the bigger one is the big humanoid droid from the SG15-V16 pack.

Everything was paid for with my own money, no freebies here. I can really reccomend this, affordable, easy and quick to build and paint and should fit fine into your 15, 20 or 28mm collection.

Oh, and for that one person wondering where I got the ramp code from.....

...the license plate of the car that was parked next to mine on my lastest Hospital visit. Inspiration can be so simple :)

A bit more work on the Radio Bunker

 I had 2 hospital appointments today so had a bit of time to kill in the afternoon. And to cheer me up a bit, as my Health Bingo card now has Tinnitus crossed off as well......Gotta catch em all should not be my theme for ailments.....

Anyway, a lot more work done on the Radio Bunker. A lot more to do (inside, radio mast, details, base) but pretty happy sofar.

LAF BSC 2025 - Backwater Ferry - The inspiration - Maputo Ferries

 After doing a bit more research and picture gathering I found out the Ferry I have chosen isn't a single one, but a few of them sailing from Maputo, Mozambique. They have various type of wear, and they are different ships but the basics are the same.Still not 100% sure this is the best idea, but it is a nice big piece that will fit in well with AK-47.

Warbases Groundsman's Hut WW2-GMH Finished

 And it is done. Now to finish a few other items and then get back again to Stalker.

LAF BSC 2025 - Backwater Ferry idea - APPROVED

EDIT2: Just got approval as long as I will rebuild it and then some, so, here goes....

EDIT: While it was a great idea, one of the rules states:

The vast majority of the piece should be scratch built, and only 0-25% can be commercially bought items or figures, including commercially-created 3D printed pieces.

I'm good at adapting existing stuff to my needs, not perse creating something from scratch (that needs right angles and straight lines.....so back to the drawing board.

Edit <end>

The LAF Build Something Challenge is about to start on Feb 1st, and I want to do a single entry this year (top stop me from being all over the place) and I would like to build something for 15mm. Not perse a functional gaming pieces, though that is always an option, but some decent harbour/river filler.

Something like a Ferry.

But oh boy do these come in all shapes in sizes. Do I want to go for a full scratchbuild? Do I want to use a plastic kit as a base and thrown a hacksaw, glue and bits at it? Will it be a simple riverboat flatbottom with an engine and a cab, of a larger RoRo Ferry?

Also, the timeframe feels genrous but limited as well.

Timelines (all times are midnight Pacific Standard Time of that day stated - yes my timezone means you get an extra 8 hours you lucky European sods)

• Start Time - Feb 1st
• Last Registration Day - Feb 8th
• Construction Completed - March 31st
• Painted Photos Due - April 7th
• Voting Begins - April 15th(ish)

So gather parts etc till the 1st, 2 months to build, 1 week to paint (more of course if I finish sooner...which is the plan).

Now, I would like to have something bigger but not too big. I want to to be able to add some cargo, cars, trucks, and maybe a tank on the cargo area. Of course you can put infantry stands in that area as well. 

Anyway, I recently picked up a set of 1/200 Heller trawlers. I've built one years ago purely for the hull to be used as a inverted beach wreck for Fallout (never finished) and the hull is nice strong thick plastic. 

So, this is the idea:

Banged up, folding loading ramp (or ramps on both Port and Starboard side, flat back end.

The basic model is this, the 1/200 Heller Volontaire

Cut off a part of the back end, rework the funnel etc area into the back of the main area, plate over the deck as much as possible, make some changes so she looks more 1/100 than 1/200, and cut down the waterline and the bulwark of the main deck so we get something like this?

Well, that is the plan anyway......

Warbases Groundsman's Hut WW2-GMH PIP

 Had a nice online painting group session. Had planned to do something else, but as most of the time....I did something else.

With Teams running and my kids around I did not check the picture of what I wanted it to look like.....well, it shows. But I like it anyway. Next up is to paint and weather the inside, and do the glazing, and maybe some final details and that should be it. Once done, it should fit from Modern days to Post Apoc easy enough, and everything in between.