Sunday 8 May 2022

Paraguayan Fortress Guns - Part Two

Last month I posted a report the construction of fortress guns for the Paraguayan War (link). I couldn’t finish those pieces because the plastic model gabions hadn’t arrived. Well they arrived last week and I began working on the finished pieces yesterday. 

The plan is to make five gun positions linked by three sections of trenches, each capable of holding one battalion. When finished there will be around 1000mm of fortifications.

I have completed two gun positions and one trench section.



The illustrations of the Paraguayan works show them then as being built from anything that was to hand so I have used a variety of materials - the gabions, twigs from the garden for logs, matchsticks and hand cut balsa for rough hewn timber.





 These two pieces inline are inline positions - inline with the trenches. The other three positions will be bastions, jutting forward of the trench line so that they can provide enfilading fire across the front of the trench. These pieces, along with the other two trench sections should be completed by the end of the month. 

16 comments:

  1. First class defensive positions and figures, good luck to the future ennemies!

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    1. Thanks Phil. I am looking forward to building the next batch.

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  2. These look great Mark....but will be a pretty formidable position to take when we down to gaming this period!

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    1. Thanks Keith…just as well that the Allied forces out number the Paraguayans two to one then!

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  3. Superb fortification work! I like the detail of the steps leading up to the gun emplacement the outside.

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    1. Thank Jonathan. I really enjoyed making these and the came together quite quickly. The plan is to have a different type of step for each position…to enhance that rough and ready look.

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  4. I always enjoy your modelling Mark and this is no exception. Really great work.

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    1. Thanks Lawrence, it is always fun to work on these rustic, non-precision pieces.

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  5. I love all your Paraguayan work - figs and terrain. Everything looks great. Gonna make for some great games.

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    1. Thanks Joseph. I REALLY want to get these guys on the table.

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  6. Hello, Mark! Inspiring stuff? Where did you get the plastic gabions from?

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  7. Lovely looking defensive works Mark…
    They should look rather intimidating when they are finished.

    All the best. Aly.

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    1. Thanks Aly. Intimidation is the plan! I am not sure that the fortifications themselves were so successful historically, but the fact that they lay along the banks of rivers and between swamps was decisive.

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