Adventurer’s Landing, Mark Backhouse - Crossing the Sabis in 2mm! (26 points)

For the Adventurer’s Landing I decided that I wanted to do an experiment. I made some rivers from foam sheets for an earlier post and wanted to make some crossing troops for a Battle of the Sabis scenario in 57BC. Caesar’s army was taken by surprise by an attack by the ferocious Belgic tribes.

I made three 6” long sections of river. Two of the sections have tribes of crossing

The Nervii warriors were particularly fearsome and the Romans had to fight desperately until they were saved by the arrival of fresh raw legions with the baggage train. Their arrival swung the battle back in the Romans favour. 

The Gauls are made from offcuts of craft foam with a covering of Polyfilla. The individual warriors are literally made out of pieces of grit from my sharp sand box. With a black undercoat and a few colours picked out it is amazing what impression these cheap materials can create!

The Romans are in for a shock!

I’ve added some trees and some larger formations of Belgic tribesmen to show how they will look in the scenario.

I’ve claimed 2 points per section of scratch built river and 20 for completing the challenge.

Total : 26 points

Cheers

Mark Backhouse

 

Aquifer - Rivers, 2mm Roman marching camp and Gallic oppidum

 Before I go deeper into the dungeon it dawned on me that I’d missed the Aquifer out from the first level. I’d been making thin rivers out of foam sheets that I could use for my 2mm games so these seemed a fairly simple tick in the box. 4’ 6” of rivers made and painted. I had never used foam sheets before for basing and feared they’d warp. Actually they’ve worked really well. These will be ideal for my Sambre 57BC scenario I need to play test next week.

Just to show them in action a few 2mm German warbands are shown crossing over a Ford doubtless off to cause mischief!

Next up is a Gallic Oppidum or town. Surrounded by stone walls interlaced with wooden beams and an imposing ditch. A small group of warriors rally to guard the front entrance while further warriors (or maybe encouraging wives) man the ramparts. This has been made from insulation foam and card with a couple of matchsticks.

Nice view of the surrounding countryside from up here... I wonder where the Romans are?

This sort of oppidum could represent Alesia, Bibracte or Gergovia and will also be a handy addition for a number of Gallic Wars scenarios.

Finally another scratch built camp. This time a Roman marching camp. I already have a full sized one, but this one will fit nicely on the edge of the table and will be useful in Roman Civil War scenarios where both sides need a camp.

I’m undecided but I may well go back and add a few wooden towers in the corners and by the gateway. I used the same method as the oppidum with foam and card. The tents are very thin card cut and folded! I guess the fort could also pass muster for a well organised non-Roman camp, so will also play host to my Servile Wars troops under Spartacus attempting to imitate the Roman model, or Pontic forces in the Mithridatic Wars.

Each of the camps is 120mm x 60mm.

A bit hard to judge this on points. I’ll call it 25 for the camps and the rivers and 20 more for the Aquifer challenge. Total : 45 points.

Cheers

Mark Backhouse