Super Pillbox or CheckPoint Installation (undecided)

[Whiterook]

I think I’ll take a stab at making this Super Pillbox! I just need to decide on size and alterations, but I’m thinking 28mm. I’m also deciding on use… I think I’d like to make it a checkpoint installation, rather than a traditional field pillbox. If I went with a more traditional pillbox, it would look pretty close to this…



…but as a checkpoint, I’d “glass” in the openings, with gun ports; communications arrays; sandbags. Going that route, I’d likely make high tempered, reinforces doors, rather than a simple entrance like this…



The interior would likely get some equipment and minimal furniture…depending how big I made it, perhaps an interior room or two.



Likely build material would be foamcore board and putty…light and quick setup.

[chromdome35]

That will be sweet, looking forward to seeing you do this.

[armornutii]

   A good friend of mine builds alot of 72nd scale dioramas, he made a " Guns of Navarone" that had bunks, kitchen, and a bathroom truly amazing detail and effort. Like what you have planned for this project.

[Whiterook]

Aug 26, 2023 10:03:31 GMT -5 chromdome35 said:

That will be sweet, looking forward to seeing you do this.

Thanks! I have another installation piece I started some time ago, which is an access hub to an underground “something” (not decoded what yet), which is in 28mm…I’ll get a pic or two and get it on this subforum… it’ll be good to complete both at the same time.

Aug 26, 2023 10:52:39 GMT -5 armornutii said:

   A good friend of mine builds alot of 72nd scale dioramas, he made a " Guns of Navarone" that had bunks, kitchen, and a bathroom truly amazing detail and effort. Like what you have planned for this project.

Yes, that’s a good diorama scale… 1/72 scale isn’t all that far off from 28mm in my opinion… 28mm miniatures look pretty good on 1/72 model dios. This project will be for wargaming modern war minis.

[Leon]

I like where your going with this!

[stikpusher]

Pretty cool! I had an Airfix set like that, but the AA guns were on the wings of the heavy artillery casemate.

[Whiterook]

Thanks for the interest, all! Been sidelined with things but, have been thinking about direction with these…

I’m 99% sure it will be constructed with foamcore board (foam sandwiched in-between paper layer on each side. I need to scale it out (28mm) and see if foamcore thickness is about right for cinderblocks height laid flat, which would make it easy; cut strips the width of what a laid-flat cinderblock would look and layer them up. If not looking right, I might just cut panels to appropriate thickness and then scribe into the paper surface on each side…much more time consuming, as I’d want to measure and mark lines and then scribe. Once paint is on, it’d look right.

The plus on using foamcore board is, light weight components that are easy to carry to game stores and events. The downside is, fragile, so packing/storage is important.

There are other construction methods/materials of course, but this is generally a quick solution and they can look awesome when done right.

[buddho]

Looking forward to seeing what you do with this pillbox.

[deafpanzer]

Likewise I am looking forward to see it across the finish line!