Project : Airfix Strongpoint or Measure once , cut twice..the prototype.

Hi Folks

I recall posting about the good old Airfix Strong Point at some point last year...but can't recall where  -its my age you know

Anyway,this little rascal was a favourite for my 1/32nd scale "little wars" battles.



I've mused .." I wonder if I could make this for  Action Man ?"  

Now confession - I'm rubbish at DIY- as Mrs Gunner will attest to but I have learnt a couple of lessons over the years and two are
1. Plan it
2. Measure twice and cut once...
oh and buy the right tools - a hammer & a screwdriver doesn't fix every thing

So I bought a 1/32nd Strongpoint kit and got out the instructions



Sourced myself some Cardboard boxes , looked up a scale converter - how big could it be ???

Called in the clients - Major Baker and Black



MB " This will make a fine HQ Black "
B " Yes but Gunner last made a model back in 1976 !"
MB " Oh ye of faint Heart Black... Gunner will do us proud I'm sure !"
B : " Hmm OK.....we will see.

So any way - here are some shots of the first Prototype !



MM "Blimey it is big !"
B : " Aye .But where will he keep it !!? "



MM: "It will provide great cover for some Skirmishes in the Garden . I'm fed up of hiding behind flowerpots all the time !"

So basically I created scaled up some rough cardboard templates and taped them together to :
a/ get a sense of scale
b/start to figure out how best to fit things together so they can be dismantled
c/ think about the best materials for wall, roofs etc  



I'm thinking as this is a first project I might make the low wall first to test out my model making skills and materials first.



I'm thinking a variation on Dals Beading slots/channels will work to join walls and fix to a base and also allow the SP to be dismantled?



A final word to the clients ....



MM : "I can see it now Black... we can set up the HQ here...over there a MG position.... and a nice Fuschia set of curtains at the window with Urban grey on the walls ...."
B " Hmmm ...Whens the move in date ?? - 2020 ?

So this will be one of those as and when projects ..but it should keep me out of mischief ... if you have any great hints and tips let me know  

Now then where is that Airfix Hougoumont Kit ???

Black : "Steady Gunner . Don't get ahead of yourself !!"

As I said over on HQ ..I'm looking forward greatly to seeing this build progress.

It occurred to me whilst planning my future build that it would have to be able to be taken to pieces...Both for storage and so that SWMBO doesn't kill me

Keep those pictures coming sir...It's gonna look fantastic when it's finished.

Y'all got your work cut out there Dave......No pun intended.

Cool stuff!
Can't wait to see more future progress pics!

HD foam would make great brick walls and you could use a soldering iron to make the brick pattern ,plus slots for it to join together , any way good luck I'm sure the strong point will turn out to be rather impressive !

thought about this one myself so thrilled to see it coming together nicely!!

looking great

you can almost make it all out of cardboard glue some sheets together and use paper mache packing to make the stone work

Fantastic stuff Steve! and what a project to undertake! how cool will that look finished????

As for joining methods, that will depend on what you decide as the final material? Isolation board could be cut up to make great bricks or thicker cardboard, coated, then sprayed black, then highlight the upper surface using glue and builders sand? Lots of ways to achieve your desired look my friend!

5 or 6mm MDF ??

Quite light and easy to work with.

Rogue-Trooper wrote:

5 or 6mm MDF ??

Quite light and easy to work with.

Great idea Chris, you could even use small strips of beading to create channels to create joints for the walls?

What an amazing project Gunner, although it's not until you start something like this that you realise just how big 1/6th scale actually is!!

Gunner Munro wrote:

Yes but Gunner last made a model back in 1976 !"

No worries...it's like riding a bike...you never forget!

Having said that, I started a VAM dio/base in 2014 and it's still a WIP!

It's interesting that your Airfix SP is grey plastic, my childhood on is tan.

Nice old Airfix stuff, SKJ!!!

Fantastic project, Gunner!!!

The cardboard looks pretty nice to me, but it'll look awesome when your done, I'm sure!!!

Brian

I was thinking maybe insulation board ( celotex )

Great idea, but needs to come apart and stored away.

Great project Gunner, keep us posted as you progress please.

it certainly is a great project looking forward to seeing more

It's looking good! One of my buddies used pink insulation foam to build scaled-up versions of Verlinden 1:35 structures. He has a Flak bunker, MG pillbox and a house/cafe.




You can see the MG pillbox in the background, as well as a few pieces of the pink foamboard:



Cafe interior. Can't find any outside pics:






You can see the pink foam label on the roof support:



-Nate

Thats a great looking dio of your friends Nate!, thanks for sharing

superb model build Nate..

Can't take any credit since it was all my friend's doing! Quite a few of the modern 1/6 collectors over here were originally model-makers. That's what I liked, no painting and assembly needed! The only thing I brought to the scenes above was a few figures (the German staff officers in the bunker and cafe; and the US officers) and my camera! My friends cat got into the pillbox. Tried to take a pic while he stared out of the slit; but he got out first!

-Nate

Looks great Nate!

Cool SKJ!

Great looking project Gunner! I'd like to try something like that myself but we don't have room and my wife won't let me!

peterodgers wrote:

Great looking project Gunner!  I'd like to try something like that myself but we don't have room and my wife won't let me!

It's Looking good Gunner! Very Blue Peter

It's cardboard city at my HQ at the moment with boxes everywhere.. I'm all for recycling cardboard and stuff, especially when it's for storing vam & MAM in long-term

I can't believe you've said you'll have your 1/6th Airfix strong hold dio finished by 2025. Here's a 1/1 one I've done in 2 days!!

What a great space for a Joe room!