Digging in: Trench Warfare

One of the new Wild West Exodus posses that I am working on is the Union faction.

While a few of the figures include sandbag defenses on the bases, I wanted to create something that was a little closer to the style of trenches that were constructed during the war.  

This was typically a set of stacked logs back filled with earth.

So, let's set about making those trenches! 

We begin with some sticks, some tin foil, and oxide paste.

The sticks are cut into shape, attempting to leave the knots showing, as I thought it would add a sense of scale.

Instead of wasting a lot of sculpting material, I wadded up the tin foil into the rough shape of the dirt pile, and glued it in place.

Doing this also makes the base a good deal lighter!  

Out comes the Oxide Paste!!!

I applied it to the vertical surface as well, for added holding power, and to allow it to flow through the gaps, just as dirt might.

The outer 'skin' is covered, building up towards the logs.

You can see that I have added the vertical supports, and the Oxide Paste is sneaking through the log/sticks.

After all this dried, I added a few select sections of rock and gravel.  I tried to concentrate them in areas where perhaps the dirst 'fell down the slope'. of were tossed over the top of the parapet by the occupants.

As always, the heavier rocks are put down first, followed by finer and finer gravel and sand afterwards.

I decided to add a few sculpey planks to the inside floor of the trench.

Sculpey pieces in place.

What we have so far.  I added a Secret Weapon skull and a few shells.

Stay tuned for the painted version!