"Potential roof issue with 18th century buildings" Topic

So I got an early Christmas present so to speak from my wife, the purchase of a small painted 28mm 18th century village of Grand Manner buildings.

When they arrived I discovered the roofs had been glued down and likely "caulked" with something before being painted.

They are very nice buildings and also are mounted on a hard base so have some weight to them. I can understand the rationale for gluing them down, no gaps and it is probably safer to move them around. The only issue is that I was planning on using them for skirmish wargaming so it would be nice to be able to put figures inside.

Any thoughts on how easy it would be to make the roofs removable again without damaging the buildings? I imagine the first step would be a visit to the freezer, followed by gentle probing with an x-acto knife? The "caulking" makes me think I may be better off just making little floor models to place on the other side of the table where figures could be set to show their placement in the houses?

Anyone have any wisdom on this subject?

'No' to putting figures in buildings on the wargame table. Even HG Wells said he learned to fix the roofs down so people couldn't do this as it caused too many problems.

Even in skirmish games, even with huge buildings, you can't fit as many figures in a building as you can fit real soldiers in a real house (so why bother?) … far better to have some sort of rating system (how many can get in there/how many can shoot out or defend) then remove the figures from the table and measure effects from the building they are known to be in.

Just my take on the subject

Phil

Another thing that happens in my games where figures are placed inside buildings is that they get forgotten and stay in the building as the building are being put away. Thus causing me to wonder what happened to the figure.

Matthew

While I firmly believe in putting figures inside buildings (and thus Wholeheartedly Condemn those who don't!) I wouldn't mess about with already well painted buildings.

I suspect your separate floorplans are a workable idea.

I would go for the separate floor plan idea too.

If you want to make it pretty as well as functional those wooden coffee stirrers work very well to make a nice hardwood floor.

I've built a lot of my buildings with removable roofs, some with very detailed interiors.

I think figures are put inside of them less than 5% of games, so lately I don't bother.

I'd also recommend the separate floor plans.

Thank you for the input gentlemen. Yes, I think I will just make little interior rooms.

I am 'No to building interiors' as well. Even for my Wild West Skirmish games. All my buildings are made as solid structures.

For skirmish games buildings with accessible interiors are an absolute must!

I have no idea what problems HG Wells encountered, but I think it enhances the game wonderfully!

For big battles, I agree, it's pointless.

Kudos to Citizen Kenau for posting a good-looking picture.

Of course it doesn't actually capture how easily players are able to manage the game mechanic (and anyway I have no doubt that games can be constructed where the use of physical interiors can add to player engagement and run nicely) … the question was about a specific issue (taking roofs off) and prompted a general point (good idea? ans: generally not )

I think Wells tired of players faffing around and figures getting lost and/or forgotten. Taking CK's concluding point, Wells was, of course, playing big battle games (but I think the point should be taken more generally … a century of wisdom: if in doubt, don't put figures in wargame sized buildings …) …

Phil

If you want you roofs to be removable, have you asked the folks at Grand Manner what they would recommend? In my admittedly limited experience with them , they have always been very helpful.