"How to make: WW1 Trenches " Topic

Interesting tutorial here.

From main page
link

Hope you enjoy!

Amicalement
Armand

That is a rather unfortunate drawing. Looks like a schoolboy representation of something else……

Robocock.

It's prepared for a multi-pronged attack. I'll show myself out…

(big smile)

Amicalement
Armand

That is a rather unfortunate drawing. Looks like a schoolboy representation of something else……

Looks more like modern art to me.

Nice stuff, but its not exactly accurate is it? IIRC the allies tended to construct the crenelated/stepped style trenches while the Central powers tended to use a zig-zag pattern. I'm not aware of any trench system that used both.

Maybe I'm missing something, but these comments seem a bit snarky. It's an outstanding wargame terrain. Some of the better features, often missing from commercially available trenches, are flush to the ground level,(not like a raised railroad), plentiful bunkers (section or platoon), firing steps with room for figures to step backward into the deeper part of the trench walkway (often no firing step--figures stand on the trench floor blocking lateral movements), nicely modular (to be used with other types of model sections). I agree that the saps pushing forward must be for mustering assault troops; they are a little too finished for simple listening posts. But could be manned by MG's. Only thing missing for a good game would be a mortar pit to rear. The way the trenches have bunkers on both ends suggests this is an offensive spur forward from the MLR.

If the person that made the trenches had posted it, the comments would have reflected all that.
They didn't, so they don't.

They appear to be very functional.

The trenches are excellent – its the planning sketch thats a bit fnar fnar! All good fun I'd say. Si

Nice stuff, but its not exactly accurate is it? IIRC the allies tended to construct the crenelated/stepped style trenches while the Central powers tended to use a zig-zag pattern. I'm not aware of any trench system that used both.

That's how it was (generally) done. Crenelated trenches for the ones facing the enemy, "zig zag" for communications trenches. There were exceptions, of course, but judging by aerial photos mixing the two types seems to have been common.

Agree with the positive comments.
It's a great job.

Amicalement
Armand

Is it not the case that the purpose of the trenches dictated how they were laid out? As I understood it, trenches that lay parallel to the enemy (ie defensive lines) had "crenellations" because they not only stopped a shell burst wreaking too much havoc, but also made it more difficult for an enemy to "roll up" a trench, by providing cover. Whereas those perpendicular to the enemy (ie communication trenches) had zig-zags as they made it easier and quicker to bring up men and supplies without making the trench vulnerable to artillery fire?

It also depended on whether the 'communication' trench was expected to act as a switch trench as well. The latter was named after switch lines on railway systems. They were designed to provide lateral containment for break-ins and would be crenellated, not zig-zag.

Another factor was whether the area under consideration formed part of a redoubt or other all-around defensive system.

The saps were most often used for listening posts. They would also be used for Lewis guns or bombers, as well as jump off points for trench raids and other assaults. The number of saps was determined by the lay of the land, whether the area was 'active' or a 'live and let live' one, whether an offensive was being planned or expected, etc.

Robert

Here is a link to the WWI Trench board we built. It is simply insulation board carved with a hot knife. Pretty easy to do.
link

There are some other pictures in the WW section of this link
ctmgs.org

Trench models can be built in many ways. Many of the "above ground level trenchs are built so because of the water table being so high.

YouTube link

Here are my Trench systems, modular so you can build them how you want each time, innovative use of magnetic seams so they hold together. Highly detailed, flexable in design, easy to store… I could go on. This 3 minute video shows them to good effect.

Enjoy,
Paul T@EWM

Quite good my friend!
Thanks for share! (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Here is my recent blog post reminiscing on my recently sold WW1 project, including a set of custom trench boards that I constructed. Take a look:

link