"Fighting at the drive-in theatre" Topic
4 Posts
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 Saginaw  | 22 Sep 2025 6:48 p.m. PST |
I've had an affection for the old drive-in movie theatre since I was a kid. To me back then, it was like watching the biggest television screen in town. It was also the place that I first discovered pizza, and where I could stay up as late as I wanted to (although I usually fell asleep not too long after the second feature started!). It recently occurred to me that a wargame scenario based at a drive-in theatre would be an interesting premise. Of course, at 28mm or even in 15mm, you couldn't represent the entire complex on the tabletop; it would be way too big! The action could be centered around the concession/projection building, or along the corrugated metal wall surrounding the theatre property, or on the lot amongst the speaker poles, or at the ticket booth/entrance. I feel like the screen tower would be too tall to be of any use, while the street marquee might be overrun too easily to defend. I believe there's one manufacturer that produces 1950s-style gang members in leather jackets for an old-fashioned "rumble" on the lot, around the parked cars and speaker poles. Another idea would be a zombie assault, a la the original Night of the Living Dead, where the defenders would be stationed along the metal wall, or if the zombies are already on the lot, the concession/projection building appropriately fortified. So, any other ideas for wargame scenarios at your local drive-in theatre? |
| Col Durnford | 23 Sep 2025 12:01 p.m. PST |
The Plasticville toll booth would make a great entrance ticket booth. |
 gamertom | 23 Sep 2025 4:35 p.m. PST |
Many years ago I saw a zombie game at Little Wars where the screen of a laptop computer was being used as the outdoor theater screen and it was showing the original "Night of the Living Dead" movie. Very cool. |
| Oberlindes Sol LIC | 23 Sep 2025 5:43 p.m. PST |
Of course, at 28mm or even in 15mm, you couldn't represent the entire complex on the tabletop; it would be way too big! I think that you could fit a whole drive-in theater on a tabletop, if the theater does not have too many parking spots. Some casual internet research gave this information: "you will realistically need at least two screens and a minimum of 8 – 10 acres of land" link An acre is about 4,046 square meters. That's about 64m x 64m. A 10-acre theater would be 40,460 square meters, about 201m x 201m. At 1:100 scale, 201m is 2m, about 6 feet. So you need a 6ft x 6ft game table, which is doable, especially at a convention. You could also make the theater smaller. Maybe it's in a rural area with low population density. One screen and 4 acres might work. 4 x 4,046 = 16,184, or 127m x 127m. At 1:100 scale, that's 1.27m x 1.27m, just over 4ft x 4ft. That will fit on a game table. You'll even get some surrounding area, like the road to the entrance and somebody's cow pasture. Maybe there's a cemetery on the other side. Perfect for a Halloween first date slasher flick. Someone please check my math. Scenario idea: The movie itself turns some of the audience into zombies or some other homicidal/cannibalistic/whatever equivalent. The audience members who are smoking pot and/or making out are not affected, because they're not really paying attention to the movie. Hilarity ensues. |
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