Canadian War Museum visit...part 3

Hello everyone,

Happy December to all...the snow is officially here, so let the real gaming season begin.  In preparation for this and future projects I thought I'd make my final post from my war museum visit.  The coolest non-artifact in the second pavilion at the Canadian War Museum has to be the trenchline diorama.  Everytime I go to the museum I always spend at least 10 minutes pouring over the details and construction.

I'd have to say its approx. 28mm or 1/56 in scale and does a great job of showing the different facets of what went into a trench system.  The diorama includes everything from repair crews to medical station to sharpshooter positions...On top of this, they also have a full scale segment of trench to walk through, it is in a separate room, very dark, complete with soundtrack featuring artillery, gunfire, and gas attack alarms.  There are a couple of observer scopes rigged up so that you can 'look' over the parapet and you can watch b&w wartime footage through them...very inspirational for any Great War gamer and especially for anyone contemplating a terrain project. 

In that vein, the Vimy Ridge centennial will be upon us very soon and was a major influence in my decision to purchase figs from Battlefront's Great War line.  So, to entice some viewership, my future posts will include research and work towards a Vimy Ridge inspired gaming board...size to yet be determined.

Anyway, enjoy the pics...and of course, take care.

Defence in depth...mg nests backed up with trenchline...

Fullscale mock up of a trench...a little wider than the real thing, but well done overall

Trenchline diorama...very, very well done...

Medical Aid Station...

Trenchline, converted crater and marksman team...

Making repairs...all day, every day...

Over the Top...

Vickers mg position...the lynchpin...

Marksman/sniper position...

Trench life...bringing up the supplies...

Observer position...peering over the lip too much...

Random overhead shots of all the action...

Canadian War Museum visit...part 2

Good day folks,

November is quickly running past us so I thought I'd better post my follow up to my visit to the Canadian War Museum here in Ottawa.  There are a lot of great artifacts and pieces that can really give an appreciation and inspiration to anyone who has a passing or gaming interest in the Great War.

Previously I highlighted some of the artillery pieces and themed items in the museum.  This time I thought I'd share some of the crew served weapons, small arms, and uniforms of the frontline infantry regiments and battalions.

As always thanks for taking a look, hopefully the pics can help someone's research.  Finally, the last post of this visit will feature the trenchline diorama pieces at the museum.

Take care.

Somewhat off topic...

great pic of Canadian uniforms from the Boer War 

 

 

Canadian Expeditionary Force uniform, circa 1915-1916... 

 

 

 

 

German Army uniform

 

Sniper's smock, DIY camouflage pattern...

 

Gas, gas, gas...

  

 

Small arms, long bayonets...

 

 

Lewis Gun 

 

Maxim 08 Heavy Machinegun

 

 

 Vickers Heavy Machinegun... 

 

 

 

Lest we forget...rememberence day 2014

Lest we forget....

To those that have fought and served with honour...to those that have supported, those that have supported, and friends and family of those that serve and have served...

Thank you.

Great War Inspiration - Canadian War Museum Visit...Part 1

Hello Everyone,

I took an impromptu visit to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa earlier this fall to get my inspirational Great War on.  One of my long term/range goals is to build a Vimy Ridge-esque gaming table with trenchworks and I had thought this might be worth taking a stab at in 28mm.  While I've been wrapping my brain around the logistics of this venture in a large scale, the folks at Battlefront went ahead and released their Great War line.  While I liked the detail and poses that 28mm presented me, I do like the idea of seeing a better representation of the sheer volume of men and material that 15mm can offer.

So while this debate turned within me I thought a there was no better time for a visit to the CWM and the Great War gallery.

The CWM has a great collection of articles, weapons, uniforms, and archive photos with some interactive pieces for everyone to take part in and get a sense of the experience.  As this was not my first visit, I specifically headed towards the Vimy and Passchendaele sections of the gallery.  For anyone who hasn't visited the museum, take the opportunity, there is plenty to see in the museum and in Ottawa as a whole.

Having gone through my pics, I've decided to show this museum in multiple post instead of bombing you with 30+ photos at once.  To start, the artillery pieces of course.

Enjoy.

Depicting airburst sharpnel...

Explaining the creeping barrage

German howitzer...

 

18 Pounder, Royal Canadian Artillery...close up of the breech assembly

 

Front view with artillery shell

From the #1's point of view...