The river runs away …

Firstly, welcome to my first follower! My river project really took over these past days, becoming my sole focus so that I could get my desk clear for more figure assembly and painting. Oh! And work.

I finished the additional short curves and 150mm lengths, giving just over 2300 mm of river.

I have also modelled stone and wooden bridges; these will be based on custom 3mm MDF bases from Pendragon, with modelled banks and route ways. I’ll make a ford too.

The complete Trevor Holland river sections.

The stone bridge and the wooden bridge – with a removable section to simulate damage, both ready for painting.

More river sections

I liked the Trevor Holland river so much I simply had to have more of it!

At around 1300mm, the set I bought (TH63) didn’t give quite enough length, especially if the long curves were not used.

So I bought another five 150mm sections and a set of short curves. I set about removing the rocks cast in the rivers so that there would be more variety when matched with the original set. This gives around 2400mm, which should be enough.

I have begun to make a stone bridge, and have plans for a wooden bridge and a ford. A small water mill would be a nice feature too, I think.

The slightly modified 150mm straight sections (TH03) and short curves (TH16).

A river runs through it …

I have been diverted from painting figures by an unexpected urge to get the river finished.

I had a bit of time off-and-on this past week, and once I had got the basic colours on, and gloss varnished the water, it was a matter of applying flock, lump foliage, and tufts.

I am using Woodland Soil scatter from WWScenics, Footpath Scenes’ Grass Ground Cover Earth Blend and Grass Blend, with Basing Lump Foliage Battle Field Shrubs, all from Model Scenery Supplies. I have many different flower and grass tufts from a number of suppliers.

I want to have some 2mm MDF bases cut to fit the edge profiles for mounting some trees, and I’m planning stone and wooden bridges, and a ford.

The result is really quite satisfying. I am looking forward to seeing how it looks in use, but this is some time off.

Trevor Holland’s river set TH63, looking the part after quite a bit of work.

First scenic items

My plan is for rural features: a small farm, river, bridge, maybe a ford, trees, that sort of thing.

I recently bought Renedra’s Medieval Cottage and Wattle and Daub Outbuilding, and I am waiting on the release of Victrix’s Dark Age & Medieval Farm Animals for their Pillage range. I’m also quite taken with Gripping Beast’s Flint Stone Church. Victrix’s Market Stall may be serviceable too, for farm and camp items.

While at Partizan last May I stumbled upon the Trevor Holland range, and was impressed by one of the river sets (TH63). I now have this, and it’s quite literally a mixed bag. The short lengths and short curves are pretty uniform, but the two longer curves are much thicker and the surface detail is quite different. I think they will need quite a bit of work to achieve uniform thickness and appearance.

I’m considering a fleece games mat; I like the look of the Geek Villain mats, but I really want a larger one.

Renedra’s Medieval Cottage and Wattle and Daub Outbuilding.

Trevor Holland’s river set TH63, full set and detail.