28mm Terrain: The Greenhouse

Introduction

It's been quite a while since I built and showed any terrain.  Indeed, I'm not a great terrain builder - I tend to prefer to paint figures - but it is necessary for when we play games!

The Greenhouse

Here's a small piece that I finished recently:

The greenhouse kit is produced by Blotz and comes with the outer shell and 2 full-length workbenches.  I've added glazing cut from clear plastic food packaging and a base made from a scrap of MDF.

You can see some interior details through the windows.  As well as a single workbench (I felt it was too full if I used both benches from the kit), this greenhouse contains some seed trays and a large potted plant.

  Since this is a model that I've built for wargames, the greenhouse does come off its base.  As well as allowing you a much better view of the inside, there is also space to place several figures.

For the record, the seed trays are adapted from a Supreme Littleness shallow box, whilst the plant and the plant pot are cheap model railroad products from Chinese companies.

Conclusion

I'm pleased with the way this outbuilding has turned out, though I think it could do with a lot more clutter (sacks of compost, trowels or other tools, a watering can, stacks of unused flower pots and the like).  Of course, there is always a tension between realistic detail and suitability for use in games.  Too much detail and the model will be vulnerable to damage & will probably not have anywhere to place figures.  Too little detail and it won't engage the player's imaginations in the desired way.

No, the real problem here is that I cannot use this piece in isolation.  It cries out to be placed in a realistic setting.  For example, such a greenhouse might be found in the property of a serious amateur horticulturist or as part of a commercial market garden.  And I haven't thought that far ahead & don't have plans to build any of the necessary surroundings...

Supreme Littleness: In the Potting Shed

Introduction

I've been wondering how to make mode flower pots and seed trays for some time now.  Why, I hear you ask?  Well, I've got a part-finished 28mm  greenhouse from Blotz and I don't want the benches inside it to appear bare and sterile.  Small details perhaps, but it matters to me...

Now, I could have just scratch-built some model seed trays - but I never seemed to have enough time (or maybe it was the inspiration that was lacking?) and so nothing happened.

Supreme Littleness

As it happens, I also found myself in need of a small crate for a 7TV2 base I'm planning to make (I'll have to leave you guessing on this one, though here's a probably useless hint: S.I.G.).  So, small crates and trays: I wonder if anyone sells such models already?

Once the idea to hunt the web had formed, a quick Google search came up with a company that I hadn't heard about before: Supreme Littleness.  They have quite a variety of MDF clutter, including all manner of different boxes, crates and barrels.  A small order was fulfilled very rapidly and at low cost (it helps that these small sheets of MDF and fibreboard can be sent cheaply, by letter post).

So, what did I get?

Medium crates (19mm) and Long crates

 Firstly, a minor word of caution about ordering from Supreme Littleness's web site.  The pictures of their packaging kits and the (text) descriptions are in 2 columns on the ordering page, but the text in each column doesn't necessarily align with the correct picture.  I had intended to order the "Assorted boxes" packet, but ended up with the "Shallow boxes" instead.  It's not a disaster, but it's not quite what I wanted.  My mistake, through not being careful enough.

As it happens, these crates and boxes are rather too large for my current project, but they'll find a use for something in due course.  Perhaps the long crates might be cases of rifles being trafficked by gun-runners in a game of Pulp Alley?

Shallow Boxes.  The one on the left is made up as the manufacturer intended; the other 4 have been converted.

As well as the crates, I also got some "Shallow Boxes", which come in 2 lengths.  The shorter version is very close in size to the open boxes that I'd intended to purchase, so I decided to convert some of them into seed trays rather than putting in another order.  The conversion was very simple: use just the lower layer of MDF, add the pre-cut ends (with the carrying handles) and add some straight sides cut from scrap fibreboard.  Sand has been glued in 3 of them to model dirt; once this has been painted then I'll add some flock to represent seedlings.

Conclusion

Could I have made these myself?  Of course I could - I've got all the raw materials and the tools & skills necessary to build such items from scratch.  But that would have taken time and, what with family and job, I don't have as much of that as I'd like.  For me, the investment of a small amount of money instead is a very obvious decision!

Now if only I could find a way to make flower pots in 1:56th scale!