tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post7566687681663786056..comments2024-03-15T02:55:43.872+00:00Comments on Roundwood's World: "Die Rattenkeller" – a Jubilee Weekend projectSidney Roundwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03440705981976797774noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-78096447706031284922012-06-14T16:45:06.633+01:002012-06-14T16:45:06.633+01:00Thanks so much Graeme for sharing your experiences...Thanks so much Graeme for sharing your experiences of live action Stellungskrieg!! I have agonized about the size of the bunker on the board. As you'll see shortly, it can encompass quite a few figures. "The Cockroft", close to Sint Julien in the Ypres Salient, yielded over 40 soldiers when they surrendered in the dawn attack I mentioned on 19 August 1917. In the "Through the Mud and the Blood" scenario, "Pinpricks of Success", I wrote for the 2010 TFL Christmas Special based on the action at "The Cockroft", I suggested using up to 18 figures including a Big Man within the bunker. So, to be true to my own scenario, I was working with the base sizes (25mm circular) for the figures and arrived at the bunker size you see in the photos. It does look large (well, at least in its intact form), but large was not always ideal by the later stages of the Great War! Thanks again for the comment, Graeme.Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-47164339339918292722012-06-10T01:01:33.838+01:002012-06-10T01:01:33.838+01:00Unfortunately I didn't get to see the double p...Unfortunately I didn't get to see the double pillbox, though you may be interested to know that most of the deep trenches were formed above ground from fabricated panels, and of course some clever camera angles. I imagine the pillbox would have had a very spartan interior in spite of the well detailed exterior due to the relatively small budget of the series (about $1m; small even in 1984)<br />As for the size, I think you've got it spot on Sidney. Large enough to be an imposing presence on the board and on a dominating elevation. Inside seems large enough for the garrison of MG crews and artillery observation staff. Perfect!Graeme in Ausnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-28041991429060887682012-06-06T11:54:16.858+01:002012-06-06T11:54:16.858+01:00Thanks Kingsley!Thanks Kingsley!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-27921394289058599242012-06-06T11:53:50.054+01:002012-06-06T11:53:50.054+01:00Phil, if it's half as good as yours, I'll ...Phil, if it's half as good as yours, I'll be delighted. Thanks so much again for letting me use your photos of the original.Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-81260256559550185492012-06-06T11:53:07.182+01:002012-06-06T11:53:07.182+01:00Digger - that's a great link, thank you so muc...Digger - that's a great link, thank you so much. The ANZAC House featured in your link was exactly the sort of thing I was looking to do, albeit that's a bit more battered around than I want my "intact" version. I'm with you in thinking that double-storey bunkers were uncommon, at least in the main defence line, but there's even bigger ones than mine and Phil's featured in Peter Oldham's (very good, if a bit dry) "Pillboxes on the Western Front" - albeit divisional observation positions in the rear lines. Thanks again for commenting and good luck with your own first-class terrain!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-6154093348080524522012-06-06T11:45:25.604+01:002012-06-06T11:45:25.604+01:00Thanks Michael - not sure about fantastic...I'...Thanks Michael - not sure about fantastic...I'll be delighted in not screwing it up totally by making the bunker the wrong shape!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-69287668842146163952012-06-06T11:44:44.033+01:002012-06-06T11:44:44.033+01:00Graeme - that a fantastic piece of information! I...Graeme - that a fantastic piece of information! It's amazing you took part in that series, and on both sides!! Did you get a good look inside the double-storey bunker? You can tell me mine's all wrong - too small, too large , etc, etc!!!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-42827541456695426752012-06-06T11:42:49.227+01:002012-06-06T11:42:49.227+01:00Thanks Rodger ... certainly more to come!Thanks Rodger ... certainly more to come!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-64918353809204909252012-06-06T11:42:33.879+01:002012-06-06T11:42:33.879+01:00Thanks Curt - I'm watching your stuff closely ...Thanks Curt - I'm watching your stuff closely as well. Forgive me, I'm behind on commenting on other blogs!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-12487821986597782842012-06-06T11:42:03.552+01:002012-06-06T11:42:03.552+01:00Thanks Phil!Thanks Phil!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-15596922238324193992012-06-06T11:41:54.138+01:002012-06-06T11:41:54.138+01:00Paul Hogan - now that's a name from the past. ...Paul Hogan - now that's a name from the past. I should buy some Castlemaine XXXX to get into the mood.Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-47031358028927349562012-06-06T11:41:15.919+01:002012-06-06T11:41:15.919+01:00Thanks Ray, I only hope I don't cock it up!Thanks Ray, I only hope I don't cock it up!Sidney Roundwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14795563060856586670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-71537734261837043172012-06-04T22:31:28.088+01:002012-06-04T22:31:28.088+01:00This is looking very interesting! I wish I had you...This is looking very interesting! I wish I had your patience for building scenery!kingsleyparkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17161045327971275146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-61856449358641566722012-06-04T22:02:02.864+01:002012-06-04T22:02:02.864+01:00Thats looking rather grand already, can't wait...Thats looking rather grand already, can't wait to see the finished piece, it will look very striking I think.Phil Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14951076081660516802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-63157081219262085112012-06-04T20:40:28.452+01:002012-06-04T20:40:28.452+01:00Sidney, can't wait to see the finished product...Sidney, can't wait to see the finished product. I too had turned a little green (with envy) when I saw Phil's fine rendition. I'm not sure how common two-storey pillboxes were, but there is certainly historical evidence for their existence. Bean's history of the Anzac's, vol. IV, pp. 771-772 contains a grim story of an assault on one such position. You can read it at: http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/category/exhibitions/to-flanders-fields-1917/<br />Digger.Diggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00509766634414187857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-85037216710813968772012-06-04T19:59:55.510+01:002012-06-04T19:59:55.510+01:00Another fantastic project Sidney, already taking s...Another fantastic project Sidney, already taking shape but really looking forward to the next stage.Michael Awdryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07049982879661559305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-6675353789156934522012-06-04T11:15:46.462+01:002012-06-04T11:15:46.462+01:00Another great project being meticulously executed ...Another great project being meticulously executed Sidney; can't wait for the next installment.<br />The ANZACs series you mention as Phil's inspiration was filmed in 1984 and aired in late 1985. The Regiment I was in at the time provided extras on many occasions and I managed to get 'in the action' several times; once as an Aussie and twice as a German. Even got to lug around an MG15/08 for a day; being gunned down numerous times during the filming of the Nieppe forest battle. Also met and chatted with Patsy Adam-Smith that day, author of the book 'The ANZACs' from which the series was inspired. A lovely lady indeed.<br />Great blog Sidney; inspirational stuff!Graeme in Ausnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-51274913730703436812012-06-04T11:05:26.354+01:002012-06-04T11:05:26.354+01:00Fantastic work here Sidney! I too am looking forwa...Fantastic work here Sidney! I too am looking forward to more.Rodgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447816347472085277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-39579318515677625002012-06-04T09:49:23.142+01:002012-06-04T09:49:23.142+01:00Excellent work, Sidney. I look forward to seeing t...Excellent work, Sidney. I look forward to seeing this progress.<br />-CurtCurthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03202047917371080576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-4174935917078935932012-06-04T08:59:53.990+01:002012-06-04T08:59:53.990+01:00Fantastic piece of workFantastic piece of workBroedershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18218127480258279732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-83111275030945583342012-06-04T04:52:26.823+01:002012-06-04T04:52:26.823+01:00That is quite something and it's been a while ...That is quite something and it's been a while since I've heard Anzacs mentioned, Paul Hogan was in it I remember!The Angry Lurkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01227314379603418332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3279786472578722137.post-54792964992986204552012-06-04T02:16:01.829+01:002012-06-04T02:16:01.829+01:00Woooooo! I like the look of this! I shall be follo...Woooooo! I like the look of this! I shall be following with great interest!Ray Rousellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07352596392520905197noreply@blogger.com