Bunkers and Spider Traps - Vietnam

 I spent my free time this past weekend, working on defensive positions for the PAVN and Viet Cong in 20mm.  Three different types of positions are under construction.

After cutting the excavated positions with a Dremel. 

The first are three earthen bunkers, these are earth covered positions reinforced with logs or other materials offering the greatest degree of cover.  two of the bunkers have a single firing aperture, and one has two. They do not have external entrances and are designed to be accessed from tunnels. The models are recessed into 6"x6"x1" terrain tiles with a lift off top to allow positioning of figures inside.

The three bunkers with the top portions rough sanded.

This view shows the the underside of the top of the 

bunker next to its base.

The second type of position are spider holes or spider traps.  These are covered or partially covered fighting positions.  depending on the type, covers may be removed to facilitate engaging the enemy. They are made by cutting the positions into foam terrain tiles similar to those described above.  There is no above grade feature other than the cover.

Some of the spider holes; these have two fighting 

positions with a center covered portion.

The third are entrenchments with modular fighting positions. these consist of slit trenches connecting individual or multi-soldier fighting positions dug into the ground and featuring low earthen parapets with with occasional apertures  for fighting.  Some lengths of the trenches will be covered. the fighting positions are cut into 6"x6"x1" tiles as above, while the zig-zagging trenches are cut into 12"x6"x1" tiles.

Later in construction, with parapets in place on the

 trenches.

And with one of the fighting positions with the 

parapet sanded.

Any combination of these could be incorporated into the larger defensive network connected by underground tunnels.

Construction was from various brands of foam insolation board, using artist's matte medium as a glue to affix the raised parapet around the trenches, straight pins holding then in place to dry.  

The bunkers were shaped with a loose hacksaw blade, a surform tool, and curved or angled permagrit sanding files. The surfaces will be sanded further, touched up with one-step spackle, coated with acrylic artists paste, painted and flocked.

With the Surform tool and a PermaGrit file.

I expect that it will take a couple more week-ends to complete this project.