Supply e Baggage Wagons

Scratchbuilding Wargame Vehicles

Scratchbuilt baggage wagon prussiano in scala 1:43

The expierence della guerra dei trent’anni showed that armate need to be properly supplied in the field to prevent soldiers from pillaging e completely devastating the countryside. In time of war, many civilian transport veicoli are employed for this purpose, because army logistics troops are notoriously short of transport to supply the army con provisions e munitions. Farm Wagons, Opel Blitz 3-ton trucks, e partially militarized MAN 10-ton trucks of the German Bundeswehr have significant advantages over purpose-built veicoli militari, they cost less, are cheaper to operate, ed easier to maintain. Economies of scale come in to play, because popular civilian veicoli are produced in larger numbers than similar military types.

During the Horse&Musket period of warfare, the typical supply e baggage wagon was similar to the carro a quattro route used throughout Europa in a standardized design. The undercarriage consisted of a forward train con plug-in shaft, connected to the rear axle by a round wood - known as Langwied in German. The Langwied was secured to the forward train by a swivel-pin. The standard forward train was used as an avantreno del cannone by replacing the swivel-pin con a limber-spike. The covered wagon shown here consists of an avantreno del cannone ed a scratchbuilt trailer body. This semi-articulated construction is not strictly correct, but it has the advantage that the forward train can be used as a avantreno when the wagon is not needed.

Of the rear train, only the rear axle, e due supports were modelled, because the other parts will not be visible once the wagon model is mounted on its base. That part of the Langwied extending through the rear axle assembly need only be modelled if there is no spare wheel hiding it. The rear wheels were cast from a 1:43 scale Prince August field gun mould. The smaller spare wheel at the rear of the wagon is an avantreno del cannone wheel cast from a Nürnberger Meisterzinn mould. The wagon body e the rear axle assembly were constructed from balsa. The wagon body supports ed axles are flat e round toothpicks. The wagon was undercoated e painted con a mixture of indigo e white artist oil colours to represent a military vehicle prussiano. Giocatori Wargame are well advised to paint supply veicoli a stained brown o weathered gray wood colour, indicating that they are requisitioned civilian veicoli suitable for any army, e mix in a few yellow, red, blue, o green military wagons which clearly belong to one of the warring nations.

Scratchbuilt baggage wageon prussiano in scala 1:43

The farm wagon may be built con o without tilt. The supports are lengths of wire formed around a pen o dowel of the correct diameter, e pushed into the balsa sides of the wagon body. The tarp is an oversized piece of tissue paper, to allow for shrinkage, draped over the supports e painted con thinned white glue. Once dry, the tarp can be trimmed con a scalpel knife. Paint, wash, e drybrush the tarp to give it a nicely textured e weathered look.

Munitions wagons of the period had a sloped roof made of hinged wooden planks which covered the ammunition compartments. The wagon sides e roof planks were strengthened con metal bands, which may be recreated in miniature using aluminium foil.

Modellini Disponibili

Baggage Wagon Conversion, 1:43 Prince August
Baggage Wagon, 1:72 Fine Scale Factory SP06

Utilizzo Storico

Farm Wagon
Baggage Wagon
Supply Wagon

Horse-drawn supply wagons for wargames e dioramas are easy to scratchbuild. Wheels e wheel rims are the only complicated parts e they can be scrounged from artiglieria pieces ed avantreni. The construction is very simple if an avantreno del cannone is used as the forward train of the wagon.

Domande più frequenti

Per ulteriori informazioni, per favore contatta la redazione di Rivista Military Miniatures nel Miniatures Forum.

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