NEW UNIT….SHAPEWAYS Naval Shipyard for HBG's "Global Warfare 1939" game

I have been playing around with different configurations for a custom table and wanted to note some things I’ve landed on that I really like. A main one thing is having the map mounted so that it can slide around as needed on top of a bigger playing area. My table is 65” x 95” in total with a 5.5” arm rest around the outside and the middle is a recessed neoprene surface. I have the OOB Global map mounted on 1/2” rigid foam with a 1/2” aluminum frame around it. This allows the map to slide up close to whoever’s turn it is, but then be in the middle so both players can roll dice In front of them without disturbing the map and in easy view of the other player. (Plus we like lots of room to roll the bones). This ability to adjust the surface along with a standing height, makes it comfortable for long uses because you can move around more and don’t feel as tied down.
Things I’ve learned and changed from original design - I originally used too big of a frame for the map and mounted it on too high of a foam block (you can see these pictures at the bottom) - it made it hard to see the other player’s dice and the big frame took up too much real estate. My global map is mounted on much thinner foam (the framing is bad, you can see if you look closely) but I also used much thinner aluminum angle for the frame. This gives just enough grip when needing to move the map around (I use furniture slides on the bottom, which glide very nicely on the neoprene) but doesn’t make the whole thing too bulky. Having it an inch or so off the surface keeps the dice off, but isn’t so heigh that you can’t see the other player’s dice rolls. When playing other versions (such as Zombies) the board is much smaller, but it can easily swap in and out on the same table since it can move around where ever it is needed or be pushed aside.
I originally made it normal table height, but found long reaches while sitting were harder and it just felt cramped. Standing height with a bar stool is a great way to have the best of both worlds.
The 5.5” rim around the table itself gives you a nice arm rest that doesn’t interfere with the gaming surface. I’m playing with how to best add some cushion to this part - open to suggestions. Sometimes I just lay a piece of leftover neoprene on it.
Dice bounce nice on the neoprene and stay off the floor. It also feels nice and has enough give to allow things to slide but be picked up easily. Wouldn’t definitely go with neoprene again as a surface covering.
I made the drawers open to the inside of the table so you can stay hunched over the action while accessing and stowing stuff away. 50/50 on whether I would keep this if I were to do it again. If I were doing it again, I might try to build customer drawers form scratch using actual drawer glides, but that was beyond my ability when I first did this, so I just used clear plexiglass boxes with aluminum pulls mounted on them. It’s nice having them clear, and I was happy with how the pulls came out, but without glides they can be a little fussy sliding in and out of their slots.
I originally designed the table so that I could put a cover surface back on top when not in use, but find I don’t really ever do that, so if I were to do it again, I might not mess with that part (I never even finished staining those as you can see in the pictures).
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Another Pictures

German Radar 6.jpg

I just wanted to pass on to everyone some new units on Shapeways that are now in Axis and Allies size.
C.O.B. Constructs and Miniatures has a set of New Mexico class Battleships in 1/3800 scale that are perfect for your light Battleships and New Aragon Mechanical Works has just made available a Aichi E16A1 Zuiun (Paul) float plane in the 1/500 scale.  So, if your looking for some new units to add to your board then check these two out.

I have lots of customization ideas that I can’t see myself creating due to time, resources, or enthusiasm. However, I would like to share them with this community in the hopes that a customizer will like the idea and create it for themselves. I don’t care for any kind on monetary reimbursement if you make money from it, all I ask is that you share with us pictures of your creation.

Cribbage board design on a wooden Aircraft Carrier model used as an Axis & Allies Income Tracker

My vision is of a wooden model aircraft carrier, and on the flight deck is a cribbage board like design where cribbage pegs are used to track income during an Axis & Allies game. I would use 3 peg holes per numerical value and have each nation represented by a colored peg. Black - Germany, Red - Russia, Orange - Japan etc…

Im working on a display for my HBG Minis.
But I decided to make a small table.

But i picked a different way of making it. Instead of picking out where to place tanks and etc… I played a small war game on it. Hence “Living boards” as each bored is determined by the outcome of a battle.

ORBAT
Allied-3 M4 Sherman/ 1 F-86 Sabre
OPFOR-4 T-34/ No air

Rules
Tanks
Rear- Die roll of 2
Sides -4
Front-5
Top-2
To defeat a shot you have to out roll the die.
Air support is a single sweep of 3 die. Air is called in rolling 4 die and getting 12 and up.

Turns
First 3 turns were moving. Turn 3 had the first M4 fire at a T34.
At the end of turn 3, 1 Sherman had been lost.
Turn 4 saw the loss of one T34
Turn 5 saw the loss of another M4
Turn 6 saw the loss of another T34 and a filed Allied air support call in.
Turn 7 saw no losses despite the Successful role for a Sabre air support.
Turn 8 saw the lose of the Last M4.

Result.
The Bridge leading out of town (Occupied by OPFOR) is blocked with the remains of the M4s.
The ORBAT forces lost half their strength, and must await engineers to clear the bridge.
The Bridge is still intact, but may have some damages due to the exploding tanks.
Allied forces failed to establish a front line on the other side of the bridge.
Images
Is they dont show up, right click and view image. Ill work on fixing them ASAP.
Turn 1

Turn 2

Turn 3

Turn 5

Turn 6

Turn 8

Out Come
OPFOR can push towards a Allied Airbase, where hopefully the Allies can hold to keep Air Support close (12 or Higher. If lost, the die role becomes 18 or higher.)
ORBAT
4 Allied Tanks
1 Allied Air
6 Opfor Tanks
1 Opfor Air
Any comments on how im making my displays? Also hope this is a proper area to post this customization, or would it fall in minis.

These pieces look great. I especially like the armor.

Jim010,

Nice work! I agree with your opinion on simular colors, and applaud your work. IMHO whenever you make a change, however big or small, that makes it easier, better looking, or more fun for you I think you’ve done something worthwhile!
Keep up the good work.

“Tall Paul”

p.s.-There are several very talented people that paint their units. Just look in this customization area.

@sgtwiltan:

Yes. There are so many. Trying to get one thing done at a time. I sent back some pieces and have started on a big batch of artillery which he loves. I’m amazed at his patience. Still have a lot of pieces he sent me and was able to find and keep them in a box so I know which pieces are his that I need to work on. They had been lost in multiple boxes from when I moved 4 years ago. I’ve also redone literally hundreds of PZIIIs including some all of the painted ones. One of these days…… I’ll get them done.

That is cool! I’m sure he doesn’t mind, because the end result is fantastic. :-)