Sired's Map project - Updated- 4/16 - files available see first post

Dear all,

I don’t know if ‘requests’ are allowed on this forum.
But I was wondering: did anyone ever create a new map or map overlays for this expansion?

Middle East Combat

Map: see: https://boardgamegeek.com/image/120322/middle-east-combat (photo at BGG)

Adding some new areas would be nice.

some more areas in Libya ‘connecting’ the three USSR regions in the North port areas for the extra USSR fleets that can be brought into play (a VERY nice feature of this game!) some more areas in Sudan / Eastern Africa

Info at BGG: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/17151/middle-east-combat

Yes. I own this game. And I really like to play it. One can call it my ‘Axis and Allies Guilty Pleasure’…

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).
CF362D52-269F-4480-8CBB-08139099138F.jpeg A9E12EA1-66EB-4671-86AC-68C62FD30AD5.jpeg 858DE1F2-030A-4D5A-93E4-70A7D1180ADB.jpeg 8F513EE0-DA37-4BA9-880E-4D5EF7BF431F.jpeg F0188165-757B-4CC1-BF67-5045832283C9.jpeg 2E3CD627-0D31-4121-ACF8-682F9F58A40B.jpeg

I remember that this isn’t a fie that can be shared. He basically took an actual map and added decals and created the areas with markers. So its a “one off” map.

@Panther ah! daylight at last! thanks!!!

YG,

@Young:

Would love to hear from those who have used the file to print their own copy of my custom map… do you have one?
––I would have to say,…NOT YET ! But once I get my latest project going, which will include a large area for a
“GRAND SIZE” War Simulations Room I’ll certainly get in contact with ya’ll.
––I must say, on behalf of all of the other gamers that you’ve already helped with your wonderful map;
THANK YOU !

Tall Paul

Thanks.

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…

@ancient:

Has anyone made any counters/Labels for the HBG miniatures?  Something like they use for Struggle for Europe and Pacific.

I’m not sure to what you’re referring.  Are you talking about replacing the plastic miniatures with tokens? Are you talking about identifying labels which would be be put on the board next to the plastic miniatures?  Are you talking about naval task force markers and their land counterparts?

@Tall:

Lucas,

––My friend,…I DO NOT want to hear from you for a month! Please go and take care of your important personal business. I wish you and your soon-to-be wife THE BEST!
––We’ll talk about paint jobs in a month (or so).

Here’s my best wishes to your future happiness.

“Tall Paul”

Haha… I will do my best on that front. Thanks again for the well wishes. I will keep the German aircraft safe at home for the time being.