Wooden Palisade Fortress conversion for 2e BattleSystem

(12-5-2022)  Updates made to the Fort (see below for original posts on how this project was initially completed)

The plastic model came off of the MDF base, as the Hot Glue was insufficient to hold it, over time, and with handling and flexing, as it was moved around.  I Hot Glued square dowels beneath the catwalks, with glue applied to both the fort walls, and the MDF base.  These dowels ran along most of the length of the walls.  This created a really strong bond between the plastic walls, and the MDF base, which should keep ii intact for decades.

The foam-core I had glued to the catwalks also failed.  I cut some 1.5"-wide MDF strips to fit, Hot Gluing them to the way-too-small plastic molded catwalks,.

I printed off some 2D ladders on label paper.  I applied these to narrow strips of MDF, Hot Gluing these in place, to show proper access to the catwalks.

I repainted the tips of the cut logs forming the walls, along with the wooden pins holding them together, on the outside of the model.  I used a tan color (the previous yellow was too yellow...), and I re-applied The Dip Technique, when finished.

I added some lichen tufts to random locations outside of the walls, to dress it up a bit, breaking the long, straight lines.

After that, I pressed it into service as a Hobgoblin Fort, too near the Dwarven Kingdom for the Dwarve's comfort.  Dwarves and Humans joined forces to eradicate their common enemy, and a terrible battle ensued.

It was glorious fun!

Older Original Post Discussing the Early conversion Work

Years ago, I purchased a wooden palisade fort, intended for use with 54mm figures.  It was really small, but I managed to purchase two of them, and I connected them together, to form a much larger fort, with two gates, instead of one.  I finally got around to putting it together for use with my 25mm-28mm games of 2nd Ed. BattleSystem.  In fact, a friend prompted me to finish it for a game this Saturday.  I have a couple of scenarios to use it in, as well, so it should see some fun table-time in the next year.

It started out as a simple, brown plastic fort.  I added The Dip treatment, very heavily, twice, to get some dark color between the 'logs', and I painted the tips of the logs, to look lighter, as cut wood.  It had a thin, plastic catwalk molded into place, but it was way too low -- even 30mm figures could not look over the top of the walls!

I used foamcore board, along with some heavy vinyl floor tile, cut into small rectangles, to elevate the catwalk.  The elevators were epoxied to the plastic catwalk, and they should endure gaming stresses quite easily.  To facilitate access for the troops, cardstock ladders were printed, from a WorldWorks product, cut to size, and glued into place.

Here is a shot with a mixture of 25mm-28mm figures, standing along the catwalk.  They are projects on my painting table, waiting to be completed, as well.  The Fort is complete, except for a matte clear coat.  I also epoxied the Fort to its base

For the base, I used 1/4" thick plywood.  I painted it with a mixture of sand, PVA Glue, and Hunter Green craft paint -- use more sand than you think is necessary, and use around 85% PVA, to 20% paint; apply with an inexpensive, 1" house painting brush.  I mixed the sand, glue, and paint, in a mason jar.  The sand made the mixture very thick, but it worked very well.  When I was done, I simply washed the brush and the jar out with Pink Brush Soap, and water -- good as new!  Be careful about washing sand down your sink's drain -- it could plug up your plumbing!  It would be best to dump this stuff outside, so use a large bucket of wash water out by the curb...  Cheers!

Here is the Fort in a BattleSystem game.  The Human cavalry, on the left, was defending it against a Humanoid army.  The Battering Ram (cardstock model) had been manned by a Unit of Ogres, but the Longbowmen, on the walls, took care of them in short order.  The Fort's defenses were bolstered by the addition of two wooden towers (cardstock) from WorldWorks' Pirate Cove model set.  In the end, the Fort proved impenetrable, and the Humanoids went home, defeated, but vowing to make another attempt, sometime in the future...