Scratch-Built Arabic Buildings - Ambush Alley

Slow, slow progress on my Ambush Alley stuff, with my determination to scratch-build most of the buildings and scenery, coupled with all the other everyday things that clog up gaming and painting, contributing greatly to my sloth-like advancement...oh well.

First off,  is a generic adobe block, which upon reflection, doesn't really look very Middle-Eastern at all, but hey, so what?

It is constructed from old bits of cardboard, cork and sand. The posters were Islamic revolutionary images lifted from the web along with the sign above the door. I deliberately stayed away from any specific theatre when choosing their themes, and so avoided any Iraqi references. The scale purists out there may baulk at the size of the building's footprint etc, but that was largely down to inexperience on my part and an intention to convert it to suit 20mm figures with minimum modification in future if later decided.

Next up, another smaller building, this time built from an old foamboard sign I found abandoned at work. I decided to give the structure a beaten up appearance and so added some exposed brickwork beneath a broken plaster exterior using some modelling clay glued to card.

A balsa door suitably weathered and some cat litter and sand painted and highlighted complete the effect.

Finally, my 'mosque', intended to be a centrepiece to most table top townscapes. I intended this to be a major landmark, but believe I only partially achieved my aim; still, it looks pretty good from a distance. I had intended it to be 'clean' looking, but having recalled my own experience in Iraq along with my intention to make my town grubby and rundown, I decided to give it a battered appearance.

I'm not really happy with the windows as they are too small, among other things - there are another three at the rear - but  it is a lesson learned for future.

Above are the lowly core construction materials used - the dome, in particular being a salvaged Frescato lid from Costa Coffee!

I still haven't mastered the art of anything other than dirty sandy finishes for  buildings, but luckily that is exactly what I'm after - which is fortunate, I suppose. My insurgents are seen here with my attempt at a small sandbag wall and rubble pile.

There are other buildings completed now, but I haven't had time to photograph them yet, but will do so so, once I return from holiday in Greece - yesss!

That's it for now - more to follow soon, now where's that suntan oil...

All the best,

Monty