Forward Airfield .stl pack – Revetments, Trailers, Craters – 1/56th

Forward Airfield .stl pack

No matter how well you craft you army list, plan your strategy, and roll your dice, the enjoyment of a game is always enhanced by a great gaming table. One terrain set up I am fond of is the forward airfield. Visually it just “pops.” Whether or not the aircraft on the table are actual objectives or just eye candy, both 1/72nd and 1/48th scale aircraft models work well on a 28mm scale gaming table.

Forward airfields were a requirement in WW2, due to the relatively short range of the attack aircraft and need for a fast response by close support aircraft. For example, Advanced Landing Ground “A-1” in Normandy was constructed and ready for use only two days after the June 6th, 1944, landings.

I did up this Forward Airfield .stl, which consists of interlocking revetments, craters and two trailers. The interlocking revetments serve as the defensive earthworks, used to protect aircraft from strafing runs and shrapnel. The .stls are emulating corrugated tin sections, hastily set up with timers and backfilled. There are multiple versions of each section, with short, long, 90-degree corner pieces, and end pieces. This allows you to adjust for the size of the revetments to accommodate the aircraft model(s) (e.g., 1/72^nd or 1/48^th) you want to use, and to ease storage of the terrain. The parts all interlock, for a tidy look. I use an inexpensive toolbox liner from the Dollar Store to represent the rolled tarmac.

As one concern with an airfield focused scenario is that a player can get a vehicle onto the tarmac and scoot down the table. To thwart that, I have included .stls for single, double, and triple craters. These can be placed strategically to limit the opportunity to do so and offer some cover for small units on the tarmac.

Lastly, forward airfields were often set up a short distance behind the front lines. As such, traditional control towers were out of the picture. I have added two trailers, one with an observation bubble and a second without, to serve as airfield control, and round out the game table. These trailers have versions for either resin or FDM printing. I found several models of the trailers with bubbles online and took some license to make a generic style. The plain trailer can be used for most any use – an H.Q., a supply depot, a communication centre, etc.