Japanese Steel Pill Box Advanced Version

Continuing my enjoyment of a well know manufacturer’s Island Assault Box set and a desire to provide a very visual skirmish game for friends I decided to design this iconic Japanese Pill Box. Please note it was not designed with blue prints so the scale is all done by eye. It is scaled in relation to Japanese foot figures which are about 27/28mm tall.

This Japanese Steel Pill box, advance set, comes as:

The Basic Model.

1. Internal insertable base plate, with steps up from the door way, ammo crates and scenic bits. Figures are intended to stand on the boxes to easily reach the gun slits.


2. Main body of the pill box, sealed door.


3. Roof top hatch closed.

The Advanced Model.

1. Insertable base plate as above.


2. Main body of the Pill Box but with an open door way.


3. Insertable door.


4. Roof hatch closed as above.


5. AA cradle support.


6. AA cradle.


7. AA gun mount.


8. Roof Hatch open.


9. Roof hatch open but with additional sandbag defences.

This model has been printed on an Ender 3 at a general print speed of 45.

I printed the main body of the Pill Box at 0.3mm layer height wanting a fast print, I think this was a mistake and I would recommend using 0.2mm layer or better a standard 0.15mm layer height.

The Insertable base needs to be printed at 0.15mm or less as it has scenic parts on it.

The roofs can be printed at 0.15mm layer height.

The door should be printed at 0.1mm layer height.

The AA cradle support and cradle can be printed at 0.15mm but 0.1mm layer height would be better.

The AA mount needs to be printed at 0.1mm layer height. The AA mount is in 2 parts and intended to be superglued by you on to the AA cradle so that it is clearly within the open hatch. The AA Cradle is intended to turn within the support.

Some filing of the roof piece will be needed to let it drop snuggly in. I have found it fits better one way round than another.

The AA cradle support will need some gentle fine filing to let it sit onto its recess.

The door is a very tight fit, gently sand until it can be firmly but easily pressed into place, this will allow you to place it friction in an open position.