Gungnir's Card Models
Netherlands
|
|
| Cost: | Varies according to the number of sheets of paper used. |
|---|---|
| Stated Scale: | 28mm (1:56th), but also 1:64th, 1:48th and 15mm, as well as the odd 1:72nd. |
| Mixes best with: | Just about any other range, although the style is, perforce of the medium, a little bland by comparison to resin or plastic. |
| Long Review: | Initial impressions When I saw the first stirrings of Gungnir's card buildings, I was interested. Any range that is affordable (read "cheap"), potentially easily stored (the buildings can be partially disassembled and stored flat) and still looks good is almost every wargamer's dream. Of course I had to get some. An added bonus (for some) is the fact that a proportion of the (very) low price goes towards a charity. Anyway, the items come shipped in a sturdy envelope, lying on a thick card insert. The buildings themselves come on varying numbers of sheets, depending on the building chosen, as well as the scale. The paper used is quite thick, and will stand up to normal use quite well I suspect. If not, the buildings are cheap enough that replacing them is really not a problem. Note that the number of sheets referred to in the reviews below only apply to the 28mm version, Smaller scales may have less sheets. Dutch Village (a la Market-Garden) To paraphrase the blurb on the site- most of the fighting in the Market-Garden campaign in WW2 took place more in the country and villages than in towns. These kits, a themed release of six buildings, allow you to recreate that campaign. Having relatives in the Netherlands, I've had occasion to visit there, and will confirm that the buildings look the part, and are suitable for more than just that campaign. The first (and maybe most important?) building is the village pub. A set of roof dormers is optional, as is the choice of one wall decorated with the famous "Kilroy was here" graffito.
Second is a 19th century village shop, with the owner's accomodations making up half of the building.
Third is a typical 1920's village house. These would make up a good proportion of the buildings in the villages, so it's worth getting more than just one.
The fourth is a "workers' house", a cheaply-built structure produces en masse for workers. This would make the bulk of the houses in any village, so feel free to order lots!
Fifth is the farm house, a turn-of-the-century farmhouse that is suitable for either out in the countryside or in the village itself. This style of building is still in use today, even, with minor alterations.
The five buildings above are all printed on three sheets. it is also possible to request specific details on some of them, and it is even possible to exchange the roofs on the village house and the pub without too much effort(simply tell Gung when ordering that you'd prefer the "other" roof). The sixth building in this range is the old farm house, an early 19th century design, some of which are still in good repair even today. This huge house (which is built with an integral barn) consists of no less than five sheets, and is based on period photographs of such a house in the Arnhem area.
There is also a sheet of 35 propaganda posters printed on standard paper, which can tart up the walls and make the village look even more in period. All in all, so far I'm very impressed with these structures. Unfortunately, due to the fact that I'm currently in the middle of redecorating the house I recently moved into, I've not had a chance to assemble even one of the buildings yet. I will, however, say that they appear to be fairly easy to assemble, and that the card appears sturdy enough to withstand some standard gaming. I suspect that, with a small amount of bracing added, they will happily accomodate the weight of figures on the roofs. |
| Commentary: | Very useful, and very neatly done. |
| Historical Accuracy: |  Very Good. |
| Scale: |  Appears Good. |
| Design: | Good. /  Perfect for low-budget gamers. |
| Printing: | Very Good. |
| Sources: | Purchased for own collection. |
| Sculptors: | Gungnir. |
| Other reviews for this company: | See the reviews: |
