Lobster Pots

I have seen many posts on multiple forums requesting information on how to build dockside terrain.  I figured I would try my hand at this by making some crab pots.  My first attempt was a disaster because I tried to do them in scale with 32mm figures.  They were structurally so unsound that they collapsed while I was working on them.  My solution was to scale up slightly and make them a bit beefier than they would be in real life.  They are not horribly out of scale and at tabletop gaming ranges the eye should miss the discrepancy. 

A couple of things first:

I reinforced all points of this build with superglue after the PVA/white glue dried.

I glazed the gauze with superglue to make it hard after the build was complete. To glade drop some superglue onto the surface and blow the excess off and let dry. 

Materials:

Coffee stirrers

Gauze

Self-adhering metal ducting tape

Paper (I used graph because it is was easier to cut)

PVA/white Glue

Super glue

Tools:

Hobby knife

Razor blade

File

Ruler

Scissors

 

Base:

The base is basically a pallet made of many individual slats.  Since I am an American I will use inches.  The long slats are roughly 1/8 X 1/8 X 1 inches and some variation with not matter.  The three short slats in the middle are 3/16 X 1/8 X ½ inch.  It is best to start by gluing one long slat to three short slats to define the edge of the pallet.  Then add more slats with space in between to finish the top.  The bottom only has three long slats.  See image below. 

Top:

The top is pretty straightforward.  Stick a piece of Metal ducting tape to some paper and glaze the paper surface with superglue to give it more strength.  Once this has dried cut strips of paper and tape 1/8 inch wide by 1 ¼ inch long.  Glue the paper side of three of these to one long slat and let set.  Glue another long slat to the other end and let those set.  Use a pencil or other suitable mandrel to shape the metal side of the tape in a loose U shape.  Superglue this to the long side of a pallet with the slat facing out.  Glue down the other side to the opposite side of the pallet and then add the remaining slats. 

The netting: 

Cut a square roughly 1 ½ on each side of gauze.  Superglue the netting to the open face of one of your lobster pots.  Once set trim the edges with scissors, hobby knife or cigarette lighter to remove the excess from the edges.  And repeat on the other side. 

This is the basic pot.  You can add more detail to make it fairly realistic but at table top level it will be missed. 

Hope you like.

Snitchy sends.