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      <H1>Irrational Number Line Games, LLC</H1>

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<H3>Aquarium Bridges</H3>



<P>
<img class=larginalia src=bridge00.jpg></img>
Much like the cheap 'Clix bins at my FLGSs, I also like to
prowl the clearance sales at pet stores.  Aquaria.  Terraria.
Chew toys.
</P>
<P>
I got these two on major sale.  The bridge was clearance priced to
$5.00.  They had BOGO going in the aquarium, which compounded with
the sale.  And my son got me the employee discount on top of that.
</P>
<P>
$2.00 each.
</P>
<P>
You can see the scale with the two figures.  With the one lying down
on the felt, I am trying ton convey that because of the slick surface
that is great for underwater, inside an aquarium, you can only get figures
to tenuously stand on the top of the arch.  Everything else slides off.
</P>
<P><H5></H5></P>


<P>
<img class=marginalia src=bridge01.jpg></img>
Enter felt.
</P>
<P>
I cut a strip a bit longer and wider than the bridge surface, then
laid it in and cut out the divots for the bridge's stantions.  This will
let the felt hang over the side a bit, covering the seam and being a 
little raggedy.
</P>
<P>
I'm going for raggedy.
</P>
<P><H5></H5></P>




<P>
<img class=larginalia src=bridge02.jpg></img>
Fit measuring and cutting is a pain, so I used the first one as a
template for the second.
</P>
<P><H5></H5></P>


<P>
<img class=marginalia src=bridge03.jpg></img>
The fit for the second one was fine.
</P>
<P>
A bit of wood glue later, and the felt is in there to give figures
something with a bit of friction to stand on.
</P>
<P><H5></H5></P>




<P>
<img class=larginalia src=bridge04.jpg></img>
We help the friction with paint.  This is a gloppy, sloppy coat
of dark brown (nutmeg) which very nicely matches the felt color.
Sloppy gloppy painting give us more raggedy and helps the paint
adhere to the unprimed, slick surface.
</P>
<P>
While this first coat is drying, I set up the table for the game
today ... did I mention I am doing these at ~0900 for a noon game?
</P>
<P><H5></H5></P>


<P>
<img class=marginalia src=bridge05.jpg></img>
The board is set up with all the terrain (except these), and the
first coat is dry.  The second coat is a heavy drybrush of lighter
brown.  I use vertical strokes to give some wood grain effect.
</P>
<P><H5></H5></P>




<P>
<img class=larginalia src=bridge06.jpg></img>
The second coat dries while I pull armies, dice, and rulers for
the game.  That coat was thinner, so it dried faster.
</P>
<P>
Once that was dry, I drybrush the bridge a little with white.
That gives the wood fungus, bird poop, weathered veneer to the top.
</P>
<P><H5></H5></P>


<P>
<img class=marginalia src=bridge07.gif></img>
And here is the final effect, dry and spanning my Pegasus hobbies
plastic river quite nicely for a good game of
<a href=http://www.wargamevault.com/product/112916/Rednecks-and-Revenuers?term=rednecks+and+>Rednecks 'n' Revenuers</a>!
</P>
<P><H5></H5></P>





<P><H5></H5></P>


<P>
<H3>Archive</H3>
<a href=free-arch.htm>To the Archive of Ideas...</a>
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