Normandy Wall Map Project

[Merlin-27]

This is a thread for a DCSWWII:E44 project of mine or others like it.

 

I purchased the large format Normandy map from McElfresh Map Company. Pretty great overall view of the region. Then I came up with an idea to laminate it, frame it, and add a thin steel sheet behind it so that I can place magnetic markers on it. I think it will come in handy for mission planning/mission creation and general familiarization.

 

 

Here's a shot of the initial paper map.

 

[Merlin-27]

Here is the map after lamination, the steel sheet is in place and a few painted magnets.

 

It's moving right along. I think a nice wooden frame would finish it off nicely.

[NineLine]

Now can you mass produce and sell these? :D

[Merlin-27]

Now can you mass produce and sell these? :D

 

Why not! First customer? Shipping might be a biatch.

[NineLine]

Why not! First customer? Shipping might be a biatch.

 

Yeah, I'd bet lol

[Davis0079]

I had a printing company make me some copies of the DCS Georgia map, but in 10"x20"size. A couple are zoomed in over commonly used places and all are laminated...they aren't zoomed in enough for dead reckoning navigation, but I use them to copy flight and killbox info from server briefings and draw on them with dry eraser markers. works great. easy clean up.

 

very handy to mark where you got shot down, respawn and know exactly where to start a search for targets... I like to call this...."Operation, Get Hit"...

 

 

your map will be very cool for mission building....moving magnets around to have a flow of battle and overall idea of your mission goals, plus unit placement, before ever starting up the mission builder should be a very big time saver and worth its weight in gold.

[Merlin-27]

I had a printing company make me some copies of the DCS Georgia map, but in 10"x20"size.

 

your map will be very cool for mission building....moving magnets around to have a flow of battle and overall idea of your mission goals, plus unit placement, before ever starting up the mission builder should be a very big time saver and worth its weight in gold.

 

Thanks. This one is 23"x44" I also have the intention of using dry-erase markers for movements and perimeters and such. It looks great too :) and the historical relevance is cool enough to have hanging full-time in the man cave.

[Hans-Joachim Marseille]

That is a cool map, nice colouring too. Great idea to laminate and put a metal sheet behind it, for marking.

[SlipBall]

Thanks. This one is 23"x44" I also have the intention of using dry-erase markers for movements and perimeters and such. It looks great too :) and the historical relevance is cool enough to have hanging full-time in the man cave.

 

very nice !...all you need now is a couple of ladies with push sticks :)

[20thBG_Blackwolf]

very nice !...all you need now is a couple of ladies with push sticks :)

 

:thumbup: Do Hooter girls count?

Nice idea for the map!

[Merlin-27]

:thumbup: Do Hooter girls count?

Nice idea for the map!

 

Only the good looking ones! Thanks.

[Tempered]

Nice looking map. What kind of quality is the paper. How heavy? Is it water color? I'm thinking of possibly purchasing a few of that companies maps.

[Merlin-27]

It's your typical road map type paper quality and thickness. And yes it is a water color drawn map.

[Merlin-27]

Project on hold for the moment. Nice wooden frames are too expensive!

[BBQ]

Hi Merlin -- thanks for the link to the map -- received mine the other day. Not sure who to take it to, to laminate though. Any suggestions?

 

Project on hold for the moment. Nice wooden frames are too expensive!

[Merlin-27]

Hi Merlin -- thanks for the link to the map -- received mine the other day. Not sure who to take it to, to laminate though. Any suggestions?

 

I went with Staples office supplies store if you have them where you're at. I had them cut it down to 23x44 (The black border surrounding the map) since they can laminate up to 24". It cost me less than $5 I think.

[Friedrich-4B]

Thanks for that Merlin - great map

 

I've been doing some preliminary plotting of JG 26's bases off Google Earth using Don Caldwell's JG 26 diaries: (Froberville is the site of an Fw 190 crash which is now being surveyed and excavated http://forum.gaijinent.com/index.php?/topic/19085-a-fw190-and-the-body-of-the-pilot-inside-find-in-normandie-this-month/ )

Edited November 11, 2013 by Friedrich-4/B

[BBQ]

Yup, got Staples near by - thanks for the tips - but wondered how you incorporated the piece of steel?

[BBQ]

Thanks for that Merlin - great map

 

I've been doing some preliminary plotting of JG 26's bases off Google Earth using Don Caldwell's JG 26 diaries: (Froberville is the site of an Fw 190 crash which is now being surveyed and excavated http://forum.gaijinent.com/index.php?/topic/19085-a-fw190-and-the-body-of-the-pilot-inside-find-in-normandie-this-month/ )

 

Very cool!

[Merlin-27]

Yup, got Staples near by - thanks for the tips - but wondered how you incorporated the piece of steel?

 

No problem. I am working on a good framing option at the moment. I purchased the thin sheet of steel from Home Depot and my plan was to use a spray adhesive or something like that to attach the steel and map to a wood backing piece. I will let you know how that turns out.

Edited November 11, 2013 by Merlin-27

[Merlin-27]

Thanks for that Merlin - great map

 

I've been doing some preliminary plotting of JG 26's bases off Google Earth using Don Caldwell's JG 26 diaries: (Froberville is the site of an Fw 190 crash which is now being surveyed and excavated http://forum.gaijinent.com/index.php?/topic/19085-a-fw190-and-the-body-of-the-pilot-inside-find-in-normandie-this-month/ )

 

Thank you and it looks like you have a good project underway as well! Maybe we can collaborate...

 

I have been plotting the Allied ALGs in Google maps with help from that abandoned airfields website. It's actually "fun" to find the exact spot were the airfields used to be in '44.

 

[Friedrich-4B]

These are the JG 26 Gruppen bases from 6 June 1944: Note that the units had taken up position near Paris, except for the Geschwader Stab which was to the north-east at Poix Nord

 

 

OR (with roads) I think the modern road network dominates too much...

 

 

For some reason the labels reproduce as blank spaces but read (for now)

 

Cormielles-en-Vexin I./JG 26: 6 June - 8 June 1944

Guyancourt II./JG 26: 6 June - 13 July 1944

Villacoublay-Nord: III./JG 26: 6 June - 17 August 1944

 

Stab: Poix Nord 6 June - 20 June 1944

 

[Merlin-27]

4/B Nice work. Here is the continuation of my plan. I created Google Earth overlays for the allied Normandy airfields I can find. It's pretty amazing how close they match up with existing roads and such. I even measured the runway lengths and they match up pretty well.

 

[BBQ]

Man that is neat. Great stuff, Merlin.

[Merlin-27]

Thanks. The custom frame has been ordered. I will be able to show off the final product in a couple weeks.