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Entrapment

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Project by vipond33 posted 348 days ago 3021 views 45 times favorited 31 comments Add to Favorites Watch

A little bit of a lighter post than 1948 as I get back in the saddle and put my game face on, for here is Entrapment, a marvelous maneuvering game for all ages.

There are at least two things I look for when making a wooden game for my collection. It must promise engrossing play (and here I rely upon the evaluation of others initially) and it must be an opportunity to kick up the build quality from the original to make it a visual and tactile treat. Entrapment satisfies beautifully on both counts though somehow the build was a real bear and was riddled with mistakes and elaborate tryouts. Some scrap wood became scrap wood yet again.

The basic construction of the board is a figured hard maple egg-crate with end grain mahogany squares pushed through and a thin (3mm) BB bottom glued on.

The playing pieces and fences are again in maple and mahogany with an oil finish and a waxing session on the buffing wheel.

Mid century Soviet apartment blocks? Perhaps. Mine just might last longer. The 25 fences per side were grooved all round with a 1/32” wing cutter.

The original game as model was fairly simple as befits a fairly low cost production item.

This game is easy but thoughtful. Your goal is not to arrive anywhere but to defeat your opponent by boxing in their pieces as the name would suggest. Game play begins by each person randomly placing their roamers, or pawns, and then moving them to escape capture or else placing fences to trap your opponents pieces.. An unusual twist is that you may hop over your own fences just once as you make your escape, but then they are rotated vertically and become impenetrable. The game may also be played with a barrier stick inserted to reduce the board to 6×7 squares. This makes for a faster more aggressive play once the basic game is learned.

I made two serious blunders on this project. First, for a few extra minutes work I could have had an 8×8 board, just right for chess, checkers or anything else. Real dumb.
Secondly, I wasted my time building the exacting half lap maple base. I could have simply glued flat squares onto plywood for the same effect. The only consolation and giveaway now is that it weighs in at about 5 lb and has the look and feel of solid.

The handles are project heritage wood and my revenge on the mistake. With a couple of trial strips left over from the grid I put a gentle curve on the length, a quite a bit tighter one on the width, a finger scoop in the centre and then designed the storage box around them. Loose dividers with the barrier strip down the side.

I do love a fitted single purpose box.

5mm mini wonder hinges were used, with a shellac finish rubbed out then lacquered and waxed. The game board is done with sanding sealer, lacquer and Goddard’s wax.
This can be a real fun build if you like games. The sky’s the limit on board style, pieces and storage with an absorbing play promised for you in the end.

Board 15” x 15” x 1 1/2”
Box 6 1/8” x 14 3/4” x 2 5/8”
About 32 hrs.
Build on LJ’s.
gene

Video tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy2U8PrSRtU

Online play
http://www.boardspace.net/english/about_entrapment.html

A very nice review
http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/721688/block-corral-capture-and-kill

-- gene@toronto.ontario.canada : dovetail free since '53, critiques always welcome.




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31 comments so far

View waho6o9's profile

waho6o9

2936 posts in 749 days


#1 posted 348 days ago

Beautiful work Gene, I appreciate the attention to detail, very nice.

View shipwright's profile

shipwright

3400 posts in 971 days


#2 posted 348 days ago

You kids and your games.
Another fine piece of work Gene but do you actually play all of these?
They are beautiful enough to be living room art / conversation pieces of course, but it would be a shame not to play.

-- Paul M ..............If God wanted us to have fiberglass boats he would have given us fiberglass trees. http://prmdesigns.com/

View Hawaiilad's profile

Hawaiilad

870 posts in 1193 days


#3 posted 347 days ago

I really like what you have made…I also like games like this one, but for some reason my wife does not, so I don’t play often.

-- Hawaiilad Larry

View Ken90712's profile

Ken90712

12676 posts in 1361 days


#4 posted 347 days ago

What a great job on all of these! Well done.

-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"

View peteg's profile

peteg

2283 posts in 996 days


#5 posted 347 days ago

Gene, man you got some great ones up your sleve, I get lost in the rules,but I sure enjoy seeing your make,
Another beauty, your Kids sure dont get bored I bet, (as well as the “old Man”) :: )))
Pete

-- Pete G: If you always do what you always did you'll always get what you always got

View jaykaypur's profile

jaykaypur

2501 posts in 581 days


#6 posted 347 days ago

Beautiful build. How much time do you have in making this?

-- Use it up, Wear it out --------------- Make it do, Or do without!

View Spoontaneous's profile

Spoontaneous

1017 posts in 1503 days


#7 posted 347 days ago

I absolutely LOVE your work!

-- I just got done cutting three boards and all four of them were too short. (true story)

View Tag84's profile

Tag84

466 posts in 829 days


#8 posted 347 days ago

another wonderful game, i love the simplicity of the figure,. While they still look detailed.
You should try to reach the developers Gene, and see if they are willing to update to your
versions!? beautiful work again.

-- -Thomas -

View JL7's profile

JL7

3643 posts in 1138 days


#9 posted 347 days ago

Another great one Gene – the design is unique and the craftsmanship is superb. The box really sets it off…..nicely done.

-- Jeff - I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

View SPalm's profile

SPalm

4120 posts in 2055 days


#10 posted 347 days ago

Dang Gene, you kicked it up a notch again.
That really does look like I want to touch it. And I bet it does weigh 5 pounds.

Mid century Soviet apartment blocks – I love the imagery.
Well done sir,
Steve

-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon

View Roger's profile

Roger

9219 posts in 977 days


#11 posted 347 days ago

Very kool. I think many kids would take better care of somethng hand made like this.

-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net

View helluvawreck's profile

helluvawreck

10500 posts in 1039 days


#12 posted 347 days ago

That is a beautiful game and I love the storage box too. If that was in a room with me I would have to sit down and try it out. It looks so intriguing. Very well done.

helluvawreck
https://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com

-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau

View mafe's profile

mafe

8057 posts in 1262 days


#13 posted 347 days ago

Gene you have done it again!
This is my favorite, perhaps since I am an architect… lol.
This one will go to my favorites, and also get a place in my heart.
Best of my thoughts,
Mads

-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.

View atogrf1's profile

atogrf1

32 posts in 536 days


#14 posted 347 days ago

Nice work.
That is like a game my brother and I play called Quoridor.

View rance's profile

rance

3856 posts in 1333 days


#15 posted 347 days ago

Absolutely marvelous Gene. You always have nice contrasts in your games.

You followed the Shellac with Lacuqer. Why? And why did you finish the board differently? Finishes are one of my weak points that I’m trying to get a handle on. Sorry, I’m the kid that always asks ‘why?’ a million times.

-- Backer boards, stop blocks, build oversized, and never buy a hand plane--

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