Figs. 349-350.
A Tent.
Tents will be necessary properties for an encampment scene. These should be cut out of white paper the pattern of [Fig. 349], then folded along the dotted lines, and edge B pasted over the flap A. The front flaps will be left open. [Figure 350] shows the tent set up.
An Indian Teepee will also be required for Indian warfare. Follow the pattern shown in [Fig. 351], marking it off as though it were made up of a number of skins, and place a few figures of decoration upon it. Then cut three or four short sticks and, after crossing their ends as shown in [Fig. 352], fasten the paper covering over them, bending flap A along the dotted line, and pasting B over it.
Figs. 351-352.
A Teepee.
The field scene ([Fig. 330]) and the blockhouse scene ([Fig. 338]) will be used for the settings of your battle-fields. For your miniature sea-fights, the mid-ocean scene will be used.
Battleships should be made out of cardboard as shown in [Fig. 353], with the masts reënforced at the back with strips of wood, and the rigging made with heavy thread. It will be well to have a number of pictures from which to work in drawing and painting the various ships of your fleet. The hull of each ship should be curved as shown in the illustration, and mounted upon a cardboard rocker. Make a number of slashes along the curved edge of the hull, and bend out the little flaps alternately, first to one side and then to the other (see A in drawing), after which glue them to the rocker. Attach a cord at B, with which to pull the ship across the stage, and another cord at C, with which to guide the stern. The hull will, of course, run between the strips of waves, so as to be half concealed by them. A person cannot imagine how realistic these little battleships appear when tossing about upon the toy waves, without having seen them in operation.