Lines of Torres Vedras - Fort n.º 19 - Ajuda Pequeno

 This small fort, together with n.º 18, were between the 1st and the 2nd line. N.º 18, or Forte da Ajuda Grande (Grande, because it was the bigger of the two), was restored and deserves a visit to the spot.

My friend Vitor Mestre was already building this last one at 1:160 (10mm) but I prefer the 1:72 scale, so I needed a small construction. As these two forts share the same hill I went no further.

So, long story, I tryed a first layout but it turned out too narrow, which made me start from the begining, opening a bit more some angles (because all I had was some bad pictures and a not so accurate visit to the ruins. More info (in Portuguese).
The garrison consisted on about 200 men and 3 9pdr guns.


Two different sketches of the fort.


First attempt




The magazine (at the centre) isn't completly covered. At first I as thinking about having a removable top, but I couldn't get a satisfying result, so it is fixed but one can see the different layers that protected the magazine if bombarded by enemy artillery.



Nowadays, it can be seen at the Centro de Interpretação das Linhas de Torres Vedras in Bucelas, Loures. (It shares the building with the Wine Museum... 😉)

A small video at Youtube (not mine) from a visit to the fort.

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