World War I Trench Dio.

Hmmm

 That book sounds oddly familiar.  Check your public library, I think mine has it.  I was temted to build one back then, but I never did.  You should attempt to find pics on the web-search for a few days under every term you can think of.  Many trenches on the german side were well built before the brits got to their trenches-so they should be deep, with a special step for troops to stand on, and boards over the drainage part.  If you depict one of the early tank battles-where they still did heavy bombardments, just break it down some.  Some trenches were reduced to only a few feet in depth by bombardments.  Its a wonder anyone survived.

GLW

Just now so your post and wanted to drop you a line. If you can find it there is a book out there tited Make Your Own Model Forts & Castles by Richard Cummings. I puchased mine when way back in elementary school at a book fair where they were selling old books. It has a copyright of 1977. In this book there is a series of seven model building projects. Number four is entitled The Western Front. It runs for fifteen pages and goes step by step on building a WWI trench dio. If you cannot find the book maybe I can scan and email you some copies.

Check out the how to article by Richard Windrow in the Osprey's Masterclass Advanced Terrain Modelling.  The author goes quite into detail on how he built his.

Cheers

Go 1 to 1.life size

take photos and freak people out

Chris

Check out IanisBored2000's post "small sci-fi diorama" down the page. He used popsicle sticks to create his trench.

David

Its a cool idea, Ive thought about it a before. Use foam to get the basic shape of the trench build up. Sand and shape it then cover in whatever you use for ground, celluclay, plaster etc. I think lining the trench with strips of wood from coffee stirrers or bass or balsa wood. A drainage ditch in the bottom with some resin for water and boards on top. Notch firing positions maybe in the trench wall.

Just some thoughts. What scale would you do it in?