WIP: Terrain board - updated again!! THE SEQUEL

[ekwatts]

With all the foam and cardstock I need to begin on creating my terrain board, I threw myself into it tonight. I quickly realised I didn't have anywhere near enough Hirst Arts blocks cast up, and so got crazy with my plaster. I'm using Herculite Stone, which sets really heavy and practically indestructible... I might start using a weaker brand, coz I actually want to break some block to use as rubble piles (every board needs rubble piles!).

My intention is to create a semi-modular board, in 30x30cm sections. I say semi-modular because this is only really a template. I'm going to be making it modular in the sense that I'll be able to dismantle it after a game, but it isn't going to be as flexible as a "true" modular gaming board. I'm elevating the whole "ground level" to around 10cm off the table, to allow for canals, underpasses and whatnot. I want it to be a real rats nest, while retaining a futuristic cityscape above-ground. I'm intending this to mean a lack of ruins, and more proper buildings, but we'll see where it goes from here. I'm aiming at a 60x90cm board to start off with, perhaps adding another 30x90 section later to expand the board to a full 90x90 square playing field. Roads and buildings will be mounted on board that simply sit above the underground sections in a way that can be chopped and changed. Anyway, here's where I'm at so far:

Pathetic, isn't it? Don't worry, I'll be updating as I progress...

 

[Shadow Queen]

looks good

 

[ekwatts]

I just realised something really stupid: I've never worked with polystyrene before. All my glue is used on plastic and metal figures, so it'll just burn the styrene sheets. What kind of glue can I use to attach things like plastics and plaster Hirst Arts blocks to my polystyrene boards?

 

[umw]

Carpenters glue should work O.K. Just takes a while to dry...

 

[ned-kogar]

Some folks swear by glue guns.

I've used PVA.

 

[Silverback]

Some folks swear by glue guns. . .

I've a tendency to swear AT them!

 

[ekwatts]

More work done tonight.

I'm building up slowly from what I'll be classing as the "underground" sections, to ground level (represented here by the top of the wall in the underground sewer section) and I'll possibly add a few flyovers later. We'll see! The two blue foam sections forming the bridge are just there for show; there will be a bridge, but it will be a road section that traverses the open sewer, and there will also be a few walkways across, too, to prevent the bridge becoming a bottleneck once I've expanded the board. The white base resting on the square blue section is the base of an Amera Plastic Moulding ruined factory. I've yet to stick the walls on. That's enough for tonight, though. I still need to cast up ALOT more blocks with my futuristic Hirst Art mold.

 

[scotherns]

It's looking really promising, lots of interesting tactical choices with the multi-level layout.

Looking forward to seeing the next photos!

Two of your mini's look quite similar to two of mine (both in pose and colour scheme) - the white suited mohican punk with two pistols and the blond girl dressed in red. My first thought was, hey, how did those two get out of my house

Cheers,

Steve

 

[ekwatts]

It's looking really promising, lots of interesting tactical choices with the multi-level layout.

Looking forward to seeing the next photos!

Two of your mini's look quite similar to two of mine (both in pose and colour scheme) - the white suited mohican punk with two pistols and the blond girl dressed in red. My first thought was, hey, how did those two get out of my house

Cheers,

Steve

Haha, I realised afterwards that I might have subconsciously "borrowed" some of your schemes as inspiration... I was definitely rushing them, and although my painting isn't anywhere near as good as yours, it was one of those "d'oh! That's where the idea came from!" moments when I looked up an old thread and saw your minis in there!

 

[scotherns]

I was wondering if I'd 'borrowed' the schemes from you

I probably got the inspiration from somewhere else anyway!

Cheers,

Steve

 

[ekwatts]

Little more work done tonight. This section of the table is almost all done now, I just need to cast up a lot more floor tiles to complete the sides and voila! My gangs have a stinky open sewer to fight over... Next up will be the ruined factory, although before I can even start that piece, I need to cast up EVEN MORE floor tiles, so that won't be for a few days at least.

 

[scotherns]

Looks great so far - the area under the bridge has an excellent claustrophobic feel about it. This will look amazing once painted!

Cheers,

Steve

 

[ekwatts]

You spoke too soon!

Seriously, I painted the edges and the ground so this board section is ready for spraypaint. I really shouldn't have glued the bridge down, that was particularly stupid, but with the walkway (not glued, so it can be moved around the board) and a few figures, this section is starting to look the way I intended...

Very little needs adding now, just the edges to the bridge and a few more floortiles and then I'll paint it. It took far too long to cast up all of the floor tiles I needed (and due to my beginner status with this kind of thing, they're totally uneven, as you can see in the picture), so I'm going to invest in some silicone rubber and start casting up duplicates.

Here's some pics!

 

[ekwatts]

*edit*

 

[ned-kogar]

That's looking really nice. The raised plaza's a great idea, too.

How many 10 x 10 tiles are you aiming to have eventually?

Ned

 

[JayRaider]

Excellent work so far

 

[ekwatts]

*edit*

 

[ned-kogar]

It's really nice!

I've not heard of Plasticville.. where'd you find them?

Ned

 

[ekwatts]

*edit*

 

[ned-kogar]

Thanks ek!

The railking towers are particularly great - and I'm intending to develop some undercity pieces, so diners, etc might be just what I need.

I have a couple of Ameritowne pieces which I'd forgotten about: they're to be shattered in two for derelict undercity buildings..

Ned