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Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: Inkpaduta on July 10, 2019, 11:14:23 PM

Title: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Inkpaduta on July 10, 2019, 11:14:23 PM
Okay,

I realize this is the hot new thing for buildings. Punch them out and put them together.
But I don't care for them. I have tried a number of the kits. There are usually little to
no directions on how to put them together. Numerous pieces you have to figure out where
they are meant to go. They don't fit together well. Plus, this was originally sold as "being so cheap".
To me, they have gotten more expensive.

Am I alone in my feelings?
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: carlos marighela on July 10, 2019, 11:32:32 PM
Okay,

I realize this is the hot new thing for buildings. Punch them out and put them together.
But I don't care for them. I have tried a number of the kits. There are usually little to
no directions on how to put them together. Numerous pieces you have to figure out where
they are meant to go. They don't fit together well. Plus, this was originally sold as "being so cheap".
To me, they have gotten more expensive.

Am I alone in my feelings?

Well given the diversity of human opinion on anything, it's unlikely you are alone and indeed I have seen others on this very forum express disdain. Like most things it depends not only on the raw materials but what you bring to the party. I see MDF buildings as useful dollies or shells, to which one details them to varying extents. In that sense they are better value than lumps of resin, if for example you want to make multiple buildings with variations on a theme. Surface texture and roofs are the most common issue and both are readily fixed if you are willing to put in a little work. Like most things you get more out of them , the more you put in. I always add roofing sheets, plastic rod guttering and various details. The surface gets scuffed, scribed, sometimes plastered and generally surfaced, so it doesn't look like MDF.

I agree that many kits will appeal most to those who like jigsaws but to be honest I haven't come across an example where they are inscrutable. Of course manufacturers vary. The Knights of Dice buildings are not only very detailed but most are fairly intuitive to build and even if they weren't their website supplies easily read construction diagrams.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: OSHIROmodels on July 10, 2019, 11:47:09 PM
Okay,

I realize this is the hot new thing for buildings. Punch them out and put them together.
But I don't care for them. I have tried a number of the kits. There are usually little to
no directions on how to put them together. Numerous pieces you have to figure out where
they are meant to go. They don't fit together well. Plus, this was originally sold as "being so cheap".
To me, they have gotten more expensive.

Am I alone in my feelings?

Good man  :D
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Captain Harlock on July 11, 2019, 12:15:56 AM
I totaly understand how you feel, I hate the damn things.

1) Coming mainly from a scale modelling background I find them lacking detail.

2) 9 out 10 they are much worse than what I can do for ''free'' (granted nothing is free) with abit effort and occasional cursing.

3) Their prices are constantly rising, even if I wanted mdf building its much easier for me to set up an adobe illustrator file and go to a local cnc service.

I understand some people care more about the playing aspect and they dont have or want to spend time. My mates are like this. But for me the whole scratch building/modelling/painting aspect is more enjoyable than the playing one. Its like fishing. You clear your mind.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Blackwolf on July 11, 2019, 01:14:31 AM
I like them...though I do,do them up.I can scratch build(a few threads on the forum),there's just not enough time to scratch  everything when I have so much bloody stuff ;D
What bugs me are rivers above ground level,and trees on bases...
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Elbows on July 11, 2019, 02:22:56 AM
I feel like the solution is possibly...don't buy them?
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Malebolgia on July 11, 2019, 08:11:33 AM
I don't like brussel sprouts.
*shrugs*

But more seriously, I love them. They give a sturdy and practical solution that does look great when it's painted up. They're easy to assemble and you can do a lot with them. And most manufacturers sell them with instructions or provide them on their website. So yeah, great material for buildings I'd say.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: tin shed gamer on July 11, 2019, 09:14:45 AM
As I've said before Mdf is seen by some as a magic bullet. Personally I think it has its limitations. It's Ideal for industrial and angular shapes . Curved surfaces expose its limitations.Where as organic shapes and movement are well beyound its ability.
Am I a fan ? Not really a question I can simply answer yes or no too.
Do I own Mdf buildings Yes.Are any of them straight out of the box un altered builds No not a one .
I view mdf as many others do.As a time saving Dollies.I also view Railway card models in a similar way.
When it comes to price.It's a case of shopping around and having a clear idea of how you intend to use / view the kit.
I'm not going to buy a £40 knights of dice Brownstone building if I intend on cladding it in plaster(personally I use pre mixed tile grout and adhesive .as it doesn't scare as easily as plaster)
No I'll buy a TT combat or similar at £15 or less.
The true value of mdf kits isn't the level of detail for the price.(although it factors greatly in decision making.)
It's time versus money .
Does the expense and level of detail save me enough time and cost (in terms of a DIY.) to warrent the outlays.
For example a row of terraced house.
28mm Mdf £30-£40 and six hours to build and pimp.
Ho railway card buildings £6-£15 convert to 28mm and pimp eight hours.
From scratch grey board from ebay £1.50-£5 build and pimp ten hours.
From scratch rooting through the recycling.Cost zero. building and pimping twelve to fifteen hours.

It is possible to do zero cost builds If you class the use of adhesives and paints as something you've in
 Stock for your hobby anyway.
I'm always plonking such threads on here ;)
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: SteveBurt on July 11, 2019, 09:57:46 AM
I like them if the original building was made of wood; so they are great for Wild West or French & Indian War settings, or parts of rural Russia. I don't like them for brick, stone or adobe buildings, because they don't look right.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Daeothar on July 11, 2019, 10:28:46 AM
They're like blank canvasses; ready to be tarted up. And when properly done, they can look suitably interesting.

Bare MDF (pre-painted or not) as terrain does fit in nicely with equally bare plastic or metal though...

What bugs me are rivers above ground level,and trees on bases...
Seconded...

Wait a minute; are you basically saying you don't like the Netherlands? lol
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Rich H on July 11, 2019, 12:02:52 PM
I use MDF as a base the pimp... 
(http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=108673.0;attach=80297;image)

I get annoyed at the assembly slots on show so I cover them with 'stuff' favourite being this brick paper from a chap in greece via e-bay and card-slates.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=110985.0;attach=82837;image)

(Note I make my own base buildings as I've got a laser cutter and MDF is cheap  ;D but the principal still holds)
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: armchairgeneral on July 11, 2019, 12:06:55 PM
I am also not keen on MDF as they look like cardboard cut outs IMHO. However I do take the point that you can tart them up to save you starting completely from scratch.

I prefer resin buildings as I would rather spend the time painting figures.

That said I recently came across this company and their MDF stuff looks quite impressive

https://www.darkops.co.uk/collections/all?page=6
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: AWu on July 11, 2019, 12:39:18 PM
I prefer to built myself but there are certain things that are just better in MDF and damn time consuming when scratch building.

Samurai houses from 4 ground for example..
I could emulate them but when I built my much more crude scratch build Japanese Inn it took me ages and  was frustrating.
So 4Ground any day.. and they do not need repainting and come with a teddy bear thatch..




Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Duncan McDane on July 11, 2019, 04:44:41 PM
I don't like MDF-buildings because I'm not skilled enough to make something good out of them  :'(
Got some MDF-parts on Warlord Antares drop pots. A nasty surprise, since I was counting on it to be of plastic or metal. Needless to say I haven't done anything with them yet.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Old Contemptible on July 11, 2019, 05:31:52 PM
I hate the damn things. I purchased a French farm house kit and it was absolutely a disaster to assemble. Way beyond my skill set. Too tedious and fragile. The floor was warp out of the box and nothing fit. The popular mantra is that they are so "easy and such a great value." I find them expensive and difficult. I wish companies would have a purchase complete option. Some people like myself don't want to spend weeks assembling a building. I'd rather spend that time painting figures and playing. So I wouldn't mind the extra expense.   
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Shahbahraz on July 11, 2019, 06:11:11 PM
I think everything that needed to be said has been said.

I like them, as I don't have the space/facilities to diy the shells, plus MDF is messy and nasty to cut.

But I always treat them as canvases for further work, sometimes it looks good, sometimes I'm not so happy with the result.

What annoys me is when I see copycat nonsense like pre-painted MDF buildings being used straight out of the box, and people thinking that looks good.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 11, 2019, 06:23:22 PM
For me, MDF is great for the right kind of buildings.

Some companies products may be rubbish, others push the media beyond either the builder or designers' capabilities.

They do need some post assembly work, covering holes and joins.

Most of the resin buildings I have seen suffer from sand castle mould syndrome.

Again horses for courses
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Nord on July 11, 2019, 06:57:27 PM
I don't like metal figures with claw shaped or (worse) solid hands that you have to drill a hole through to slot in a weapon. It's a complete pain and it always looks, well, cack-handed. So I don't buy them. Simples.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Blackwolf on July 11, 2019, 09:38:24 PM
They're like blank canvasses; ready to be tarted up. And when properly done, they can look suitably interesting.

Bare MDF (pre-painted or not) as terrain does fit in nicely with equally bare plastic or metal though...
Seconded...

Wait a minute; are you basically saying you don't like the Netherlands? lol

Love the Netherlands :D
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Captain Blood on July 12, 2019, 09:02:06 AM
Am I alone in my feelings?

Nope. I don't like them either.

As SteveBurt says, they work fine for representing structures that were timber in the first place - like Old West buildings. Absolutely perfect.
But when it comes to brickwork, stonework, concrete, tiles, slates etc, it's poor.
And when you get to really organic looking forms and structures like old stone buildings, cottages, mud-brick and adobe houses, then all those hard straight lines and sharp corners look totally wrong for what they're trying to represent.
Then you have the specific shortcomings of the material - lack of surface relief / texture; those horrible 'jigsaw' corners and visible slots in roofs etc; visual aberrations like 2 dimensional crenellations, and the slightly shiny paper surface. And they're not even cheap these days.
I understand MDF buildings can make a good base to work from - although you're potentially paying a lot of money for something you've then got to do a lot of work on. But the reality is that most wargamers don't use them as a base to create something wonderful looking. They just plonk them straight onto the tabletop.

For me, it's just another facet of the same old 'you pays your money and takes your choice' argument. Is wargaming all about the game, the rules, the competition? Or is wargaming all about the modelling, the painting, the figures, the aesthetics? Of course, for most people it's both, and everyone comes down somewhere they're happy with along this continuum (and then go on to add in all those other important wargaming factors like fun, comradeship, the craic, creativity, invention, history, research etc).

I'm firmly at the aesthetic-but-fun extremity of that spectrum. I like my games to look beautiful - like 'proper' wargames you see in the eye candy pages of magazines and rulebooks. That means everything modelled and painted in 3D.
I guess that's why I'm not a fan of 2D printed MDF buildings, 2D printed mats, or printed 2D paper soldiers for that matter. I know that many of these products are now very beautiful and cleverly designed in their own right. But for me, they're just not 'proper'. As ever, it's just a personal preference / choice. Fine to say you love them. Fine to say you don't like them. No-one's saying there's categorically a right answer :)
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: OSHIROmodels on July 12, 2019, 09:14:39 AM
they work fine for representing structures that were timber in the first place - like Old West buildings. Absolutely perfect.

I would disagree with that. An occasional wiggly laser score to represent wood grain just doesn't cut it for me.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Rich H on July 12, 2019, 09:25:10 AM
I would disagree with that. An occasional wiggly laser score to represent wood grain just doesn't cut it for me.
Agreed but I engrave a planked wood texture on my 'wood' but it takes AGES to do.  Looks good though.  I'll see if I haev a pic.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Silent Invader on July 12, 2019, 10:10:33 AM
I would disagree with that. An occasional wiggly laser score to represent wood grain just doesn't cut it for me.

So it goes against the grain?
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Rich H on July 12, 2019, 10:22:20 AM
You can see the wood grain engrave on the walls and floors here

(http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=116075.0;attach=96712;image)

Bigger pic
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=116075.0;attach=96712;image
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: carlos marighela on July 12, 2019, 10:46:50 AM
Surely a ‘proper’ wargame would have buildings made from plaster of paris and hills constructed from plasticene, all laid out on green baize, a la Donald Featherstone?
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Daeothar on July 12, 2019, 11:11:37 AM
So it goes against the grain?

You! Coat! Now!

 lol
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Captain Blood on July 12, 2019, 11:50:01 AM
Surely a ‘proper’ wargame would have buildings made from plaster of paris and hills constructed from plasticene, all laid out on green baize, a la Donald Featherstone?

Ah, but 'proper' is in the eye of the beholder. Personal preference, as I said. And the look of what many people would recognise as a 'proper' wargame has certainly evolved over time ;)

The funny thing is though, everyone loves to drool over the eye candy quality terrain and figures now contained in almost every rulebook and magazine. And yet this strange reluctance on the part of many wargamers to admit that this is the standard to aim for. So they privately love it, but publicly declare it unnecessary. Funny thing human nature...
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Cait Sidhe on July 12, 2019, 12:04:47 PM
So they privately love it, but publicly declare it unnecessary. Funny thing human nature...

How are those things mutually exclusive? Sure I would love to have full hand made boards with rivers and cliffs sculpted directly in and handmade buildings built with individual miniature stones. The reality is though I have neither the space to store multiple boards of that type nor the skill or time to achieve any of that so I use flat boards with hills and trees etc plonked down on them as scatter terrain. I've even been known to use *gasp* printed cardstock stuff...  :o

So yes big fancy super realistic terrain and incredibly painted minis are gorgeous and would be great but they are completely unnecessary in order to enjoy playing wargames.

Behold my terrain and weep!

(https://i.imgur.com/Fr23f9V.jpg)
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: jon_1066 on July 12, 2019, 12:09:09 PM
Rather than unnecessary read un-achievable.

Not everyone has the time or skills to create 3D terrain of rulebook quality.  For me they are useful for quick terrain and a step up from the old cardboard models you used to get in the GW scenario packs.  I also find them quite fun to build and they look OK.  I certainly don't think they are the worst looking part of my wargame set up so they can definitely wait for an upgrade.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Antenociti on July 12, 2019, 12:44:32 PM
What annoys me is when I see copycat nonsense like pre-painted MDF buildings being used straight out of the box, and people thinking that looks good.

Could you expand upon that by any chance?

We've quite a few pre-painted buildings that customers think look great "straight out of the box" - I would be interested to hear why you think that that isn't really possible?

(https://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Happy-Panda-1.jpg)

(https://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Kobe-Kow-1.jpg)


Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Antenociti on July 12, 2019, 12:58:01 PM
. There are usually little to no directions on how to put them together. Numerous pieces you have to figure out where
they are meant to go. They don't fit together well. Plus, this was originally sold as "being so cheap".

I don't think poor instructions and bad fittings are exclusive to MDF - that can apply to plenty of multi-part metal/resin products... and parts not fitting is also poor design or production, rather than a problem endemic to MDF as a product material.

I'd say that their initial, and possibly current 'draw' is that they allow you to build something of a reasonable standard without needing significant scenery/modelling skills (materials and tools).

"Cheap" ...

Sure, plenty have been sold as cheap, but they generally are cheap looking, low detail and basic designs - which as others have stated here, are more suited to be "platforms" to build upon, rather than finished products. Again though, those are people with that building skill... many folks don't have that ability but can assemble an MDF kit.

Yet, isn't that true of most wargame products? A wide range of prices depending on quality, support and design?

On the other hand, yes, the market is flooded with cheap tat.... but, again, isn't that true of most things nowadays?
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Silent Invader on July 12, 2019, 01:02:55 PM
You! Coat! Now!

 lol

 :D
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Duncan McDane on July 12, 2019, 02:21:14 PM

Behold my terrain and weep!


I'd choose cardboard buildings over MDF any day of the week. Quick, easy to assemble and cheap. But all a matter of taste, of course. I still hope to secure enough funds to get me a small Tabletop World village but alas, "saving" and "this hobby" is next to impossible for me ;-).
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: sundayhero on July 12, 2019, 03:19:58 PM
Who's selling cardboard buildings ?
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Cait Sidhe on July 12, 2019, 03:55:52 PM
Who's selling cardboard buildings ?

Not many as kits these days I imagine, but there's plenty of print your own stuff out there on Wargame Vault etc. The building I posted is a Dave Graffam Inventor's House I printed out and assembled myself.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Kommando_J on July 12, 2019, 04:22:55 PM
I tried mdf once with the great panjandrum war machine from warlord games, the instructions were very unclear and as a result the mdf became so dog-eared it wouldn't go together and I ended up just throwing it away in disgust.

Never again!
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Andrew_McGuire on July 12, 2019, 04:29:19 PM
It might be worse. At least we don't have to live in them.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Captain Blood on July 12, 2019, 05:30:20 PM

So yes big fancy super realistic terrain and incredibly painted minis are gorgeous and would be great but they are completely unnecessary in order to enjoy playing wargames.


That is indeed the alternative point of view, well expressed :)
To me, those things are in fact entirely necessary to my enjoyment of a wargame. To you, not.
Like I say, personal preference.
I also greatly enjoy boardgaming. In fact these days I play a lot more boardgames than tabletop games with miniatures. Different aesthetic, different medium.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Gibby on July 12, 2019, 05:56:46 PM
I've seen people do wonders with MDF, and not spend a great deal more in doing so given they're using existing terrain-making materials. Some people are able to take an MDF structure and turn it into something that rivals quality resin buildings. I've also seen those tables where the weaknesses of MDF are very apparent.

Have to say, those Antenociti pre-painted units are excellent! Goes to show what CAN be done even in a ready-made product.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Duncan McDane on July 12, 2019, 06:08:32 PM
Who's selling cardboard buildings ?

In the Netherlands we have the Cosmic Fire Foundation that sells cardboard buildings in many scales ( 1:60-1:72-1:87-1:100 ).
I'm sure if you google for 28mm cardboard buildings you'll get many hits ;-).
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Lovejoy on July 12, 2019, 09:22:12 PM
I always thought I didn't like MDF terrain, but since Sarissa made a bunch of it for our Burrows & Badgers game, I'm a convert...
Painted with sprays and standard acrylics, I think it looks pretty good personally!

Certainly a lot faster to put together than if I'd tried scratchbuilding it, too...

(https://oathsworn.net/stuff/1.jpg)

Cheers,
Michael
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Elbows on July 13, 2019, 09:40:18 PM
I'm personally a fan, but then I've a lot of experience with them.  If you don't like them, I still don't see why this is an issue - no one is forcing you to buy them.

MDF is a pretty sweeping generalization though.

This is MDF terrain:
(https://images.beastsofwar.com/2015/09/Near-Future-Terrain.jpg)

And so is this:
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EzLddFXxmg0/maxresdefault.jpg)
(and yes it comes pre-painted with pre-painted and detailed interior walls etc.)

Alternatively you have some excellent "dollies" styled bits available from companies like Knights of Dice:
(https://hntdaab.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_20171016_214225-1024x768.jpg)
(intentionally simple shapes - made to be modified by the end user)

And then this is also MDF:
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vj0AAOSwSypY93-T/s-l1600.jpg)
(comes with the teddy bear fur thatch roof, etc.)

I know we have some world class terrain builders on this site, but I don't think anyone can argue that casual gamers or gaming clubs are often very short on quality terrain.  It's a time consuming skill that many people don't have the patience for or the materials/space to work on.  More gamers than we like to admit don't even fully paint most of their miniatures.

On top of that, a lot of the home-made terrain I've seen put on gaming tables is really poor.  I think we've set the expectation rather high vs. what reality often is.  I'm one of two people in ten of my local group who can put together a fully painted/assembled table with terrain.  Some of it home-made, a lot of it is Old West.

I don't have the time or skill to build a full Old West table the way I run my games (particularly with doors, windows, interior details, etc.).  I do re-spray and paint a lot of portions, but I'll take the 85% solution if it means getting a table done.  The builds disassemble and stack easily in my terrain tubs and I can transport them easily.

In my experience I have found MDF to be a joy to work with (very few exceptions, I have on one or two occasions received pieces which are a tiny bit too thick and the joins needed cutting down with an xacto knife).  If you buy the cheaper stuff you can also assemble it in minutes.  If you needed to suddenly put together a table in an hour or two you could feasibly do it (not suggesting it!).

I'd post some pictures of my tables, but they occasionally have rivers on top of the ground and trees with bases, so I don't want to cause a riot...
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Inkpaduta on July 13, 2019, 10:44:38 PM
Elbows,

I never said it was an issue. This is a forum about wargaming and discussion things about wargaming. I simply stated my feelings about MDF and asked if others felt the same way. I have found the responses interesting. Some people seem to like MDF. Many seem to be so-so about it (better than building your own) and some agree with me. It was never of question of buy it or don't buy it, just what you did of MDF buildings.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: lethallee61 on July 13, 2019, 10:50:13 PM
I use a lot of MDF buildings and gubbins and will continue to do so. Convenient, time-saving and simple to paint and accessorise if you want to go that way. Plus they often come in shapes and sizes that I can’t replicate with the hobby tools in my possession.

What I find most amusing about those who complain though is that they often use the argument that the buildings aren’t “realistic looking enough”.

Personally, I’ve yet to see any historical photo or illustration that shows soldiers walking around with those big round disks attached to the bottom of their feet either, but I’m prepared to accept those for my wargaming troops as well.  ;)

Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Gibby on July 13, 2019, 11:35:43 PM
Not to mention that wargaming buildings are usually ridiculously small relative to the size of the miniatures.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Codsticker on July 14, 2019, 01:38:22 AM
I like MDF buildings but not for all applications. If I am after a fixed piece with good detail then I will pass on MDF and look for an equivalent in resin. If I am wargaming in and around the structure or want to modify a building then I will go with MDF or scratch build. My Mordheim table has plastic, MDF and scratch built buildings on it.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kByy3M8i8Zk/Wew7CnMGJJI/AAAAAAAAAIA/xlOTRaa8OlE8P5gZB34RK0ajw3OC5K1BACLcBGAs/s1600/Mordheim%2Bgame%2Boct%2B21%2B001.jpg)
My Pulp Alley urban table is all MDF except for the plastic barn kit:
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uBOOPruKLAg/WoCIpeW9exI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/22Khs7o-8cI-Wo8oZY1QirRJGgErSvb5gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pulp%2BAlley%2BTable%2BFeb%2B8th%2B006.jpg)
This structures on this table show the shortcomings of MDF the greatest; the Nissen hut looks funky; the Henderson Air Field hangar doesn't look too bad but isn't a completely true representation:
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SnC126Kh1Zs/W16di_iejAI/AAAAAAAAArQ/7QFOKEMUcbwGn2scQk9EZCjeoshINPvCgCLcBGAs/s1600/Pulp%2BAlley%2BGame%2BJuly%2B29th%2B2018%2B002.jpg)
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Antonio J Carrasco on July 14, 2019, 05:59:34 AM
Not to mention that wargaming buildings are usually ridiculously small relative to the size of the miniatures.

That's a problem for skirmish games, where the ratio men to miniatures is 1:1 and the scale of the terrain as proximate to the scale of the models as possible.

In games where the terrain scale is already distorted, the size of the buildings is less relevant than their footprint.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Captain Blood on July 14, 2019, 07:50:40 AM
If you don't like them, I still don't see why this is an issue - no one is forcing you to buy them.


This is a forum about wargaming and discussion things about wargaming. I simply stated my feelings about MDF and asked if others felt the same way. I have found the responses interesting.

...is the point.

It's getting a bit depressing that any time anyone opens a topic here that's remotely critical of any product or category of product, they get hit with 'well if you don't like it, don't buy it' - which feels like a way of trying to just shut down the discussion. (Along with its close cousin 'well if you don't like this thread, don't read it').

As Inkpaduta says, LAF is a wargames forum. Discussion of wargames-related topics is partly what most people are here for, including different opinions on different products and category of product. Considered criticism / devoted support for particular wargames products is perfectly legitimate within the rules of the forum provided it's polite, proportionate and considered.



This structures on this table show the shortcomings of MDF the greatest; the Nissen hut looks funky; the Henderson Air Field hangar doesn't look too bad but isn't a completely true representation:
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SnC126Kh1Zs/W16di_iejAI/AAAAAAAAArQ/7QFOKEMUcbwGn2scQk9EZCjeoshINPvCgCLcBGAs/s1600/Pulp%2BAlley%2BGame%2BJuly%2B29th%2B2018%2B002.jpg)

Those both work extremely well to my eye. Looks fabulous. The groundwork too.
As I said, I think for representing certain structures and materials, MDF is great. But there are just some forms and building materials it's poor at representing. To me anyway  :)
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Rich H on July 14, 2019, 10:09:54 AM
Given all our infantry have 5ft circles attached to their feet, I'm happy that the overall effect is good, the detail... meh.

I think the point for me is that MDF in it's most basic form is equivalent to playing with unpainted models - it's better than no game but could be improved upon without much effort. 

Some people are happy with unpainted/raw MDF, some 3 colours and based, some 3ft/good enough, some only happy with true artistry.  Me I'm somewhere between 3 colours and 3ft for minis and terrain.  I do get carried away with some individual items but I always struggle to tie everything together (and I struggle with storage space....)
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Arrigo on July 14, 2019, 10:18:00 AM
I like MDF buildings but not for all applications. If I am after a fixed piece with good detail then I will pass on MDF and look for an equivalent in resin. If I am wargaming in and around the structure or want to modify a building then I will go with MDF or scratch build. My Mordheim table has plastic, MDF and scratch built buildings on it.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kByy3M8i8Zk/Wew7CnMGJJI/AAAAAAAAAIA/xlOTRaa8OlE8P5gZB34RK0ajw3OC5K1BACLcBGAs/s1600/Mordheim%2Bgame%2Boct%2B21%2B001.jpg)
My Pulp Alley urban table is all MDF except for the plastic barn kit:
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uBOOPruKLAg/WoCIpeW9exI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/22Khs7o-8cI-Wo8oZY1QirRJGgErSvb5gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pulp%2BAlley%2BTable%2BFeb%2B8th%2B006.jpg)
This structures on this table show the shortcomings of MDF the greatest; the Nissen hut looks funky; the Henderson Air Field hangar doesn't look too bad but isn't a completely true representation:
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SnC126Kh1Zs/W16di_iejAI/AAAAAAAAArQ/7QFOKEMUcbwGn2scQk9EZCjeoshINPvCgCLcBGAs/s1600/Pulp%2BAlley%2BGame%2BJuly%2B29th%2B2018%2B002.jpg)

I think plenty of us will be happy with these 3 tables, even the one you say it shows the limit of MDF... to me is fabulous, yes it is not a perfect Henderson Field Hangar (but some were ramshackle temporary structure anyway... and certainly after Kurita-san made his visit...
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Dr. The Viking on July 14, 2019, 10:27:47 AM
I don't really understand how you can rule out an entire material like that.

I dislike many of the current offerings in mdf.  Especially when you combine it with printed stuff to cover the sides... the combination of the two is a complete abomination to me.

But I think nice stuff can be made with it too.  It works really well for the Old West setting I think.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Lost Egg on July 14, 2019, 11:36:58 AM
I think its like anything...MDF terrain can be good but for the right job. Having said that I'm not really a fan as they always look a bit flat...I much prefer using foamboard and going DIY but maybe thats just because I grew up on the old White Dwarf Modelling Workshop articles.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Antonio J Carrasco on July 14, 2019, 01:10:49 PM
Truth be told, MDF is not great, but it serves its purpose for those of us that have less than impressive modelistic skills. I've tried to design my own buildings. The experience was as painful as the results were disgusting. MDFs look better than the monstrosities that I produced; even unpainted!

I can use resin buildings, of course. However, resins are expensive and shipment costs are higher than with MDFs.

Bottom line is that MDFs are, for me, a great alternative.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Shahbahraz on July 14, 2019, 07:06:14 PM
Could you expand upon that by any chance?

We've quite a few pre-painted buildings that customers think look great "straight out of the box" - I would be interested to hear why you think that that isn't really possible?

(https://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Happy-Panda-1.jpg)

(https://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Kobe-Kow-1.jpg)

There are manufacturers producing pre-painted MDF, that gets whacked on a table, and still has visible tabs in roofs, unrealistic colours, unnatural straight lines and players will say 'that looks great' - well, I am not the world's most skilled modeller or painter, but I do at least try -

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9QcDhSK9Fw/XOFQitaKqOI/AAAAAAAAECc/3c_QHI5A4Q8ISsFzXdQvN3sxmVh2g-TIACLcBGAs/s1600/13church_done_1.jpg)

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2xTMvilE3IQ/XMI73tCEUyI/AAAAAAAAD-0/QYbtSJ7xLJ8Xi-ShZ9HIemMiqnO-ydFEwCEwYBhgL/s1600/finish2.png)

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nsSLsxLxLjE/XCYb07IL1XI/AAAAAAAADy4/-GCup3Dfl6sE6x3JwFYCGAXvsQCeQrOMwCLcBGAs/s1600/chatau.jpg)
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: grant on July 14, 2019, 09:21:38 PM
MDF buildings smell bad.

Even the prepainted ones look bad with all the unpainted bits.

I too am not a fan of them.

Add to that the cost - they’re not cheap, making them a less appealing option than building my own. 
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: mcfonz on July 14, 2019, 10:39:51 PM
To be honest, whilst I agree with Cpt. Blood I do also think that objectivity is sometimes a bit lacking.

MDF terrain, and in some cases more (vehicles), holds an important part in wargaming.

Now, you can go down the detail route, but personally, I find that futile. Very, very, very few things about wargaming is ever precise about detail as much as you would want to be. When you consider that in 28mm a 6x4 isn't much bigger than a couple of football pitches and yet games are played with a platoon and a couple of tanks and air support etc. Reality is a squad or two is realistic.

So it's about the details.

MDF, like resin, has a low end and a top end. The more you pay, typically the better the product. On one end of the scale you have the likes of Nights of Dice who use different thicknesses of materials to help detail and pull the pieces away from the samey dimensions. The prepainted stuff is the same. You have some like the four ground stuff which has it's place in the hobby but is perhaps a bit flat looking - perhaps because on fantasy/historical you need more variations of colour on them? But then you have Antenocity for which it suits the smooth, flat colours of sci fi buildings etc.

As others have pointed out, the cheaper end of the MDF market provides great structures to add to.

One of the most interesting concepts I have seen are from 6milphil and Fenris which surprises me that no one else has taken inspiration and that is resin facades and detailing for mdf carcasses. You save on the amount of resin, reducing the weight of the structure and also enable internal use of the building without having to use a complicated mould. It also means it can be packed relatively flat for posting. One carcass can be turned into a number of different buildings.

So for me it firmly has it's place.

And I do sort of get where some people are coming from. We don't all have the time, skills or inclination to build our own or perhaps feel we can do a finely detailed resin building justice. A simple MDF building may be the solution.

And overall, MDF buildings ARE cheaper than their equivalent in resin.

Lets have a little look.
(https://www.grandmanner.co.uk/admin/thumbnail.php?width=240&height=240&src=/admin/images/DA85.jpg)
£20 in plain unpainted resin for that dark ages building.
(http://www.renedra.co.uk/cw4/images/product_expanded/Wattle.jpg)
Smaller and is called an outhouse but can pass as a small dwelling - £5.00
(https://www.zenterrain.com/userdata/gfx/72e0459511fa9d13a5acf5c4731506e9.jpg)
10.96 Euros which I think is around £8.00

Now, your preference may well be for the grand manner piece which is very nice. But the other two still have their place. You can buy two of the zen terrain pieces for the same price. If you want to add detail to them yourself you can.

Each to their own. I like MDF. It certain and undoubtedly has it's uses.

(https://i.imgur.com/I0qgmZp.jpg?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/0VpJi10.jpg?1)

For this sort of thing it adds a level of strength you just couldn't get for cardboard or foamboard and durability that even resin couldn't handle in the same way.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Elbows on July 14, 2019, 10:59:24 PM
My issue with the thread is the way it was presented.

I've been doing forums (like most people here) for 20+ years.  I've never felt the need to post a thread about something I didn't like.  Even to see if other people agreed.  I don't think that's constructive at all.  It just starts off with a bias and is aimed for a feedback-loop of negativity.

Why not a thread about alternatives to MDF buildings?  Or a simpler "What are your opinions on MDF as a gaming material?" etc.  Even if the OP already has an opinion or bias in the discussion, it doesn't need to be presented that way.  Comes off as a waste of time to me.

I hold Lead Adventure as the high-water mark for wargame hobbying, but it makes me cringe to watch some of the world-class level modelers here disparage a product which obviously was never intended for them.  That's akin to a world class painter complaining about the quality of a $10 starter paint set from a hobby store (complete with white plastic paint brushes).

I see enough complaint threads on other forums and would rather LA didn't head in that direction.  I'd much rather read a thread about something you like and endorse...rather than just a thread of whinging about a product you don't need to purchase.  Doesn't seem useful to the forum.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Codsticker on July 14, 2019, 11:57:26 PM
My issue with the thread is the way it was presented.
Isn't that true of wargames fora though? I think it is more common to see a thread titled "I Don't Like ____" or "Worst _____ Evar!" . It would be nice to see more "OMG! I Love ____ So Much I Want To Marry It!" threads  :D. If going by the title alone I could see how this thread may have gone downhill very fast, however, I don't feel that Inkpaduta and those that have agreed with him haven't taken issue with those of us that expressed a contrary opinion.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Inkpaduta on July 15, 2019, 02:36:23 AM
Codsticker,

You are right. I have no problem if people like MDF. For me, they haven't worked well so I was wondering what others thought.
I think it has been a good discussion that is now on its fourth page, so I guess most people must agree with that.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Rich H on July 15, 2019, 07:36:34 AM
I think that this thread - while slightly against the grain - has produced some very interesting debate all the same. 

Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Westfalia Chris on July 15, 2019, 08:25:24 AM
What I've been wondering since page 1, though - is this actually about MDF or about laser-cut terrain in general?

My main issue with laser-cut stuff is indeed if MDF is used, as I find the smell irritating, and a bit tricky to glue and paint efficiently. I've seen magnificent cardboard laser-cut kits (albeit in smaller scales, e.g. railway modelling, where the limitations, such as shallower detail and the like are less of an issue), and am quite fond of laser-cut acrylic, too, for the aforementioned angular themes.

It's not a one-stop solution, and I would prefer other materials than MDF. But if used appropriately, I think laser-cut stuff definitely has its merits.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Captain Blood on July 15, 2019, 08:31:28 AM
I agree with mcfonz, Chris and others - like anything, there's better MDF product and there's not so good. MDF isn't all bad, and it would be daft to dismiss it all out of hand, when plainly there are some things it's good at portraying, and there are some high end products that look pretty good.

As far as the right to be critical goes, I appreciate that many people, like Elbows, don't like what they see as negativity. But alas, criticism is a very human behaviour, especially in relation to to art / culture / anything remotely creative or expressive. It's not possible to wish it away. It's part of the human condition, and many people enjoy it and get benefit from it. Many writers make a living from criticism.
More to the point, it's clearly and explicitly allowed within the rules of the forum: it's fine to express a critical opinion provided it doesn't descend into ranting, flaming etc. So suggesting we shouldn't ever open critical discussions isn't in line with the stated policy of the forum - even though you may personally dislike it.

For what it's worth, I'm afraid I don't accept that people here moan a lot more than they celebrate excellence. I see threads here every day where people are saying nice things about how amazing they think particular products are.
When I see those threads, I don't say 'Well if you like them so much, just buy them and shut up about it'. And yet that's become a stock response to people who make any sort of critical comment on a product or type of product.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: mcfonz on July 15, 2019, 05:57:24 PM
I tend to agree. There has to be balance. I just think that sometimes constructive criticism can be somewhat lacking and it can be quite infantile and in some cases just wrong.

To be fair, there are many of the community here who challenge it and it rarely goes unchallenged.

I think the issue I sometimes have is the way a question is posed.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Codsticker on July 15, 2019, 07:11:11 PM
For what it's worth, I'm afraid I don't accept that people here moan a lot more than they celebrate excellence. I see threads here every day where people are saying nice things about how amazing they think particular products are.
My comment was about teh internets in general, not specifically LAF.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: thebinmann on July 15, 2019, 07:31:14 PM
The old west ones are ok as the buildings are wood, the rest... not so good
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Codsticker on July 16, 2019, 04:07:16 AM
I actually find them pretty good for ashlar masonry or cast stone.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Renaud on July 16, 2019, 07:52:33 AM
I hate them too, some are very fiddy to assemble, and I always find them difficult to paint, and when painting it needs a hard work to make them look nicer than unpainted!

That said, their cheap price, modular nature and fantastic ranges allow to build up some very impressive staging quite quickly.(http://www.you-feng.com/varia/R0001815.jpg) (http://www.you-feng.com/varia/R0001820.jpg)
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Monkey on July 16, 2019, 12:04:59 PM
Quote
MDF buildings smell bad.

I like the burnt wood smell you get from MDF buildings. Does that make me weird?

Personally I just think they're like pretty much any other model/accessory in that they reward the effort you put into them. You can just plonk them on the table as is and have a reasonable result (depending on how much you spent) or you can spend the time adding your own touches to them, and the more time and effort (and ability) you put into this the better the result.

Just like miniatures, gaming mats, scatter terrain etc.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: khartoum2 on July 16, 2019, 12:49:30 PM
I look at it this way - for many years my wife always said I needed more terrain and I'm not good at making it and found other sources mostly expensive

I now have a selection of MDF kits to bolster my other terrain (too much my wife now says) suitable for a number of games and although I have not painted them or pimped them I quite like the natural look of the buildings - weird I know but that's me on this occasion.

I remember building the odd card building and all that comes to mind is sticky fingers, lots of swearing and int he end something that was lob sided and got squashed easily.

As with most things there are good and bad.  I've built a knight models SWAT van that nearly went out the window as I had to cut through all of the pieces causing fluffing of the MDF to building a number of TT combat buildings that have been straightforward and I'm happy with the look of (Sometimes they don't work right as with Venetian corner shop where top floor doesn't sit properly on bottom but generally fit fine)

If it wasn't for the MDF revolution I think I would still have very few buildings just plastic corners of buildings that have been damaged int he fighting

Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Chriscornwell on July 21, 2019, 10:29:23 AM
First post, hopefully the images will work!
Why single out MDF?
There are good and bad products made out of any material. I’ve seen plenty of terrible stuff made of resin, along with amazing pieces. MDF buildings are a mixed bag, can’t say I like the pre-coloured stuff but for a lot of folks they are a godsend.personally I like mdf buildings to be used as a base for further work.
 
(https://imgur.com/i47yh8y)
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: mcfonz on July 21, 2019, 11:05:34 AM
Those look great Chris.

I agree.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: has.been on July 21, 2019, 02:56:19 PM
"I love the smell of burnt MDF in the morning.
It reminds me of victory"
(& yes I am WEIRD!!!!!)
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: arktos on July 23, 2019, 03:34:18 PM
I don't like them. They were supposed to be cheap but only their quality is .
At least most of them.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Elbows on July 23, 2019, 10:32:37 PM
That's a pretty sweeping statement.  Since you said "most" I'll assume you've used MDF from dozens of companies?  Which ones did you not like?
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Flinty on July 26, 2019, 03:20:05 PM
I seem to remember they were intially touted as a cheap alternative to resin - which still holds true for the most part even if most of the price difference is in postage these days.

Obviously, as the market and products develop, you get the full range of cheap an' cheerfuls up to top end - reflecting demand at differing price points - like everything else, you get what you pay for.

I think they are generally a 'good thing', great if you cant/dont want to build terrain, and brilliant as a base for tarting up (my reason for liking them). I do think the effort put into design can make certain MDF kits stand out, e.g. the Supreme Littleness Designs item below:

(http://www.supremelittleness.co.uk/sld-28mm/sld-28mm_htm_files/9971.jpg)

As mentioned earlier, this is an example where flatness works well, and layering adds interest to make a great product.

MDF is also good at cheap scatter/clutter - admittedly crates aren't difficult to scratch build and most MDF versions look pretty naff to me compared to resin, but laser cut card products, which I presume were a spin off from MDF, can be great for fiddly stuff like boxes that I couldn't otherwise be bothered to make.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Cat on July 26, 2019, 05:00:17 PM
Just choose the right tools for the right job.

MDF is the right tool for a lot of my projects.  It's highly durable so it stores and travels well to the club and conventions, and holds up to the rigours of many gamers removing roofs and stories to move figures about inside.

On the inexpensive end, Sarissa does the trick for me for cost and speed of building.  The detailing is only etched in, not layered, but that's why they are inexpensive and quick to build.  It took me about a week to knock out 4 of these houses.  Paint up, and hold up over time, just fine.

Just a little bit up the price chain are Things From The Basement.  More cost and more time for lots of layered detail with strips of separate roof shingles.  I spend about a month on each kit giving them a full sprucing up.  N.B. that MDF does just fine for brick and stone by the simple expedient of using multiple colours of spray paint.  The roof shingles I coloured with a stack of markers.

Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Ragnar on July 27, 2019, 01:08:21 PM
The roof shingles I coloured with a stack of markers.

Nice stuff Cat.

Can you please elaborate on using markers?
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Cat on July 28, 2019, 05:52:16 AM
Can you please elaborate on using markers?

Sure, these photos should pretty well cover the elaboration.  These are all Prismacolor markers which I really like.  I also did an overall weathering with paints after assembly.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Cat on July 28, 2019, 06:01:06 AM
And the colour choices for this set of models was going for screen-accuracy:
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Lost Egg on July 28, 2019, 06:21:25 AM
I am digging the attention to detail, and they look great for it.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: mcfonz on July 28, 2019, 09:59:53 PM
I'll 2nd that.

The brickwork on the house in the 2nd image is  :o

Honestly wouldn't be able to guess that was mdf from appearances. Very well done that.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: carlos marighela on July 29, 2019, 12:28:24 AM
I'll 2nd that.

The brickwork on the house in the 2nd image is  :o

Honestly wouldn't be able to guess that was mdf from appearances. Very well done that.

Yes, it's amazing how such an apparently widely reviled medium can deliver top results.  :)

As I said several pages back, you get out what you put in and that's just as true with any medium from resin kits through scratch built multi-media builds to MDF and plastic kits.

Now, can we do I don't like... Mondays/ Bob Geldhof/ The Daily Mail/ American beer, etc, etc, etc?
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Ragnar on July 29, 2019, 06:39:37 AM
Sure, these photos should pretty well cover the elaboration.  These are all Prismacolor markers which I really like.  I also did an overall weathering with paints after assembly.

Cool, thanks!  Gives me some ideas.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: sundayhero on July 29, 2019, 10:16:17 AM
Nice pics of  well detailed mdf buildings, but does it still follow the purpose of mdf building (wich is for me, a fast - but not that cheap, finally- way to obtain terrain) ?

Assembling it, painting it, detailing it, what is the interest of buying a kit if you spend almost the time you would have spent in a full scratch building ?
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: carlos marighela on July 29, 2019, 10:41:39 AM
The premise that MDF is just a cheap and cheerful substitute is not necessarily true. For some people I’m sure it is. For others it’s a convenient start point, much like a dolly for a figure. Cutting complex forms can be daunting and having a basic shell you can detail is handy.  In that sense it’s no different to a plastic kit, an acrylic shell or even a resin building, save for the fact that MDF is much easier to work with than carving chunks of resin.

In this way I’ve built a village, which if I had to scratch build it all, I probably wouldn’t have started or lost interest. For me, it’s been a good way to get projects underway.

I’d also question the relative cost of the material. For larger structures, it’s definitely cheaper than a resin equivalent and doesn’t require a forklift to move. I rarely view any kit as the finished product, the fun is in detailing it or converting it and making it your own.
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Captain Blood on July 29, 2019, 11:05:15 AM
Yes, it's amazing how such an apparently widely reviled medium can deliver top results.  :)

It's amazing how it can deliver top results if you're prepared to use it as a base for your own creations. As Cat shows, if you're willing and able to spend time and creative skill modelling a building on an MDF shell, then it can of course look as lovely as any other scratchbuilt building. But let's not pretend that's what most people do.

As I'm sure you understand, when I (and I'm guessing others) say 'I don't like MDF buildings', we're not talking about the minority who merely use MDF as a base for lovely bespoke creations of their own. We're referring to the majority who simply plonk them straight on the table with all their printed, 2D, textureless, jigsaw-cornered, slot-roofed shortcomings :)
Title: Re: I don't like MDF buildings
Post by: Cat on July 29, 2019, 03:03:13 PM
As I'm sure you understand, when I (and I'm guessing others) say 'I don't like MDF buildings', we're not talking about the minority who merely use MDF as a base for lovely bespoke creations of their own. We're referring to the majority who simply plonk them straight on the table with all their printed, 2D, textureless, jigsaw-cornered, slot-roofed shortcomings :)

Ahh, that complaint is not with the medium, but seems to be with folks who do not take the time to do even minimal modelling work on game terrain.  For my tastes, I don't think mdf fairs any worse than resin cast or any other medium if just used in its raw state without minimal prep work.
 
Note that I also posted the quartet of Sarissa houses which are from the most inexpensive end of the market and were put together in a batch of about a week's work for the block when speed was more of a concern for that project than loving artistry.
 
For me, the minimal work called for to get any mdf kit to look decent takes a few simple modelling steps, neither of which calls for skilled labour.  This minimal work is all I applied to the Sarissa houses before painting and plonking:

* File all exposed burnt edges.  I use a basic shop file for this to grind through the work quickly.  You could use tiny modellers files, that will just take a little longer.  There may be tiny corners where the modeling files will be helpful.

* Fill in joint gaps with a smear of putty.  I use Testor's Contour Putty; super cheap, simple squeeze it straight out of the tube, and does the job.
 
* Spray prime before painting.  MDF absorbs an amazing amount of paint, priming is essential to get any sort of even paintjob.  If the burnt edges have not been filed, they will not absorb very much paint and always stick out.
 
Here's another set of buildings I knocked out in about a week.  Very inexpensive kits from Blotz.  Aside from the above steps, I did do some very quick customising work in that week: used strips of styrene to frame the outer corners of the walls and to cap the roofs just to completely hide the dovetailing.  Even though I was covering the dovetailing, I still used the shop file on the joins after assembly to even everything out so the strips would lie nice and flat.  But you can see from the rooftops that schmearing a bit of Testor's Contour Putty into the tab cracks completely hides all the tab locations.