Author Topic: Gaming Mat-Tutorial (Read 8975 times)

DonVoss · « **on:** July 21, 2011, 09:20:43 AM »

A friend of mine and fellow gamer + terrain builder with the same problems of storage and transport developed a cool technique for building gaming mats.

I wanted to build a mat of that style for years, and had now the oportunity to do so...

I thought it might be a good idea to share some of the specials of that mat-style with you, and made a short tutorial. Its my first tutorial in english, so I would really appreciate, if you could help me with some technical terms...

On a sunny day Dr. Puppenfleisch invited me in his secret garden...

We started with a short but intensive barbeque, because terrain-builder need power (the main things are already eaten).

The basic technique is to put some sort of acrylic sealing compoud on canvas and mix flock and paint in it.
I am not sure how the acryl-thing is called in english...

The tube is 1€ and and we used half of it for a 50x70cm canvas...
We used a cheap canvas from the "1€-store" for 5€.

Dr. Puppenfleisch collected lots of flocks and grases to put on the mats. Here is the biggest investment.

Okay, at the start we put some arcyl (with the pistolthing) on the mat and mix it with paint. We used palette knives for it.

We even used pigments and cork bits.

And on top of the acryl we put all sorts of flock, static grass and small premodelled grasstiles (the last are very expensive).

We used our hands to gently press the flocks on to the acryl. Quite a mess...

The technique is fast and forgiving. You can overpaint, scratch unwanted parts of etc.

Here the mat is almost finished, only a few minor parts have to be painted.

As you might notice the different flocks and bright colours dont go together well. So a finishing step is required.
Dr. Puppenfleisch has a small collection of spray cans from the local graffiti-shop...

And with a few puffs...

...the board was finished.

We cutted it down from the frame.

And cut the edges.

The next day I made a few pictures with some minis on it. Bad luck the sun was gone, so the pics are a little dull...

Even usalble for 15mm. Here the bigger flock could serve as cover...

And the mat is easy to transport...
Only a little amount of flock comes of if you roll it.

It was a great afternoon in the garden of the doc, and really enjoyed it painting there...

DV

Sangennaru · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2011, 09:24:37 AM »

that's quite a brilliant way! What about the aging? I mean, the materials you used aren't meant to be bended many times, so how many times (and for how long) can you fold the field and hope to have it back flat after that?

Cheers
Jack

Henrix · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2011, 11:34:23 AM »

I'm also very partial to the acrylic caulking (or whatever you call it in Anglo-Saxon, Akrylfogmassa in the language of honour and heroes).

I don't like putting too much stuff in it, as I find stuff doesn't really stick that well to it, but the acrylic stuff is very durable.

Sangennaru · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2011, 12:01:41 PM »

i dunno, the durability is a shure thing, but i'm not shure about the bending and folding! The acrylic paste is a bit like a rubber, but it tends to creek!

Maybe some latex pieces should work perfectly!

Heldrak · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2011, 01:03:17 PM »

Color me crazy, but why not just leave the canvas on the frame...?

DonVoss · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2011, 04:34:10 PM »

The acryl and the canvass-fabric are quite durable.
We have mats that are 1 1/2 year old, went to 4 conventions and were played on many times, and they look still very good (no cracks). No acryl or paint coming off. You do have a small amount of flock and grass coming off though.
I don't know for how many bendings or years it will stay that way, but I have aging problems with my styrofoam gamingtables too (the edges lose paint, because of use).

DV...

Belgian · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2011, 06:19:26 PM »

Quote from: Heldrak on July 22, 2011, 01:03:17 PM

Color me crazy, but why not just leave the canvas on the frame...?

Just thinking the same, I have been playing with using canvass tiles as modular terrain boards as they are dirt cheap!

Chairface · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2011, 01:44:02 AM »

Amazing! What a great idea!

anevilgiraffe · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2011, 01:18:09 PM »

Quote from: Belgian on July 22, 2011, 06:19:26 PM

Just thinking the same, I have been playing with using canvass tiles as modular terrain boards as they are dirt cheap!

I tried that... they are not square... placing several together is a hotchpotch...

Belgian · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2011, 04:50:20 PM »

Quote from: anevilgiraffe on July 24, 2011, 01:18:09 PM

I tried that... they are not square... placing several together is a hotchpotch...

Thanks for the information!

Sangennaru · « **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2011, 06:00:43 PM »

i also suppose that the canvas is quite fragile in the middle, and you'll have all the minis jumping everytime you throw a dice or move a heavy piece!

fastolfrus · « **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2011, 11:19:09 PM »

Quote from: Sangennaru on July 24, 2011, 06:00:43 PM

i also suppose that the canvas is quite fragile in the middle, and you'll have all the minis jumping everytime you throw a dice or move a heavy piece!

Random movement system built in - even better !