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Author Topic: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain  (Read 27270 times)

Offline Supercollider

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 677
Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« on: February 02, 2016, 10:34:00 PM »
Having been inspired by a few excellent threads on LAF - I dug out a big bag of WotC bendy plastic Star Wars minis (which are untouched, so far) I found at the thrift store a few years back.  As I have nothing in the way of Sci-Fi terrain, and being monetarily challenged, I've tried to put some suitable stuff together using the materials I have at hand.  I'm planning to set the game in the Clone Wars era (as most figures I have are from that period).

The first things I made were a couple of storage tank style wossits



Made from a couple of large yoghurt cartons, scrap card, florists wire and whatnot.  Here's one before paint:



Next I used the cardboard center spool of something or other, to make a round building - again, I built up layers of card (hand cut, and using a variety of punches) then painted it - the roof still needs work - it is the bottom of a DVD spool.



The radar dish is made from an old radiator adjustment knob, a bit of a toy, and a spinner from a Chrismas cracker.



I also used the center spools of Duct tape to make stackable elements, and an old Bionicle canister lid for an interesting roof.



I've got a few more things to put together, including several repeats of the above, I want to keep it very modular.  Any hints, tips or criticism very welcome!

Cheers.


Offline Rhoderic

  • Mastermind
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Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2016, 10:45:56 PM »
Very effective! I'm impressed by how much can be achieved by building successive layers of surface detail out of simple, good old card. Nice job scavenging for scratchbuild bitz, too :)
"When to keep awake against the camel's swaying or the junk's rocking, you start summoning up your memories one by one, your wolf will have become another wolf, your sister a different sister, your battle other battles, on your return from Euphemia, the city where memory is traded." - Italo Calvino

Offline Mason

  • Elder God
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    • Blind Beggar Miniatures
Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2016, 10:49:16 PM »
Looking good so far.
 8) 8)

I have a whole stack of stuff waiting for me to have a go at some 'junk' sci-fi scenery myself, so shall be watching with interest.
 :D


Offline Silent Invader

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 9659
Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2016, 11:09:20 PM »
Most inspirational  8)
My LAF Gallery is HERE
Minis (foot & mounted) finished in 2024 = 32
(2023 = 151; 2022 = 204; 2021 = 123; 2020 = ???)

Offline OSHIROmodels

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  • Custom terrain a speciality.
    • Oshiro modelterrain
Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2016, 11:19:44 PM »
Very effective  :)

cheers

James
cheers

James

https://www.oshiromodels.co.uk/

Twitter account -     @OSHIROmodels
Instagram account - oshiromodels

http://redplanetminiatures.blogspot.co.uk/
http://jimbibblyblog.blogspot.com/

Offline Michka

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1540
Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #5 on: February 03, 2016, 12:13:28 AM »
Spectacular work. Looks very, very Star Wars to me. I love all of these buildings, and plan to steal most of your ideas. Thank you!!!

Offline uti long smile

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 4358
Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2016, 08:23:02 AM »
Excellent stuff!
Something Crooked this way comes...
http://www.crooked-dice.co.uk/
Wargaming in the world of Cult TV

Offline Giger

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 900
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Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2016, 09:14:07 AM »
This is what the hobby is all about, great job.

Offline Muzfish4

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 998
Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2016, 10:10:22 AM »
Looks great - very inspirational.

Offline Dr DeAth

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 2879
    • My Little Lead Men
Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2016, 11:02:46 AM »
Junk modelling at it's best - don't stop!  :-*
Photos of my recent efforts are at www.littleleadmen.com and https://beaverlickfalls.blogspot.com

Offline hubbabubba

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1619
Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2016, 11:37:42 AM »
Fantastic, great builds and lovely paint jobs.

More please

Offline eilif

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 2383
    • Chicago Skirmish Wargames
Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2016, 02:10:11 PM »
Excellent work!  Lots of folks try it with less-than-stellar results, but this is what card-over-container terrain should look like. 

Thanks for the pre-paint picture as well. The paper/card you used seems to have taken a drybrush really well.  Did you texture it at all before painting?

I do think the bare black plastic cylinder needs something though.  Even if it's just a coat of paint.  A couple of walkways and ladders to link the various towers would be cool also.

Offline Redmao

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 457
  • Canadian Agent
Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #12 on: February 03, 2016, 03:20:41 PM »
This is really awesome.

Offline shandy

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 663
    • The Raft. Wargaming Adventures
Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #13 on: February 03, 2016, 04:42:00 PM »
Great work! I love scratch built sci-fi terrain, it always looks unique and it's fun making it - and you start to look at the world around you from a new perspective, seeing sci fi structures in every lunch box and piece of trash  lol

Offline Supercollider

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 677
Re: Cheap & Cheerful Star Wars/Sci-Fi Gaming Terrain
« Reply #14 on: February 03, 2016, 05:01:48 PM »
Cheers, all! :)

Eilif: I didn't texture the card, just scored it for the panel 'aztecing' - it's just basic card from Staples. The black cylinder probably does need something - I am definitely going for a less is more, minimal approach, but in this case, more would certainly be more!

I was going to experiment with some painted lighting effects... but it's a little bit intimidating, I'm not sure where to start, having never attempted it previously.  The black cylinder might be a good test piece in that regard.


 

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