Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => Old West => Topic started by: Monkey on 08 September 2015, 02:46:13 PM

Title: How robust are laser cut mdf buildings please?
Post by: Monkey on 08 September 2015, 02:46:13 PM: Hello, I'm doing a little Dead Man's Hand project and as we all do I've got totally carried away and am trying to put together a complete little settlement to play in. I 've seen a lot of really nice laser cut mdf buildings (especially the 4ground stuff), but I don't have room for a gaming board at home - I'll have to keep all my scenery in a big plastic box in the loft and drag it out and transport it to my local gaming club when I want to play.

I quite fancy some of these mdf buildings but I'm worried they won't stand this sort of treatment (especially given the cost of some of the bigger ones). Please can anyone tell me how tough these buildings are? Would they survive intact, would they need to be mounted onto bases, or should I just not do it? So far I've stuck to Perrys plastic (Shop, farmhouse and adobe house - I'll probably get the tumbledown barn too) and smaller resin pieces (outhouse, water trough etc).

As an alternative can anyone recommend any nice plastic or resin scenery that would work?

Thanks - any advice gratefully received.
Title: Re: How robust are laser cut mdf buildings please?
Post by: Major_Gilbear on 08 September 2015, 03:19:26 PM: They are fairly robust, generally speaking.

Some details like handrails and balconies can be a bit delicate, and some of the really simple buildings can benefit from having a few bits of balsa added into corners on the inside to act as stiffeners, but that's pretty much the same situation with most scenery really.

If you're UK-based, you can often get some suitable Wild-West themed buildings from TT Combat, Sarissa Precision, and Micro Art that are cheap (under a tenner for a building). Might be worth getting one kit and seeing for yourself? IMO that's probably the best way to gauge, and they're cheap/nice enough kits. :)
Title: Re: How robust are laser cut mdf buildings please?
Post by: hentzau on 08 September 2015, 04:28:59 PM: I store mine exactly as you say, in a large tub. I'm very careful when I pack them in, but they survive very well.

The 4Ground stuff is extremely sturdy. As said, there are some fragile bits on some of them, but if you're reasonably gentle in the packing and transporting, you should be OK.
Title: Re: How robust are laser cut mdf buildings please?
Post by: Black Burt on 08 September 2015, 06:40:51 PM: I have quite a few laser cut buildings which I store stacked up in plastic boxes and have had very little damage, the little damage that has occurred has been very easily fixed with a dab of glue. All the buildings that I have come with a base which gives extra rigidity, I would definitely add a base if it was not included in the kit.
Title: Re: How robust are laser cut mdf buildings please?
Post by: Mason on 08 September 2015, 08:27:12 PM: I have a few and they are all mounted on MDF bases for strength and protection.

I store mine in A4 paper boxes, as these can easily be cut down to size and as you are making the bases you can make them fit pretty tight.
In one box I have four buildings on their bases and assorted scatter scenery filling the gaps.

This way they have survived pretty well, the only damage occurring during overexcited gaming sessions.
;)
Title: Re: How robust are laser cut mdf buildings please?
Post by: Monkey on 09 September 2015, 09:45:42 AM: Ok, cool thanks - they sound more robust than I had expected. I think I'll take Major_Gilbear's suggestion and get some small ones, see how they go and then maybe build up to bigger ones.

Thanks for the advice :)
Title: Re: How robust are laser cut mdf buildings please?
Post by: Argonor on 10 September 2015, 05:52:27 AM: I am pretty sure, I too shall go laser-cut on both modern city and old west stuff after realizing how much is available and how cheap it is doable.