Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: cram on November 20, 2019, 10:42:00 PM
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Title says it really!
I'm looking to make dirt track roads and rivers that are as low as possible, no raised edges, so that they blend in with the ground their laying on, not sit raised on top of it. To have them very flexible so as to be able to run down/over hills would be an added bonus.
Anybody managed to achieve this, or have some ideas as to maybe go about it?
Thanks.
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Step one, secure a piece of glass thick enough to withstand the following - and use caution, please.
Step two, secure a supply of DAP acrylic caulk in the available color of your choice (probably clear for water effects). Don't even think about using silicon caulk - you will regret it.
Step three, secure a roller for spreading out the caulk as thin as you like.
Step four, place tape margins on the underside of the glass to control width.
Step five, secure a good quality box knife with extra blades (always use sharp blades) - and, again, use caution, please.
Step six, roll out the caulk as thin as you dare (it can go pretty thin). Clean roller as you go.
Step seven, allow to dry for a bit.
Step eight, cut as needed to achieve the desired piece.
Step nine, carefully peel up the piece or pieces and set aside to allow to really get very dry.
Step ten, spray paint with a flat color, both sides (prevents stickiness in the future) and allow to dry.
Step eleven, paint the terrain pieces as desired, add flocking and other bits as desired, allow to dry.
Step twelve, play with your new terrain in a game.
There you have it, a twelve step program with not a drink in sight!
By the way, the reason for the glass is to provide a nice, smooth, even bottom to the pieces. It will take a bit of practice and you will probably "ruin" a few pieces before you get the hang of it.
Final step, pay the bill I'm about to send you - where is that I send it again?! lol
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Have you done this with anything other than glass? curious if something like a piece of stainless steel or a tile would work?
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I'm sure many surfaces will work but the glass gives you the see through benefit for the boundaries - and it cleans up pretty easy, not sure if other surfaces will clean up as well. Try it out and let us know, perhaps?
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Felt! I have both dirt roads and asphalt made from strips of felt many years ago. The dirt ones are mid brown felt with bits of green and darker brown painted on, the asphalt ones are grey. They cling to static grass terrain boards, and go over hills.
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Try using caulk on fabrics which once dry will both roll up and within reasonable angles will lay flat on hills etc. There are plenty of tutorials available about caulk mats.
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Just bought the Dirt road & River from Deep Cut Studio, happy with them.
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I made some in the past (in fact I made a LOT of flexible roads for customers). I'm using a base of linen cloth, with some acrylic calk on it, wich I texture with diferent sands, flock, etc...
Once dry, it stays flat on the table, but is still flexible enough to follow an hill etc...
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Fat Frank: https://www.ebay.com/str/fatfrankswargaming
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Here's a youtube video on how to make rivers much in the style of homemade caulk mats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIG5lMytswM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIG5lMytswM)
I havent tried it myself, but only due to lack of time, as I think it looks fairly easy.
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On the non flexible side I commissioned a river from one of the MDF manufactures. It fit the bill and was not as expensive you might think. Banks and base to match.
http://snitchythedog.blogspot.com/2019/09/started-straights.html (http://snitchythedog.blogspot.com/2019/09/started-straights.html)
Not flexible but it worked.
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No intent to hijack, but...
Has anyone tried using DIY weed-blocker cloth as a base?
I've used it for bocage bases (with an insulation foam ridge) and have been happy - the holes in the fabric made for a good bond (imo) to the 'above ground' stuff. I was wondering if I could use the leftover stock (lots and lots!) with a schmeared caulk to build some roads.
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Great advice from everyone thanks! The flexible river on the youtube video looks interesting, as do his roads on his other videos. He has some issues with his stuff curling on the edges, maybe something other than canvas should be used!
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I use plumbers rubber weather strip up to 15cm wide cut to size then added sand with coloured silicone gauking, then painted to suit Terrain or clear for water. Only comes in 25m rolls though and is expensive
Cheers
Matt
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Roads need to be flexible, but surely not rivers. They won't be flowing over hills
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I believe I saw someone using Duct Tape as a backing on canvas to stop the edges curling.
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Appreciate all the impute guys! Loads to work with here.
Good point about the flexible river. My idea is to have only one or two river sections flexible, these would be used to flow down hills that have been positioned at the boards edges.
I've not as yet ruled out crafting paths, dirt roads and rivers onto terrain board sections, but then their set permanently in place.
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Could glueing washers at the corners be a solution?
Or maybe applying a layer of caulk or thinned down PVA on the opposite side, to create some pull there? I've seen it done on mdf and similar.