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Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: Misneach on March 30, 2021, 09:19:16 AM

Title: Making a Naval Mat for the Age of Sail?
Post by: Misneach on March 30, 2021, 09:19:16 AM

I'm currently working on painting fleets for the Battle of Tory Island, the last battle of the United Irish rebellion of 1798. Having never done any naval gaming before, I need a mat for the sea.

I'm not a big fan of neoprene mats, I feel they are a bit 2 dimensional. I'd prefer something with some texture.

Would it be possible to paint a felt sheet with (thinned) acrylics to get the variations in colour of the sea?
If so, does anyone know good sources for big felt rolls in the EU?
Does anyone have other suggestions for materials that could be used? I have seen blue velvet mats being made, they have a very nice sheen.

Thanks everyone  8)

Title: Re: Making a Naval Mat for the Age of Sail?
Post by: SJWi on March 30, 2021, 10:33:14 AM

Hi, I don’t know what your budget is but Cigar Box in the US produce some “sea” mats. I believe they are textured in some way. I don’t know if there is a EU stockist.

Title: Re: Making a Naval Mat for the Age of Sail?
Post by: SteveBurt on March 31, 2021, 10:20:23 AM

 Felt is ok, but better for land than sea.
I found a couple of these sea-pattern tablecloths do the job very nicely, and very cheaply.
 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unique-50274-One-Size/dp/B00BW3JKMS/ref=asc_df_B00BW3JKMS/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309920231706&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16768671141160604836&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006598&hvtargid=pla-312460526148&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unique-50274-One-Size/dp/B00BW3JKMS/ref=asc_df_B00BW3JKMS/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309920231706&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16768671141160604836&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006598&hvtargid=pla-312460526148&psc=1)

Title: Re: Making a Naval Mat for the Age of Sail?
Post by: Harry Faversham on March 31, 2021, 10:46:29 AM

Any piccys of the plastic tablecloths in action? If they're any good I'm getting some paper boats and plastic tablecloths!

:-*

Title: Re: Making a Naval Mat for the Age of Sail?
Post by: OB on March 31, 2021, 06:42:03 PM

Quote from: SteveBurt on March 31, 2021, 10:20:23 AM

Felt is ok, but better for land than sea.
I found a couple of these sea-pattern tablecloths do the job very nicely, and very cheaply.
 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unique-50274-One-Size/dp/B00BW3JKMS/ref=asc_df_B00BW3JKMS/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309920231706&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16768671141160604836&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006598&hvtargid=pla-312460526148&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unique-50274-One-Size/dp/B00BW3JKMS/ref=asc_df_B00BW3JKMS/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309920231706&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16768671141160604836&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006598&hvtargid=pla-312460526148&psc=1)

Thanks Steve.  That will do me nicely.

Title: Re: Making a Naval Mat for the Age of Sail?
Post by: SteveBurt on April 01, 2021, 02:21:02 PM

Quote from: Harry Faversham on March 31, 2021, 10:46:29 AM

Any piccys of the plastic tablecloths in action? If they're any good I'm getting some paper boats and plastic tablecloths!

:-*

Here you go - a bit of WW2 action. The cloths are very thin, but for the price, you can’t beat them
(https://i.imgur.com/rqZEKbV.jpg)

Title: Re: Making a Naval Mat for the Age of Sail?
Post by: Harry Faversham on April 06, 2021, 11:04:26 PM

Who was the retired Admiral who strolled round his country estate dropping acorns all over, so we'd always have oak for our 'wooden walls'?
Well, my first acorn has just gone 'plop' into mi' new two bob ocean!

::)

Title: Re: Making a Naval Mat for the Age of Sail?
Post by: Baron von Wreckedoften on April 08, 2021, 12:02:30 PM

I believe that that was Collingwood, Nelson's #2 at THAT battle.