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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Furt on September 03, 2008, 12:12:58 PM

Title: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Furt on September 03, 2008, 12:12:58 PM: I am embarking on the daunting task of creating some desert/coastal/sea modular terrain boards and have a few questions for those in the know.

I'm considering using 12mm particleboard/chipboard over mdf or marine-ply - does anyone think this is a poor choice?

I can't afford the pink or blue high density insulation and so have opted for 20-30mm polystyrene foam. I have discovered that it comes in a "standard" grade and a "H" grade. Will the standard stuff be durable enough if I coat it with filla and paint?

Lastly do I need to edge my boards with wood to protect the foam or can I get by without it?

Thanks for your time
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Hammers on September 03, 2008, 12:16:23 PM: Quote from: fsultana on September 03, 2008, 12:12:58 PM

Lastly do I need to edge my boards with wood to protect the foam or can I get by without it?

They will deteriorate very quickly if you don't protect the edges.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Rhoderic on September 03, 2008, 12:43:42 PM: How do you protect all the edges on a modular board? Just wondering. You obviously can't use anything with thickness, lest there'll be gaps between the pieces when you put them together.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Citizen Sade on September 03, 2008, 12:59:05 PM: Duct tape, I believe, is traditional.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Captain Blood on September 03, 2008, 02:25:45 PM: Must confess I've always used the pink/blue foam which is higher density and has much more integrity than the old style white polystyrene. But yes it is a lot more expensive. Then again, it's much better stuff, so... :?

If I were going to protect the edges (and I haven't really needed to on my small terrain pieces so far) I think I might look at the rolls of strip laminate edging they sell in big DIY stores to dress the edges of kitchen worktops... But that's just a thought on my part. Don't know how practical it would be. But I think you could choose some very nice edging effects that way, and it would be pretty robust. Guess the question is whether it would stick to polystyrene (hot glue or pink stuff?) and whether you can get it in depth adequate for the depth of your terrain boards.

I use 5mm MDF. It's thin, it's rigid and warp resistant, it's clean, smooth, and easily worked and (compared to chipboard) it's lightweight. And I think it's not much different in price. I'd recommend it unhesitatingly.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Hammers on September 03, 2008, 03:01:54 PM: I'm going for Blue Foam. There is nothing agreeable with non-extruded styrofoam.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Emir of Askaristan on September 03, 2008, 04:36:34 PM: Hi,
I recently purchased some Orange (mid density) extruded foam from B&Q here in the UK for a demo game my club has planned soon. 4 x1500mm x 500mmx 50mm boards were £20. Although this is a slightly smaller than the "traditional" 6ft x 4ft table size, they will fit easily in the boot of my car and are light enough for me to carry.

I had intended using MDF, but precut board worked more expensive (about £25) and needed to be fixed somehow together for our demo game (more money wich should be spent on figs and scenery!). The Orange foam will be secured with masking tape on the day to stop them "drifting" apart.

I plan to texture the foam with filler then paint, although I am toying with the idea of simply covering with a light textured wallpaper and painting and drybrushing the colour on so it matches my buildings.

I'll keep you posted as to how I get on, maybe some pix too.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Drunkendwarf on September 03, 2008, 06:19:09 PM: Here's a link to a site I like to visit for inspiration. I haven't started yet....

http://www.quindia.com/studioarticles.htm

DJ
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Furt on September 03, 2008, 10:28:19 PM: Quote
Here's a link to a site I like to visit for inspiration. I haven't started yet....

http://www.quindia.com/studioarticles.htm

DJ

Thanks - I have seen this site and studied it closely - it is a great tutorial. It is a similar technique to Gary Chalk's plans. I am interested in peoples thoughts on whether they think it necessary to edge or not?

Does anyone know about the "H" grade white polystyrene I mentioned?
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Malamute on September 04, 2008, 08:58:34 AM: At the very least I would use some masking tape around the edges. However careful you are these things still get knocked and chipped.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Hammers on September 04, 2008, 10:59:14 AM: That tutorial is not bad at all! I will probably spend just a little bit more time on the detailing on my board.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: stormbird on February 17, 2013, 08:36:56 AM: Hi there

Not built mine yet , but I would line the edges with thin card board about same thickness as a A4 folder divider.

Cut it into strips slightly longer than the edge it will be fastened to and line up one corner glue it on with PVA [ this will harden it a little as well ] then butt the next strip up to the overlap at the next corner and work your way around the board then trim when dry.

Once it had stuck it can be painted with dilute PVA and will be quite strong.

regards Paul
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Monty on March 06, 2013, 03:33:39 PM: Hi there,

momentarily I'm building a new gaming board myself. I'm using pink styrofoam, an 10mm MDF board as base and wood strips to protect the edges.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q09FNUDcLwk/UOb1GZ5UpFI/AAAAAAAAA7o/h9tSj6OVEC8/s1600/board001.jpg)

Have a look here:
Link to the post (http://montys-caravan.blogspot.de/2013/01/tutorial-modular-gaming-board-part-1.html)

The result seems to be very durable but a bit heavy. With the further pieces I'll try thinner wood for the edges and maybe thinner MDF as baseplate. But unfoprtunately I haven't found 15mm pink styrofoam yet...
Perhaps I'll try kind of sandwich architecture with cheap and light white styrofoam in addition to the good pink stuff...

Cheers
Monty
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Dewbakuk on March 06, 2013, 08:22:45 PM: Never come accross H grade as a classifictaion, sorry.

A friend of mine has a board made purely from the white polystyrene, it's probably around 3-4" thick but isn't mounted on any wood at all. It's just cut into 2' squares and wrapped in duct tape. I have been amazed at how well it's stood up to gaming. The top is covered in filler and foliage and has integral hills on some of the pieces. It's been used fairly regularly for a couple of years and has suffered less damage than some of the more complex boards I've worked on. As long as you aren't intending to travel with it much it can be fine.

I wouldn't recommend chipboard though, the edges of it chip easily and it's rather thick and heavy for it's depth.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: fastolfrus on March 06, 2013, 09:30:16 PM: Why not edge your white foam with the high density blue foam?
If you did a border 3 or 4 inches all around your white board it would protect the edge without adding weight and not cost you as much as a full blue foam board.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Centaur_Seducer on March 07, 2013, 09:42:12 AM: It still get snagged and ruffled during transportation. I got strips of very thin plastic and glued them on. Works as a charm.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Furt on March 07, 2013, 10:04:51 AM: Quote from: Dewbakuk on March 06, 2013, 08:22:45 PM
Never come accross H grade as a classifictaion, sorry.

Thank god someone finally answered me!! Warranted it only took 5 years, but at least someone is listening to me!! lol lol lol
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: dijit on March 07, 2013, 06:08:17 PM: Quote from: Furt on March 07, 2013, 10:04:51 AM
Thank god someone finally answered me!! Warranted it only took 5 years, but at least someone is listening to me!! lol lol lol
lol

Threadomancy is a bad, bad thing ;)
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Dewbakuk on March 07, 2013, 07:21:03 PM: Heh, never looked at the date of the initial post.

So, did you ever make it?
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Christian on March 07, 2013, 07:33:07 PM: lol lol lol
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Furt on March 07, 2013, 08:13:39 PM: Quote from: Dewbakuk on March 07, 2013, 07:21:03 PM
Heh, never looked at the date of the initial post.

So, did you ever make it?

I did eventually, but went for much simpler boards - mdf framed with wood.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Painting Princess on March 07, 2013, 08:19:16 PM: And they turned out bloody good, too. I think there's some good pics of them in the Sharp Practice AARs.
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Dewbakuk on March 07, 2013, 10:30:19 PM: Quote from: Christian on March 07, 2013, 07:33:07 PM
lol lol lol

Hey, I didn't resurect it. That was a few posts before me, never even occured to me it wouldn't be new. At least I answered the question ;)
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: dijit on March 07, 2013, 10:47:12 PM: Quote from: Dewbakuk on March 06, 2013, 08:22:45 PM
A friend of mine has a board made purely from the white polystyrene, it's probably around 3-4" thick but isn't mounted on any wood at all. It's just cut into 2' squares and wrapped in duct tape. I have been amazed at how well it's stood up to gaming. The top is covered in filler and foliage and has integral hills on some of the pieces. It's been used fairly regularly for a couple of years and has suffered less damage than some of the more complex boards I've worked on. As long as you aren't intending to travel with it much it can be fine.
This is how I did mine; as blue/pink foam is apparently illegal here in Denmark ::)
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Painting Princess on March 08, 2013, 12:36:40 AM: Quote from: Painting Princess on March 07, 2013, 08:19:16 PM
And they turned out bloody good, too. I think there's some good pics of them in the Sharp Practice AARs.

Ahem, someone is accidentally posting as me again ... Christian! ;D
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Furt on March 08, 2013, 04:49:45 AM: I knew it couldn't be you PP - "bloody" good didn't sound quite right coming from you. ;)

@ Dewbakuk - regardless mate thanks for responding. lol
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Painting Princess on March 08, 2013, 04:51:00 AM: Quote from: Furt on March 08, 2013, 04:49:45 AM
I knew it couldn't be you PP - "bloody" good didn't sound quite right coming from you. ;)

lol
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: Hammers on March 08, 2013, 10:08:32 AM: Quote from: dijit on March 07, 2013, 10:47:12 PM
This is how I did mine; as blue/pink foam is apparently illegal here in Denmark ::)

Why the hell is it illegal?
Title: Re: Modular Terrain Board Advice
Post by: dijit on March 08, 2013, 11:09:47 AM: Quote from: Hammers on March 08, 2013, 10:08:32 AM
Why the hell is it illegal?

Thorbjørns told its something to do with the fumes it gives off. I can't see how it's any worse than expanded polystrene, but apparently it is and imposible to get here. My view of Danish law wasn't particularly high as it was before I found out and sunk a bit further after I found out why.

As a note this is also the land the refused to sell Marmite!