playmobil toys plastic rocks ecc repurposed for colonial wargame terrain

[italwars]

hello
as title said i'm tempted to purchase  trough a web market place some lots of playmobil stuff..above all rocks such as those of the following picts...my idea would be to mix, repurpose , stick everything  to polystyrene blocks , fill gaps maybe with some sort of plaster or gap filler insulating foam , add some sand ecc..ecc..and paint..in order to get some sufficiently sturdy, light mountain/rock ranges probably for NWF or Morocco scenarios...the fact that even if cartoonish those rocks have a flat suface maybe could be helpful to place based minis during the games...
the idea had already been pionereed in a topic here in LAF but it was just the beginning of a project with a fantasy appeal (Dr Who)..and no picts of the final result...i did'nt find anything else on the web about the use of similar  toys leftover for wargames
Anybody already tried something similar  for an historical set-up? it's worth it or it's complete nonsense?
thanks in advance

[Tom Dulski]

That's a great idea, You could do some interesting things with those.

[War In 15MM]

I use repurposed Playmobil terrain piece all the time.

[FifteensAway]

I guess we've all heard the expression "great minds think alike".  I have some evidence, perhaps slightly suspicious in origin, that it should be "warped minds think alike"!    Be that as it may:



Not playmobil, just some playsets (I think ECO was the company but its been a number of years) that I think were dinosaurs - I wanted the trees - but the rocks seemed useful for African kopje.  I think I bought three sets but it might have been four.  Good hard plastic, some other playsets I've acquired included more or less useless soft plastic rocks. 

ALWAYS check the toy departments when out shopping, might just be a useful bit of treasure.

[Mason]

I have used Playmobil; stuff in the past, mostly their trees, and with a little attention I think they are quite usable...

[FifteensAway]

Hey, Mason, those trees look cool - and could be improved with some leaf scatter if possible to glue on well enough.  Went to take a peak at cost and NO WAY!   Crazy prices.  Maybe I'll get lucky and find some at yard sales where the owner's are clueless to the value.  Can always hope! 

[eilif]

I've used Playmobil rocks for about a decade now. My method was simply to wash them up and apply "premixed concrete patch" (cheap, sturdy and sticks very well) for texture and to cover over the holes.  Then paint as desired.

As it happens I just acquired a few more and plan to add to the collection.

You can see my Playmobil rocks in use all throughout this Mad Max style road chase battle report.
https://www.chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/2012/05/atomic-highway-little-wars-battle/

[pauld]

I just been straight onto ebay and bought a batch - they look pretty sweet for Desert Buttes

[Michi]

I use Playmobil for wargaming since the millenium.

[eilif]

I use Playmobil for wargaming since the millenium.

Could you link to more pics of your use of the island?
I've got the game piece,( found at resale devoid of accessories) and I'm thinking it'd be great for gaming with all the almost flat spots on it?

Where's that ship from?  I've got a Playmobil pirate ship as well

[italwars]

Thanks to everybody..received exactly the answers i was looking for  ..i've to found, here in Italy, the right "pre mixed concrete" to cover the rocks and fill gaps ecc...

[Michi]

Could you link to more pics of your use of the island?

You say, you got the same island, therefore you will understand this: I left away the pavillon of course and simply added some sand, spray painted the island with a granite effect rattle can and added some static grass - job done, perfect for gaming! 

Where's that ship from?  I've got a Playmobil pirate ship as well

This is the story: https://tableterror.blogspot.com/2009/05/playmobil-frachtschiff.html

[eilif]

Thanks for that!
Mine didn't even come with a pavilion or the trees, so that's not a worry.   The granite spray is a good idea. I have a can already so that's easy.

Excellent work on that boat. It's nearly unrecognizable as Playmobil.