Intimidated by Terrain

[AldousSnow 822]

16 hours ago, Ghostofman said:

The game isn't out, so only videos are of the diorama quality stuff made by FFGs contractors and marketing team are out. Once the real game is available you'll see more normal people with real jobs and lives playing with what's available.

If it makes you feel better here something from a game I played years ago with the old WotC minis and WEG rules.

All papercraft, and at the time it was all available free for download. I'm spinning back up so only a new "Tarkin Town Shed" is currently available, but the rest will be brought back up as I get time to revise and clean it up.

I work 50 hours a week, freelance as a photographer on the side, play in a band in LA multiple times a week, have a significant other, and keep an average social life. I have a real job. And im normal. And i am currently building a diorama quality 6x3 ft recreation of Ord Mantell for Legion. Speak for yourself, mate. 

[gigliopaolo 10]

You could have a look at battlesystems.co.uk, I think it's awesome or Mantic generic sci-fi terrain

[Ghostofman 8,319]

4 hours ago, AldousSnow said:

I work 50 hours a week, freelance as a photographer on the side, play in a band in LA multiple times a week, have a significant other, and keep an average social life. I have a real job. And im normal. And i am currently building a diorama quality 6x3 ft recreation of Ord Mantell for Legion. Speak for yourself, mate. 

And other people don't. Not saying there's not going to be some fantastic stuff, just that when you get more people playing, some will have the time and skill to make amazing stuff, some won't. Not to mention the fact some people will be more interested in playing than building.

[JBar 353]

9 hours ago, manoftomorrow010 said:

I've collected some paper towel rolls for trees but I'm at a loss of where to go with it so really interested to see how this was done. Also curious to know what your bases are made of

The tree bases I used were mdf board that I cut out and sanded. It was 1/4" thick. I wanted something very sturdy and heavy. I've seen people do the same thing with hard cardboard or foambard.

Edited September 12, 2017 by JBar

[JBar 353]

9 hours ago, manoftomorrow010 said:

I've collected some paper towel rolls for trees but I'm at a loss of where to go with it so really interested to see how this was done. Also curious to know what your bases are made of

I followed this step by step and I have to say I was impressed by how easy and realistic they turned out!

 

[manoftomorrow010 1,119]

1 hour ago, JBar said:

I followed this step by step and I have to say I was impressed by how easy and realistic they turned out!

 

Perfect! I was planning to start with just a basic fallen Endor tree as a piece of cover, smashing the tube makes so much sense haha the obvious things you don't think of when starting out 

[Force Majeure 4,108]

@JBar Thanks for the video, that guy is kinda funny. What I appreciate is how simple many of his techniques are: toilet paper, sticks, glue & paint. It's not pretty, it's functional and you could make it look pretty if you wanted to.

On the other end of the spectrum is Luke Towan's series of videos that shows you how to achieve almost museum quality work, and he breaks it down simply enough so that you can get similar results.

I think I'll be using ideas and techniques from both of these guys.

[TylerTT 1,295]

buy a box or two of this and get a nice play mat. Bam done. 

[MasterZelgadis 202]

16 hours ago, JBar said:

I followed this step by step and I have to say I was impressed by how easy and realistic they turned out!

[youtube link]

DM Scotty's videos are great, he makes so much just out of toilet paper and glue..

[Alino 244]

On 9/11/2017 at 10:13 AM, galantini said:

 

It saddens me that there is a whole generation of players who have never experienced the panic of spilling acrylic paint on your bedroom carpet, accidentally supergluing your fingers together and cutting yourself on a scalpel, all in the name of gaming. You kids today have grown up with visually stunning Star Wars video games and pre-painted table top games. You haven't lived. 

 

 

I'm 17, so I'm not sure all kids these days can be placed in the same group Although I am aware that I am quite the exception in my age group, since I started playing Warhammer 40k when I was 12 (and did all three things you listed numerous times. I also played Dark Eldar, and dear god those pointy bits stung.)

[Alino 244]

16 hours ago, JBar said:

I followed this step by step and I have to say I was impressed by how easy and realistic they turned out!

 

That's what I've been loosely basing my trees off of. That tutorial is amazing.

[galantini 46]

Started building some scenery for my Legion Tatooine themed table. I wanted to start with something ambitious, so designed this building, loosely inspired by the Cantina seen in A NEW HOPE. 

I divided the design into segments which I then cut from a large block of Styrofoam using a hot wire cutter  (which is an essential bit of kit if you are planning to use large amounts of foam in your models. I've tried to cut foam with knives, saws, very sharp blades... everytime i get horrible cuts, sloppy angles and mess. This wire cutter has been an amazing purchase). I also cut some polystyrene balls in half (no prizes for guessing what these are for). The smallest of the balls is actually made from plaster of paris - poured into a spherical ice cube mould. 

This is how the assembled parts look when placed together. The next step is to glue this together using PVA and filling in any cracks and gaps with polyfilla. After that I have to look at texture options, though i hear polyfilla mixed with PVA is excellent for getting that chalky stone surface... But this is just an update on what i'm building. 

Edited September 14, 2017 by galantini

[joeshmoe554 839]

That roof looks like it would make a decent dice tray.

[Force Majeure 4,108]

Excellent work. I love this thread!

Edited September 14, 2017 by Force Majeure

[galantini 46]

3 minutes ago, joeshmoe554 said:

That roof looks like it would make a decent dice tray.

That's a nice shout actually - There's seldom room for throwing dice on a busy table. I was originally intending to decorate the space with objects to represent air conditioning units, some ariels and such, but that is a good suggestion.

[Force Majeure 4,108]

@galantini I keep seeing foam like yours. Where is it from/where can I find it? I've seen others using the pink insulation foam that can be found at hardware stores.

Also, are you going to keep it modular so you can break it down for storage, and different layouts?

[galantini 46]

3 minutes ago, Force Majeure said:

Excellent work. I love this thread!

@galantini I keep seeing foam like yours. Where is it from/where can I find it? I've seen others using the pink insulation foam that can be found at hardware stores.

The stuff i'm using is 'styrofoam' and it can be ordered online http://modelshop.co.uk/Shop/Item/Styrofoam-yellow/ITM4892

It is Not to be confused with insulation board, which you might find in your loft or sold in fat sheets from B&Q.

[galantini 46]

4 minutes ago, Force Majeure said:

@galantini I keep seeing foam like yours. Where is it from/where can I find it? I've seen others using the pink insulation foam that can be found at hardware stores.

Also, are you going to keep it modular so you can break it down for storage, and different layouts?

The overall size of this piece is 400mm x 290mm, so not too difficult to store away on the top of my book  shelves, therefore i will be gluing it all together, although I do like your suggestion. This will probably be the largest of the set pieces I'm building.

Edited September 14, 2017 by galantini
Additional detail added.

[Slugrage 5,011]

Don't be intimidated by it. The biggest hurdle is getting over the concept that most of the folks posting photos right now are often experienced terrain builders. So looking at their stuff, you're seeing the results of weeks, months, and years of practice. Your first building won't look like theirs, and that's entirely okay. Find out if your local game shop is going to have a painting and/or terrain building night, or ask if the shop can put one together if they know of someone who's good and could run a workshop.

My first four Tatooine buildings, in which some gift boxes from the dollar store, some styrofoam balls cut in half, a bit of pink 1/2" insulation, a bit of foam core sheet, and a little bit of plastic sheet turns into terrain. Overlay with some unbleached titanium paint, with a dark brown wash, and an overbrush of the titanium mixed with white. Done.

Edited September 15, 2017 by Slugrage

[galantini 46]

@Slugrage These are great - I love what you've done with the texture and paint work on the buildings.

Edited September 14, 2017 by galantini

[manoftomorrow010 1,119]

On 9/12/2017 at 6:40 AM, JBar said:

I followed this step by step and I have to say I was impressed by how easy and realistic they turned out!

 

I tried the crumpled paper towel roll thing, but maybe my paper towels are too thick cause it did not adhere like his did at all. However, I've had good luck on a test run with a toilet paper roll for a standing Endor tree. I covered it in pieces of paper towel, not wrapping over the top, then smothered it in Elmers so it was rigid, then actually put a very thin layer of air-dry clay on, using a real stick to put striations on it. Overnight, the thin layer of clay cracked in places, but didn't fall off, so it still has a natural look to it. I'm pretty pleased! I haven't ventured into purchasing paints yet, so it isn't painted. I could post pics later if anybody is interested.

[Force Majeure 4,108]

I can't stop watching DM Scotty's videos. They're so goofy, but have a lot of value.

[shotbyscott 1,147]

i joined a terrain making group on facebook to learn what to da... i have a few months of trial and error before it comes out  

[Slugrage 5,011]

5 hours ago, shotbyscott said:

i joined a terrain making group on facebook to learn what to da... i have a few months of trial and error before it comes out  

And that's how all of us have learned how to do it. My mistakes greatly outnumber my triumphs.

[Judgmentfish 1]

On 9/11/2017 at 9:30 AM, Ghostofman said:

The game isn't out, so only videos are of the diorama quality stuff made by FFGs contractors and marketing team are out. Once the real game is available you'll see more normal people with real jobs and lives playing with what's available.

If it makes you feel better here something from a game I played years ago with the old WotC minis and WEG rules.

All papercraft, and at the time it was all available free for download. I'm spinning back up so only a new "Tarkin Town Shed" is currently available, but the rest will be brought back up as I get time to revise and clean it up.

Where is the Tarkin Town Shed available?