Super Dungeon Explore Board

Jon was kind enough to hook me up with some pink foam so I could make a Super Dungeon Explore board. This is my first time working with pink foam so many mistakes have been made so far. Hopefully it will be at least playable by the time we get together to give the game a spin, but this is what I have done at this point.

Swamp Pits!

So since I've been working on making my own terrain to play with recently (moreso as well due to AGR closing down), I actually went digging around my garage until I found some hardboard that I bought ages ago for a different project. This stuff is also called MDF (aka medium density fiberboard) and can be found relatively easily at your local hardware store. I think I paid 6 or 10 bucks for a 4'x8' sheet, so it's also pretty cheap.

Anyways, on to the pictures. I've been messing around with stuff, and then realized that Micah didn't really have any 5" AOE's for his gator army. So I set out to remedy that situation.

I started by cutting 2x 5" AOE's out of the MDF. I tried several different methods at first. What doesn't work? A dremel or a hobby knife. I would assume scissors, but I didn't even attempt that one :p So I busted out my buddy's jigsaw and eventually got 2 relatively nice circles done. Sand the top with an electric sander and bevel the edges with a dremel, and there ya go.



While you can just toss these down onto a table and play with them, they're not good enough. I tried texturing them 2 different ways.

Attempt #1:

The first try used plaster wrap (basically guaze coated in plaster - found at Michael's). So I cut it up into usable pieces, dipped into hot water, and ran with it.



So I put down some cork pieces to form a lip and then tried to get it the plaster wrap to be smooth.... It came out like crap.



I have used it to decent effect on some hills, but I was flocking those hills, so the screen showing through didn't matter there.

On to attempt #2:

After doing some browsing of the Terrain & Table Building section of PP's forums, and found this thread detailing a guy making his own board. So he was using a combination of PVA glue, wood filler, water, & toilet paper. I didn't have any wood filler on hand when I did this, but I think it turned out pretty good.

Still in the drying stage.


I let that dry overnight, and the next day after work, I got to painting it. Here's a crappy pic of the paint before all the varnish & stuff. I ended up putting a layer of Thraka Green wash onto the water on the right template before I put in the water, but forgot to do it on the other.



So then I sprayed both of them thoroughly with my Krylon acrylic gloss varnish stuff. I probably should have done several thin coats...but I was impatient and lazy/had to get to the lab.

Once I got home, I remembered that I still had the 2-part epoxy/water effect stuff. Can't remember what it's called right now, but maybe I'll remember to edit it in later :p.

So I brushed some matte varnish onto the swampy ground, but it seems like I need another layer since they're both pretty shiny still. Then again, swamps are wet.





And to model how these things actually play, here's my WIP Alexia standing in for some gators.



I'm happier with the first one then the second, but whatever. I tried to do a pond scum effect by dripping a gree wash onto the water effect while it was drying, but I guess right after you pour the water effect is too early. Just doesn't seem right. Anyways, I'll be packing these up to give to Micah this weekend at TSG hopefully, and he can throw on some of his little grass clumps and gators.

A Productive Saturday

While I should have been at school getting ready for my Orals Examination coming up, I just couldn't focus yesterday morning. The day was not lost though. Once I got back home, I managed to get lots of productive things done. The first of which was finishing the 2nd of my Mcthrall units. I still need to finish the Necrosurgeon as well, but the stitch thralls are done at least.
The only bonus to my going in to the lab on Saturday was walking through the parking lot and noticing all these woodchips... At this point I remembered reading a post on the PPforums about making rocks and modular terrain pieces using original Gorilla Glue and woodchips. So I figured I'd try my hand at it.
The basic idea is that Gorilla (GG)foams up when in contact with water. First, lay down a sheet of wax paper and spread some water on top of it. Then I just start pouring on the GG until it was about the size of the terrain piece that I wanted. The next step is adding in the wood chips (some of which I cut first, some I didn't) in whatever way you think looks good. Some I did standing up, some lying down, etc. Then it's just a matter of sealing the wood with some elmer's glue, putting on some dirt/sand, prime & paint. Only one of them is painted atm. Hopefully I'll have the time to paint them up in better colors.

My First Terrain Piece

So I started on my first terrain piece. My thought was to make a burned out shell of a cabin. So far, I haven't used too many materials. Just popsicle sticks, elmer's white glue, an exacto knife, wirecutters, and my dremel with a sanding attachment.
After cutting the sticks in half and trimming the round endcaps off with my wirecutters, I used the dremel to sand down the hard corners and make each piece look like a rough-hewn log. Shorter strokes are better in this case. You can use a regular hand file, but it takes a lot longer and looks a lot smoother. I'd recommend saving that much effort for something a little nicer looking than a beatup old cabin. To make a wall, just glue the "logs" onto some kind of support. I used a full popsicle stick with the ends trimmed. It's ok if the logs don't match up perfectly because the gaps can be filled in later with plaster or green stuff or whatever you choose to use to make the base of this mobile terrain out of. Here's a pic of the first wall with reference to two small based infantry and a large based warjack (slayer).
Close-up of the same.
More pics to come later...whenever I get around to the next stage.