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We, the local gaming group, are planning an apocalypse game for the summer, mainly as a motivator to get all of our armies painted. So, it's time for a big terrain project. Why? is it because I have grown tired of small terrain projects? Is it because I have finished painting all my armies? Is it because I don't have terrain to play on? Am I insane?

Well, no, none of the above. Save the last one, of course. On the agenda is a decently sized terrain board that will be fully painted and modeled for the occasion. But, let's not make it easy here. This is not just normal terrain. No, this is a siege game, and no siege is complete without an indomitable fortress! It will span the short length of the table and separate the civilization of the Imperium from the scourge of the xenos.

Or will it? The city behind has already been ravaged by rusty shell and bio-explosive alike. Thus the defenders of the mighty wall prepare for a last stand, the outcome of which will decide the final fate of the city. The defenders must trust their defenses and hold them well, for the rampaging enemies will be quick to exploit any weakness. It will surely be an apocalyptic showdown.

So, the crunch: rocky plain outside, 8" tall ramparts, ruins inside. A single highway, the main artery of the city, will cut through the board and lead through the massive gates into the shelled city. The main project will be the walls: 2" thick, 8" tall, of polystyrene insulation foam construction. I'm still undecided on how the gates will look, or if/how many bunkers should be on the walls. I'm starting this project early; hopefully I get it done in a few months. Only time will tell....

Progress pic: main wall sections 8x12" have been cut out. They will be glued together flat to make a wall section, 2" thick. Ork boy and deffcopta for scale.

Not a bad plan. I say either add some "buttress" like structures to the facade of the wall, or make it sloped up to the top (maybe a 15 degree slope would do.) AS for "bunker" / " tower" placement I'd say around 1 per ever 1 1/2 feet would give a nice appearance (not counting your gatehouse complex) especially if a couple of them have been hit with serous ordinance and knocked out of action.

Yeah forgot to mention that. As for wall construction, there will be large buttresses every foot. I also plan on having the top of the rampart extend out 5mm and then have a gothic arch pattern coming out from the bottom.

Most of my inspiration is coming from Bugbait over at Warseer. His fortress is absolutely incredible. Check it out- http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?109769-Apocalypse-40k-Terrain

Looking foward to see how you make this.

Ok- for the buttresses- which would look better? Gothic-ish? or a simple slope? See pic.

I defiantly think that you should go with the Gothic-ish one. It may be hard work now, but the finished product will be so much better.

tarar2d2 wrote:I defiantly think that you should go with the Gothic-ish one. It may be hard work now, but the finished product will be so much better.

what he said.

Galorn wrote:

tarar2d2 wrote:I defiantly think that you should go with the Gothic-ish one. It may be hard work now, but the finished product will be so much better.

what he said.

Same here.

Well, seems to be a unanimous decision. Looks like I got me some templates to draw.....

You do that.

Well, I cut out a few buttresses, and I can't say I'm happy with the gothic look. I'm cutting them out of 1" foam, and the complex cuts required are not easily done without some of it tearing. The triangular ones are easier to reproduce and, frankly, look better scale-wise.

I'll get you some pics comparing both. I think the triangular design is going to take it, unless someone wants to draw me another template? The walls are 8" high and 2" thick.

Out of curiosity, what are you using to cut your foam?

I have a hot foam cutter and several sizes of snap-blade knives. I use the snap blades for what will end up to be final edges. They work well, it's just that there are so many passes to make on the gothic version that it's hard to cut all the way through and make every angle at the same time; all without pulling chunks of foam.

And I have to cut 12 of these.....

I dunno, maybe I'm just lazy. I'll try another with a brand new blade tonight and see how it goes.

Well, unless your foam blade is 8 inches long it is not going to be easy to get the cuts right. May I suggest maby getting like a long band saw blade? Maby even an 8 inch pvc pull saw. That would ensure that the cut on the angels would be roughly the same without making so many passes. Try making one Gothic template on paint, then print it out to fit you 2inch thick foam. use the same one on both sides, a make sure its even all the way across. I probobly sound really annoying but thats what I came up with. Also, For my Harridian, I cant seem to think of a way to start it. have any ideas?

Might want to take a straight edge and mark the front of the foam board were the saw blad enters, then the back were it should exit. That will help with the cuts being perfect all the time.

Hope that helped.

Actually, the buttresses are 1" thick. A 2-3" blade works ok.

But a bandsaw? Dude! How did I not think of that!? Awesome idea. I'll try it tonight. Anybody else have experience with a bandsaw on foam?

Imperial Renegade wrote:Well, unless your foam blade is 8 inches long it is not going to be easy to get the cuts right. May I suggest maby getting like a long band saw blade? Maby even an 8 inch pvc pull saw. That would ensure that the cut on the angels would be roughly the same without making so many passes. Try making one Gothic template on paint, then print it out to fit you 2inch thick foam. use the same one on both sides, a make sure its even all the way across. I probobly sound really annoying but thats what I came up with. Also, For my Harridian, I cant seem to think of a way to start it. have any ideas?

Might want to take a straight edge and mark the front of the foam board were the saw blad enters, then the back were it should exit. That will help with the cuts being perfect all the time.

Hope that helped.

Or cut em one at a time in a progressive fashion.
Step one
Cut Rectangle for total area of a buttresses.

Step two
Cut out the "waste area" above the angle as a simple rectangle

Step three
Cut the angle

Sentinel wrote:Actually, the buttresses are 1" thick. A 2-3" blade works ok.

But a bandsaw? Dude! How did I not think of that!? Awesome idea. I'll try it tonight. Anybody else have experience with a bandsaw on foam?

I have my moments