Hardware store; Lowes and Home Depot (will even cut for you)
Table;
3/4 inch good quality plywood (1/2 inch will sometimes warp) if you are limited on storage space, have it cut to 4'x6', then in half mount hinges on the underside so it folds.
Water base Interior house-paint in the base color you want, bring in the color on a piece of paper 2"x 2" so it can be scanned and matched (I like the idea here to match the bases of your army, since it is their home turf?) (get 1 gal; extra to be used for below terrain bases) Then pick a dry-brush
GW color 1 quart same procedure as above.
Bag of playground sand
Cheap roller and brush package deal.
Plastic drop cloth.
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Paint heavy base color, while wet cover generously in playground, let dry (overnight is best) dump off sand (recycle), make sure it is dry, dry-brush second color, done.
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Cheaper; plywood, fabric remnants in best color available, pull tight, staple-gun or hot glue along edge, cut off excess, done.
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Terrain bases;
Mount terrain on Hardboard (cheap; free cuts from the above companies; I recommend 1 foot squares. (Adult) do it yourself Jig saw in various kidney bean shapes and edges at an angles.
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Depending on the look you are going for in terrain, just mounting rubble items on hard-board will do the trick. (see found supplies below)
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Inexpensive Supplies
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Tools (Purchased);
Dykes; or heavy-duty wire cutters; NOT Sprue-Cutters (sprue-cutters are expensive and will get damaged when trying to cut metal or wood). Example;
http://www.xs11.com/forum/images/tips/20020902-floatpinremove.jpg
Scissors; crappy or inexpensive, you are not a seamstress, so $1 ones will do fine when cutting stuff, if you need a more precise cut, you should probably invest in a straight cutting table or use a blade and metal ruler.
Metal Ruler; often called a Drafting ruler. Uses; guiding a straight cut, and measuring.
Hibachi skewers; (made of Bamboo) cost about $1 for a bag of 50 at local grocery store, great for spiky defenses, and etc…
Place-mat for dinner table; (made of Bamboo and other wood slat items) good for fences when cut.
Supplies (Found);
Wire Hangers; from the dry-cleaners. I prefer the plastic coated ones. (Cut-out the straight area and save). Then find a drill-bit the same size. Uses; pinning large items, axles on vehicles, BANNER-POLES, etc… Alternatively, LARGE paper-clips.
Broom (Old); (house/kitchen) with long Nylon bristles. Depending on stiffness can be used as Spears, Lances, Antenna arrays, poles, cabling, and etc…
Stir-Sticks; wood, (NOT Popsicle, they are treated and can have a to-finished look). From Starbucks for free with a cup-o-Joe or a box from Smart and Final for about $5. Uses; as wood, for everything wood; floors, bridges, fences, and etc…
Cereal Box Cardboard; Save the front and back of the Cereal-box or
GW box, etc. the cardboard is treated and very solid. Uses, a VERY inexpensive substitute for plastic-card.
Rocks and Gravel; from your neighbor’s driveway (I Keed, I keed) Uses; boulders, and etc…
Old Toys; from your closet, from a yard-sale, and etc. Uses; BITZ for Orky stuff, rubble terrain, machinery, and etc…
Chopsticks; (fast food for free) Uses; large wood poles, fencing, supports, and etc…
Wrapping paper rolls; (thicker ones) Pringles can, oatmeal can, etc.
Telephone DSL Cabling (wires); they have 4-12 different colored wires inside
Pennies (or nickels fit ROUND base weights perfectly; if you are rich
lol); (note; I have tried the washer and slug idea, trying to find the right size and driving around is not worth the penny, or the nickel) Alternatively, they can be cut in two (just off-center) to fit in the underside of the slotted-bases.