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I recently attended the Vegas GT and I was impressed with the number of great armies there, see the great images in my other thread! Sometimes I teach painting classes, this year I taught at Adepticon, my classes are usually themed for the player, as in how to get the very best possible play pieces for time investment. I also ran the "Mini Medic" station for those of you who attended adepticon this year. Attendance for army painting classes like this was really light this year, so I was trying to think of ideas that might generate more interest!

I have noticed that the base board, or display base phenomenon seems to really be growing! Almost 50% of the armies at Vegas from my memory had at least a tray, if not a modeled display base. Sort of on both topics I was wondering what interest in the community might be for a class on how to build a display base? I have been a prop guy for (20) years and I have whole sets of tricks and methods to achieve this! I was considering floating the idea to the adepticon guys next year, but wanted to get a feel for what the community thinks. So...

Does a display base board building class sound interesting to you?

Would you attend it at adepticon (assuming it did not overlap your favorite other event there)?

What if it cost $15?

What would your expectation be?

Would you prefer it to be instructional (examples, lecture, how to print outs and materials lists, like a college lecture) or hands on (leave with something done, small example or completed board, like an art class)?

If you had the chance to leave with a completed display, would you be willing to pay more (materials costs), or would you rather just learn things and go off and experiment yourself?

Other thoughts?

I'd rather have a basic online version, as limiting it to just Adepticon limits your exposure.

But for Adepticon, if I was paying $15, my expectation would be high. A mix of instructional and hands-on would probably be best. Leaving with a completed display would be a case-by-case (and cost that person more), as not everyone will have an easy time getting it back on the plane. You traveling with all the materials would seem to be costly to yourself as well.

The instructional I would like a list of good, cheap materials that I could use to make a base, even suggesting pre-built stuff to be incorporated into the board (IE GW Hills, Pegasus buildings, etc). A list of good tools to use would be good as well, even if some of them are expensive (Dremel).

If you started everyone off with a 1' by 1' board, and had other cheap materials on hand (styrofoam, foamcore, etc), I'm sure a number of people would be happy to pay for the convenience of having everything there as well as someone there to help guide and critique their work.

AS MANY EXAMPLES AS POSSIBLE ON HAND. Pictures pictures pictures pictures...ranging from something very basic to something much more elaborate and time consuming. The basic stuff put only beginner painting techniques into, and ramp your painting skill requirements as you go.

Hope my 2 cents helps

I think leaving the lesson with something in hand is important. While this doesn't have to be a huge display base, a simple 1' x 1' piece would be nice. It also seems that at that size, you could walk away with a completed "product" by the time the lesson was over. In this case, I think an entrance fee to cover materials would be appropreate. You could also offer the lesson for free (or some reduced fee) if people bring their own materials or just come an listen/watch.

also consider that if people are leaving with an end product, it has to be small enough to fly with. Not everyone is driving to the Con

Hey great input guys. Seems like momentum gathers most behind the sinpler 1x1 base example.

PS the whole point of the class would be designing a modular base that fits into a suitcase to be checked, and under weight limits, and in a normal suitcase, and survive TSA and look good and fit an army on and be cheap to build, etc. etc. etc...

Augustus has a lot of knowledge. I was working with him in his shop on Labor Day and I was able to crank out this display board in a half a day. It was a hell of a lot of fun.

The board isn't quite done yet. I still need to add some lichen and grass in certain places and maybe a light black wash. I'm not entirely happy with the color I mixed.

im liking this
might have to look further into it

and nice job conditionofman.

Honestly there is enough info out on the web about building boards if I were to attended a presentation at a con I'd like it to be a bit more in depth and focus on parts of the topic others miss out on, more than just how to glue a few pieces of terrain to a flocked board.

Some discussions should be given to how to tie the board into your army theme, specifically basing. How to make the board enhance the look of your army. Touch on some thoughts on how your pieces should be arranged on the board for presentation. Cover the survivability and transportation of the board to the con/tournament and at the tournament.

I think making and taking is not the best idea. You'll have a lot of overhead for materials. Glue and paint takes time to dry, perhaps longer than your audience has time for. You'd need to provide tools as well. Do you trust a bunch of random strangers with everything from hobby knives to your Dremel or foam cutter? Also this will probably make quite a mess that you will have to clean up (don't leave that to the con organizers if you plan on ever being welcomed back!).

ConditionOfMan wrote:Augustus has a lot of knowledge. I was working with him in his shop on Labor Day and I was able to crank out this display board in a half a day. It was a hell of a lot of fun.

The board isn't quite done yet. I still need to add some lichen and grass in certain places and maybe a light black wash. I'm not entirely happy with the color I mixed.

Thanks a lot CoM, I think that looks really great! Nice paint job!

Augustus wrote:Does a display base board building class sound interesting to you?

Sure. I am going this next adepticon for certain (hotel already paid for)

Augustus wrote:Would you attend it at adepticon (assuming it did not overlap your favorite other event there)?

Yeah, I would love to attend it.

Augustus wrote:What if it cost $15?

Sounds like a great deal actually.

Augustus wrote:What would your expectation be?

This one could get long. I have built several in the past, ranging from very scenic MDF fitted bases slots and magnetized to a simple piece of foamcore sanded flocked and painted. I have really high expectations, but not when it is for 15 bucks.

Augustus wrote:Would you prefer it to be instructional (examples, lecture, how to print outs and materials lists, like a college lecture) or hands on (leave with something done, small example or completed board, like an art class)?

I think a bit of both really. If you can show numerous examples, how tos, give good tutoring advice with a small sample to allow people to perform what they learn there (people are more likely to learn these techniques if you allow them to give them hands on experience prior to the trip home) then I think it would be worth my $15 just for a groovy seminar and going away learning a few new tricks I haven't thought of yet.

Augustus wrote:If you had the chance to leave with a completed display, would you be willing to pay more (materials costs), or would you rather just learn things and go off and experiment yourself?

Good boards take time. I am anal retentive though, so it takes me even longer to do... But as above smal examples to take with. Leaving with a completed board would be great, but doubtful within the scope of time for a hobby seminar.

Augustus wrote:Other thoughts?

Good luck on that. If you do end up doing it, I would attend as long as it doesnt interfere with my gaming of BFG or Pirates of the High Seas.