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So a few months back i chose to host a tournament at my local gaming store. After running it with the owner and planning all the scenarios, prize support, and fluff i had an idea to give out trophies for the people who do the best at each of the three scenarios. Seemed easy enough as the last two scenarios were objective based, the objectives i would be making. so why not hand a couple of those to the winners of that scenario. However the first scenario is an annihilation match. What would be a good trophy for that? after a few ideas, one of which included an "in case of emergency" guard kit that was a bolt round called the emperors mercy i decided the only thing appropriate for the bloodiest victor of this battle would be a true scale Space Marine Narthecium. So i went to the local Lowes and picked up some supplies and set to building one, and thought I'd post my progress on here and get advice along the way.


List of supplies



liquid nail (or something similar)



1 1/2" basement insulation (blue foam)


Step One

Cut the foam into about roughly nineteen inch long pieces i think you get four and one that's a little short



Step two

Glue said pieces together. I was aiming for a final thickness of about six to eight inches i think my final measurement was seven and a half using that fifth one that's short.




And that's all I've gotten done so so far. I'm trying to think of a cheap fast way to get a rough shape out of the foam. Any ideas?

To "rough it in" I would use a hacksaw blade *tape one end for handle* or old kitchen knife...

I found tho, for a smooth finish, I use a soldering iron (i have one with xacto and flat spade attachment) once you figure out about how much the foam will shrink youre good to go

*watch out for those fumes tho!!!*

Hacksaw blade, coping saw, bread knife... any one of those will rip right through the foam. Just make sure that there's actually more "cut" than "rip" if you want to try and get fancy with it, otherwise err on the chunky side when roughing it out. Most files are a bit too fine-toothed to help much, but a nice coarse rasp can help you out here, if you have one.

Sand paper works wonders on helping to shape the stuff. I used a bit to make a giant hook one time. A medium grit will work a large quantity down at a time and very fine grit to help with detailing. Also if you use sandpaper be sure to wear a mask as the stuff is horrible for your lungs, and be careful with heat sources as the stuff can be quite flammable under certain circumstances. Good luck and cant wait to see the finished project.

I tend to use a large drywall knife (wicked looking serrations) to rough out the shape, then come back with a rasp style planer to bevel edges and such. If you don't have a hotknife, various substitutes are available (like the soldering iron above), but there's something about open flame I like...so I use red hot metal to make smooth cuts...Nothing like firing up the iron forge to make some terrain...

Thanks for all the advice guys given that today was a rainy day i didn't get much time in the warehouse to work on it but tomorrow I'll tear into it. Expect some pics. Hopefully.