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Well, here I am, starting into making terrain. The new hobby store desperately needs some hills, so that's what I'll be trying to make first. I've never touched most of these tools before in my life but I'm sure that after reading up here and on The Painting Blog I'll be well qualified to melt off my finger tips with a foam cutter.

Though, on to the business at hand, hills.

First, I thought to carve up with the foam cutter a very angular hill, being that hills should have proper sides and that. First mistake? Even if it says that its a wand, the foam cutter is really a saw. Really. I know, its hard to believe. That little wand will not, ever, under any circumstances, let you push it through foam so just show it whats what and saw up and down. You'll allow the parts not in contact with foam to heat back up and you'll cut your shapes out a damn sight faster. Of course this may do something awful in the long run (Including, but not limited to lung cancer, finger cancer, burnt fingers, terrified house pets, and mold) and if it does I'll be sure to come back and change this entry accordingly. So if its still like this, assume you're good to saw away with that recalcitrant wand of yours.





So, anyways, the angular hill. Looks kinda... small from the top? Now I know why the GW hills have such steep sides, gives you a maximum of 'top' area while minimizing the table eating foot print. And what do the Instructional Genestealers have to say about it? (Hint, it rhymes with Bit)



So that really isn't going to work for much more than blocking terrain. Now how about a two tier, steep angled hill?





Better, much better. Now my third huge mistake (my first was really using wood glue to coat the first bunch of proto hill for priming... more pockmarks than that scrawny kid working the register at Burger King) was to almost glue the small top hill on randomly. Lets have the Instructional Genestealers demonstrate why that almost resulted in complete failure...



It came to mind almost immediately that this set up for the top hill would result in much yelling, cursing, and gnashing of teeth in various assault phases. I highly suggest that you use your own Instructional [Insert Forgotten Models Name Here] to check for clearance.



Even this arrangement might leave me wanting when it comes to someone with a precious metal model. I'll probably move it forward slightly so the Sororitas players don't bean me with me own terrain...

So whats left before I start priming and painting? Sanding. Those hard edges and corners look down right ugly. Also, those granular spots? You know how they tend to show up and ruin everyone's "Super Awesome Printer Packaging Bunker"? Sanding kills those. Dead. Like you would be if you inhaled a great deal of that molten foam from earlier. But you didn't do that, or you wouldn't be reading this, now would you?

I'll come back with another entry later.