------------------------------------
TL : DR > Need
Uk -online- supplier of polystyrene/styrofoam, can't seem to zero in on anything I can use/afford.
Wholesale/cheap flock, but more likely; alternatives/approximations.
Sealing/hardening solution, 20 cans of purity seal is going to cost.
------------------------------------
Me and a friend are about to embark on a project to hopefully create a gaming table that is transportable and on which we can switch terrain around (ei something we can play both fantasy and
40k on) Think along the lines of a table that folds up/comes apart with pegs/cells to accomodate modular terrain pieces (along the lines of the realm of battle table) that we will create.
Following a brainstorming session we have looked into various ways of making a table that can split into 2 parts, each folding in half, with detatchable legs and pegs that will allow us to create terrain pieces to slot onto the assembled table (though it is likely we will look into other ways of slotting the modules into the table as protruding pegs may pose a risk to car upholstry/ankles etc
)
The table itself is pretty much straight forward, as for the modules themselves the discussion has lead in the direction of using slabs of
mdf/hardboard and then laying thin sheets of polystyrene on top, from which a rough approximation of the terrain will be cut, the end result will be something that looks a bit like a topographical map at which point the cut sheets will be glued together. From here the whole thing will be smoothed into the finished product, using a candle+hot spoons/forks/wires and some sanding (not much thought has gone into this stage of the process
) The reason for this approach is I have had experience trying to cut shapes out of single chunks of polystyrene and it has been pure hell, I have also had experience with thin sheets and apart from not having so far found a good glue to use that won't melt the polystyrene, it has been a lot easier as it allows an approximate layout of the shape before commiting and the thin sheets are just easier to cut. In the past I have scavanged/been given polystyrene and don't know how to go about procuring the sheets I need.
Any further thoughts on using polystyrene would be appreceated, the material has been selected for ease of cutting and the fact that a rocky finish can easily be achieved when using heated implements, but mostly because I do not have experience using other materials for this sort of thing. Thoughts welcome.
At this point there is the question of how to create the terrain features themselves, it is likely we will create most of the natural terrain features such as trees/water/plants while also purchasing ruins/buildings. We are going to need a lot of flock/sand and I was wondering if there are alternatives to simply buying grass flock tubs that give the intended effect (eg using fine sand and painting it green), or indeed if there are online stores that give wholesale prices on flock.
So, a large painted surface of polystyrene covered in flock/slate likely adhered using PVA glue, is going to need protecting. I have no idea what I can realisticly achieve with respect to cheaply sealing/hardening such a large surface and I am sure some approaches while giving the desired protection, will leave an undesired visual effect. The best case scenario here is something I can spray on that will leave a thin, matte, hard and transparent layer over the terrain and buildings, strengthening the structure while protecting the surface. I expect I will have to make compromises at this point, any advice on this is greatly appreceated.
If anyone reading this has any thoughts/experiences using the materials/methods I have described I would very much like to hear them and indeed if there are alternative approaches that will lend themselves to this project (ie light and easy to shape without the use of power tools) then I would appreceate hearing about them.
When the rich rage war it's the poor who die 
