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I have a table for 40k, but since i"ve moved, I haven't had any terrain, before the stuff was servicable, but now I want to make actual good stuff.

I'm going to be heading into town to purchase some polystyrene, as my ex-roome uses it for building/bunker walls and hills.

But I wanted to make some smaller and durable walls/ruins too, I was thinking plasticard for some buildings. Tips?

Is plasticard good for buildings? Does plastic glue work with it? Due to price, i was thinking half-inch polystyrene, but 3/4 inch would be stronger for structures... also. what do I use to cut polystyrene? I heard hobby knives work well as long as they're sharp and you're carefull.

I'm kinda running blind here. Any idea/experiences to share?

Also, by polystyrene, I mean of course the pink sheets of it found at local hardware stores.

Polystyrene foam can be very durable depending on the density you choose to go with. You can cut it with anything sharp - or preferably a hot wire cutter/hot knife. If you use the heat, be aware you are not cutting but melting and will need ventilation to take that into account.

It comes in a variety of densities - the more dense it is the stronger it is (chemically, there isn't much difference between the foam insulation sheets and plasticard - the plasticard is just much more dense). Also keep in mind that the color is a branding issue. You will want to ask for extruded polystyrene. Some brands are pink, others are blue or yellow. Your local store may not have pink - but that doesn't mean they don't have the material that you are looking for.

Plasticard works well for pretty much everything, though I tend to prefer more bulk to my walls and what not. A single thickness of what is commonly available at hobby stores is pretty thin.

Plastic glue works with plasticard just fine. Not so well for the plastic foam (you can do it - but it takes practice in order to figure out how little to use to prevent from melting the foam).

Cellular PVC is another handy material - though it isn't as easy to find. It is stronger than foam, but cheaper than comparable thicknesses of polystyrene sheet. You can get sheets that are up to about 1/2" thick for fairly cheap. You can cut it easily enough by scoring and snapping as well as using regular woodworking tools.

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23330&catid=733

It is also known as foamed and expanded PVC.

You might also want to consider Foam Core for buildings and walls and such - - just remember you will be going through blades quickly cutting it.

Here's some of my card stock terrain that I've made and put into PDF files. They should help tide you over for a little while until you can make a decent amount of terrain.

http://www.4shared.com/office/i1rYWbIX/Barricades.html

http://www.4shared.com/office/v4ce5-4d/Catwalks_and_Crates.html

I'm creating a number of things to put them in a complete packet at a later date.

FOAMCORE!!!!!
http://www.anticsonline.co.uk/2363_1.html

actually, this site has everything you'll need for pretty decent prices.

foamcore, normal plasticard, embossed plasticard (so like bricks, stone, diamondplate/checkerplate etc.), balsa, plasticard tubes rods and other shapes (circular, square, H beams, L beams, I beams etc.).
unforrunately there's no extuded polystyrene (i.e. the yellow/pink/blue high density stuff that you see in white dwarf)

Foam board is a great medium to use, easy to draw on templates and cut etc... once you have put your structures together I would apply a black base coat using any cheap acrylic.

To give a realistic effect on buildings I recommend covering the entire outside surface with pva glue and applying a fine layer of ground down dirt, sand whatever you like to give the surface a realistic texture.

Once that is done go to town with what ever colour scheme, Fx you want to apply.

So cheap and the look is usually better than you can purchase in hobby shops. Daedricbob will post our scenery pics soon I hope.

Plasticard will work, and offers compatibility with your bits box, that said, foam core is brilliant, even if only used structurally. I've created a lot of things using foam core as the skeleton, using craft foam( you know, the sheets of soft pliable foam most kids use on their projects) and card stock to cover the rest of it up. That said, polystyrene is also a brilliant choice because a soldering iron lets you detail a mossive surface in seconds.

I like to use foam board as a structural core for strength, then coat it with a plasticard skin because it makes a nice surface for paint. also Walmart carries Elmer's brand of foam board that has grid lines on it so you don't need to get out the compass and square to figure out how to cut a straight line or get measurements.

one last thing: if you do use the plasticard skin method you can use duct tape to keep your parts together while the glue used to put them together dries, and even after it only strengthens the joints.

 Briooh wrote:
Foam board is a great medium to use, easy to draw on templates and cut etc... once you have put your structures together I would apply a black base coat using any cheap acrylic.

To give a realistic effect on buildings I recommend covering the entire outside surface with pva glue and applying a fine layer of ground down dirt, sand whatever you like to give the surface a realistic texture.

Once that is done go to town with what ever colour scheme, Fx you want to apply.

So cheap and the look is usually better than you can purchase in hobby shops. Daedricbob will post our scenery pics soon I hope.

For texturing on foam core, I use watered down spackle. Works great and keeps the foam from melting if you spray it with spray paint to base coat.

you know what. Just go on youtube, and look up:

terrainaholic

just look it up yourself, and look at his stuff. Waste a few weeks watching. JUST DO EEEEET!