Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

A question for all the terrainbuilders out there. I want to make a ruin, and I have an idea on how to do it. What I wonder however is about the base to place the ruin itself on. It has to be thin so it looks good, but at the same time not thin enough to break, because there will be a semi-heavy ruin on it. How do you go about, what material and where to get it?

I have seen people use plasticard, fairly thin and durable, able to be cut with xacto knife. Local comic stores is where I got mine for free.

I actually have been thinking it might look better to base buildings and ruin type terrain on square MDF with about a 1/8th thickness for the sake of making it look like a foundation.

it should be sturdy enough to not break and if sealed shouldn't warp

Small ruins could possibly fit on old CD's, which would fit the bill perfectly. Larger scale, I would also suggest MDF, or a 2-3 layer Cardboard (I'm thinking the box for a refrigerator or washing machine).

If you have any handy, plexiglass would be great, but I'd only suggest used scraps, as purchasing for this purpose would NOT be nice to your wallet.

I use foamboard for all mine, then I glue a drawer liner to the bottom to keep it from sliding around when we're playing. It's a bit thick but so nice!

If you have the tools to work it, MDF works great. It's pretty cheap, too. You can get a 4X8 sheet for $20 at most hardware stores. I then trace out the patterns onto it, giving it an organic feel to it, then cut it out. I then use a dremmel sanding bit to bevel the edges. Then you mount the ruin, build up the base with whatever materials you're working with. I also add a bit of felt to the bottom to make sure the piece won't slide around or damage the board it's sitting on.

You could use plasticard, but it's rather expensive for making anything other than terrain embellishments IMO. Foamboard isn't a terrible choice and it's easy to work with, but it will often warp after you've glued down the ruins and flocked it.

I use Gesso artist's boards by Ampersand. They come pre primed to take paint, and don't warp. you can get them for any size and thickness. I buy them at hobby lobby to save 40% on them. a 6x8x1/8" board is usually around $3.

It's basically pre-primed clip boards.

Clipboards are good for larger terrain. Same with old cutting boards, MDF, etc. Possibilities are endless.

I use foam core for big stuff, and CDs for small stuff.

Did however buy some MDF clipboards at the dollar store. Just an't bring myself to cut them up.