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I am looking at wargaming table top covers and had seen a video about how to make a drop sheet into a contoured cover. I was wondering what people recommended? Is this better/worse than felt and if I go down the felt route does anyone have any guidance about acrylic vs wool felts and thoughts about thickness?

Do you mean for the actual gaming surface?

I've always found that felt catches and snags on all the spikey Games Workshop stuff and any course sand or gravel on movement trays.

The best tables are Styrofoam covered in sand and static grass.

Yeah, that is what I meant. I was looking for something that could be packed up/rolled up and so that was why I was looking at the drop sheet or the felt as options.

What do other people find?

I have the warhammer battle mat which is easy to transport and is nice and smooth. Was reasonably priced when I got it but that was a few years ago so... Maybe not anymore.

The drop cloth or felt would be great for a cheap cover (I'd personally go with drop cloth because it's easier to roll). The Frontline Gaming fat mats are awesome if you don't mind shelling out the cash.

I made these. I made a green one. The nice thing is you can add grass and flock to it. When you caulk add some sand and small kitty litter in different areas adds better texture. I travel with mine and have had no issues with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4inBnDwYGo

 redcell wrote:
I made these. I made a green one. The nice thing is you can add grass and flock to it. When you caulk add some sand and small kitty litter in different areas adds better texture. I travel with mine and have had no issues with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4inBnDwYGo

I made my own aswell with the heavy painters canvas and caulk. It took all of an hour (not including drying time, left mine overnight) and has served me really well. It was cheap to make (although mine was a 4x4) and was actually fun! Best way to go imo.

I am really interested in making one of my own. I was wondering what the need was for the heavy canvas - could you use a tarpaulin for the backing material? What about a bed sheet?

Also when painting the caulk, can you use enamel or acrylic paint (given it would need to flex)?

hasdrubalsbrother wrote:
I am really interested in making one of my own. I was wondering what the need was for the heavy canvas - could you use a tarpaulin for the backing material? What about a bed sheet?

Also when painting the caulk, can you use enamel or acrylic paint (given it would need to flex)?

The problem with tarps (blue kind of plastic material) is the caulk has a hard time adhereing for the long haul. It will flake off over repititive use. Bed sheet could work in theory, but again I think would suffer from hard use.

Painters canvas works because most people already have some, if not its pretty cheap, and VERY durable. As for paint I'm pretty both acrylic or enamel works. I was lucky enough to find caulk in the exact color I wanted (dark grey) so no paint was necessary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtRMoIZfPPg

I used this exact guide but the principle is the same as the video posted earlier.

For me gaming mats are the best to play on. I bought a mat from gamemat.eu recently for Necromunda. It is made out of "mouse pad" material which means it looks great but rolls flat every time. I store it in a giant poster tube. Click the thread in my signature for images.

I plan to get another for Warhammer Fantasy. They are better than Realm Of Battle boards in my eyes because they have no divide lines (as its all one piece) and as its flat models fall over less.

How much caulk would you need to buy for a 6x4 mat?

Is it preferable to paint on top of the dried caulk or alternatively mix the base colour into the caulk?

Also some vids say that you have to clamp the canvas prior to application to avoid shrinkage (http://tobispaintpot.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/a-new-horizon-tutorial-for-flexible.html) - is this issue also resolved by doing it in two layers (thin base coat; let it dry; then thicker textured coat)?