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.

I need to make a display board for an upcoming tournament and I need some tips.

I found the step by step directions on GW's site but I was wondering if anyone has a better way or tips on making a display board.

Ivan

How crazy do you want to get with your display board?  A basic, functional board can be built from a 12" x 18" sheet of MDF with a layer of 1" pink foam glued on top (liquid nails).  Glue on sand, paint & add a bit of flock.  Done.  Nice, simple, works for any army & is easy to carry and use.

On the other hand, you can browse pic galleries from tournaments to see what other people have done with their bases.  For example:  http://www.adepticon.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=146   or go and build some thing really big to attract the player's attention:  http://www.voidgamers.com/channel/HirstArts/b.100.r.13101.html/RAN_THE_CID-rich6.jpg

 

 

 

 

So do you think it is worth the extra effort to make holes for the base of the model to fit in? Or just set the model on top of the display?

 

Ivan

holes in your display board make it hard to change your list. Seems better to just place the models on the board.

Making holes will help hold the minis in place. If you are worried about changing your army list you could make extra holes and plug them with decorated bases. You could also cover temp holes with small moveable trees or a small piece of terrain.

The biggest thing to remember about a display board is to make sure it doesn't detract from the appearance of your army. If you can put your army on a table and think they look good, then put them on the display and it turns into a "bleh," then leave the display at home.

As far as making holes for the bases, it all depends on how you make the board. If its pretty simple, flat, with maybe a hill and a couple of bushes, then making another when your army list changes isn't a big deal. If you typically take the same amry list over and over, it works out good also. If you spend a couple of days making one, or your army list changes frequently, then don't cut the holes.

I went pretty nuts with my display board (I'll acquire pics if needed). I made it using thin sheet metal, so all of the Rare Earth magnets on the bases of my models would hold. I can change my list on a whim and still maintain some rigidity from the models when I move the tray from table to table.
I'd actually like to re-do it using the lessons learned from my first one.
I started with insulation foam 2" thick. Liquid nails adhered the first sheet of metal to the insulation. Then added a "hill" from more foam and adhered another sheet of metal. Added some trim and used some spray adhesive to stick a fine layer of flocking material to the metal before painting it. Rare Earth magnets ensure the models will hold to the metal through the flocking/paint. I can add all kinds of terrain features to fill space as long as I glue magnets to the underside of the pieces.
I can fit any combination of my existing Necron army to this display board and have available several pieces of terrain.

The only real downside is the lack of space available to store the display base at each table position.

Use the GW one, or better yet buy one from bluetable. Lazy is the way to go!

Chuck

So how big a display base do ya'll think is to big?

2112 - good idea making extra hole and just filling them in.

Deadite - Pics of what your talking about would be great.

Ivan

2 ft x 2 ft is generally too big, exceptions being horde orks and horde nids generally for marine armies 1 ft x 1.5 ft should be enough. if you're running out of room on the board try using vertical space more, obviously vehicle heavy armies will need more space too but try for as small a footprint as you can just to make it convienient to carry and to place on a gaming table w/o moving around too much terrain.

what i thought to do once was to use a gaming case(GW ones) and building a display into it.
All models would be mounted on magnets so they hold up and like this,you save the empty space in between them and get a hardcase on the outside.