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Hey all,

Terrain is something that I have not really gotten into much, but a personal project that I have going on needs some terrain done. I am planning on building a table and want to build some terrain pieces that are almost like mini dioramas. I have seen this done quite a bit at the local shop, someone took some piece of terrain built it and put it on a MDF board. The problem I have with this and that I want to avoid is that the MDF always warps. Anyone ever tried an alternative material that does not warp? I have some thick 1/8 thick or so plasticard that I thought about using. I would love any suggestions. I have the scenery kits, I just need something to attach them to now that wont warp.

Thanks!

Ashton

You could brace the MDF with a thin sheet of hardboard underneath it, so you can use the MDF to your heart's content and then just brace the bottom of it to basically prevent it from warping at all over time.

I only say this because if you watch tutorials on how to build entire gameboards with MDF they do this exact thing - the concept should apply on a smaller scale too, no?

 PrehistoricUFO wrote:
You could brace the MDF with a thin sheet of hardboard underneath it, so you can use the MDF to your heart's content and then just brace the bottom of it to basically prevent it from warping at all over time.

I only say this because if you watch tutorials on how to build entire gameboards with MDF they do this exact thing - the concept should apply on a smaller scale too, no?

I am not familiar with the term 'hardboard"...what I know hardboard as is the stuff that goes underneath tile floors, which would make these pieces far too thick, I am trying to keep things as thin as possible.

Ashton

I'm not sure about MDF, but I can tell you I've tried using 1/8 and other size plastic card sheets and sadly they all warped pretty bad. I bought a sheet of clear acrylic but found it too difficult to cut without splitting/cracking.

Good luck lol...

 Redfinger wrote:

 PrehistoricUFO wrote:
You could brace the MDF with a thin sheet of hardboard underneath it, so you can use the MDF to your heart's content and then just brace the bottom of it to basically prevent it from warping at all over time.

I only say this because if you watch tutorials on how to build entire gameboards with MDF they do this exact thing - the concept should apply on a smaller scale too, no?

I am not familiar with the term 'hardboard"...what I know hardboard as is the stuff that goes underneath tile floors, which would make these pieces far too thick, I am trying to keep things as thin as possible.

Ashton

Oh sorry, at my Home Depot (home reno chain), there's a super thin, extremely tough material called 'hardboard'. I've used it as a base for terrain before. I don't know what it's technical name is. Sorry, friend.

Hardboard is basically same thing as mdf and if i recall is suitable to warping. or at least swelling if in contact with water.

They make Thick sheets of styrene and other plastics that wont warp (unless you heat it baddly)

like http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004DZOVZI

I have a bunch of 1 by 1 feet by 1/8th inch extruded ABS plastic which isnt too bad.

A VCT floor tile will probably not warp and it is dirt cheap to but one 12"x12" tile.

I've seen linoleum tiles used before.

If you cover the MDF/hardboard with a nice coat of polyurethane before building on it it won't wrap. Polyester resin works as well. I've also used matte-board brushed liberally with PVA glue front and back without warpage issues. Glue two pieces of that together and it will resist warping even better.

3mm polystyrene won't warp. It takes a lot of work to cut into curves.