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.

Ok guys, I need some recommendations, so I turn to you! I tried searching and got errors, so I'm sorry if this has been covered, I just don't have time to browse page after page looking for very specific info.

Anyway, I'm looking for quality wargaming terrain/table builders. I want to buy a custom table or terrain enough to fill one. I'll consider any recommendations, but I'm specifically looking for an urban table if that matters. Has anyone had an entire table's worth of terrain built before? What was your experience like? Is there a place you'd recommend? Let me know!

Thanks guys!

Google, "Warhammer 40k terrain and tables" and im sure if you browse through the first few pages you will find what your looking for or go to your local gamestore and talk to some of the guys there. Normally there are a few who like to build terrain amd do it fairly cheaply

Thank you for your response; I have done as you suggested. I didn't find what I was looking for, so I came here.

I just don't have time to browse page after page looking for very specific info.

Has anyone had an entire table's worth of terrain built before? What was your experience like? Is there a place you'd recommend? Let me know!

Thanks guys!

send an email to Blue Table Painting, get a quote. Otherwise make a rough concept drawing of what you are looking for, throw it on kijiji and let bidders come to you. Go to an FLGS, there might be people there who might be interested in doing it as well.

For actual, honest to goodness custom work - you will be best off looking for those who are doing what you think you want and then seeing if they are taking commission work. A good indicator is if they are showing off a new table every couple weeks.

In edition to Blue Table, you have TableTop Terraformers:

http://www.3t-studios.com/

http://bluetablepainting.com/terrain/

There are a lot of others to be certain - but those two are fairly reliable from what I have heard (never ordered any from them myself though).

Be prepared though, for a table filled with custom scatter terrain, prices will start at around $800 or so and go up from there. Shipping will probably add on another $100 or so unless everything is pretty small. For modular terrain boards with features modeled into them - you will be looking at $1200 or so and up with shipping being pretty close to the $200 mark. Depending on how much modular material is provided though - it can go up rather higher than that. I just finished a contract for a customer using modular hex terrain for a 4x8 board - however they wanted material enough to cover a 6x16 board. Even without that - you usually throw in a bit more on modular work so they can swap out pieces (that is sort of the point after all) - but that does add to the bottom line numbers.

If you want a single themed board that is not designed to be repositioned (Stalingrad or a movie scene like Helm's Deep) you may be under that for relatively simple outdoor locales to many times that for detailed urban environs. Shipping costs more as well since you generally are working with larger chunks of terrain (I usually do those sorts of boards no smaller than 2x4 foot pieces).

Also, be ready to wait. While I can't speak for all the rest - I do a bit on the side (nope - not interested - too busy as it is) and right now I have an 8 month waiting list. I would guess the other ones who do quality work will have lead times that are at the very least in months as opposed to days or weeks before they even begin. Construction can take a couple weeks of full time work or a few months of part time work.

I would also highly recommend checking locally. As I mentioned already - shipping large pieces of assembled terrain is not cheap. Normally when I do terrain, I prefer to hand deliver (and in some cases install - where appropriate) the terrain. The $200 or so that UPS will charge to ship it allows me to cover roughly a 300 mile radius from my house to cover fuel, one nights lodging and meals (not high dollar stuff of course - but it is food...). This ensures that things arrive unbroken and any issues can be addressed immediately (and I collect final payment...or I take it back home with me).

Most my customers are quite happy with this "service" as it allows me to show them how everything goes together (modular in particular can be a bit confusing figuring out which parts can go together) as well as final finish issues (joints on large themed boards are finished on site). If time allows, we also often will give it a test drive.

If you check locally - if there is anyone who does those sorts of things, they will often have dropped off contact information with the gaming stores. I know when I first started doing these sorts of projects - I had done that, and offered a finders fee for the store for referrals that turned into contracts.

Thank you so much for your post. 3t is one of the studios I was considering, the other being Sabol. Both have high standards. I am prepared to pay towards the higher end of the scale for a great table, but it needs to be great for that kind of money.

Also, thanks for giving me some insight as to how you personally operate. It is of value to me, even though you are booked up (which is great! Good for you; glad to see there is a healthy market for our hobby).

insidius wrote:
Thank you so much for your post. 3t is one of the studios I was considering, the other being Sabol. Both have high standards. I am prepared to pay towards the higher end of the scale for a great table, but it needs to be great for that kind of money.

Also, thanks for giving me some insight as to how you personally operate. It is of value to me, even though you are booked up (which is great! Good for you; glad to see there is a healthy market for our hobby).

have you made terrain yourself? you need to understand the cost that goes into that. If you're expecting epic grade scenic stuff, you might need to have a think....

 poda_t wrote:
If you're expecting epic grade scenic stuff, you might need to have a think....

Yeah, why is that?

I'm prepared to pay for what I get so what's the problem? Why do I "need to have a think?"

Because I'm suspicious you might have unrealistic expectations of what fees correspond to what level of detail.

That's alright.

My expectations are irrelevant in regards to the purpose of this thread.

If it makes you feel any better, assume I have a budget of $5,000 USD.

Your question is an interesting one.

As a person who paints and builds a lot of things, and even does commission work, here are some things for consideration;

Who to use;
I don't have a list of terrain commisison folks, but some of the big names have been listed here already.
I few others I know of are terrainaholic from youtube, and I think "green man stuidios".
Of course, 3t and Bluetable painting.

Quality and Cost
This can vary incredibly. For example, terrainaholic does not offer the same quality options as does 3t, and I would say the range of Bluetable offerings is between the other two.
High quality (almost diorama with 3t) takes a lot of skill and attention to detail that not every studio or crafter is able to produce.

Most people who do this are going to wan to get paid by the piece or by the hour,and this can drive up cost a lot.

I myself, can do a wide range of quality work - from incredibly basic "throw together and basic shading" to "diorama quality".
Basically your budget and quality goal determines what you should expect to get.

For example, a while ago I took a commission from player who had a set budget.
I pointed to various quality pieces, and told him how much terrain he could get with his budget.
For example, the "very basic" quality stuff his budget would get him a whole table, the high end stuff his budget would only get him only a single building.
It ends up being time...and time is money. If you want a whole table of high quality stuff, it could end up costing thousands.

Expectations
Make sure if you get something done, to have very clear communications regarding;
* exactly what you are going to get.
* how much input you have to give (pictures, examples, color swatches, etc.).
* how much time it will take. - this varies a lot.
* how much you pay when....how much up front, etc?

Delivery, Storage and Transport
Depending on how close you are to the person making your stuff....a huge part of the cost alone could be the shipping. By and large terrain is ...large.
My most recent terrain projects are designed to be modular, and pack well (for storage in my garage). However, to have someone do this could drive up cost, or compromise design.

edit: Just saw your budget is 5k. I think you should be able to get a good quality table for that. In fact, its a bummer I am not taking commissions any more (baby 2 is on the way.....no time).

Best of luck sir!!!