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Hello one and all.

I'm contemplating making a display board with a fully painted army but I'm lost for any good ideas :(.
My first idea would be something like Lake-Town from the Hobbit or for a fantasy army, but I'm not feeling it. Then maybe something LoTR as I could create something more of a diorama, 'Helms Deep' or 'Amon hen'.
I was also thinking perhaps Tyranids as I could swarm the board which might look cool. Another idea I was thinking of was a fantasy town street, cobbled roads and thatched roofs, being ruined/raided by beastmen or the like.

So a few questions:
- What armies are the most presentable, as I enjoy the painting and modelling more than the actual playing, I want something that looks great?
- What is a nice size? I want to sell it when I'm done so I can cover costs and begin another project.
- What theme should I do? Snow, grassland, moorland, lava, etc.
- How many minis should it display? Should it be crowded, horde style, or is it a case of less is more?

Any ideas and suggestions are more than welcome and once I've got a theme I can get started with the planning.

I will try and keep everyone updated with wip pictures when progress finally starts.

Thanks for view and for your time.

I find that there are several factors to a display board that are really contingent upon the army itself:

*A SM & Ork army of 500pts will not take up the same amount of space nor will they be the same cost to acquire

*the army often sets the theme of the board e.g. Iron Warriors CSM army display board would very likely feature urban ruins & a scorched earth theme

*it helps to have the size & general amount of permanent features planned out for the board in advance to give you an idea of what armies at what points levels will fit on it

For example I did a 2'x2' display board for my 1500pts iron warriors army that has a hill in one corner to showcase the HQ plus 2 ruins with an upper level to help the back half of 2 larger units be seen easier. There are 2 craters, an iron maiden, h a tank trap to help provide more than just open ground for the other units & vehicles & really give a sense of an environment because a unit of 6 easily fits in one crater & a tank in the other (so thematically havocs & a vindicator). If I park a rhino behind a tank trap or iron maiden & open the back door then it provides a natural place to position the unit that goes with it, disembarking under cover.

You really need to choose an army first. Once you do that you often find the display board idea often jumps out at you.

I know I just can't decide :S.

I am leaning towards a fantasy army but then again 40K is so many badass armies .

The resale on fantasy will generally be lower. Personally I tend to prefer how it looks as an army on a display board, despite playing more 40k.
I see your problem.

I think death korps of kreig make a wonderful display board on a muddy battle field. There are two FW boards would suit them really well one is a fantasy trench board with a hill and the other is the older base entrance. The DKK minis are stunning and animated or they can be 'at ease' which might suit the base.

Knockagh wrote:
I think death korps of kreig make a wonderful display board on a muddy battle field. There are two FW boards would suit them really well one is a fantasy trench board with a hill and the other is the older base entrance. The DKK minis are stunning and animated or they can be 'at ease' which might suit the base.

I enthusiastically second that death korps of kreig idea, battered down in the mud in that FW fantasy trench:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer/Warhammer_Terrain/REALM_OF_BATTLE_EARTHWORKS.html

Maybe even throw a Sentinel -- wrecked or standing -- just for a bit of contrast. And that FW terrain is begging for an autocannon for sure. Great idea.

Yes they would look badass!

I'm not concerned on turning a profit I would just like to cover my costs so I can do another one afterwards and so on.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I do like the trench board idea my only problem is that personally I wouldn't want to hide my models in the trenches... Does that make sense?

you could make a cross section parallel to the front wall of the first trench, that way the first 'rank'/trench could be easily viewed.
After that some nicely made cut aways of other trenches facing in different directions on the edges would leave nice mini diorama spaces, just think of something nice, like an artillery battery to fill up space in the centre?

I've just mocked this up quickly but if the board sloped backwards slightly it would look great,
Also, having sections of trench blown up would allow for more room to see models.

Love the 'cross section idea'

Really looking forward to some WIP pics here!

I suppose I could always settle for the standard Tyraind attack diorama.

Or both.
Trenches being over run by tyranids as a display board would be epic.

Please post pics/links of this 'standard Tyraind attack diorama'.
I don't think i've ever seen a single one.

Yea could combine. That would look awsome !

i think a parade display would be an interesting change of scene. with all the guys turned out in 'best blues' format, for a member of the heirarchy who is visiting. id be impressed with that.

If you're still interested in doing Beastmen, I think a fantastic scene would be 'The Challenge':



Have an encampment of Beastmen, various tribes gathered around a Herdstone. A bunch of the Alphas vying for top spot, two of the biggest ones about to bash each other's heads in. You can have Shaman off to the side moderating it, with all the lesser Beasts observing/performing some task.

Obviously the focal point of this would be a gorgeous Herdstone of some kind looming over the challenge, with the two fighters being really nicely detailed/converted/painted, etc. The third star would be the Shaman imo, but every bit will be interesting, just like how that image evokes curiosity. Are the other Beasts flaying a human? Eating a Goblin perhaps? Sharpening axes, maybe trading weapons/artifacts . . .

Another brilliant idea, could do some sort of semi-circle colosseum made from earth banks and wood.

Barnzie4Moop wrote:
Another brilliant idea, could do some sort of semi-circle colosseum made from earth banks and wood.

Indeed. You could have a dead, withering landscape scarred and twisted. A crude battle arena marked by mounds of earth and wood like you said. Blood spattered about this crater from previous challengers to the current victor, and this model would be marked up/cut/wounded as he defends his assertion to lead the Beast Horde against every fresh challenger. A couple of dead bodies off to the side - fighters from only minutes before who failed.

I defiantly want to do something unique.

Barnzie4Moop wrote:
I defiantly want to do something unique.

In my opinion, Tyranid swarms are played out. They're the easy display idea. "The models all look like they're sprinting forward/leaping, so let's do them charging someone defending/dug in!" Yawn. Don't get me wrong, there are really nice ones, but when I see them, originality just isn't there.

Yea couldn't agree more. Especially the lone marine backed into a corner .

 hybridmoments82 wrote:

Knockagh wrote:
I think death korps of kreig make a wonderful display board on a muddy battle field. There are two FW boards would suit them really well one is a fantasy trench board with a hill and the other is the older base entrance. The DKK minis are stunning and animated or they can be 'at ease' which might suit the base.

I enthusiastically second that death korps of kreig idea, battered down in the mud in that FW fantasy trench:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer/Warhammer_Terrain/REALM_OF_BATTLE_EARTHWORKS.html

Maybe even throw a Sentinel -- wrecked or standing -- just for a bit of contrast. And that FW terrain is begging for an autocannon for sure. Great idea.

I'm kind of tempted now to buy one of these myself now! I've never seen one of these painted and can't find one even on google which is weird. It could be a pretty bland paint if done wrongly.

The board could also be used for an ork camp which gives plenty of scope for d.i.y building.

I would still vote for the Tyranids.

I haven't seen one with all the blood and gore and Tyranids feasting while other 'nids are still ripping apart those unfortunate enough to be still alive.

Yea I am considering all ideas.

This thread is winding me up now.
All armies have their own merits and it's up to you to pick one that you'll complete and enjoy. If you at least do that then the theme can be expanded upon and we can start to answer the questions in your 1st post.
Currently your flick flacking, lack of input/explanation and short answers is not conducive to discussion or development of an idea.

Basically we're doing all the work and you're bumping the page (cracking the whip) whenever we slow down.

I set this thread going so I could get ideas from other people so that they can help me decide.

But anyways my indecision has ended and I have just got the 'Island of blood' box set, plus 20 Clanrats and High Elf Phoenix Guard.

So I thought of either:
A two tired display board with the top tier being a street or town of the High Elves and the bottom tier being a sewer or underground passages for the Skaven.
Or,
A battle scene In some sort of street or town setting, or maybe a sea port as the island of blood comes with some 10 sea guard.

I am leaning to the latter as it will show the Skaven better however, other suggestion or ideas for these armies are more than welcome, (and I would love to hear them).

If you have underground LED torches, your Skaven should be pretty visible I guess.

Yea that's a good idea. I've never used lights but a simple set up shouldn't be hard to incorporate.

Another idea would be to do one board for each army.

 Alex Kolodotschko wrote:
This thread is winding me up now.
All armies have their own merits and it's up to you to pick one that you'll complete and enjoy. If you at least do that then the theme can be expanded upon and we can start to answer the questions in your 1st post.
Currently your flick flacking, lack of input/explanation and short answers is not conducive to discussion or development of an idea.

Basically we're doing all the work and you're bumping the page (cracking the whip) whenever we slow down.

If you feel you're getting upset at the thread, you may want to consider not reading or participating in it. Personally I see no issue with him bouncing ideas off the board. I do it all the time. I love the input from users here, even with more subjective things like deciding on an army. I have no problem with his or anyone elses participation thus far.

 hybridmoments82 wrote:

 Alex Kolodotschko wrote:
This thread is winding me up now.
All armies have their own merits and it's up to you to pick one that you'll complete and enjoy. If you at least do that then the theme can be expanded upon and we can start to answer the questions in your 1st post.
Currently your flick flacking, lack of input/explanation and short answers is not conducive to discussion or development of an idea.

Basically we're doing all the work and you're bumping the page (cracking the whip) whenever we slow down.

If you feel you're getting upset at the thread, you may want to consider not reading or participating in it. Personally I see no issue with him bouncing ideas off the board. I do it all the time. I love the input from users here, even with more subjective things like deciding on an army. I have no problem with his or anyone elses participation thus far.

Agree completely. Didn't understand the comments at all. I thought the whole purpose of the thread was to fish for ideas across dakka.