Lysimachus Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Hey all, Looking for some advice, I'd like to build a couple of desert style hill terrain pieces for gaming but I'm a little unsure of what's best in terms of size (height, to be specific) and materials. I'm thinking something along these lines: http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd11/simoncherylm/hill.jpg 4 separate pieces built on two levels around a central 'cross' where the 'arms' on each level are all equal length (I know they're not exactly in the pic) so that all of the separate bits can be joined to any of the others. Then I can use it as one big hill, two down a table side(s), or one in each corner, all in various configurations, much like the way the GW game board works. Would I be right in thinking that polystyrene sheet would be the simplest material to use, simply cut to the shape I want and painted/based with sand? As to thickness, I know I could get 10mm sheets (so 20mm total 2 level hill height), does this sound about right? Or would 25mm (so 50mm total) thick be more appropriate? Thanks for any help/suggestions! Lysimachus Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/233463-desert-hill/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilnar Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 20 mm is only 2 cm, a very small hill really. Much less than the hight of a space marine. For a stepped hill id try and get something between 3 and 7 cm high. If you don't have enough to stack that high, maybe make a basic shape out of a cardboard box and grab a tube of expanding foam (about £5) to texture it up. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/233463-desert-hill/#findComment-2810651 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysimachus Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 Thanks ilnar, yep that's a good point, just got a ruler out and measured 20mm next to a Marine, too low by far! 25mm per level it is then! Also, just thought and wanted to check, spraying polystyrene will melt it, correct? So I'll need to get a big brush and slap the base coat on by hand? Is basic poster paint mixed to a sandy colour ok for this, seems a bit of a waste to use up all my GW Desert Yellow(the base rim colour on my mini's)? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/233463-desert-hill/#findComment-2810675 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilnar Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Spray will melt most polystyrene yes, but if you PVA and sand it first it will be fine, Poster paints work ok too, but try and get it to match your gaming table/bases. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/233463-desert-hill/#findComment-2810690 Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterdyne Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Having done this sort of thing before, I'll advise you make a template (forming the cross section of an 'arm' as you put it) out of a sheet of thin hardboard to guide your hot wire cutter. This will ensure all your sides are in fact the same. You can then hand cut randomly between that. You can then keep the template to make inside corner hills or long straight hills. As for material - use the blue / pink high density foams rather than white expanded polystyrene, they're much more robust. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/233463-desert-hill/#findComment-2810696 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysimachus Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 Thanks Winterdyne, that's a great idea! And glad you said about the foam, I was looking at the white kind without realizing that it was the horrible, bobbly, bits everywhere stuff! Side point: You mention having a hot wire cutter, I don't have one yet, is it a 'luxury' item/useful but not absolutely necessary/essential to do the job right? Not sure, seen a few fairly cheap, but wonder if it's worth it if only use it once and never pick it up again? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/233463-desert-hill/#findComment-2810825 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilnar Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Eh, white stuff will work if you PVA/sand it after, As for a hot wire, dead useful, but if your only going to do it once, you can make do with a knife. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/233463-desert-hill/#findComment-2810828 Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterdyne Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 You can get away with a knife, but the hot wire will nicely follow whatever template you make. IMO it's *always* worth having the right tool for a job, even if you only use it rarely. Chances are you'll use it again, or one of your mates might want it. With the white foam, it's easier to find in a variety of thicknesses, but it's very, very messy to work with. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/233463-desert-hill/#findComment-2810920 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysimachus Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 You can get away with a knife, but the hot wire will nicely follow whatever template you make. IMO it's *always* worth having the right tool for a job, even if you only use it rarely. Chances are you'll use it again, or one of your mates might want it. Fair point. I suppose I might want it again, maybe one day I'll make some of those cool 'rock spire' things out of foam blocks? Managed to find some of the good blue stuff on ebay, 2 12"x12" 25mm thick sheets for £5 inc. postage (should be plenty and hopefully that's a reasonable price!), guess I'll wait 'til it comes and see if I think I need the cutter then. Thanks for all the info guys! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/233463-desert-hill/#findComment-2810941 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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