Basing Terrain

[RastlinD]

Hi guys, I am getting ready to do some terrain projects for my board at home and I was wondering what the best material to base them on would be. In the past for smaller buildings I have user the modular movement trays. This works well for anything smaller then 6x6.

 

However for some of my lager pieces this is not cost effective and not really a viable solution. The last time I needed something like this I went to the hardware store and got quarter inch plywood for a base. The structure in question was a three part bastion that I had put together and the base for the building was 12x12. The result is a very raised platform appearance, which is fine for this bastion structure but would not give a good look for ruined buildings. At most stores I have played at their terrain/ruins is based on a very thin very hard material. I was wondering where can I purchase this from and what is it called. Or if any of who have built large terrain pieces/ruins would have a better suggestion for basing material.

 

Thanks for any help you guys can provide for this.

[Lysimachus]

I've used plain old cardboard (from GW boxes!) before but it tends to crinkle up when you put paint/glue on it.

 

What I was thinking of doing myself was getting some sheets of 2mm plasticard, still nice and thin, bit more solid and reasonably cheap?

[Son of Carnelian]

2mm plasticard is perfect from what I've heard. Especially because you can slope the edges for a more "natural" feel. 

[RastlinD]

Thanks so much guys, I have also heard someone call the basing material cork board. Is anyone familiar with what or where I can get that product? 

[Major_Gilbear]

Thanks so much guys, I have also heard someone call the basing material cork board. Is anyone familiar with what or where I can get that product? 

 

It's often sold in 12" tiles, and is usually found in DIY / flooring stores.

 

Other people use Masonite - very dense and thin hardboard/MDF with a lacquered/painted side. You usually find it in the back of kitchen cupboards, Ikea furniture, that sort of thing, and it's cheap to buy and widely available. Looks like this usually.

 

I'll vouch for cheap plasticard though. I like using black, so that if the edges get scuffed, it doesn't show.

[Gurth]

Buy some 3 mm hardboard or MDF and have the store saw it into manageable pieces; you can always cut (hardboard) or saw (both) it to other sizes and shapes if you need to. If you intend to make modular terrain this is by far the easiest route: just ask them to saw it to the size of your tiles and they'll all be exactly the right size.

 

Cardboard is doable, but you'll want either a sheet of double-layer cardboard, or create your own by gluing two pieces together so the corrugations run perpendicular to each other. Single-layer cardboard is likely to warp when painted or glued, as the side you put the glue/paint on will contract a little.