Never come across green foam in the UK but I'm with you on polystrene foam over expanded polystrene foam. Saying that, as long as it's sealed properly, it's perfectly fine. I build some hills out of white expanded polystyrene when I first got into wargaming and they lasted over 20 years of gameplay. As long as it's sealed properly, it's fine mate.
I've found a breadknife is best for large sheets, well if you're not using hot tools. I've never been able to shape polystyrene with a hairdryer, that must be one powerful hairdryer mate.
I was thinking that this had little use to me (being too basic), but then I caught your last comment - you can have the kids do it. That's a great idea, I'm definitely doing that. Maybe a little later, when they are older (my oldest are five), but as I want to lure them into wargaming (to have someone to play with) this might be a great intro.
I get mine from the builders merchants but you can buy it from decent DIY/Hardware store. It normally comes in packs of four, 2'x'4 sheets for around £8. hope that helps mate.
same here... I buy the pink stuff from our Home Depot in America. Pink is better for carving and easier on the knife. The blue or Green variety from Lowes (USA) is much more dense, slower and harder to cut and will dull any blade in seconds. White foam is just messy,brittle, and needs a lot to strengthen it for gamer use. But if that's all you can get then this technique is one way to do that
If you have to cut large hills out of white pebbly foam this saw, or larger saws are a bet better than the knife, After use a sanding block.. the kind that are a firm foam sponge covered with sand paper are best. The edges of these can be used to further shape the hill or stone. Also a hairdryer on high will accomplish what the candle does much more safely.
I really prefer the pink foam from available in the states. If you want to make a proper mess use a small sheet rock saw. Oy's basically a handle with a 12+ inch blade of teeth... It makes a tremendous mess BUT you have so much more control.
Could you do a demo on what to use as a base for hills, I use hard board for the base, but celetex insultion for the hill but the insulation always warps. Great videos buddy
Check my basic to backs playlist, there's a video in there that covers all the different types of materials you can use as a base and the various pros and cons. th-cam.com/video/NJ5_c5gfPGM/w-d-xo.html
This was only a simple tutorial, I've got at least another 8 to do and that's before I start the masterclass ones mate. I am curious, what game system are you talking about? I don't know about any that are so strict when it comes to terrain, I'm curious to find out mate.
I was wondering: I have (and I have quite some of it atm) only the light packaging white stuff with the obviously visible balls. When I cut it with a sharp knive it's reasonably smooth (acceptable) but you still see the texture of the cut balls a bit. If I'd coat that with only watered down PVA (and not make papermache) and then paint it would I still see the relief of those balls or would that be smoothed enough to give it a nice look? (once, 15 years ago when I started with wargaming, restarting now I just painted some of that material and you still saw the ball (paint would hang between them a bit to make it even more obvious). I dont'have all the materials and atm I only want to model a bit of trees with the foam and wires.
Lars van Bindsbergen Wateredpva won't cover the texture of the pva balls even is you sand it as well. You need to layer a texture over the top, pva&grit, filler, terrain gloop, something but it'll need coverage mate.
Ok clear message.. guess I'll need to start mucking around with the papermache then or PVA and grit.. not sure which would make a nicer treebark texture though. Guess I'll just try a bit. Thanks for advice.
I thought so. If it is playing a flute or is posing as if it was, then it is Krishna, the blue boy piper. Haha. I have my folks' old Indian Buddha randomly in my Gaming room.
Minis can't actually get up on there... you need a progression of levels or tiers and that can be done w/ the knife, but cut in or score and break away. this gives a natural rock look. And give a rules-legal way up.
I find steel brushes just make too much mess when removing lots of polystyrene but they are great at adding texture to the sloped and tops when they're cut. It's a good idea for kids thought mate, thanks.
Those foam dusts aren't any better for your dogs lungs than they are for yours. He/she shouldn't be sniffing near them. Edit: also if you're going to sand it you really should be using your mask.
Never come across green foam in the UK but I'm with you on polystrene foam over expanded polystrene foam. Saying that, as long as it's sealed properly, it's perfectly fine. I build some hills out of white expanded polystyrene when I first got into wargaming and they lasted over 20 years of gameplay. As long as it's sealed properly, it's fine mate.
Your tutorials are amazingly helpful, i really think that they deserve allot more views :D Thanks and keep up the awesome work!
Cheers mate, not much I can do about the views but I appreciate the comments.
instaBlaster...
I've found a breadknife is best for large sheets, well if you're not using hot tools. I've never been able to shape polystyrene with a hairdryer, that must be one powerful hairdryer mate.
Amazing tutorial! Im just a starter on war games and you are giving me the help i need to start at home a nice job! Thank you so much mate!
No worries mate, keep at it and let me know how you get hey :o)
I was thinking that this had little use to me (being too basic), but then I caught your last comment - you can have the kids do it. That's a great idea, I'm definitely doing that. Maybe a little later, when they are older (my oldest are five), but as I want to lure them into wargaming (to have someone to play with) this might be a great intro.
Ole Ingvar Stene Kids love terrain making mate, have a look at DMG's dungeon system, our kids loved making that.
TheTerrainTutor pls can you send me a link or anything on wear i
can buy flock and bushes and terrain stuff
I get mine from the builders merchants but you can buy it from decent DIY/Hardware store. It normally comes in packs of four, 2'x'4 sheets for around £8. hope that helps mate.
same here... I buy the pink stuff from our Home Depot in America.
Pink is better for carving and easier on the knife.
The blue or Green variety from Lowes (USA) is much more dense, slower and harder to cut and will dull any blade in seconds.
White foam is just messy,brittle, and needs a lot to strengthen it for gamer use.
But if that's all you can get then this technique is one way to do that
If you have to cut large hills out of white pebbly foam this saw, or larger saws are a bet better than the knife,
After use a sanding block.. the kind that are a firm foam sponge covered with sand paper are best.
The edges of these can be used to further shape the hill or stone.
Also a hairdryer on high will accomplish what the candle does much more safely.
This just proves that we're all a child at heart :-)
LOL that dog, great
I wanted to keep watching but the noise of the marker on the foam and the foam itself were giving me massive chills
dethmonky3193 yeah, for me it's nails on a chalk board lol
The noise on this one killed me! 😂
I think Mel’s dog might agree! 😁
Love your doggy!
Cool vid, really simple to follow but still thought provoking.
Thanks mate
Great Starter Hill, Thanks For Sharing, Also this Technique can be used in school projects and dioramas!
Halloweenville Cheers mate, my kids love making papa mache hills :-)
I really prefer the pink foam from available in the states.
If you want to make a proper mess use a small sheet rock saw.
Oy's basically a handle with a 12+ inch blade of teeth... It makes a tremendous mess BUT you have so much more control.
At some point I was more interestet in the dog than in the cutting xD
+davekachel he's constantly steeling the show
Very nice tutorial for making a very simple hill. :)
Thanks
It's a statue of an indian goddess we picked on our travels mate, not sure which one.
Could you do a demo on what to use as a base for hills, I use hard board for the base, but celetex insultion for the hill but the insulation always warps.
Great videos buddy
Check my basic to backs playlist, there's a video in there that covers all the different types of materials you can use as a base and the various pros and cons.
th-cam.com/video/NJ5_c5gfPGM/w-d-xo.html
I am now watching all your videos haha :)
parkflycrash Hope you enjoy them mate ;-)
ha, ha... the dog, how cute :))
+Sabine Käther don't tell him that, he'll be after another treat!
Keep it up mate, you'll end up presenting Blue Peter at this rate! :O)
Warriorking1963 I'd love a blue peter badge, I built tracy island as a kid and sent them pics but I didn't get a badge, still gutted :-(
thank, you for sharing you're video.👍
This was only a simple tutorial, I've got at least another 8 to do and that's before I start the masterclass ones mate. I am curious, what game system are you talking about? I don't know about any that are so strict when it comes to terrain, I'm curious to find out mate.
Thanks mate
I was wondering: I have (and I have quite some of it atm) only the light packaging white stuff with the obviously visible balls. When I cut it with a sharp knive it's reasonably smooth (acceptable) but you still see the texture of the cut balls a bit. If I'd coat that with only watered down PVA (and not make papermache) and then paint it would I still see the relief of those balls or would that be smoothed enough to give it a nice look? (once, 15 years ago when I started with wargaming, restarting now I just painted some of that material and you still saw the ball (paint would hang between them a bit to make it even more obvious). I dont'have all the materials and atm I only want to model a bit of trees with the foam and wires.
Lars van Bindsbergen Wateredpva won't cover the texture of the pva balls even is you sand it as well. You need to layer a texture over the top, pva&grit, filler, terrain gloop, something but it'll need coverage mate.
Ok clear message.. guess I'll need to start mucking around with the papermache then or PVA and grit.. not sure which would make a nicer treebark texture though. Guess I'll just try a bit.
Thanks for advice.
A point to ask, for this terrain, couldnt masking tape work? if your after a cragged look by pushing into any of the creases?
SneakyZaku The only issue is masking tape is it's wax coated to prevent it soaking up paint and so it has issues with pva mate
Hey Mel, where do you buy/get you insulation polystyrene foam?
Completely non-Terrain related question: what's that lil black statue to the right of you? Looks familiar but cannot see it in focus.
cheers mate
I thought so. If it is playing a flute or is posing as if it was, then it is Krishna, the blue boy piper. Haha. I have my folks' old Indian Buddha randomly in my Gaming room.
Yes thank you
It's Krishna then, we lost her flute mate.
Minis can't actually get up on there... you need a progression of levels or tiers and that can be done w/ the knife, but cut in or score and break away. this gives a natural rock look. And give a rules-legal way up.
YE!
+LuddyVonBeat Hell yeah!
In the States a mouse is dog food. Igor American bulldog mix that eats moles
They're pets over here lol
Who are the 19 people who don't like this and Why.?
Can i use styrofoam cutter?
sure
Oops
Ozzie thought it was mouse
He thought it was food mate!
Instead of using a knife, consider using a steel brush, like this one www.armyproperty.com/images/Brush-10.jpg
I find steel brushes just make too much mess when removing lots of polystyrene but they are great at adding texture to the sloped and tops when they're cut. It's a good idea for kids thought mate, thanks.
OMG the noise ........ no no no
OW.
his...Haha
Wtf is that?
+Pewek a really simple hill, if you're after different styles, check the hills playlist, there's a few different styles in there mate
TheTerrainTutor I will check it. I have to make something about ten hills for bolt action. I'm going to organise small tournament with my friends :|
You should check out mels big project where he makes (I think) Normandy beach pretty epic
Those foam dusts aren't any better for your dogs lungs than they are for yours. He/she shouldn't be sniffing near them.
Edit: also if you're going to sand it you really should be using your mask.