How To: Modular Game Tiles Part 2 (Bolt Action, Warhammer or Hail Ceasar)

AOK, Here we go back onto our Modular Game Tiles. This time we'll get some color and final touches on. Here's what it'll look like when done.

First off was to get things painted. Additional browns and grays were used on the hills and mountains. A light gray was used on the small rocks around the bases of the cliffs.

We added multiple browns to the river edges and decide on the river color. With battles raging, we felt a green and muddy look was better than blue this time. Mix brown with your water color on the edges and any shallows.

Next was to paint all the larger rocks with multiple light browns and grays. We also dry brushed a good deal of the texture in the base paint. Wanting to keep a duller look of war torn ground, we chose not to use normal green flocking. We started with a base green blend of woodland scenic blended turf. Then added a pale green of some finer material, crushed basil leaves and Italian seasoning. This was mixed in the container you see here.

The mixture was applied with watered down PVA glue in patches around the boards. A coarser mix was used in the rocky crevices. It started with less of the blended turf and added coarse turf, parsley flakes and additional Italian seasoning.

The hills configurations allows multiple ways to place them in the tiles. Here they are in a wide view.

Flip them around and here we see a more vertical look. The path still works for vehicles or siege engines.

And, flip them outward and there leaves a narrow escape lane easily defended from the two hills.

Add two river tiles and two blanks, and you are ready to play.

Swap out a blank for a river bend, change your mountains and ready again!

and again....

 again...

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to configure these tiles.

Then you can put them into action!

Give your men a place to get a great view or launch a counter attack.

There you have it, we'd be happy to answer any questions you might have!

Have a Great Battle,
The Old Crow

How To Build Life Size Ruins, Practical Modelling Take Two

We're taking a siege break but will be back with at least two additional posts so stay tuned!

Now, one of most popular blog posts has been How to Build Warhammer 40k Building Ruins. It was liked so much by someone who saw the "Practical Modelling" post we were asked to super size it for a stage backdrop. Here you see it in action, now we'll show you how to build your very own!

Start with 4 x 8 foot sheets of polystyrene insulation board. We'd recommend at least 1" thickness or greater for the vertical boards. The thinner boards are not as rigid and will bend.

We used 10 of the boards on the entire set. Above is the left side and here is the right, placed in the pattern to be cut. You can see approximate placement of the door and windows.

The front of the stage will use three more boards. Here the left side has been cut out using a utility knife.

And the right side is cut to the pattern.

Don't worry to much about straight lines, you'll never notice once everything is installed and weathered.

Here you see the same piece weathered by beating on it with implements of destruction! Also the edges were broken off for a rougher appearance. You can do this with a knife, saw blade or your fingers.

We gouged out bullet holes with the utility knife by sticking it in at a 45 degree angle and spinning it around.

To hold the pieces together we back the seams with spare chunks of foam and use coarse thread screws.

Now to test the size and design in place before painting starts. All worked out well...

now the right side (sorry for the blurry image).

Here is one of the foreground pieces being weathered with blast marks.

When painting, use drop cloths or a surface you don't mind getting paint on! This will get messy.

Everything was coated with a dark grey to start.

A dark brown was added to simulate dirt, mud and debris flying around during the explosions.

Finally the light grey was dry-brushed on to make the details (like cracks and bullet holes) and edges stand out.

Here all 24 feet of the three foreground boards are being installed.

This is the right side after all the dry-brushing was finished.

And here's the left ready to go. A brace was placed across the doorway opening to support the board when being moved. it'll be removed later.

The finishing touches being applied after installation.

Right side adjustments being made

Left side is in. It is 16 feet tall and 16 feet across at the bottom.

And there it is, ready for action.

Here's a nice shot of the left side peak.

Now add some fantastic apocalyptic lighting and you're ready to go. If you want to see it in person and are in the Pittsburgh Pa area, drop us a note or leave a comment.

Final lighting was worked out for maximum affect.

We hope you like it as much as we enjoyed building it. The whole project took two days to build and install.

Enough for now,

Have a Great Battle,
The Old Crow

How To do Practical Modelling and Stone Texture

A short while ago I was able to put model making to a very practical use. A stage design was needed and the directors sketch would not help the construction staff. So we helped build a scale model of the set and advise in the making of stone! Here is the set design model

The right side opens to reveal the back of the inn represented

We've done several scale model projects with stone, the Leaping Wolf Inn and 40K Courtyard just to mention a couple. and this would be the same but on a much larger scale!

Using the same polystyrene we carved panels and individual stones

here's one of the panels

For stage, over emphasizing is not a bad thing as we did here in the "shadow" crevices between stones.

We added lots of texture, to the extent of overdoing it, so the drybrushing could be seen from a distance.

Varying thicknesses of stone helped achieve a nice rough stone construction feel.

Even more stone!!

Timbers were carved too. Again, everything we do in model making only much larger!

To see the finished project, check out the "Set Design and Stage Construction" post on the Hendersonworks Blog

Now to model Space Marines and Vikings on this scale....

Have a Great Battle,
The Old Crow