i am trying to make some terrain, probably to be used at the AB tourney USA, and i need to know what you use as the base of the scenery peice. i've heard MDF, but i can't find it.

i need a relatively cheap material that can be found at any hardware store (lowes and home depot are my local ones).

thanks in advance.

You'll want a couple of things:

1) 1/8th inch MDF board. Lowes and Home Depot carry it, you'll want it ripped down into 2'x'4 sections, if it isn't already.

2) A cutter. A jigsaw or router works well, but, as with all power tools BE SAFE. Keep the cutting surface well away from your hands. Wear eye protection, wear work gloves. If possible, clamp the material down to prevent it from moving.

Don't do this in your kitchen.

Alternatively:

Dead CD's make great small terrain features (rubble piles, one or two trees, rock outcroppings, etc. etc.)

Foamboard (available at Wal-Mart) works as well. Black foamboard works very well for making buildings, bases, etc. Also takes paint well. Foamboard CAN warp, however, so be careful with the amount of liquid you apply to it. When using white glue, use sparingly.

--Brian

PS: Unless you have a local use for the terrain, hold off until we get some solid numbers. ;)

Twoo...

MDF = a sheet of Masonite ™ 1/4" thick x 4'x8'

Dont let Slipstream talk you out of it, everybodies eventual goal is a home gaming room. (and the mrs might get into painting terrain instead of little men, it's more arty)(worked for me)

I use place mats from my local cooking shop :) you can pick up a pack of 4 with 4 coaster for about 5 pound

great.

thanks guys. unfortunately i can't make it to the tourney now anyways (im broke, no cash for gas), but i do plan on makeing terrain for home, so this still helps!

thanks again.

Cool idea with the coasters, I am going to pick some up this weekend, also I am thinking about using some laminate flooring offcuts, just done the floor and got quite a stash of it left over.

I've had some good results with laminate board that I cut to size myself. Less warping than with MDF. However I still advise giving it a light coat of PVC paint on both sides before you start basing, it greatly reduces the risk of warping if you are going to be using lots of glue, pollifiller etc.
Good luck with the terrain. ;)

If you are going to be be making loads of terrain, and I mean loads why not try laminate flooring.

I've got a load of flooring going spare because I laid a new floor in my dining room.

You can pick a pack up in B&Q, for about 10 pounds upwards.

Enough there to do 1 metre squared terrain base if you wanted.