Building a battlefield

[Matt J]

I'm asking for some ideas and some does and don't really.

I'm putting together a nice collection of painted models now and would like to have a go at gaming after a 20 year break. But I haven't got a playing surface. I have plenty of room for set up and was going to use 4x2 sheets of MDF as the base. But how to prepare the battlefield. I want something to look high spec but also to be practical. I'm also not too keen on throws.
Are railway mats any good, would they fit to a landscaped undulating board? Do I want an undulating board?
Should I texture the boards, paint and flock?

Any help appreciated.

Matt

[Sandinista]

Kallistra's Hexon terrain boards are by far my favourite system

[Ithoriel]

I'd buy Hexon if I could afford it - friends have the stuff and it looks great. Only drawback for me is the obvious hex pattern but then I cut my wargaming teeth on SPI hex-grid board games so it doesn't faze me

TSS do modular terrain - http://totalsystemscenic.com/ - but it's not too difficult to make your own.

Personally I just use a felt mat and a selection of terrrain pieces.

I used to put the hills under the mat, which looks more natural, but for gaming I find it easier to plonk the terrain on top to make it more obvious where features start and end.

[Hertsblue]

Kalistra is versatile, flexible and robust, but quite expensive for what it is. And, of course, you have to live with the hexes (I've often wondered why they never produced the same system without the hexes)

The Games Workshop grass mats were always a good basis for other terrain when and if you can get hold of them.



Or, Total Systems Scenic do a range of square modules:

http://totalsystemscenic.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1286_1389

Failing all that, you could get creative with expanded polystyrene and devise your own system.

[Techno]

Those are rather 'spectaklier' (sic).
Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Gw mats are good, but rare as rocking horse poo. Occasionally they turn up in Hobbycraft.
I sourced a perfectly decent 6' by 5' cloth in my local habidashers not sure if its still open, 20 years ago there was a good one on Mardol. I pile up books for hills, cloth, then other hills on top for extra interest.

[Ithoriel]

Got my cloth from S&A Scenics (http://scenics.co.uk/) at Claymore

Felt Cloth
SKU FC0000
Available in 6ft x 4ft, 6ft x 6ft, 8ft x 6ft, 10ft x 6ft & 12ft x 6ft. Please ask for other sizes. Available in Grass Green, Desert Sand, Dried Earth, Sea Blue, Snow White, Space Black. See below for view of colours.
£18.00

[Matt J]

cheers guys much to mull over.

I'm still not sure on the hex system it certainly looks versatile and although a bit expensive not ridiculously so. I'm not sure I can get over the hex pattern though I'm worried it might do my head in.

Still don't like the idea of throws. Don't they catch, ruck-up etc?

The total systems scenic range does look nice and at  £38 for a 4 x 4 starter board with hills looks a bit of a bargain and looks the biz in Ray's photo.

[Ithoriel]

Haven't had any real problem with felt rucking or snagging and the current one is my 4th (in roughly 40 years!)

Only problem is that it gets folded up and packed away rather less carefully than might be ideal so my own particular chunk of Russia could possibly do with a bit of an iron :-)

Plenty of lead and resin to keep it down though