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NOTE: We dug through
the past issues of White Dwarf and found so many examples
of great scenery building articles that we just pulled
a sampling from several issues. Where possible we have
tried to label where the rest of the article is from,
for those out there trying to track down back issues.
Easy
Obstacles(White
Dwarf # 197)
You
can make every battlefield totally different from
the last by adding a few linear obstacles, such
as hedges and fences. As they are much smaller,
these terrain pieces can be placed almost anywhere,
and will influence all the other terrain nearby.
For instance, you can turn a cluster of forest sections
into an orchard by placing fences all around them.
As
a general rule, walls, fences, and hedges are best
made in short lengths, no more than 10-15 cm long.
Several can be placed next to each other to create
longer obstacles or be arranged to look like the
boundaries of fields. The main reasons for having
walls and hedges are to restrict movement and provide
cover for troops behind them.
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Making
Hedges
There
are a number of ready-made hedges available from
model and hobby shops, which can be further improved
by adding sturdy base of card, plywood, or cork.
However, its much more fun to make hedges yourself,
and it's also cheaper, of course!
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I'd rather spend my pennies on another brood of Genestealers
for my Tyranid army! Realistic looking hedges can
be made quickly and cheaply from the most basic materials
and I'm going to show you how to make them from plastic
pan scourers!
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Cut
a strip of scourer the length of the hedge (about
10-15cm) and twice as high as you want the final model
to be. Fold it in half lengthways, then glue it together
using the superglue - don't forget to weight it down
while it dries so it won't spring apart. |
When
it's dry, glue the hedge onto a base made from card
or cork tile. You can add some tiny stones around
the base if you like. To finish the hedge, you can
either cover it with PVA glue and flock it, or drybrush
it in shades of green. |
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What
are the uses of hedges? Well - think of placing a
unit of archers behind a hedgerow! Enemy units that
charge the bowmen will not only have to contend with
incoming missiles, but when (or is that if) they make
it to combat they will need to roll sixes to hit (check
out those defended obstacle rules!). A cunning general
can use terrain to his benefit to win the game! Of
course hedges are also very useful in Warhammer 40,000
- think of advancing units of Imperial Guard skipping
from hedgerow to hedgerow, or Eldar Screaming Banshees
hiding behind cover waiting for the time to charge! |
It's
All in the Ruins (White Dwarf #201)
How
many times have you opened a boxed set of miniatures,
and, after having a quick peek at your purchases,
wondered what you can do with the polystyrene tray?
They're such an interesting shape that it seems
a shame to throw them away.
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The
biggest problem I found when making my buildings was
how to stop the inserts looking like polystyrene trays
and make them look like ruined buildings |
Seven
Easy Steps
The
initial stage in any project is to sit down and
plan out what you are going to do. You could make
some sketches or just make a few mental notes. This
is especially important with large projects, or
a piece that involves the use of expensive materials
- you don't want to go wasting your time and money.
In the case of this example, I'm making a simple
ruined wall section, so not much planning is needed.
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After
cutting shapes out of the packing tray and mounting
them on a sturdy base, Ian has prepared his rubble.
Stage three consists of using filler to patch over
code numbers and the rounded edges of the packing
tray. Then it gets messy with stage four - a covering
coat of textured paint. After a quick prime job (stage
five) comes the drybrushing (stage six) and the final
stage is to finish off the base so it matches your
gaming table. |
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Above
and Beyond
Just
because I've presented this as a quick and easy
terrain making article, there is no reason why you
complete fanatics out there can't make top quality
terrain models using packing trays. After all, you
should just think of it as an alternative to constructing
your own walls out of foamboard or thick card. Remember,
it is the addition of the little details that really
make a model. Try using some coral sand and gravel
to create piles of rubble in the corner of the ruin.
Add a small bush from our range of ready-made trees.
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And
That's Just Part of It
Along
with more examples and some further tricks of the
trade, Ian gives more details on how to make your
own ruined city! For more great scenery tips get
your hands on the latest issue of White Dwarf magazine
- after all, nothing makes a tabletop battle game
like great looking terrain.
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