Battle Boards and Scatter Terrain
Battle Boards and Scatter Terrain
This phase of the project started with a tree building marathon, a process that has already been described. Note the one item that didn't make it on to my initial supply list: a microbrewery.The remaining three copses were constructed with a few factors in mind: first, space for interaction between models; second, I wanted them to have enough cover to be defensible; third, I wanted them to be tall enough be an LOS obstacle (unlike the individual trees I built later); and fourth, I wanted each to have unique characteristics.
The three remaining copses had unique characteristics. Again, I experimented with a ruined wall section.
On this section of wall I tried a variation on the bricks. I tried to make them less uniform. It was a bit more of a challenge fitting them together, and I got the wash a bit too heavy, and lost a lot of the underlying colours.
Opposite view, showing the natural rock shelf access. Note that some of the foliage has lost its colour. It will get a green drybrush at the end.On the next hill I glued polystyrene scraps to the edge of the piece before sculpting it. I was hoping to create a more dramatic rock face. As with the previous brick ruin copse, this piece offers good cover for several models, and would be a good anchor for a flank, or a good overwatch position.
Scrap and base sculpted to create a higher feature. Not entirely happy with it. Next time I will make it less smooth, and possibly more complex. Also, the base will need more angles; I can still see the 'square' shape of the orginal block of polystyrene. Not many straight lines in nature. Like a good book, good terrain should suspend disbelief.
Another view of the same copse.
This copse was accessed by a ramp that curved around the outer edge. The angle on the slope was shallow enough for the average model, but the tippy ones, not so much.
The last copse had a more open top, and was also accessed by rock shelf steps. I put a few rocks on it for cover, and scattered leaves on the ground, as with all the other copses.One thing I failed to mention with regards to the coniferous trees: I’ve encountered two kinds of bases, one with a wooden disc, and the other with a sloped plastic base. I prefer the plastic base — it can be left on and covered with Spanish moss, as the area under the tree is wasted space anyway. The wooden disc is harder to camouflage, so I remove them and sculpt a trunk out of Milliput.
Overall I was happy with how these pieces turned out, and learned a few lessons about carving polystyrene, and how to design these smaller pieces so that they are interesting and more than just an LOS block.
Next week I’ll post pics of the individual trees I built for this project.
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