This will be a series as I transcribe the notes I have taken from my messing about with bits, parts and scrap. Photos of other projects will appear as soon as I can see again. Eyes and age coming in here. Hope you get some use from these ramblings. Excuse the mess ups!
Why
For What For and How To?
Preface: Why For?
I was told to give this a try. I
have been a Wargamer and Roleplayer for 37 years up to this point. I
always got massive inspiration in the visual aspect of the hobby.
Good looking figures, terrain and scenery, always made me want to
play more.
At the start of my interest in
the hobby. I would buy figures as and when I could get my hands on
them. But I could never find much if any scenery to accompany my
early attempts at painting them.
As the years moved on. More and
more companies began appearing with accessories to aid the visual
aspects of the games.
I purchased from Ral Partha, Minifigs, Ground Zero Games, Games
Workshop, Ainsty, Snap Dragon and many others. If someone did a piece
I could use in micro 1/300th
scale or 28/32mm scale I grabbed it when I could afford it.
Later I started to realise that
I could use some things from manufacturers such as Airfix, Hornby,
Matchbox and other plastic kit manufacturers. Especially those that
were not really scale specific. Most of the time a storage tank could
be used in multiple scales. As long as you left off certain items
like walkways or doors. So Hornby items for railways always attracted
my eye.
After being Unemployed or
semi-employed I realised I couldn't really afford the newest stuff
coming out on the market. A shame as there is a lot of stuff that is
really lovely. But there were objects I started to notice that I
could use to build my own scenery.
Wooden puzzle mind teasers,
Ornaments, Food containers, Boxes, Electrical components, Artists
canvas boards. I just had to keep an open mind and imagination.
Hot Wheels and Matchbox vehicles
from the Poundlands were another source of inspiration in many forms.
Drones and Robots for £1 they are great for making.
Charity shops, the out of the
way “Goods and fancy gifts” shops had army men bags on the cheap.
Army men are pretty bad now. But now and again there is a jewel to be
had in the bag. Watchtowers/Guardtowers for instance. Again £1 a bag
and you can always just give the army men to a charity shop.
I have even found myself making
interesting add ons to a lost city out of Salt and Pepper pots.
Chapter 1
Sources of Resources?
If you are going to start
building your own terrain. You do need certain tools and crafting
aids.
These don't have to be
complicated. But sometimes you will find a tool that just makes your
life or a build easier to achieve.
Mainstays are. Sharp craft
knives, Glues of various types, Tape measures or better would be a
stainless steel rule in inches or centimetres (Both on the same rule
is fantastic!) brushes, paints, sculpting tools and a cutting board
or surface no one minds you cutting stuff up on!
Do not use your Mother's best
polished dining table!
Sources of these can be your
local gaming store, online shops, DIY shops, Supermarket DIY
sections, a shop you just happen to be passing and pop in to look
through, local markets, Gamesday shows, Poundland, Works Publishers
and Toy fairs.
You will see that some of these
will be re-used!
Sources of inspiration.
If you are gaming you know about
your field of interest. But I have found Youtube and watching “Let's
Plays” a great source. You can see designs for building and terrain
from watching someone on youtube playing a game. Just make sure you
can stand the person who is doing a commentary while you watch.
