New take on 2.5D terrain: cardstock uprights in floor foam
Aug 18, 2022 23:17:35 GMT
skunkape, adamsouza, and 1 more like this
Post by sgtslag on Aug 18, 2022 23:17:35 GMT
I know that I posted about this years ago, but I thought it could do with an update, and a post topic of its own. I recently got back into my Photobucket account, and I re-discovered some old photos of the project. Thought I would write it up for the Board.
Here is a link to the entire album of photos, if desired.
The ground is made up using inexpensive foam floor mats, from Harbor Freight, but almost any brand will work, as long as they are unpainted. Tried cheaper, Chinese made, pre-painted mats: the craft paint flaked off after several months, leaving them looking horrible. They were also 1/2 the thickness of the HF mats -- I recommend using the HF mats if you can get them.
I bought a specialty Table Saw blade (120T, intended for cutting vinyl siding), to cut a 1/4" depth into the smooth side of the foam, forming a 1" grid pattern: just deep enough to slot in the 3mm-thick cardboard wall sections securely, but without causing the foam mats to fall apart! Using this, and a Table Saw, I was able to cut a grid pattern into the interlocking foam pieces -- lots of effort required, but once completed, they will last for decades, or longer.
After that was completed, I used DM Scotty's wet paint blending technique, using natural sponges, to paint various colors of craft paint onto the smooth, bottom surface of the foam tiles. That image is of the fully built, Steading of the Hill Giants, from the infamous, G! module, written by E. Gary Gygax. Here is a close-up shot of what the finished mats look like, with a mostly brown color palette.
I did this same approach with dungeon wall sections. The walls, both for G1's Steading and for making 2.75D dungeons, were printed on full sheet label paper, cut to size, then applied to 3mm thick cardboard backing. The 3mm thick cardboard is found at framing shops, in large pieces, tyically 3 feet by 4 feet. It is wonderful stuff to use as backing for peel-n-stick printouts.
For making walls and such, I look for 2D terrain walls on DriveThruRPG.com, such as Infinite Dungeons Core Set. Print out the wall sections on full sheet label paper, then cut to size, peel and stick to the cardboard sections cut to size. Insert the bottom edge into the cut slot on the foam floor mat, and you have walls and rooms! They make doors, as well, so apply the same techniques, or use another approach, and you have 2.75D dungeons to crawl through. Cheers!
Here is a link to the entire album of photos, if desired.
The ground is made up using inexpensive foam floor mats, from Harbor Freight, but almost any brand will work, as long as they are unpainted. Tried cheaper, Chinese made, pre-painted mats: the craft paint flaked off after several months, leaving them looking horrible. They were also 1/2 the thickness of the HF mats -- I recommend using the HF mats if you can get them.
I bought a specialty Table Saw blade (120T, intended for cutting vinyl siding), to cut a 1/4" depth into the smooth side of the foam, forming a 1" grid pattern: just deep enough to slot in the 3mm-thick cardboard wall sections securely, but without causing the foam mats to fall apart! Using this, and a Table Saw, I was able to cut a grid pattern into the interlocking foam pieces -- lots of effort required, but once completed, they will last for decades, or longer.
After that was completed, I used DM Scotty's wet paint blending technique, using natural sponges, to paint various colors of craft paint onto the smooth, bottom surface of the foam tiles. That image is of the fully built, Steading of the Hill Giants, from the infamous, G! module, written by E. Gary Gygax. Here is a close-up shot of what the finished mats look like, with a mostly brown color palette.
I did this same approach with dungeon wall sections. The walls, both for G1's Steading and for making 2.75D dungeons, were printed on full sheet label paper, cut to size, then applied to 3mm thick cardboard backing. The 3mm thick cardboard is found at framing shops, in large pieces, tyically 3 feet by 4 feet. It is wonderful stuff to use as backing for peel-n-stick printouts.
For making walls and such, I look for 2D terrain walls on DriveThruRPG.com, such as Infinite Dungeons Core Set. Print out the wall sections on full sheet label paper, then cut to size, peel and stick to the cardboard sections cut to size. Insert the bottom edge into the cut slot on the foam floor mat, and you have walls and rooms! They make doors, as well, so apply the same techniques, or use another approach, and you have 2.75D dungeons to crawl through. Cheers!