Necromunda Necro Resurrection - Terrain

[Kaludram]

Well, I didn't want to start this phase of my project until I had at least two gangs put together (painting is an entirely different story), but logistics necessitates flexibility.

As I stated in the main thread, I am primarily looking at MDF terrain since it can be disassembled. I have a good enough job that I am willing to drop some dough on a starter set of terrain and supplement it with scratch-built stuff later.

The standard against which I am comparing everything are the Sci-Fi Industrial terrain sets by Wargames Tournaments. It looks designed specifically for Necromunda and is exactly what I love about the old terrain--lots of gantries and plenty of cover but not much to fully block LOS. This review shows it is exactly what I need in terms of durability, ease of use, and storage. This company also offers some shipping containers and boxes that are pretty cool. The base price is acceptable, but since I live on the other side of the pond from this company, prices go up 50% once I add on shipping.

For just shipping containers, which I definitely want in my game for scatter and some specific one-off campaign events, I really like the Terrakami crates. They have reviewed well (here and here) and the price is good, but alas being based in Spain, they are also sold from the wrong side of the big waters.

Next there's Mini Duels which I found after a fellow Yakker posted some notes about their shipping containers. They have the advantage of being on my continent (so S&H ain't so bad), but their terrain is more along the 40K lines with bunkers and towers. They do have a good shipping container that is quite cheap, so I may go for that anyway.

I found the War Mill through a Dakka Dakka forum post. This is very expensive terrain, but if I ever end up with a winning lottery ticket and a desire to run underhive mayhem up-hive to Hive City or the Spire, I am definitely running this terrain.

Warsenal produces some Infinity-style terrain that might work. In particular, their Comanche Walkway Bundle looks good, but it doesn't disassemble, so storage would be a major problem. It is also not terribly tall. They are based in the USA though....

Last of all is Death Ray Designs. Although their Necropolis set looks good for either Necron or Eldar terrain (maybe there's a tomb under all those collapsed domes, mwhahahaha), their IN-City terrain doesn't really fit the bill for what I am seeking...except for their shipping containers which look very nice but are slightly pricier than others.

So there you have it. I can't find anything that stacks up to my standard at Wargames Tournaments, so I may just end up putting down the money for S&H across the ocean unless someone here has another idea I haven't found...

PLEASE help!

 

[nooker]

It doesn't have the durability that you are looking for, but have you considered paper? It is good and much more durable that you would think. Also, with the right set or a simple mod, you can break it down. World Works Games is where I'd start if you might want to consider it.

 

[Kaludram]

It doesn't have the durability that you are looking for, but have you considered paper? It is good and much more durable that you would think. Also, with the right set or a simple mod, you can break it down. World Works Games is where I'd start if you might want to consider it.

I've seen this website before but am very wary. Doesn't look like it would accommodate high stacking...mostly two levels max. What's been your experience?

 

[nooker]

Um, you don't know me yet, obviously. I LOVE paper. I could do an entire table with the paper models I've done. I can easily do 3 stories with what I have. The terrain X stuff looks pretty unlimited (that Apartment building looks intriguing, I've thought to do a set like the The Raid). I own most sets, pretty much all the scifi. The way they do bridges means that it can hold a metal dreadnought. Plus all sets come with tons of scatter terrain. Terrain X is especially flexible. Plus whenever you want a new piece, you just print and build and when you are done, it is painted.

 

[ClockworkOrange]

If papers not your thing I'm kinda the resident terrain builder from household junk.

£30 (or whatever the local note is) buys you enough foamboard plasticard cardboard plasterers shims cd cases and mega blocks to build a table full of terrain.

 

[Kaludram]

If papers not your thing I'm kinda the resident terrain builder from household junk.

£30 (or whatever the local note is) buys you enough foamboard plasticard cardboard plasterers shims cd cases and mega blocks to build a table full of terrain.

Yeah, I've built scratch-built terrain before and am pretty good at it. I just don't have as much space as I used to for large terrain projects, so I am looking to buy something for the bulk of my terrain and then maybe modify it or build small pieces for variety and character.

 

[Kaludram]

Um, you don't know me yet, obviously. I LOVE paper. I could do an entire table with the paper models I've done. I can easily do 3 stories with what I have. The terrain X stuff looks pretty unlimited (that Apartment building looks intriguing, I've thought to do a set like the The Raid). I own most sets, pretty much all the scifi. The way they do bridges means that it can hold a metal dreadnought. Plus all sets come with tons of scatter terrain. Terrain X is especially flexible. Plus whenever you want a new piece, you just print and build and when you are done, it is painted.

By "looking into it" I actually downloaded the Beginners Guide 2 years ago last time I got the Necromunda bug. (Alas, back then I had even less time, no craft space, and no idea this forum existed as a prod to faithfully continue projects.) It is certainly worth a try considering the relative cost.

@nooker Which kit (or two) would you recommend starting with for both ease of assembly and flexibility?

 

[nooker]

From the old school stuff I would recommend one of the Platform Command sets. I think Red Sector is the best set, but Battleground has the best bulkheads by far. From the Terrain X sets, I think Sigma would be best as I feel it has the most variety. Oh and I found this image:

Oh and while I have your attention, some good places to go as well are:
Free-
http://toposolitario.com/workshop/index_papermodels.html
http://www.genetmodels.com/
http://www.momirfarooq.com/
http://swminiature.free.fr/download_decors3d.htm
Paid-
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?manufacturers_id=2985
http://www.stones-edges.com/scifi/orbital

nooker

 

[Kaludram]

@nooker, you may recognize the scenery in my Neglected Youth entry here: https://yaktribe.games/community/threads/yaktribe-competition-14-neglected-youth.4841/page-8

 

[nooker]

Dude, that's awesome!! Do you have a full table yet? I'd love to see a setup of yours.

 

[Kaludram]

Dude, that's awesome!! Do you have a full table yet? I'd love to see a setup of yours.

Not yet. I have card stock and downloaded all of the kits. I think I am going to modify the toposolitario stuff a bit (that's what's in my Yaktribe Competition entry) to be more sturdy; right now it calls for a plain paper print and derives its strength from a fold-in design.

The mat tiles are positively awesome. I already printed one set and plan to print another. Instead of gluing them together (as is recommended), I plan to mount each one separately on some corrugated cardboard. That will allow me to mix up the terrain however I like. Just got two shipments from Amazon and one from Miniature Market, so I have the cardboard...now I just need a little time.

 

[Kaludram]

Alright, after a dismal showing on Yaktribe Competition 14, I am dubbing today terrain day. No work around the house (except the now-critical lawn mowing job, curse the servitors)--just me, some paper terrain files, and the scissors....

 

[Kaludram]

@nooker So I have downloaded the Platform and Sector Sigma sets from World Works as my first experiments with paid paper terrain kits. The tutorials and instructions on these kits recommend using foam core for the ground tiles and the platforms. Have you (or anyone else out there) used something different? I have a ton of corrugated cardboard lying around that I was planning to use for this project (since cardboard shipping boxes from Amazon are both free and plentiful) but I don't want to generate any unforeseen issues.

What say ye?

 

[nooker]

I've only used foamcore, but that could work as long as you stay consistent. My only concern would be the edges pinching down more than the center might look strange. Also you may need masking tape or something on the connectors to deal with the openness of cardboard. Trying two as a test wouldn't loose you much and might show it to be viable. I would definitely use careful scoring to wrap the tiles around the cardboard that might mitigate any edge pinching issues.

 

[Kaludram]

@nooker You bring up good points all the way around. I have opted for a compromise: cardboard for the base tiles on the game board and foamcore for the platforms. I couldn't find any all black foamcore without going for the ridiculously thick stuff, so I am working with standard white for my first set.

 

[Kaludram]

Well, the first day's work is done. I've focused on a good foundation, so to speak. A full set of floor tiles from www.toposolitario.com and about half of the tiles I would need for a full game board from the Platform Command set on World Works Games. I decided to do a set from the Vault first before I try to tackle the TerrainLink sets.

Tomorrow, I'm pasting down the tiles to corrugated cardboard and will start work on the actual terrain.

BTW, I messed up about 3 pages of floor tiles after getting them printed. I think I am going to save them for a fast basing scheme...

@nooker , I totally owe you for this one...

 

[nooker]

I look forward to seeing what you do! That white foamcore would work well with the sigma stuff as the tiles wrap around whatever you are using. I will be fascinated to see how the cardboard works out. I don't know if I said it, but I buy full sheet labels and use them to skip the glue stage of things.

 

[Kaludram]

...I don't know if I said it, but I buy full sheet labels and use them to skip the glue stage of things.

You did mention it, but I already had the other materials. This 3M spray adhesive is awesome, by the way. Mine is in a gray can instead of blue, but I think this is the same stuff. Low fumes, easy to work with, cleans up quick, and sticks well.

 

[KungFuPanda]

Does anybody use self-adhesive photo paper for making those cardboard terrain? I want to build Imperial firebase just gluing it to cardboard and then cut it out.
I summon cardboard master @nooker

 

[Kaludram]

Got the tiles all glued down and ready to separate. Here are about half of them:

I bought a new water cooler this past week, and there were some boards that were triple-layered corrugated cardboard. So, I have now made a "high" layer of playing tiles using the Platform Command design. There will be a second "low" set. And you can see that the edge of the larger wafer has some tiles that are hanging over the edge by ~1.5". These are going to be my transition pieces. I have about 9 of them, so enough for variety and the ability to go the full width of a 4' x 4' board (which is, BTW, 7 tiles x 7 tiles).

I also got my birthday present unpackaged this past week and found this beauty:

Gonna be a precinct house for my Enforcers very soon...