Totally Not A Zone Mortalis Column

[Underhive Tyrant]

Really getting in to making terrain now, and I decided to buy myself a laser cutter.

I want to build a whole load of terrain that is compatible with the aesthetic of Zone Mortalis, really fill a 2’ x 2’ board. Build it both dense, as well as high. Have it be compatible with the GW terrain.

Buying GW terrain is an option - assuming you’ve either won the lottery, or are committed enough to sell a kidney.

For most people in the real world, MDF is probably the bulk of what you’ll have to use to create the framework. There are some great designs out there, especially if you’re not so bothered about the details, you just want to build it, spray it up, get in and start gaming.

But what if you want to really spend the time to make the details look right? How easy is it to design, prototype and build with a laser cutter? Let’s try it - starting with the column as the basis of the framework!

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• Underhive Tyrant
• Sep 10, 2022

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• Underhive Tyrant
• Sep 10, 2022

A few prototypes later (I on #5 now) and it’s starting to come together.

Add a few 3D printed parts for little details. Getting there.

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• Underhive Tyrant
• Sep 10, 2022

Do I filler in the gaps with the corner pieces? Yeah I guess so, want it to look right. Let’s do that, then time to sand, prime and paint.

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• Underhive Tyrant
• Sep 10, 2022

Then repeat a few more times

 

[Punktaku]

@Bilbostomper had a thread awhile back where he was doing the same thing. (In case you need guidance or something.)

But it looks like to me (as just a player with no design experience who also doesn’t posses either a laser cutter or a 3D printer) like you’re off to a great start. The layered detail looks really good. But I do wonder how walkways will attach to these if they’re going to be used as a tower like you’ve pictured. I think they’d look really cool paired up with gantries joining them together and other walkways going off to lower scenery pieces.

 

[Underhive Tyrant]

Thanks Mate, I had no idea @Bilbostomper had done all that - what an amazing resource. I’m 10 pages into the Tech toys thread so far - love it.

This is my first ever project with a laser cutter so I’m learning a huge amount already. It’s a nice workflow from Fusion 360 through to Lightburn, means you can really focus on the creative process without being hampered by the tools.

Interesting question about how to connect - the ZM column has a reversible top that acts as a connector. I think a thin 3D printed interface plate with 4 pegs to fit into the top of an existing column, glued to a bit of MDF plate designed to fit into the bottom of a column should do the trick. It would then provide an interface point for floors and other connections too.

Really keen to get it painted and see how well it sits with my painted ZM columns. I’ve just realised today that the ZM arches have a whole load of rivet heads that really add to the aesthetic. I think I’ll need to create some markings to replicate those too.

One thing this does give me a healthy appreciation of - @Bilbostomper must have spent months designing and fine tuning all those parts. Serious respect for the guy.

 

[Underhive Tyrant]

Been a bit busy lately, but managed to keep building columns.

I’ve seen some amazing board builds and it seems these columns are a great way to setup a framework. Take this video for example:

YouTube - How to use Necromunda Zone Mortalis tiles

I count at least 40 columns. If everything can be kept modular, add some modular walkways and platforms and we should be able to create some pretty complex and varied setups.

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• Underhive Tyrant
• Sep 25, 2022

This is where the value of the laser cutter really comes in. Just gotta keep building columns...

 

[chito]

Would love to see any updates on this! Looks awesome.