BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat

BattleTech Miniatures and Terrain => Gaming Terrain => Topic started by: john blackwell on 13 July 2017, 13:57:05

Title: Foam Terrain board - palm trees
Post by: john blackwell on 13 July 2017, 13:57:05

This project is in conjunction with the foam-tile terrain project: http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=58027.0

I wanted to build palm trees for a tropical terrain yet to be built. Inspiration for this came from this page of a 6-mm wargaming site: http://6mm.wargaming.info/page353.shtml

I liked the idea of using straight pins into foam tiles instead of foamcore (for example) since foam doesn't leave such a permanent hole.

Title: Re: Terrain board - palm trees
Post by: john blackwell on 13 July 2017, 13:59:34

The first step was the shape of the tree. I had some copper wire, so I tried out several variations: stranded and two thicknesses of unstranded (sorry I cannot tell you the gauge).

I cut the tips off of a set of straight pins and super-glued them to the wire. The result looks a bit like a crude spear.

Title: Re: Terrain board - palm trees
Post by: john blackwell on 13 July 2017, 14:03:27

To give the tree texture I decided to use thread. I built a spindle, tied the end of the thread around the base, and gradually wound it up around the trunk.

This secured the pin to the wire even if the glue should break. It also gave the tree trunk texture (and some shinyness - oh well).

I tied the thread off at the top and added a tiny drop of super glue. This secured the thread and gave the tree top a different color (an unexpected but desired look).

Then a snip of the extra thread, and the trees are ready for foliage.

Title: Re: Terrain board - palm trees
Post by: john blackwell on 13 July 2017, 14:04:28

I found this form of moss at a hobby store. It has tiny fronds!

Title: Re: Terrain board - palm trees
Post by: john blackwell on 13 July 2017, 14:08:50

Then I used PVA-glue to secure individual fronds to the trunk.

That's it. Granted upon close scrutiny, the reality of the tree breaks down. But at a distance and in large numbers these don't look half bad.

I planted one at each hex junction to see how they looked.

NOTE: I don't think palms don't break up LOS like other trees. I wonder if there should be LOS rules, or if they're more visually ornamental and only serve a practical purpose of one wishes to set the place on fire.

Thoughts?

Happy hunting,
JB

Title: Re: Terrain board - palm trees
Post by: thecybersmily on 13 July 2017, 21:49:38

Nice tutorial. Thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: Terrain board - palm trees
Post by: worktroll on 13 July 2017, 22:09:07

The good thing about that design is that you can stick them in the hex points on your 3D maps, and still be able to maneuver a mini (most of them) into the hex.

Remembering this!