[WIP] Marc C's BattleTech Board

[Marc C]

While I wait for the new box to be available I started working on a modular hex board. I settled for square tiles system that gives me flexibility and are easy to put away in a small box. The hexes were printed directly in colored light weight cardboard then glued on thicker cardboard for durability. The hexes are large so big mechs have enough room to move.

[worktroll]

Looking good! Where did you source the buildings from?

You may also want to look up "cubicfun" buildings on ePay ;) Foam-core sheets that assemble to reasonably strong structures. Use the Capitol building as the planetary capital building. or the Vatican as the ruler's palace ;)

W.

[Marc C]

Looking good! Where did you source the buildings from?

You may also want to look up "cubicfun" buildings on ePay ;) Foam-core sheets that assemble to reasonably strong structures. Use the Capitol building as the planetary capital building. or the Vatican as the ruler's palace ;)

W.

Thanks!

I designed the buildings two years ago. (not for sale sorry and I don't give the plans)

[Marc C]

Rock formation made with cork board layers.

[worktroll]

Give it a black ink wash, and call it granite!

[Marc C]

Give it a black ink wash, and call it granite!

Not a bad idea at all ! I'll try it.  ^-^

[Marc C]

Painted :

[Valkerie]

Top notch work there!  8) :thumbsup:

[NeonKnight]

Oh Noz....You went with Square tiles for a hex grid.

It looks good, but you'll soon wish you went with hex tiles for a hex Grid ;)

Square Tile & Hex Grid allows for only two angles of orientation options.

A Hex Tile with Hex Grid allows for all six angles (see attachment).

[Marc C]

Oh Noz....You went with Square tiles for a hex grid.

It looks good, but you'll soon wish you went with hex tiles for a hex Grid ;)

Square Tile & Hex Grid allows for only two angles of orientation options.

A Hex Tile with Hex Grid allows for all six angles (see attachment).

Actually squares have 8 positions they can be place around another square again 6 for an hex.  :D

The real reason is I went with squares is I got more table coverage per sheet of 8,5x11.

[Marc C]

Top notch work there!  8) :thumbsup:

Thank you!
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Started working a formation #2. Slightly larger and taller.

[NeonKnight]

Actually squares have 8 positions they can be place around another square again 6 for an hex.  :D

The real reason is I went with squares is I got more table coverage per sheet of 8,5x11.

Hmm...not seeing the 8 positions, as a Square with square grid would, but the hex on a square means only a 180^o rotation. Rotating a square 90^o will put your hexes out.

Just saying as I went with a square grid before and have since swapped to a hex Gred on HEX tile for ease. I also went with HALF  and quarter hexes to edge everything out 'square'

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=59538.0

[Marc C]

Hmm...not seeing the 8 positions, as a Square with square grid would, but the hex on a square means only a 180^o rotation. Rotating a square 90^o will put your hexes out.

Just saying as I went with a square grid before and have since swapped to a hex Gred on HEX tile for ease. I also went with HALF  and quarter hexes to edge everything out 'square'

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=59538.0

There are 8 squares green (positions) around the center blue tile. All the edges and corners are straight but still have the benefit of a hex board.

[NeonKnight]

There are 8 squares green (positions) around the center blue tile. All the edges and corners are straight but still have the benefit of a hex board.

ok, but how do you handle the half or quarter blue/green hex?

[Marc C]

ok, but how do you handle the half or quarter blue/green hex?

Always use the least favorable terrain type when dealing with a half or quarter hex.  ;)

[NeonKnight]

Always use the least favorable terrain type when dealing with a half or quarter hex.  ;)

Ah, OK then, that helps me to understand where coming

[Marc C]

Ah, OK then, that helps me to understand where coming

Glad to hear that !
I can always make overlaid hex shapes if I want to make non-linear edges for a tile. My roads are overlaid so I can moved them around.

Greetings from Montreal btw!

[NeonKnight]

Yeah, I went to my hex as...I'm getting too old, and if I can toss down 5 big tiles and have 'terrain', well, less set up/tear down

[Marc C]

Rock formation #2 painted



Formation #1 and #2 next to each other to form a larger terrain piece.

[Marc C]

That is it for now. (sorry about the dzc models I have nothing else atm)

[Marc C]

Today's batch. Less spectacular. I called them connectors. They will allow me to do larger formations or fractal style sprawling formations

[Marc C]

My current buildings are 10mm in scale. I didn't want to spend to buy new terrain. Made this 6mm scale building this morning. Trying to avoid the shoe box square style. What do you think?

[Marc C]

Final version with surface detailing, an elevator and some color.

[Daryk]

Nicely done!  :thumbsup:

[Marc C]

Nicely done!  :thumbsup:

Thank you!


__________________________________

Next building : Police station with two landing pads. Wing A is for hardened criminals while wing B is for less dangerous individuals.

[Marc C]

Today's progress. Wings A and B done.

[Marc C]

Third building will be a scientific center/power generator. Three buildings on a 3x3 surface will be enough to start with.

[Colt Ward]

Nice . . . so how you making them?  Cardboard?  Plasticard?

[Marc C]

Nice . . . so how you making them?  Cardboard?  Plasticard?

I use cardboard. 3 ply black cardboard (1/16" / 2.5mm) for the structure and thin colored cardboard for the highlights.

[Colt Ward]

Do you put glue into the seams to smooth them out and hide where you join the pieces of cardboard?  I have been putting cardboard outside a bunch of my foam buildings, but I end up with the edges where its got the openings.

[Marc C]

Do you put glue into the seams to smooth them out and hide where you join the pieces of cardboard?  I have been putting cardboard outside a bunch of my foam buildings, but I end up with the edges where its got the openings.

I don't. My approach is k.i.s.s. Not trying to do make everything super slick and perfect.

[Marc C]

The Police Station with two landing pads :



What I have so far :

[Daryk]

Excellent work!  I have to admit, the lighting almost makes them look computer generated... The lines are that clean!  :thumbsup:

[worktroll]

Side question - did you cut the cork layers yourself, or is someone selling conveniently sized cork hexes?

I can find hex ceramic tiles in good sizes, but .. my Ghu, the weight! I did my time cutting 1/2" foam sheets up for hex maps, and always wanted a quicker way ...

W.

[Marc C]

Side question - did you cut the cork layers yourself, or is someone selling conveniently sized cork hexes?

I can find hex ceramic tiles in good sizes, but .. my Ghu, the weight! I did my time cutting 1/2" foam sheets up for hex maps, and always wanted a quicker way ...

W.

I cut them by hand with a hobby knife. I do it while watching tv sf re-runs so its less aggravating!

[Marc C]

Excellent work!  I have to admit, the lighting almost makes them look computer generated... The lines are that clean!  :thumbsup:

Thank you!
I changed the light bulbs in my hobby/gaming room for pure white DELs. I see what you are saying. Its true they almost look computer generated in the pictures.

[Marc C]

Today's progress on the reactor.
I found cool looking tubes in my bits box. They look like chimneys.

[Colt Ward]

So as I look closely I can see the edges you cut . . . but that outer slope for instance, are you cutting most of the way through the cardboard and then bending it to keep it 1 piece?  Its why I asked initially about covering up the cuts b/c all your edges were smother than is exhibited in the center area where you are putting the door or whatever by your drawing.

Putting any LEDs in it?

[Marc C]

So as I look closely I can see the edges you cut . . . but that outer slope for instance, are you cutting most of the way through the cardboard and then bending it to keep it 1 piece?  Its why I asked initially about covering up the cuts b/c all your edges were smother than is exhibited in the center area where you are putting the door or whatever by your drawing.

Putting any LEDs in it?

I understand your question now. For the surfaces I don't cut through the 3 layers of the black card board. I keep 1 layer still attached then bend/fold it around the side pieces. It makes better looking edges than cutting all the pieces apart and then glueing them together again. Save time too.

[Marc C]

Finished reactor :



My basic BattleTech table is ready. I can always make more elements or enlarge the board later if I need be.

[Daryk]

Man, that's nice!  Wish I lived a little further north of here...

[Marc C]

Man, that's nice!  Wish I lived a little further north of here...

Thanks
So do I ! I would have one more opponent!