TERRAIN ADVICE

Welcome to Scott Mingus' "Terrain Tips" Column

Featured Topic:

Building hexagonal terrain for wargaming tabletop battles

YES!   Kenny Knoe makes and sells terrain pieces if you cannot make your own. Click his name for a contact point. The two pictures above of individual pieces are from him, and show his quality level.

Can I simply buy pre-made hexes, finished and ready to play? I don't have time or energy to make my own

I want to make my own! How do I get started? I'd like to watch someone make these hexes.

GHQ sells a wonderful video tape explaining techniques for making hexes, as well as showing finished layouts!  A wonderful help!

The video sounds good - any other visual aids available that I could look at?

GHQ also publishes a full color booklet on how to make hexes, with phenomenal shots of a Normandy region WWII landscape.

I don't want to cut my own hexes! Anyone make them commercially for my finishing?

4" hexes (blanks) are made and sold by GHQ as well as by Foam Works. They are 1/2" in height (rivers and lowlands), 1" (base hexes), 1.5" (low hills), and 2" (high hills)

OK - I want hexagonal terrain, but don't want to pay for pre-cut hexes. How do I go about making my own hexes?

Go to Home Depot, Lowes, or a similar store or a lumberyard.  Buy a 4'x8' sheet of 1" height Extruded Polystyrene (EPS) pink or blue insulation board for around $7 US.  Buy other heights for hills and rivers. Make a hexagon six-sided thick cardboard template with opposing sides 4" apart (or 6" or 8" or similar diameter).  With an EXACTO razor knife, carefully cut each individual hex from the board using the template as a pattern

OK now I've made or bought the hexes. How do I finish them to make them look good on the tabletop?

Obtain a variety of Woodland Scenics (or similar) model railroad supplies, especially their fine turf (blended, green, and brown packs) - around $4-5 per pack). Buy a can of any good acrylic paint (I use KMart "Martha Stewart" brand forest green paint). Paint all six edges of each hex and allow to dry overnight. Then, completely cover the top surface of the hex with paint, and sprinkle on various turf colors in whatever patterns please you. Lay down patches of brown and blended turf, then completely overlay it all with the green. Allow to dry and blow off excess turf. Repeat the process on the back side of the hex (to make them two-sided). I typically have a road or river on one side and open farmland on the other side - this makes your hexes more versatile! Using white glue, apply clump foliage as bushes, scrub, or underbrush depending upon your fancy.