Search Results
7/8/2025, 9:10:53 AM
>>96033991
I've done all three ("three?", you say.)
First off I've made two of the caulk mats, and another guy in /wip/ has made a couple as well. You need a stretching frame or very large table, clamps, quite a bit of time, an apron to keep your clothes from getting destroyed, and a tarp to stick under the canvas while you put the caulk in it (otherwise it's going to glue itself to the table. Ask me how I know). Overall a 4x6 mat is gonna cost about $40-70 depending on how cheap you can get the canvas and the caulk. I've experimented with flocking the mat, you really have to mix the caulk with paint to get your final color and then mash the flock in while you work or it's just going to roll off when you're done. You can also roll in stone textures and such while it's drying
Felt kinda looks like crap, but it's extremely cheap and comes in six-foot-wide bolts. It's also very easy to get one pack each in grey, tan, green, and blue to use for different terrain sets. They make a "heathered" felt that has multiple fiber colors in it that helps sell it a little better. Felt is extremely cheap, mid-weight, and very easy to store - you can iron creases out. It doesn't shed, either. If you base your models with felt on the bottom like I do, then unfortunately they can wind up sticking to the table a bit. Felt also wears pretty poorly after a few years, it stretches and gets caught on the edges of things. Then again it's easy as hell to replace. Also, you can cut easy roads and rivers out of spare felt
The last option, and the most old-school, is a flocked model railroad mat. They'll run you about $50-70 for a 4x6 and you might have to stitch a couple together. They're extremely light, they roll up well, and a lot of people like the look. Problem is they shed a bit (you can mist dilute PVA on top to help combat that) and they crease like a bastard if you look at them funny. If you want that 1990s White Dwarf look, though, this is the way to go.
I've done all three ("three?", you say.)
First off I've made two of the caulk mats, and another guy in /wip/ has made a couple as well. You need a stretching frame or very large table, clamps, quite a bit of time, an apron to keep your clothes from getting destroyed, and a tarp to stick under the canvas while you put the caulk in it (otherwise it's going to glue itself to the table. Ask me how I know). Overall a 4x6 mat is gonna cost about $40-70 depending on how cheap you can get the canvas and the caulk. I've experimented with flocking the mat, you really have to mix the caulk with paint to get your final color and then mash the flock in while you work or it's just going to roll off when you're done. You can also roll in stone textures and such while it's drying
Felt kinda looks like crap, but it's extremely cheap and comes in six-foot-wide bolts. It's also very easy to get one pack each in grey, tan, green, and blue to use for different terrain sets. They make a "heathered" felt that has multiple fiber colors in it that helps sell it a little better. Felt is extremely cheap, mid-weight, and very easy to store - you can iron creases out. It doesn't shed, either. If you base your models with felt on the bottom like I do, then unfortunately they can wind up sticking to the table a bit. Felt also wears pretty poorly after a few years, it stretches and gets caught on the edges of things. Then again it's easy as hell to replace. Also, you can cut easy roads and rivers out of spare felt
The last option, and the most old-school, is a flocked model railroad mat. They'll run you about $50-70 for a 4x6 and you might have to stitch a couple together. They're extremely light, they roll up well, and a lot of people like the look. Problem is they shed a bit (you can mist dilute PVA on top to help combat that) and they crease like a bastard if you look at them funny. If you want that 1990s White Dwarf look, though, this is the way to go.
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