From Cardboard to Conquest: A Comprehensive Guide to Making Warhammer Terrain

Warhammer, whether it’s the grim darkness of the far future or the fantastical realms of the Old World, thrives on immersive gameplay. And nothing enhances the battlefield experience quite like well-crafted terrain. While pre-made terrain can be convenient, it often comes with a hefty price tag. The solution? Unleash your inner artisan and create your own stunning landscapes! This guide will walk you through the process, from the very basic to more advanced techniques, giving you the power to shape your battlefields exactly how you envision them.

Why Make Your Own Warhammer Terrain?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s consider the compelling reasons to embark on this creative journey:

• Cost-Effective: Pre-made terrain can be expensive. Crafting your own is significantly cheaper, allowing you to build a diverse and impressive collection without breaking the bank.
• Customization: You have complete control over the size, shape, and style of your terrain. Tailor it to your army’s aesthetic or create specific scenarios.
• Personal Satisfaction: There’s a unique sense of accomplishment in creating something with your own hands. Every piece of terrain will tell a story and be a testament to your creativity.
• Improved Gameplay: Well-designed terrain can enhance the strategic depth of your games, creating exciting choke points, advantageous firing positions, and varied tactical challenges.
• Community Aspect: Terrain making is a fantastic hobby to share with friends. Build collaboratively and create some truly epic battlefields.

Essential Tools and Materials

Before you begin, you’ll need to gather some essential tools and materials. Don’t worry, you probably already have many of these lying around:

Basic Tools:

• Craft Knife/Hobby Knife: For precise cutting of cardboard, foam, and other materials. (Always use a cutting mat!)
• Scissors: For general cutting purposes.
• Cutting Mat: To protect your work surface.
• Ruler/Straight Edge: For accurate measurements and straight lines.
• Pencils/Markers: For marking and sketching.
• Glue (PVA/White Glue): For adhering materials together.
• Hot Glue Gun: For quicker bonding and more robust constructions. Use with caution!
• Paintbrushes (Various Sizes): For painting your terrain.
• Mixing Palette: For holding and mixing your paints.
• Water Pot: For cleaning your brushes.
• Tweezers: For picking up and placing small details.
• Sanding Sticks/Files: For smoothing edges and shaping foam.

Core Materials:

• Cardboard: Cereal boxes, shipping boxes, and packaging materials are ideal for creating basic shapes and structures.
• Foam Board/Foamcore: Lightweight and easy to cut, perfect for walls, platforms, and building supports.
• Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Foam/Styrofoam: Used for creating terrain elevation, rocks, and other sculpted features. Be aware that this material is very easily damaged.
• High Density Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam: Used for creating terrain elevation, rocks, and other sculpted features. This is much more dense and hard wearing than EPS foam.
• Textured Cardstock/Paper: For adding visual interest and detail to surfaces.
• Sand/Gravel: For creating a realistic ground texture.
• Modeling Paste/Texture Paste: For adding texture to surfaces and creating custom bases.
• Paints (Acrylic): Various colors to bring your terrain to life. Consider a basecoat, shades, and highlights.
• Spray Primer: For priming the terrain before painting.
• Flock/Static Grass: For creating a grassy or natural environment.
• Small Rocks/Pebbles/Barks: For natural details.
• Toothpicks/Wooden Skewers: For structural support and detailing.
• Plasticard: Thin plastic sheeting useful for creating sharp lines, panels, and walkways
• Plastic sprue: Cut from plastic kits, can be used for pipework, girders and more.

Optional Materials:

• Airbrush: For smooth, even paint application. (Not essential, but very useful.)
• Masking Tape: For creating sharp lines when painting.
• Water Effects: For creating rivers, pools, and other water features.
• Plasticard Detail Pieces: For greebling and added details.
• 3D Printed Parts: For unique and intricate details, if you have access to a 3D printer.
• Wood Glue: For added strength when bonding wood.
• Milliput/Green Stuff: For sculpting and filling gaps.

Getting Started: Basic Terrain Elements

Let’s start with some fundamental terrain elements that are relatively easy to create, using readily available materials. We’ll progress to more complex projects later.

1. Simple Hills and Rough Terrain

Hills add verticality and visual interest to your battlefields. Here’s a simple method:

Materials: Cardboard, EPS/XPS foam, PVA Glue, sand, texture paste, paints, static grass.

Steps:

1. Cut your base: Cut a piece of cardboard to the desired size and shape of your hill base.
2. Build the slope: Cut pieces of EPS/XPS foam to create the desired height and slope of your hill. Layer the foam pieces and glue them to the cardboard base using PVA glue. Alternatively you can sculpt using large chunks of foam, shaving off what is not needed.
3. Texture: Apply a thick layer of PVA glue to the surface of the foam hill. Sprinkle sand or gravel over the glue. Once dry, brush away loose sand. You can also apply texture paste for a more refined look.
4. Prime: Spray the hill with a primer. Usually black or grey.
5. Paint: Paint the hill using your chosen earth tones, using layering or drybrushing.
6. Add details: Apply PVA glue to areas where you want to add flock/static grass. Add other details like small rocks or tree stumps.

2. Walls and Barriers

Walls and barriers are essential for providing cover and creating choke points.

Materials: Foam board/Foamcore, craft knife, ruler, PVA glue, texture paste, paints.

Steps:

1. Cut the walls: Cut strips of foam board/foamcore to the desired length and height of your walls.
2. Add detail: Use a craft knife to score lines or patterns onto the foam board/foamcore to create the look of bricks or stonework.
3. Assembly: Glue the wall pieces together using PVA glue to create corners or sections.
4. Texture: Apply a thin layer of texture paste to the walls for a more textured look, you can also sand over it to add weathering.
5. Prime and Paint: Prime the walls and paint them to your desired color scheme, adding washes or highlights.

3. Simple Scatter Terrain: Craters and Rubble

Scatter terrain adds visual interest and breaks up large open areas.

Materials: Cardboard, small rocks, PVA glue, sand, texture paste, paints.

Steps:

1. Create the base: Cut a small circle or irregular shape from cardboard.
2. Build the crater/Rubble: Glue small rocks and pieces of broken cardboard onto the base to create a crater or rubble effect.
3. Texture: Apply a layer of PVA glue and sprinkle sand over the base.
4. Prime and Paint: Prime and paint your scatter terrain to match your other terrain pieces.

4. Simple Trees

Trees add another element to battlefields and can provide light cover.

Materials: Twigs/small branches, PVA glue, flock, brown paint.

Steps:

1. Base the Tree: Use a small piece of cardboard, sand or flock to base the tree.
2. Prepare the Tree: Trim any unwanted branches from the twig and ensure it is stable.
3. Secure the Tree: Secure the twig onto the base using PVA or hot glue.
4. Add foliage: Using PVA glue or hairspray, cover the branches with flock to create the leaves.

Intermediate Terrain Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start to experiment with more advanced techniques.

1. Multi-Level Platforms

Platforms add a vertical element and can provide sniper nests or high ground advantages.

Materials: Foam board/foamcore, cardboard, hot glue gun, plasticard, texture paste, paints.

Steps:

1. Design your platform: Plan the size and shape of your platform and any supports it will need.
2. Cut the base: Cut a large piece of foam board/foamcore for the main platform.
3. Build supports: Cut smaller pieces of foam board/foamcore to create supports for the platform and glue in place, reinforced with hot glue.
4. Add details: Add plasticard or cardstock to create rails, ladders or walls.
5. Texture: Apply texture paste to the platform’s surface and any exposed edges to blend everything together.
6. Prime and Paint: Prime and paint your platform with your chosen colors and details.

2. Ruined Buildings

Ruined buildings create a sense of history and provide varied tactical options.

Materials: Cardboard, foam board, plasticard, hot glue, sand, texture paste, paints, broken sprue.

Steps:

1. Build the basic structure: Cut cardboard and foam board to create the walls and basic shape of the ruined building. Use hot glue to assemble.
2. Add detail: Add plasticard details such as window frames, door ways and reinforced corners.
3. Create the ruins: Cut or break off sections of the walls and roof to create a ruined effect.
4. Texture: Apply texture paste and sand to the building’s surface. You can also create loose rubble piles around the building using small pieces of foam.
5. Prime and Paint: Prime and paint the building, paying close attention to details and weathering.

3. Industrial Structures: Pipes and Tanks

Industrial structures add a sense of technology and can provide interesting terrain features.

Materials: PVC pipe, cardboard tubes, plastic sprue, foam board, hot glue, paints.

Steps:

1. Gather your materials: Gather pipes, tubes, and sprues of various sizes.
2. Construct the structure: Use foam board and hot glue to create the main support structure for your pipes or tanks.
3. Add pipes: Cut the PVC pipe and cardboard tubes to your desired lengths and attach them to the structure using hot glue.
4. Add detail: Use plastic sprue to create pipe details, ladders, walkways or control panels.
5. Prime and Paint: Prime and paint the structure with appropriate industrial colors, adding rust and weathering.

4. Using Texture to Create Interest

Texturing your terrain can elevate it to the next level and make it look far more realistic.

Materials: Texture pastes, sand, gravel, flock, household items (such as sponges, toothbrushes, netting, etc.), paints.

Steps:

1. Layer your textures: Start with a base layer of PVA glue or texture paste.
2. Apply sand and grit: Press sand and grit into the glue or paste before it dries to create the base texture.
3. Experiment with tools: Use sponges, toothbrushes, or other tools to create different textures on the surface, such as stippling, dabbing, or dragging.
4. Add natural elements: Place flock or other foliage or natural elements using PVA glue.

Advanced Terrain Techniques

Ready to push the boundaries of your terrain building?

1. Water Features

Adding water features can bring a dynamic element to your battlefields.

Materials: Foam board, clear plastic sheet, water effects resin, paints, sand, small rocks.

Steps:

1. Create the base: Cut out a section of foam board for the river, pond or lake.
2. Build the banks: Use foam, sand, and small rocks to create realistic river banks or shorelines.
3. Apply base colors: Paint the bottom of the water feature with varying shades of blue and green for depth.
4. Add the water effect: Following the manufacturer’s instructions apply the water effect resin or clear coat on top of the painted section, add ripples or waves as the resin is curing.

2. Sculpting with Milliput/Green Stuff

Milliput and Green Stuff are great for adding custom details or blending transitions between materials.

Materials: Milliput/Green Stuff, sculpting tools, water, lubricant (such as vaseline).

Steps:

1. Prepare the putty: Mix equal parts of Milliput or Green Stuff until a workable consistency is reached.
2. Sculpt the details: Use sculpting tools to shape the putty into the desired form. Moisten your tools with water or lubricant to prevent sticking.
3. Curing the putty: Let the putty cure fully.
4. Sand and refine: Once cured, you can sand or refine your sculpt further using sand paper or files.

3. Weathering and Detailing

Weathering and detailing will make your terrain more realistic and immersive.

Materials: Washes, drybrushes, pigments, rust effects, sponges, masking tape.

Steps:

1. Apply Washes: Use washes to add shadows and depth to recesses, crevices, and textured surfaces.
2. Drybrushing: Use drybrushing to highlight edges, raised textures and add a sense of wear and tear.
3. Use pigments: Apply pigments to simulate dust, grime, rust and other weathering effects.
4. Masking: Use masking tape to create clean lines, highlights, or patterns.
5. Add battle damage: Use a craft knife or small drill to create bullet holes, scorch marks or other signs of damage.

4. Creating a cohesive look

When building a large amount of terrain, it is important to keep consistency across your pieces.

Materials: Consistent colour schemes, material usage and basing.

Steps:

1. Choose a colour scheme: Ensure a similar colour palette is used throughout your pieces, using the same shades for dirt, rocks, and buildings will help your pieces fit together.
2. Consistency of materials: Using a similar set of materials will give a consistent feel.
3. Basing: Consistent basing allows your terrain to fit together, either through a consistent texture or similar materials.

Tips and Tricks

• Start simple: Don’t try to tackle a complex project right away. Start with basic terrain pieces and gradually work your way up.
• Plan ahead: Sketch out your terrain designs before you start building. This will save you time and frustration.
• Gather inspiration: Look at photos of real-world environments, movie sets, or other tabletop terrain for inspiration.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment: Try new techniques, materials, and styles. You might discover something amazing!
• Work in batches: When creating multiple pieces of terrain, it can be more efficient to complete the same step on all pieces at once.
• Be patient: Terrain making is a time-consuming process. Don’t rush it!
• Have fun: Terrain making should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Relax, put on some music, and let your creativity flow.
• Safety First: Always use a cutting mat when cutting with a hobby knife, and be cautious when using hot glue. Wear a mask when spray painting or sanding.

Conclusion

Creating your own Warhammer terrain is not just a cost-effective alternative; it’s a rewarding and creative journey that adds a personal touch to your gaming experience. By starting with the basics, experimenting with techniques, and keeping these tips in mind, you can create unique and impressive battlefields that will immerse you and your fellow gamers for hours. So, gather your tools, unleash your imagination, and get crafting!

Happy gaming!