Tactical Command
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Static Grass Matt to Sand Transition
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=20502
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Author:  Helge [ Sun Apr 03, 2011 1:06 am ]
Post subject:  Static Grass Matt to Sand Transition

Greetings

Lack of painting supplies has forced me to turn toward more terrain projects. I am building a new set of terrain tiles (4'x2') to augment the 2'x2' tiles that I already have.
They will look like this: http://wargamingworkshop.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/game-room-south-view1.jpg

I am using Noch Static Grass Matts (Spring). One of the problems of the first batch of these tiles is that the transition from grass to dirt near the river bank isn't very nice. My process back then was to glue down the matt first, rip the edges, glue down sand on the exposed foam region and then carefully paint the sand area. This creates two problems:
1. The sand is now taller than the grass. This is subtle effect but looks add at the transition (grass is supposed to grow on top of dirt)
2. The boundary between the solid grass surface and the dirt banks is fairly abrupt. I sprinkled on some lose static grass to blend everything a bit better but the grass was a slightly different colour than the grass on the matt. This actually amplified the problem :( (so I scraped it back off).

I am not looking for suggestions for the next batch. How do you do grass matt to dirt transitions? My current theory goes like this:
A. glue down matt and rip edges as before
B. dremel the foam down by 1-2mm along the border to create depth for the sand (avoiding problem 1 above)
C. Soaking grass matt cutoff pieces in water, scraping off the grass and then over dry it. This should give me closely matched grass to sprinkle along the boundary and hopefully make the transition less obvious.


Any thoughts, comments or tips from the terrain masters here?

Author:  madd0ct0r [ Sun Apr 03, 2011 6:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Static Grass Matt to Sand Transition

real life pic here?

http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/upper ... 318117.jpg

I think the natural transition is abrupt too - it's the old water level before river dropped a little, exposing the muddy banks. As long as it's all at the same horizontal 'height' above the water, it should look ok.

Author:  Dobbsy [ Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Static Grass Matt to Sand Transition

I'm just drooling about your set up in that room. You have everything I could possibly want! :)

Author:  Apocolocyntosis [ Sun Apr 03, 2011 12:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Static Grass Matt to Sand Transition

Dobbsy wrote:
I'm just drooling about your set up in that room. You have everything I could possibly want! :)

Yep, i would like to request/demand pictures/battle reports of epic played on your brilliant table.

Author:  Helge [ Sun Apr 03, 2011 3:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Static Grass Matt to Sand Transition

;D
You guys make me laugh! My kids have captured the whole setup quite accurate: "Our play room is on the third floor; daddy's play room is in the basement". I tried to call it a "hobby room" but there is no fooling a 2 year old...

I have dehydrates some grass taken from the matt itself. Will see how well this blends in.

Author:  Dobbsy [ Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Static Grass Matt to Sand Transition

I think this sums it up nicely ...

Image

Author:  bmans5 [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Static Grass Matt to Sand Transition

There is no fooling a child. my friends daughter put me in my place, She asked me about it, I responded
"no they are miniatures, for gaming"
She look at me and narrowed her eyes "But you paint them up to look a certain way"
"well....yeah"
"and them play out a scenario?"
"Uh...yeah"
"So....you play with Toy dolls, You make them look a certain way, and act out a scenario...this is somehow different from me Dressing my dolls a certain way and acting a tea party out with them?"
I got silent, glared at her "I see someone is looking to NOT get a present on her birthday from the guy who spoils her"
I got a stuck out tongue and a very smug 7 year....little punk :)

Author:  CAL001 [ Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Static Grass Matt to Sand Transition

Mate,

That is a nice setup, I was talking to my lady about something similar, now to win the lottery and make it happen. Excellent room dude.

Cheers
Aaron

Author:  Helge [ Mon Apr 25, 2011 2:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Static Grass Matt to Sand Transition

Still working on the new terrain tile but you guys might find this post from my blog interesting (or rather the links that it leads to).

Lack of available painting supplies made me focus on some terrain activities. I finished the first (of 40) display boards for my gaming room cabinet: German Pionierkompanie in defensive position. I photographed the steps so enjoy the tutorial http://wargamingworkshop.wordpress.com/workshop/terrain-building/display-board

Image

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