"How Many Use Take-Out Containers For SciFi Terrain?" Topic

This guy has really, really inspired me to look at plastic take-out food containers in a completely different light:

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Has anyone else used those plastic take-out containers? If so, how did you paint them? Any photos?

Thanks.

CC
TMP link
TMP link

Or, does anyone think this is a violation of the restaurant supplier's IP rights? :)

CC

The take-out containers I usually get aren't anywhere near that nice… maybe it's a reflection of the food I eat?
Maybe I could make some Nurlge-ish construction out of the greasy cardstock…

Make that 'Nurgle-ish'

Much of the larger take out containers in my area are fragile foam clamshells or paper cartons. I do recycle plastic soup containers for food storage when I make batches of soup or chili. Aside from those plastic pint and quart containers most of what comes free with a meal I don't find suitable for sturdy gaming terrain.

I do make terrain from liter water bottles and dollar store bowls.
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Nice!

We have a favorite Chinese restaurant not too far from home. The last couple of months we ordered take-out and then it hit me . . .

I noticed that their rectangular 2-compartment black plastic containers looked ideal for corridors and other things. At least the bottom section looked usable. The clear lids are too flimsy.

I took two of them, cut off the lip and bottom, and trimmed the "corrugated" sides. The sides was what I was after.

As a result, yesterday I stopped by exclusively to get a bunch of them. They gave me a stack of 12-15 that I plan to put to good use.

When I get home tonight, I'll try to find out what company they are from, and try to take a couple of photos to share.

I think that, if I put a foamcore backing on them, they will be ideal 2 1/4-inch tall facings for corridors. I might even add facings to both sides of the foamcore for greater versatility.

Wish me luck.

CC

Wish me luck.

Good Luck. Take pictures before and after.

Will do, mate.

CC

I'll admit that I don't usually leave enough on my plate to use a take-out container (burp!), but I sure do always have a look at the containers of the other people I'm sitting with. Although they might think I'm scoping out their doggy-bag for what's inside, I'm just looking at how the shape might work as part of my scenic works, heh.

The trick is to train your mind to look at everything around you as to how the shape would work into making tabletop structures. I'd managed to do this many years ago, but all it takes is a good imagination and a pair of open eyes.

Hi Guys,

It's very sad but I look over all packaging with an eye to terrain… love vacuum-packages.

It's so bad that my family and girlfriends for year have kept little bottles and packaging for me. I have a big bin I store it in until it's "time"…

So, my answer is a resounding YES. I have used food packaging for terrain.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

P.S.
Printer cartridge packaging is among the best…

"Printer cartridge packaging is among the best…"

Wow. I'll have to raid the office bin now. Thanks!

CC

Maksim, didn't you post a link about making desert outpost/drop camps buildings from sandwich containers a few weeks ago???

Nachos cheese dip containers make good storage/supply sheds..

The best thng I've found is plastic cake and pie platters..
these can make very nice Imperial heli-pads.

And the very thinn styrene plastic of (some) yogurt makers
can come in very handy (especially for ship sails)

I have some how to pages on turning trash into terrain at:
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Most of the photos are of bubbles used to hold small items onto display cards for sale. Mostly toys, OK, I like toys!
But light bulbs for food items. Also some on using packing materials both expanded poly styrene (EPS) and paper pulp used in the boxes of all sorts of things.

Once you tune your eyes to see terrain in common day items you will be amazed at where things may come from.

DyeHard
15mmvsf.bagofmice.com/index.html

Hi Smokey-Roan,

[[[Maksim, didn't you post a link about making desert outpost/drop camps buildings from sandwich containers a few weeks ago???]]]

I have before, but my work is nothing compared to my good friend Marcus of Skangame.com…

Check out his masterpieces here:

skankgame.com/Rustech.html

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Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Hi Dyehard and CC,

Dyehard, love your site! Rock on, dude!

CC, Mazel Tov (Congrats) with the printer packaging!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Thanks Maksim. And yes Dyehardee, awsome stuff. I always look at that type of packaging for potential, its nice to see a great finished item!!!

Hi Smokey-Roan,

You're welcome!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Maksim,

Many, many thanks for that link and the kind words.

Those pork chop packages are almost exactly what the 2-compartment take-out containers look like!

The only differences that I can see is that mine are not as tall, nor will the roof look as fancy.

I guess I'm having pork chops tonight! :)

CC

I use take out containers, plastic bottles, plastic packaging of all sorts and I'll even use the odd cardboard packaging if it looks interesting.

When I lived in Canada if my wife or I bought anything like the above I would look it over carefully to see how I could use it in my games and if I could see a use it went into my terrain box instead of the recycle box. I painted some up and used them regularly. If they broke or got squished into the recycle box they went and I pulled out a new container to use. I got the stuff anyway why not use it.

Heck, the plastic case that my Epson printer cartridge came in looked perfect as a building. The plastic cover for some headphones was perfect for a concert hall. Slap some paint on, add a bit of detail, and we're good to go!

I have a stack of white styrene clamshell printer cartridge boxes from over ten years ago. I always saw them as small 6mm bunker/storage sheds, but have never gone ahead and used them, heh. The list is endless, as I have a few weeks ago picked up yet another bunch of shapes to use for an SST project. Here you go. Hint: It is vaccuum-formed, plastic, and comes is many different really useable shapes, none of them alike (unless you buy multiples of them). Answer=

Paint tray liners! You know, the ones at Ace hardware and Home Depot. You don't buy the paint container gizmo, you just buy the thin plastic liners. The are just over a buck for many, and are just great. I've had them in a bag from over a month, but unlike my printer cartridge packing I'm going to do something with these probably within a few weeks. There are circular shapes, as well as rectangular ones. Here is a link that shows a pic of one version. Of course you flip it over to access the "positive" side for a structure.

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Another thing I've got in a bag (from like months and months ago) are plastic electrical boxes. I plan to combine the paint try liners with the electrical boxes to make an industrial (what else, lol?) urban sci-fi layout.

Around here (Sydney, AU)we get 'cherry' and 'grape' tomatoes in small vac formed containers – ideal 25/28mm 'foamcrete' buildings. If the plastic resists normal paint, use the paint made for polycarbonate R/C car bodies as an undercoat.

Hi Guys,

*** How do you strengthen your plastic vaccum-formed containers? ***

I find them pretty weak unless you reinforce them inside somehow.

I've tried various methods (PVA glue, plaster of paris, plastic shims, expanding insulation foam, wadded newspaper shreds, etc.) and still haven't found an ideal method…

Please HELP!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

"I've tried various methods (PVA glue, plaster of paris, plastic shims, expanding insulation foam, wadded newspaper shreds, etc.) and still haven't found an ideal method…"

Wow, Maksim.

That pretty much lists all the methods I was thinking of using!

The one other method I was thinking of using was a thick coat of wood putty, that I would coat the underside of the facing, and press against the foamcore of balsa backing.

I'll let you know how that works out this weekend.

CC

Two cheap thoughts….Plaster of Paris (In fact with this one you may not need to keep the original container), or 'Great Stuff' foam available from the DIY stores.

"Wood Putty", the synthetic kinda plasticky finish, in a thin layer, then gauze, then a final layer of putty should do the trick on plastic. I used some pretty flimsy clear plastic tubes and rectangles as a basis for gabions and fascene covered earth banks (built a 54mm Balacarre (sp)
redoubt for a nephews'"Saratoga" playset)and didn't want the weight of filling them, so used said method on inside (your right, plaster and such breaks off with the slightest force. Another, easier option is a 50/50 tacky glue and cheap acryllic paint. Just slop a thick coat on inside surface, and only intentional acts can remove it. It REALLY helps if you wash the plastic with a heavy dish detergent and dry right befor applying. Anyway, that wood putty (I used Elmer's brand) is rock hard. Also, brush 75% white glue and 25% water mix as an overcoat (a dab of dark paint and its also a nice wash). I do that on my spackle over foamcore buildings and it makes them almost impervious!!! Not patronizing y'all, ( built dozens of very large 54mm scale structures intended for kids play, using all sorts of plastics, and the above worked. : :)

What I did when I decided to use a blister pack from a King Kong toy was to mix up some 2-part polyurethane and "swish" it all around the inside while rolling/tipping the blister. It hardened in a few minutes, and really gave it the "armor" that I needed to beef it up. The package blister actually had rocky-grained relief vacuum-formed into it and I just had to figure out a way to use it. While plaster/hydrocal might add strength, it also would be breakable and might even fall out from inside of the packaging. Some might remember it, as I posted pics last year here. I no longer have any problem with flexing or weakness in the piece. Obviously the plastic will cost something, but if the piece has the shape you really want I think it's worth it to add the reinforcement.

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This greenhouse was based upon an empty Oreo cookie tray-

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SciFi Gamer,

Those Oreo trays are extremely flimsy. I should know, I am a fanatic of Oreos.

Did you reinforce them as well? If so, how?

Thanks.

CC

This other kitchen item might also work for some applications:

TMP link

CC

Oops CC, as I missed your post. No, I didn't reinforce it much, but I did glue a few pieces of plastic strips to the inside that helped a bit. Mostly, it sits on a box-like structure that I made from plastic sheeting. I use the Evergreen 1mm styrene stock a lot for building and modifying models.

Thanks! I was wondering how you kept it from accidentally denting.

CC

Anyone ever use office and/or kitchen drawer organizers?

Many, if turned upsidedown, look very industrial/SciFi.

Examples:

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Those with rounded bottoms can look like turbines, engine cylinders and such.

CC

CC: "Thanks! I was wondering how you kept it from accidentally denting."

Well, I make sure that I don't let anyone poke it with their finger, I suppose.

If anyone wants to add a finishing touch to their foamboard corridors:

TMP link

CC

Remember this?

"We have a favorite Chinese restaurant not too far from home. The last couple of months we ordered take-out and then it hit me . . .
I noticed that their rectangular 2-compartment black plastic containers looked ideal for corridors and other things. At least the bottom section looked usable. The clear lids are too flimsy.
I took two of them, cut off the lip and bottom, and trimmed the "corrugated" sides. The sides was what I was after.
As a result, yesterday I stopped by exclusively to get a bunch of them. They gave me a stack of 12-15 that I plan to put to good use.
When I get home tonight, I'll try to find out what company they are from, and try to take a couple of photos to share.
I think that, if I put a foamcore backing on them, they will be ideal 2 1/4-inch tall facings for corridors. I might even add facings to both sides of the foamcore for greater versatility."

OK. I got a closer look at the small stack of the plastic take-out containers I mentioned on that post.

They were not the 2-compartment containers I had gotten with my past food orders, but they should be better, since each side is longer and uninterrupted by dividers.

The Chinese restaurant manager couldn't (or wouldn't) tell me the manufacturer.

This is all I can glean from the container itself:

On the clear lid: "2828 P"
On the black tray part: "2828 N"

Both sections have the 3 arrow "recycle" triangle symbol. The lid has a 6 and "PS" with the symbol, while the tray part has a 5 and "PP".

I've tried and tried to look this product up on the Internet, but no luck.

So, if this makes sense to any of you out there in the restaurant world, please let me know!

Thanks.

CC

Thanks for the great tips, guys! I've been saving blisters and containers for a while. Now that I'm starting to get into a sci-fi minis game, I'm starting to knock some things together. I like to take things apart when they break, for some funky scifi-like bits to use. When my coffeemaker bit the dust a few days ago, I dis-assembled it, and with some silver paint there are wonderful possibilities there!

Zoraxxx,

Look at what can be done with plastic bottles!

TMP link

CC

Great ideas there as well. I've noticed a tendency lately, when faced with a choice of items or brands for purchase, to be somewhat swayed by packaging possibilities for terrain. Just today, I finally tracked down a brand of milk, at a convenience store, that has a cap I want to use for it's scifi-ish ambience. Now that I've found them, I'll be buying many pints! Anyone else do this, or will I be alone at the 12-step meetings?

Zoraxx,

You won't be alone in the meetings. I've become very obsessive too when I need to find out something I feel I need.

Then again, what I need and what I want are somewhat blurred these days. :)

CC

Finding that i'm buying many things with container use as a big factor. Saw a big, vacuformed plastic cat litter box at Winn Dixie today, that is a ready built sci fi building (has panels, everything, and its in styrene like plastic that'll take superglue and easily cut!! May have to get it, if and when I do sci fi, but its "on file" :)

I used a pair of pizza boxes for terrain a few years back – there's a few pics here: warbard.ca/sg2gallery3.html

The hard part was laying out the walls on both sides of the box so the thing still folded closed like it was supposed to.

One bonus is that there's enough empty space inside the 'rooms' to hold loose scenery bits and even figures – makes the whole setup even more self-contained.

One of these eons I'm going to build another one or two of these – I'd like one with a big airlock/cargo dock arrangement, and maybe a hanger setup in the second.

BBurger,

I like the idea of being able to close the box and have all the sections fit withing each other. Nice concept!

CC

Here is another nice suggestion:

TMP link

CC

clear plastic fruit containers (grapes, cherry tomatoes, etc) can be painted to make nice grav cargo containers

sushi flats can be painted to make nice grav vehicles (particularly military, but also commercial)

just make sure the sushi styrofoam is really really really washed clean or you'll have a very smelly problem

maybe not now, but soon, and for the rest of your life

oh…milk boxes -- the gridded plastic type -- make interesting and very sturdy industrial structures because the supports look a lot like girders and beams

and they're stackable

and if you use/stack smaller and smaller ones, you can build a nice, really big pyramidal tower

or, if you just turn them over and stack the large ones, you can make skyscrapers (sheet the inside with shiny opaque acetate or similar stuff and you have dramatic walls that look like an even more futuristic Hancock Center)

and they're pretty cheap

If one of this chain is nearby, you might find your containers "pre-food".
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