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"Prototype modular 4x6 game board" Topic


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Detailed Casting Products03 Nov 2007 10:27 p.m. PST

I've just finished a prototype modular board that I've wanted to make for quite awhile. By having interlocking "puzzle" edges, each section can be rotated for subtle changes. The more important feature of course is that any unique sections (such as a mountain panel) can be placed wherever desired, at an end or in the middle area. I have carved some "negative" relief in the shape of an occasional gully or shell crater.

The entire table would break down into a short stack of 2'x2' sections (with the mountain on top). Dense foam was used as a base and painting this first prototype was a bit expensive as I had to use a high quality flexible paint. Two types of sand were used, course and fine, to add surface texture.

I'll be doing more research to lower my material costs and may be offering something like this in the future. It wouldn't be hard to make felt "flaps" on two sides of each panel to hide the joiners, but I like the fact that the panels really do lock the board into a single piece.

I really don't think that these visible seams are too much worse than a straight break, as we already employ our "suspension of disbelief" on many terrain features of our games. For a permanent board, this is not a solution. It's designed as a portable board for a day's gaming away from home.

Of course the reason it is here is for any feedback you might feel the need to let loose of.

This style of terrain is mainly for various sci-fi settings. What I mean is that it "ain't Waterloo".wink

picture

picture

picture

picture

Micman Supporting Member of TMP03 Nov 2007 10:37 p.m. PST

They look very nice. The pictures of of the connected edges look fine by them selves. What are you using for the foam, something like the pink insulation? Or more like the foam that is used by the kids puzzles that use that kind of edging?

The locking aspect is very good because too many times the game board is shifted when players lean to reach the center. What kind of price point are you trying to archive?

The New Reaper04 Nov 2007 12:05 a.m. PST

If i am not mistaken those are foam floor tiles. I bought them cheap at BigLots to try the same idea .

Mark Plant04 Nov 2007 12:14 a.m. PST

I prefer the jaggedy edge to the usual straight line (curves are "natural" in a way lines will never be).

But I wonder if you shouln't cut some in half to make edge pieces?

mattblackgod04 Nov 2007 3:39 a.m. PST

Looks good! What are you using as base tiles?

Vosper04 Nov 2007 6:18 a.m. PST

Those wavy join-lines really are an improvement over just straight tiles joined together.

Looks great!

Psycho Rabbit04 Nov 2007 7:28 a.m. PST

As -He bought what- stated I believe the base is made from the 2' x 2' rubbery foam tiles for floors in children's areas. They're available at Lowes building supplies as well as Wal Mart etc.

I saw them on sale at Lowes for $10 USD a set of 4.

Rabbit

mweaver04 Nov 2007 8:22 a.m. PST

Those look quite nice!

Personal logo Panzerfaust Supporting Member of TMP04 Nov 2007 8:46 a.m. PST

What a great idea, thanks for sharing.

Hundvig Fezian04 Nov 2007 10:48 a.m. PST

Those look pretty good, but will the jigsaw bits hold up over time? I suppose they will…these are originally intended to be floor covering, eh?

One solution I've seen for the "visible seam" problem is to assemble the board and then use some of the blu-tack adhesive (the stuff used to support posters without using tacks) to fill the gaps, followed by a light dusting of whatever sand/flock the board uses to conceal the . A little untidy to clean up, but it looks very good and doesn't sacrifice any portability. Probably easier to do with straight edges than jigsaw ones, though.

Phil Walling04 Nov 2007 11:04 a.m. PST

That looks pretty cool, I like the idea of using the rubbery floor tiles… We have a bunch of those stashed away… and after looking at that I think we have a use for them!

Detailed Casting Products04 Nov 2007 12:27 p.m. PST

The consensus so far is correct. These are 3/4" thick dense foam "exercise mats". Originally bought at Home Depot a few years back, they are sadly no longer carried there. I'm sure that they could be found elsewhere.

These particular sections are nice for my use as the color was a neutral grey and not the bright colors that you find when sold as pre-school play mats. Besides, many of the "kids" versions have large letters as cut-outs and are not solid. As for having a straight outer edge, it wouldn't be hard to make up a U-shaped trim piece to attach to the perimeter.

I thought of cutting them down (either in half or trimming the outer edge off) but the direction at present I'm thinking of would be to keep the full orientation and attachment options and just "trim" the outer edges with something.

If the final product was durable enough to keep the texture and color on), they could be optionally placed (guess where?) back on the floor. That way, you could have an endlessly expandable board for either table or floor use. I'd love to make these from recycled tire rubber such as is beginning to be seen in the hobby. They'd be much heaver though over the foam mats.

terrain sherlock04 Nov 2007 1:43 p.m. PST

The only real problem you have is flex.. the mats will
bend.. which leads to any coatings on there having a chance of flaking off..

Also.. I'm still looking for 6"x6" and/or 1'x1' tiles.
The 2'x2's here are too big for my uses..:-(

terrain sherlock04 Nov 2007 2:07 p.m. PST

link to one source:

link

Skeptic04 Nov 2007 2:24 p.m. PST

Pics. of GW's similar product (interlocking modular board pieces) have been on the web for months …

Detailed Casting Products04 Nov 2007 9:41 p.m. PST

Thanks for the link, terrain sherlock. Well, for one thing you could buy 4" border pieces with this manufacturer at least. Also, their stock is a full 1" thick.

Skeptic, I'll look at what GW is offering. As usual, I might be "too late to the dance".wink

Detailed Casting Products04 Nov 2007 10:27 p.m. PST

terrain sherlock, I looked over your link. You might want to take a second look, as there are indeed 12" tiles available.

Skeptic, I poured over the US and UK GW sites, and no mention of it. If you have more specific info, I'd like to see what they are selling.

Detailed Casting Products04 Nov 2007 10:41 p.m. PST

This is the closest thing to what Skeptic was mentioning that I could find.

link

I see it as something similar and yet also something different. If I understand the info, I supppose I could set up their "hill" on my "ground" maybe? Their item should work well if placed over a blanket of similar color on a table.

Detailed Casting Products04 Nov 2007 11:29 p.m. PST

Here is a big set of the GW stuff.

link

To me, they just look like hills and such that you would fit on a table, as I said above. The large "Modular Gaming Hill" splits down the middle, so it comes in two parts. It's not really a "system" as much as it is a collection of complementary pieces. Still, interesting for an option.

Crusoe the Painter05 Nov 2007 7:54 a.m. PST

Toys R Us carries the interlocking foam tiles, as does Target sometimes.

Skeptic05 Nov 2007 3:45 p.m. PST

@DCP: No, that is not it. The picture was from one of the European GW events, and was for a different product.

Skeptic05 Nov 2007 3:54 p.m. PST

I found it again – it was on Warseer:

link

Detailed Casting Products05 Nov 2007 4:30 p.m. PST

Many thanks, Skeptic. Good catch. It appears that they are using two panels to make their board- "corners" and "centers". They are also defining the size as a fixed table, but of course several maps could be placed side by side (they just wouldn't attach). I'd guess that they used foam sheets as well and then flocked them with static grass.

My take is to attempt to create topography that is built into the sections (such as the large hill and crater/debris detail) and have many variations as options.

Another twist would be an optonal 3-D gridded support system to elevate the flat and "positive" sections. Then you could have negative sumps, large craters, and dry lake beds for a truely "roller-coaster" environment. The cost would no doubt jump on that level of addition, but it could be left off and added later for some users. Heck, you could even have some of the sections be finished on both sides, to be used as either an "innie" or an "outie" wink.

Detailed Casting Products05 Nov 2007 4:39 p.m. PST

Here is the board, broken down for either storage or for transport.

picture

jfleisher05 Nov 2007 6:58 p.m. PST

This is a great idea! I bought some of these tiles for my game room floor at Harbor Freight. Something like 7 or 8$ for 4 2' x 2' tiles.

Detailed Casting Products05 Nov 2007 7:30 p.m. PST

jfleisher, I'd imagine that you either need more tiles or you need something else for the floor.wink

That price is pretty good. Iirc, I paid around $10 USD ea. a few years back for my packs of four panels.

Detailed Casting Products06 Nov 2007 12:44 p.m. PST

For those that wish to try this on an economy scale, I found this link on e-bay.

auction

Set perfectly for a 4x6 foot table area, it even includes the border pcs. $24 USD m/l buys it, but it is only 3/8" thick (!). My guess is that you'd have to watch out for the extra flake-off due to the thin sheet. Spray adhesive and using static grass might work, but that would just say that a flocked felt mat would be superior (and I'd think it would).

My idea is really to have integrated irregular ground topography as the prime feature of any product that I might sell.

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