"Interest in foamboard+texture Normandy buildings?" Topic

I've created a template for cutting out a 15mm Normandy row house out of foam board, along with textures that can be printed exactly the size need to be glued on top of the cut out and assembled building.

It's similar to any printed cardstock, but much sturdier with the foam board structure, and created with FoW in mind. There's multiple separated floors, clearly defined entryways, and windows. It's designed to be relatively quick and easy to make, so less detail, but less time to finish and much less cost.

Just wondering if people would be interested in this? I'll be releasing 1-2 buildings for free, and putting the rest up for sale on a pdf site. Linked below is a sample of the texture, not finalized, the final versions will have better weathering, color, and features.

The process is to first print the foam board cutting template, temporarily attaching that to 3/16" thick foam board (a 1/4" thick version will be made available). Cut that out and assemble. Then print the texture and glue it to the final model covering up the blank foam board sides. The insides of the buildings will be blank.

Hi, Turtle.I have been doing this for the past two months here in Germany, but have been using Lego Blocks for the foam core structure. The Model Builder program I am using allows me to scale to any wargame scale. Right now, my preference has been 1/300th and N scale.

I did start a couple of 28mm buildings using the foam core method you describe and found it to work just fine. By cutting out the windows and doors from the already fixed print-out and foamcore; gluing supports from the inside of the building, it adds additional dimention to an otherwise "flat" appearance. I have even printed out "fillets" for around the exposed foam core -cut outs, to further detail out their appearance and provide for a more uniform look.

With current costs for good terrain, I have rediscovered how inexpensive "paper cardstock modelling" can be and still produce buildings that I see all around me for my gametable.

Your providing a product, as you describe, is more like a service than a product as it will save the less modelling inclined to get a jump start on some great looking scenery. I have spent hours just getting the details right before printing and what you propose takes away the technical detail work away from those less inclined.

Press on!

Tom

Looks very nice; any suggestions for easier ways to cut windows and doors out of foamcore? I have spent night after night with an X-acto knife, cutting square window grids out of foamcore, and it's really boring… (and nice to see you around again, Tom)

Just cut straight through and past the point you need to stop at. Don't worry about the extra cut distance, the foamcore is solid enough that a little extra cutting in it won't matter.

Another option is to just not cut out windows.

There are also hobby knife blades that are chisel-like, you can try those and punch straight through.

Yes I'd be interested in this. I'm getting ready to buy some paper buildings. Just waiting on the tax man to send me the money.

If I might offer some constructive criticism: 99% of the buildings in Normandy were/are covered with a plaster made from the native sand-coloured limestone (of which the buidlings were also built), so I'd go for a pale sand/dun colour rather than white.

15mm no; 20mm yes.

If scalable to 28mm I'd buy some.

So a set of easy assemble buildings, pre scaled for 15mm, 20mm, and 28mm, with matching foam board cutting templates.

And thanks for the tip about the coloring. I knew that most of the Normandy buildings were a sandy color, but didn't know why. I'll provide some other colors anyway so these can be used as row houses elsewhere in Europe.

The windows will be changed to be more period appropriate as well.

Now the question is, what are commonly available foam board thicknesses where you live? I'm designing these for 3/16 inch thick foam board, common in the US, and another version compatible with 1/4 inch thick foam board. What are the foam board thicknesses readily available in the UK and Europe?

For 15mm I'd use a thinner board for the walls. I have had good luck with Artist's matting, as it doesn't warp like many other types of board. It is more expensive, but with 15mm you won't be using that much.

What are the foam board thicknesses readily available in the UK and Europe?

3mm and 5mm in A4 size sheets are readily available in the UK. You can also buy foamed PVC sheets in 500mm x 300mm sizes in 1, 2 and 3mm thickness that will do the same job as foamboard, but are a bit stronger – so you can use thinner sheets.