"Liberators at SALUTE - Teddy Bear Fur" Topic

We had loads of requests for information on the terrain mats we made. Here is a link to the company that we purchased the fibre matts from.

link

We then air bushed yellow ochre and bright yellow in varying amounts across the matts to get the effect you saw on the day.

Anyone know of a similar source in the US?

Really liked the effect you got – very simple, very striking, easily achievable. loved it.
In the UK fur like this is readily available in fabric shops. Best place in London I know of are all the Asian fabric shops in Shepherds Bush were the ladies of west London go to get fabric for their saris. Anywhere with a large sub-continent population has fabric shops like these.
In the States, might be harder to track down….

I've been using TBF in my games for the past six years,
here's a view of my Fall-In 2009 Talavera event

I source the TBF from a company in Iowa [I think] – C&R Crafts.
link

Fur fabric is available on Ebay from lots of people in lots of different base colours. We use it in small pieces on top of a plain felt mat to denote rough terrain of various kinds. Its best to also buy a very cheap electric hair trimmer to cut the "hair" to a shorter length so that figures can stand up in it. There are often cheap acrylic spray paints an B+Q (for example)to over paint the pieces to get the colour mix you want but its a good idea to brush the fur out afterwards to avoid clumping caused by the paint.

Everyone has a different approach, but my recommendation is use an airbrush and cheap acrylics.

Check out our article in SALUTE programme on the game, figures and terrain.

Thanks to all those who stopped by, and all the words of encouragement. Having other wargamers appreciate all our efforts was really appreciated and spurred us on to have a another go at a game in two years time.

In the US, try JoAnn's for teddy bear fur.

A brilliant game, with superb info…and John Fletcher!

Well done, chaps – a terrific advert for an under appreciated period, and for plastic figures too.

Giles

That Talavera one looks especially good.
I think I prefer those that have an olive base/tone but the OP's is great too in it's own way.

Beautiful…the OP's is so western european looking I feel like I'm back in the olde country again :)

The olive looks much more like where I'm now Western Canada or maybe eastern Europe

Your best source in the US for the fur is C&R Crafts. While some fabric stores might carry some, it's always hit or miss.

How short can you cut the stuff? A number 1 guard goes down to 1/8 an inch, or 3mm- this would work well for me, actually, for 3mm figs. I would cut roads and rivers right down to the base material. Has anyone tried shaving it that far down? Does it work?

Liginiere- I notice that your link goes to the honey colored fur- is that the one that you use in those pictures?

Now that I've done a decent static-grass mat my attention is drawn to TBF. I made a test strip of TBF a few years ago that looked really good, although I was using scissors to trim it down (I do NOT recommend this) so the result was so-so.

Did you use an airbrush in your example, spray paint, or something else?

Desmondo- that's a beautiful set-up. Nice job on that lago especially. Being an avid hiker in the Sierra Nevada, that hillside lake looks almost perfect to me (it just needs a little stream exiting off the lower end!)

Also, what battle is portrayed? I did some painting for John from Liberators awhile back. I always meant to pick up the rules… seems natural since I speak Spanish and went to school for Spanish literature. The battles of El Libertador are interesting since you can do them at 1:1 in 3mm without too much of an outlay in cash, and really zero in on the tactical, back-and-forth, volley by volley aspect of the battles in a way that doesn't feel quite right in Napoleonics (at least to me). Is there is an AAR?

Forwardmarchstudios
The link is to the color and nap length of TBF that I use. There are other colors and other lengths of fur available from C&R crafts.
My focus is on 25-28 mm figures.
I use a beard trimmer to trim the fur and cut in streams and roads.
I use Rustoleum camo spray paints purchased at Home Depot or Lowes for the basic colors and other spray paint colors to highlight those field colors. The roads are highlighted with a 1/4" flat head brush and acrylic paint.

To be honest I'm not convinced it would work for 3 mm figures – but your choice and decision.

Desmondo,
Thanks for the link to the company you purchased the matt from; could you let me know what color you purchased, I am assuming it was in the category marked "W160" for plain pattern?

Any help would be appreciated……………..

Double G , sorry only just seen your post!

Yes it was W160

how did your Matt turn out?

Can you assure us that no teddy bears were harmed in the making of this scenery?

It is great for thatched roofs. I always remember my attempt at the Golden Hall of Edoras for my lads' Perry Rohans

I've known about teddybear fur and how to make those type of terrain for years, but I have no ability to use airbrush, so I'm stuck, people could make alot of money to make custom teddybear fur mats.

Yes living in an urban terraced house with a minimal patio garden I have decided against investing in an airbrush, though I was tempted. I don't like using spray paints either, except for small jobs. I can't get adequate ventilation in any area that is suitable to work – and outside is vulnerable to the weather – and no scope for spillages, etc without domestic grief.