"Can Anyone Recommend Durable Hills?" Topic
12 Posts
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Gone Fishing | 18 Mar 2016 9:06 a.m. PST |
First of all, my apologies for asking a question that I'm sure has come up before. As the title indicates, can anyone recommend a good range of hills that would fit the following specifications? 1.) Suitable for 28mm 2.) Pre-painted and ready to go (I'm incredibly lazy with terrain making) 3.) With "desert" or "earth" colours (I'll use them for games set in the ancient Greek world) 4.) Preferably tiered so figures stand solidly 5.) Availability in the US would be a perk, but isn't required 6.) Durable--I'm leery of foam products, as they always seem to chip Now, Kallistra's Hexon desert transition hills really look quite good, but the shipping can be a real kicker. They are also based on hexes, which I don't need, and seem more suited to smaller scales (which makes perfect sense, of course). War Torn Worlds has a great line of scenery made out of rubber (!) which would be perfect, but they don't cover desert hills well…You see the problem. It's enough to drive a man to drink. So there you have it. Any advice or pointers would be much appreciated! |
Mako11 | 18 Mar 2016 9:12 a.m. PST |
Shipping companies and the USPS charge by volume, as well as weight, so that's probably the major reason for that now. I paid more than $2.50 USD to mail an envelope domestically, with the USPS yesterday, that weighed 1.2 ounces, so more than $32.50 USD per pound. It wasn't charged as an envelope, but a "package" instead, since it was about 1/8th of an inch thick. Ridiculous. Your best bet is to see if you can find a local hobby retailer that will carry, or order the stuff for you, so you don't have to pay for shipping. Depending upon how much you order, it might even fund a trip to a convention, with the savings, if you plan to buy a lot, and can confirm someone there will be carrying what you want, or will fill a special order and bring it to the convention for you. |
Gone Fishing | 18 Mar 2016 9:30 a.m. PST |
You're certainly right about shipping, Mako. A few years ago I had the misfortune to ship a deluxe chessboard (with 2 1/2" inch squares) and I'm still recovering. It was a moment for smelling salts, to be sure… Thank you for the advice! |
Extra Crispy | 18 Mar 2016 9:46 a.m. PST |
Actually shipping is much more complicated. If you use the flat rate boxes you can ship for a mere $2 USD/pound. But yes, the floor for packages is $2.50 USD and package is defined as "can't be sorted by machine letter scanner." Still, consider it this way. A lady or gentleman shows up at your door and offers to deliver your package. They will deliver it anywhere in the US. Right to the addressee's door. In 3 days. All for under 3 bucks. Still an amazingly good deal. Of course the Kallistra shipping is coming from the UK…. Meanwhile, all my hills are foam, though they have no chips yet. Frankly, I don't know anyone you haven't mentioned who makes hills out of anything but foam. |
zippyfusenet | 18 Mar 2016 10:08 a.m. PST |
Successful Hills are here to stay. Lead us to the soft parade. All our lives we sweat and slave, Just to find a shallow grave. |
skipper John | 18 Mar 2016 10:27 a.m. PST |
I bought these recently from War Torn Worlds. Made from recycled tires. I love mine. PDF link |
Tommy20 | 18 Mar 2016 10:57 a.m. PST |
I've had my War-Zone warboard and hill sets for years, and no chipping so far: war-zone.com |
Bashytubits | 18 Mar 2016 11:48 a.m. PST |
War Torn Worlds comes closest to meeting the OP criteria. They used to make some Terraced hills, I do not know if they are still available though. link |
Gone Fishing | 18 Mar 2016 12:00 p.m. PST |
Thank you for all the replies. War Torn Worlds is really great, but the problem is the lack of suitably arid-looking pieces. Maybe I should just get over my hesitation with foam and try War-Zone. |
TMPWargamerabbit | 18 Mar 2016 12:35 p.m. PST |
Wouldn't met your "near no effort for terrain making rule" but for example… I just cut plywood (different thickness for different heights) for a system of 12" edges and shapes. Grinder down edge to make the slope with free standing sander (and wood cutting sanding belt grit) then painted and flocked to taste. Been in used now for almost 40 years (see picture below). Even driven my car tires over the hill piece plywood board with no ill effect (by accident). You can stand on it, hand weight has no effect, re flock again if texture worn, and short of flame or termites, indestructible. Have 16x6 table covered with up to three levels of shaped hill material available in all different shapes and sizes (24" square largest" down to the 6"x6" corners). Can be of some weight, but for most scenarios, the hill requirements is minimal.
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Ravensworth | 20 Mar 2016 5:23 p.m. PST |
What are you using for base terrain. I would recommend a Cigar Battles Terrain Mat and then place your hills underneath it. I use Shaped foam which doesn't chip much because nothing directly touches it. If it does chip no one sees it. I do the same with my Old Geo-hex Terrain Mats. OR I would recommend Battlefield Terrain Concepts Hills. They are hard plastic and will come in desert or green. battlefieldterrain.com |
Early morning writer | 21 Mar 2016 12:30 p.m. PST |
War Torn Worlds look really nice but once torn they are worse than trash – they leave an awful mess of shredded asphalt/rubbery stuff. So, go cautiously down that road and, if you do, take really good care of them. |
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