"Burning Sand just drifted into my game room" Topic

I spent part of this past weekend working on a desert game mat.  Take a look at the burning sand that just drifted into the game room.

The bases for the palms will be getting a repaint.

Nice!

You did a very good job. I hope those aren't fire ants, you will never get to play on that mat if they are.

Looks great!

Tell us how you made it.

Wow, that looks amazing!

Dan

Bashytubits: "I hope those aren't fire ants, you will never get to play on that mat if they are."

Except for my 3 years in Albany NY, I've lived with fire ants all my life. First in PR and then in the US South.

Something most people don't realize is that they both bite and sting. I got plenty of both for many years. They hurt, burn and itch like crazy. And then from the stings you sometimes get little blisters that turn into pustules when infection sets in.

YouTube link

On top of that, some people are deathly allergic to the saliva in their bite, while others are just as allergic to the poison in their sting. And they seem to love electrical appliances:

YouTube link

If they were really the size of a man, no person would be able to withstand an attack.

Dan
PS. That being said, I'd love to know what figure that is, and where those ants were purchased. :)

All the figures are from Khurasan.

The mat is made from canvas, flat paint from Home Despot, and liquid latex.

Mix the paint (brown) and latex 50/50. Paint the whole canvas (brown) to seal and rubberize the mat. Once dry use a small roller to apply a second coat to texturize the surface. As it dries you can carefully go back over with the roller to try and pull up the material into ridges. Once dry apply 2-4 highlights using house paint and the drybrush technique. Seriously!, make it a dry brush and take your time.

Its like the mats that we see people make with caulk but way less messy, more controlled, thinner, and lighter. In the long run this should hold up better than the caulk mats. Latex caulk tends to have a lot of acrylic filler in it. The acyrlics dry out, crack, and fail over time.

I used the Woodland Scenics liquid latex which is really expensive. A little less than 36oz worth. I have about $50 USD in materials into it. I think I can get it down below $30 USD sourcing different latex. Assuming that latex would behave the same.

If there is enough interest I could do a full tutorial.

I am certainly interested…

Me too! Please do. I'm definitely interested.

Thanks

Dan
PS. By the way, did the brown house paint that you mixed in mask a bit the strong ammonia smell of the liquid latex? Also, did you use a brush to apply the first coat? Did you paint both front and back, or just the playing side? Did you add any "hem weights" to make sure it doesn't curl up while playing?

The ammonia smell goes away once the latex is cured. You can get ammonia free but I read it may take days to cure. I made it out in the garage and have a box fan at my feet as I worked to keep up circulation. I never felt the need for my respirator of which I don't hesitate to use.

The first coat was applied with a brush and spread on using the paint stirrer.

Painted just the playing side. I thought about both sides but I'm not sure it's necessary. I was also thinking the latex to latex touching might stick when rolled up. I don't know, just trying to be cautious, it may be fine.

It's not curling up really. The slightest amount on the short side can be seen. It's not so much curling as it not laying flat. The next one I make I am going to make sure to have it be a bit thicker near the edge to maker it better. It's not bad at all as it is.

Anyone have a good flexible adhesive suggestion? I'd like to try to make one for temperate zones with flocking and static grass.