"MDF vs Resin Terrain - What's Your Preference? " Topic

What are the key differences you see between MDF and resin terrain/building items?

I mostly prefer Resin but I don't mind MDF as long as they don't have that 3d puzzle look that so many of them have. A few manufacturers have overcome that and I buy those frequently.

Other than that I still feel that resin for the most part gives you more detail and a more realistic look.

Resin over MDF every time.

MDF is great for buildings constructed out of timber (e.g. wild west or French & Indian war). It's not so good for stone & brick buildings; resin is much better for that.

I like MDF due to its ease of customization and it's generally lower price.

I prefer MDF, if I can apply a printed texture to it. I've been using oatmeal cylinders, and octa-rectangular boxes for castle Towers and Gatehouses, respectively. I print FDG castle wall textures (intended for cardstock buildings) on full sheet label paper. Then I peel-n-stick them onto the oatmeal cylinders and boxes, piecing them together, to form a finished product.

The MDF is heavy enough, and durable enough, but not brittle, like resin. A friend is taking delivery on a 50W laser cutter/engraver today. Hoping to cut out MDF wall pieces to glue into castle wall sections. Been using 3mm cardboard (6"-9" walls require reinforcement to avoid warping), attaching the full-sheet label printouts. Looking forward to using MDF in its place (no reinforcement required, phenomenally more durable than 3mm-thick cardboard…).

I have access to very inexpensive MDF, so cutting it into buildings will be cheap, and relatively easy with a laser cutter. Should be able to churn out as many copies as needed, for little cost. Only challenge is learning the laser software for cutting. Cheers!

It depends.
Finished off and carried by someone else (assuming a large number of buildings)? rResin, especially if you don't need interiors.
For pure practicality? MDF.

MDF for buildings. Resin buildings that I've finished had a lot of cleanup needed and weren't as crisp as MDF ones. Things with curves (boats) I prefer resin for the non-layered look.

I have some great looking older resin buildings. The problem is that they're solid. It's like a bowling ball as a terrain piece. Lift the roof off and play inside? I wish.

Lately I've been buying a lot of laser cut mdf buildings and prefer them.
My ONE problem is that if not stored properly, they are like a Petri dish for growing mold. Hard lesson to learn.

No preference for me. Heck I like paper and styrene too. I happily buy, use and mix them all. For me what is FAR more important is:

1) Finding unique buildings. EVERYONE makes adobe and log cabins. I've given up looking for good modern kit and have gone with plastic kits from model railroad makers in HO scale, or paper print and play.

2) Accessible interiors. No access, no sale.

3) Clean castings. I've got some 6mm that can only be described as "wobblies" and that's being kind.

Lots of great feedback here! Now that the MDF market is fully developed I believe it has really added benefit and value to table top gaming and the model RR market. I can see there are cross over points of interest that have to do with quality, functionality and price point.

This is very helpful-I appreciate all the comments.

I think it comes down to the depth of dimension you are looking for in your buildings. Lower cost MDF buildings are a great value, but if you are looking for a building that does not look flat you either need to dress up the MDF or go resin. As stated, MDF wood structure buildings can look good but MDF stone and brick buildings do not look as well as resin buildings. I have applied brick and stone sheets over the MDF to add more depth to the surface and then use thin wood and plastic pieces to add more interesting dimensions to the buildings. Traditionally, the roof pieces were one of the biggest issues with MDF buildings because they are very flat and though they have shingles inscribed into the surfaces with the roof connection points (tabs) showing through as a different color. some of the newer MDF buildings are addressing by using a more detailed roof sections to hide the tabs and add depth. I have also used cereal box cardboard to make both siding and roof shingles which can look pretty good. It really comes down to cost and also weight since resin looks awesome but costs and weighs more than MDF buildings. So large buildings like factories, warehouses, etc. lend themselves to MDF due to cost and weight even if it doesn't have the detail of resin.

Much prefer mdf. Easier to carry, easier to store and more versatile on the table. That's before the price difference.

I prefer resin or scratchbuilt. I think MDF looks fake. But that's just me. I fully understand the benefits of MDF and have nothing against them. They are just not for me.
I'm more a modeler than a gamer, so that's my reasoning.

But for this, as in life, to each his own.

I much prefer resin. But then i do not play skirmish games that require figures to be inside.

Resin. The MDF buildings I purchased went in the bin.

I prefer MDF, which is unmatched by any other material for larger Sci-Fi buildings.

The only mdf buildings I have seen that I like have been where the owner has simply used them as a basic shell to add their own finishing textures onto them so for me that makes them pointless. Any building that has tabs showing is not going to get put on my table so to be honest I much prefer resin. For the basic appearance, lack of depth and flat look of them I think mdf buildings are way over priced. Each to their own of course. Maybe they will develop into something decent in the future.

Another vote for resin.

MDF looks like MDF. The effort needed to make them not look like they are made of MDF far outweighs their value to me. The exception is for Old West where they look fine.

Otherwise give me resin all day. I am happy to pay for quality.

Love your resin buildings, Novus. Very sturdy and lots of nice detail. Would like to see more of the 28mm factory/ruins or larger 15mm Stalingrad stuff that could be used with 28s.

I mostly prefer Resin but I don't mind MDF as long as they don't have that 3d puzzle look that so many of them have. A few manufacturers have overcome that and I buy those frequently.

Other than that I still feel that resin for the most part gives you more detail and a more realistic look.

I agree with this 100%. In my ideal world the structures would come in MDF and all the details would be resin.* In both cases you get out of them what you put into them in time and money. If you spend $250 USD on a Forgeworld terrain piece, prime it black and dry brush grey it will look like cheap crap.

*These guys did OK with MDF.

Resin.

Doctor X: +1

Resin.

I have many resin buildings where the roofs come off. I realize many do not.

MDF looks like MDF.

I have never bought one and don't plan to ever do so.

Tom

Resin…some MDF can be painted and gussied up to look acceptable but generally not.

MDF. Cost, weight, customizability. It takes very little effort to hide the tabs and add a texture to it. All the ones I have look like stone and stucco and plaster. Not MDF at all. Shingling the roof is a pain, but it creates a unique look for each building. I can buy 5 of the same building and with not much effort create five unique buildings. Impossible with resin. What you see is what you get. Too brittle to cut and modify easily.

I don't care for the pre-painted MDF. But I understand why people like them. We all want easier.

resin

Wow, Codsticker, I saw Bladerunner 2049 at home on DVD and though I thought it looked very good, I had not realized it was all real live miniatures, MDF or otherwise -- which is incredibly cool!

On the other hand, I myself must always go with RESIN, as gaming world MDF looks the opposite of worn-out and lived in, at least until the owner invests a ton of after-market time and effort customizing the finished product. Generally, if I'm spending that much time, I'd rather build something from scratch. The resin buildings I use just need a good paint job, weathering, and seal, and sometimes a little custom work to cut out or adjust a window or a door, or make a roof removable.

Thanks guys, this is exciting stuff here-fantastic feedback! This thread has really helped me understand more about the terrain market, what works, and doesn't work for miniature gamers.

Cheers!

Robert