"Terrain boards 15mm" Topic

I need some terrain boards for 15mm and I found the interlocking foam boards on the web at Wally World. They come in a variety of colors but I was thinking a nice neutral gray would be most practical. But they all have this slip resistant patterning. I have seen some boards with what appears to be a flocked and/or painted surface. Is there a way to cover or eliminate the patterning and a paint and/or flocking that would adhere and not flake off too easily? Also, is there a good way to do roads and waterways? I'm looking for any good ideas, quick and dirty is fine with me.

Those are sold as "play mats" and the top side is smooth, not pebbly.

Yep, sounds like what I am looking at. The online store just showed one side. But, being that they are flexible will they hold paint and some texturing without it all chipping off?

Home Depot has them in grey. @ $18 USD for 4x4 feet. IIRC they do hold latex paint well. I'm planning on using mine to build up under my Cigar Box 5 Points and Waterloo maps.

Thanks for the tip re: Home Depot, there's one just a few blocks away.

I know people who have had painted and flocked boards made of those for years.

I've been using terrained foam tiles for about 20 years now. I've made a couple different sets, both 1'x 1' and 2'x 2', but the original ones are still in use after all this time. Here's a couple tips:

The gray tiles are a good choice – the color tends to hide the seams.

Use either latex paint (if you're going for just color) or latex caulk (if you're going to bond flock to the tile).

Use the flat, open-celled back side of the tile, not the patterned upper surface. Anything you put on the top will eventually peel off.

Stream and river beds can be recessed into the surface either by cutting them in with a craft knife, or melting the surface. I used a butane charcoal lighter for this. (Do it outdoors – the fumes are nasty. And be careful not to hold it in one place for very long or the foam may ignite.)

Here's a couple samples of what they look like . . .

A SYW game in 15mm:

An ACW game in 10mm:

A tile with a stream bed cut into it:

Those are really nice! Great work!

Some additional info:

Harbor Freight sells a pack of four, 25-inch squares, for $8.99 USD w/o coupon (with a coupon, they can be as low as $6.99 USD).

I've (natural) sponge painted these for terrain projects, using acrylic craft paints. No adhesion issues, 3+ years later. I use the smooth, bottom surface. Here is a TMP topic with several photo's of my end results. They look every bit as good, today, as they did when I made them, in 2016.

You can heat them with either a hair dryer, or a heat gun: the foam will shrink, and firm up. These mats are very popular with Cos-Play fans. They use them to carve up their fake armor. Search YouTube for videos on how they shape, and form them, if interested. Cheers!

Thank you all for your input, very helpful.

War artisan, aka: Jim Fitzgerald, Same one?

Jim is one of my oldest and dearest friends.

Say hi to him from me, see if he remembers Bob Schwartz, from the "Source" and prior to that "The Little Tin Soldier". I moved to the deep south and haven't gotten back home much.

BTW, does the name Tom Zwirn ring a bell?

Of course it does, Bob.

Email me at link and I'll fill you in on how all the old gang is doing.

Knew it! Should've realized it when I saw the username. I have checked in on your website and saw a few pics, one in particular of Joe Z, he looks like a benevolent Sasquatch. Tell him I said so.

I'm actually just envious of his hair, ALL of it!

BTW, tried the link, con-x error?

Not sure about the link error . . . I'll try again. This one should take you to the "Contact" page at War Artisan's Workshop:

warartisan.com/contact