"Sheet for naval wargaming?" Topic

If I only played at home or had a car I would get a terrainmat.com seascape, but I need something that can be folded up and put in a bag. A blue sheet is easily obtained, but has anyone tried enhancing a sheet (maybe with spray paint) to give a better effect? Do I start with a dark blue sheet and spray it lighter, or a white sheet and pour blue dyes over it? Does anyone have any ideas or experiences or photos to share?

Richard

I use a fabric called crushed nylon that I got off the remnant table at a fabrics store. It is great stuff. It reflects light, it naturally falls into waves. It is lightweight and easy to cut.

I've seen (and will be making) blue felt sprayed with several shades of darker and lighter blue, grey, and white, from a distance, in random patterns. It makes a wonderfully mottled seascape without loading the cloth down with paint.

I'd recommend cloth. Go to a fabric store and tell them you want "photo-backdrop" looking cloth. It comes in light blue, dark blue and gray blue. Best of all its dirt cheap even at full price. Much better than felt because felt can snag something awful if not treated.

I use cloth of various colours cut to represent various depths or just different colous of water. Then, a sheet of clear vinyl is placed over this (an idea originally from my wife, April). The vinyl is something I'd recommend to any naval gamer; storing it rolled up produces convincing looking waves (ripples). Plus, for those naval gamers who, like I, don't base their rigged and delicate ship models, the vinyl allows you to gently push models, reducing the chances of bunging up the works by lifting and moving.

Some ACW shots can be seen on these game reports: link

Monday Knight Productions makes a felt seascape in mottled blues that is quite nice and should fold any way you'd prefer. I just sent off for a Terrain Mat Seascape for home but I've had great use out of my MKP felt and it will probably remain my travelling mat of choice.

link

For scenery along a shore, or near the rocks, sprinkle a little white sand around those areas. The sand, if sprinkled sparingly, and randomly, makes realistic looking sea foam.

I think you'd be amazed at what you can find just strolling through a large, well stocked fabric store.

I secured an "end of roll" discount on a three-tone, mottled blue flanel fabric (similar to a camo pattern type mottle, but much more subtle division of colour). My mother-in-law reconfigured it into 8x6 and embroidered a compass rose into one corner. It is better than the generic blue, and still offers good contrast with my 1:6000's. It was a visual treat this weekend, running Dogger Bank on it!

Clint

embroidered a compass rose into one corner.

What a wonderful idea!