HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN TERRAIN:
Earthworks

• modeling compound
• old popsicle stick (wooden stick)
• modeling knife
• white glue
• model railroad ballast (very fine gravel)

I game many different historical periods and scales. I recently constructed some field fortifications for 1/600 scale American Civil War shore batteries. I was so pleased with them that I now plan to make something similar for my science fiction campaigns.

I used a modeling compound called Das Pronto, which I purchased at a local hobby shop. It's fairly easy to work with; I just used an old popsicle stick and a modeling knife, as well as my fingers, to mold and sculpt it to the desired shape. It took a couple of days to completely dry.

The surface of the dry compound was smooth. I wanted more texture, so I brushed white glue on the exterior surfaces and coated it with Woodland Scenics model railroad ballast (a fine gravel).

Some of this tended to rub off after it dried, so I brushed a second coat of white glue on top to secure it.

When it had dried completely, I black-primed the whole thing and dry brushed it, first with browns to represent earth, and then with successively lighter shades of tans and greens to look like grass.