Acrylic Filler for Terrain? What works? What doesn't!

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Time to put Acrylic Filler (Caulking) through some applied terrain lab testing! When it comes to terrain, what works? what doesn't!
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[@arammuthegame5859]

This was a rather interesting playlist. I have to admit however that I've been partial to avoiding most glues all together which has led me to spend a great deal of time experimenting with acrylics so it was nice to see someone else had already done a chunk of the testing for me.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

That's what I'm hear for mate

[@davidmartin1793]

I used to use a load of this stuff as a painter and decorator. the cardboard hills I made last year filled out with caulk are still holding up well. The tree bark texture on the wire armatures is spot on too. I would recommend that any terrain or battle mats made with caulk be stored in a cool, dry place. Heat will dry out caulk and cause it to lose flexibility.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Nice tips, thanks man!

[@davidmartin1793]

TheTerrainTutor that'll be £65 plus vat Mel.

[@rstrahan]

You may have better results if you start by applying a thin layer over the whole surface, then go over with a thicker layer to get your texture. It seems to minimize the shrinkage and curling that way. I made several game mats that way, using painting canvas (the stuff you stretch over frames to paint on, not the stuff you drop on the floor to keep paint off it) I got in bulk from Amazon. I got very good results, and even mixed in some paint and a small amount of sand to use in patches on my wastelands mat, and embedded some kitty litter on my large snowfield mat. Also...it paints up amazing well with spray cans.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Sounds like the way to go matey

[@billd.iniowa2263]

Love the labs Mel. If folks stop and think about all the money the may have just saved themselves on bum materials, incompatible materials, and dead end techniques, I bet its 10 times what a 3 dollar Patreon pledge would be. Keep 'em coming. ;-)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

We can hope but as long as they're helping, I'm happy!

[@mattosborn9619]

watched a video a while ago. twill decorators dust sheet was used as a battle mat with caulking used to make the textured surface

[@ErwinNiezing]

I'm kinda new to building diorama's and your video's really help a lot. A clear explanation from someone who knows what he's doing. Keep up the good work.

[@JRwhite1991]

Comprehensive material review Mel, thanks! Looking forward to seeing the future battlemat build :D

[@dvklaveren]

The first thing that I thought when I saw you peel off the acrylic filler off the second one was stacks of peat. Those were pretty common in Holland in the medieval period.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Oh ... :-D

[@Tsuthoggua]

Really love these Terrain Labs! Thanks for doing them. Cheers!

[@braddavidson9526]

A great experiment vid, mate! Loved it! Looking forward to the next one

[@tobynmanthorpe]

I gotta say I wasn't expecting to learn much from these tests. But I was absolutely wrong.

[@jjab99]

Great video Mel and so much information that will save us time and money in the long run. Many thanks for this helpful video and for all of your videos. Joe

[@TheTerrainTutor]

It what I do buddy! ;-D

[@christianhoel1340]

I've made small scale (6-2mm) roads on non stick sheets with good results. To make it not sticky on the back, I just sprayed a light coat of rattle can primer. maybe try heating it with a hair dryer or hot air gun to get rid of the warping?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks for the info bud

[@MurderHoboRPG]

dooooop Looking forward to this video for weeks!

[@wileywiggins9049]

Love it! I've been planning on making a battle mat or 2 using this sort of a technique.On some of the blogs I've seen by people that have made them, they seem to use a bit of a different technique.They mix the filler with sand and a little bit of water to thin it and then spread it over their cloth of choice followed by flocking the entire surface while the filler is still wet. For a follow on sealer I have seen cheap dollar store (pound store?) hair spray used, although the smell can be quite bad apparently!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks for the heads up mate, I'll give it a go :-)

[@Modelersguild]

In the water experiment I suggest a thin pva layer laid and dried over before adding the water

[@glennsmith5876]

Ive used the black garden weed membrane, its like a real fine mesh material. it comes in large rolls quite cheap from discount stores, think I paid 4 quid and have enough to do loads and loads. it didn't seem to curl too much when used to make 15mm roads. Haven't tried rivers with it but should be fairly straight forward.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I know the stuff, thanks for the heads up mate

[@Rusty_Gold85]

I only put me hand on a left over roll in my Garage today . Did you paint it or anything ? I want to see what I can else I can do with it

[@glennsmith5876]

Used brown caulk, textured it with some tank tracks, rocks etc.. dry brushed and done :-)

[@IDICBeer]

Good testing

[@hordelands]

Oh if i only You had made this video a few years earlier. My mat would have been so much better. Here's my experience with this stuff: I used clear acrylic varnish on my homemade acrylic caulking-on-canvas battle mat. The varnish somehow refused to cure fully and still feels sticky to the touch now, two years later. It does tend to keep scatter terrain from sliding about during games, but it feels rather uncomfortable.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

thanks for the heads up mate

[@readhistory2023]

Other than doing it for yourself would this actually be any cheaper than just buying one? As far as roads go a roll of 3" sand paper works great. Paint it black or dark grey, add the center line stripes and your done.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Commercial manufactured mats would be cheaper but you only go to this sort of expense/effort if you want something unique, typically tailored to your gaming needs mate

[@southernap]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet, but the reason the basic cloth or linen material has a tougher bending/rolling/etc once it has cured is because the material has been absorbed between the threads and increased the overall strength of the material. It's some nifty physics and mechanical engineering. Think back to when you have done home projects with acrylic paints and you have spilled the paint or even primer on your clothes. When that cures it hardens the area that it is spilt on with your clothing. Same thing with your tests. The textile material has absorbed the acrylic caulk and it is binding the individual threads together, like a glue. Additionally, the material you describe as "feltvas" looks like and sounds like from your description as being Duck Canvas. Where one side is canvas with all the awesome water-resistant/waterproof ability and the other side is felt to be soft on material being protected. Typically used in things like sails for ships to backpacks. There are differing weight of the canvas based on what ratio of felt to canvas you want.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks for the info bud, genuinely helped :-)

[@colinmorrison5119]

Watching this far in the future, I wonder if a less absorbent fibre like a recycled PET (made from plastic bottles) might retain flexibility? I also wonder how this would stick to neoprene mouse mats?

[@graemecollin]

I wonder how the "feltvas" would have worked if you'd caulked the canvassy side, rather than the felty one ...

[@TheTerrainTutor]

You couldn't have asked that as I was doing it! ;-D

[@graemecollin]

If the question had occurred to me then, rather than when I was watching the whole thing back, then yes, I would have ... The brain works as and when it chooses to ... haha :D

[@TheCoreus]

would you try to use mineral spirits to thin out the filler? I'm really curious and I think you'd be awesome to investigate the thinning of silicone/acrylic compounds.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I can't imagine that would end well but we'll give it a go and see!

[@TheCoreus]

google says that how people thin compound, but I'm skeptical too

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Leonardo Lee Only way to find out is try, so I'll give it a go

[@antiquariancrafts2454]

Awesome video, Mel. Hope you're still getting the digital pork pies.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

We're getting there slowly but shortly bud

[@MikeDropPod]

surely when the acrylic dries it draws the fabric in and toughens the fibres..making it stiffer to roll.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

A little stiffer but with a little movement, it all warms up to be quite flexible mate

[@BrownEyedHighGirL]

You are good! Bravo!

[@jafabian37]

Have you tried making a mixture of pva and acrylic filler before spreading it?

[@jafabian37]

Also another test- watering down the filler before applying it.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Did those in the previous tests mate, check the vid

[@michaelmanning5379]

It looks like chocolate icing! Mmmmm . . . brown silicon . . . (drool)

[@mk.ultra9968]

so what is the 'feltvas' stuff..?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Felt, reinforced felt to be precise, so I'm told lol

[@dewaynemcquillan4592]

i have used this for roads VISQUEEN POLYTHENE DAMP PROOF COURSE 150MM X 30M

[@Rusty_Gold85]

Interested in that idea ! How did you go painting or texturising it with any products ? Did anything stay painted or glued to it ?

[@tomdesjardins6778]

Mel can you use the texture rolling pin to make texture roads?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I don't know but I will find out, awesome idea mate!

[@richardbutler7688]

Have you tried it on mouse pad material?

[@richardbutler7688]

Neoprene I think it's called

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Not yet!

[@mikeprater1759]

Does your acrylic filler have silicone in it .

[@80Tauke]

Have you tried it on styrofoam?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

not yet

[@markbrauers9440]

have you tried swimsuit matirial its verry thin and tuff you now the speedo stuff just starting again im a model train guy but your vids are verry helpfull and the info is helpfull keep going 2 likes up (ha ha)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

No yet but it's on the list mate

[@987markwake]

top man

[@richardbryant2380]

I know that you are doing this test for table mats but I use the acrylic for roads and it works very well. I spread the acrylic on strips of Naugahyde then draw ruts in it to represent truck/wagon/tank tracks. It rolls up (acrylic on the outside) very well for storage and easily follows the contours of hills, etc. placed on the table top or under the table mat. I am assured by the manufacturer that Naugahyde is the name it is know by the world over, but just in case, it is called vinyl upholstery material available in fabric stores. It sells on line for $25+/- plus shipping for a 1 yard by 54" piece that will give many roads and is available in many colors - I use brown for the roads. See it on my blog here kingstonirregulars.blogspot.com/search/label/Chain%20Of%20Command I have used it for rivers as well see here mgluteus.blogspot.com/ 4 th photo down in the August 25th posting Dick Bryant

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Roads and rivers are on the list as well mate, thanks for the info!

[@redgreen09]

yes in my 51 years ok that sillynes dun yes its well brown and look like bleep but will have see me i ues on a board not mat but just have to see ;;;;]]]

[@ronaldhurst6204]

It had to be brown... 😂🤣😂🤣💩