Crafting the ULTIMATE Desert Terrain - FULL BATTLEFIELD Tutorial for 40k, Necromunda, Age of Sigmar

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Man, repainting was a good call. Totally worth it!

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Right? Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and go back a step

[@benoitlefeubvre6845]

I agreee looked much better after

[@crenshawsMOMA]

@@EricsHobbyWorkshop happy ORkToBer

[@HaussVonHorne]

Thanks for showing and discussing your mistakes instead of just editing them out. It's important to let new and even veteran people what DIDN'T work as much as what does work.

[@themidwesternboi9399]

I 100% agree when I first started in the hobby I almost got turned off because I made so many mistakes compared to the videos I had seen the edited all of them out

[@collinborsheim]

I love the pacing in your videos, most people would spend 20 minutes on a single rock, and you fit an entire battlefield into a 17 minute video!

[@Z00111111]

I'm finding them great for ideas. There's always specific videos for any techniques that need more detail.

[@EntertheMaelstrom]

I’ve spent years playing miniature games but never really spent a ton of time on terrain; you’ve definitely inspired me to crank my game in that department and add to the realism of my games. Love your work brother.

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Terrain makes every mini in your collection look better! Its great fun too

[@earlgrey2130]

I think it's a sad state of affairs that people paint insanely beautiful models nowadays, but play on a generic battlemat with a few pieces of generic terrain that does nothing but block line of sight. Which is ironic, since the paintjob on your models may look cool, but the models are only a small percentage of the table. Most of what you see is terrain. So it has a much bigger impact on immersion and the visuals. And more importantly: The terrain is what shapes and defines the gameplay too! The game is so much more fun if you have multiple levels to fight on, makes you use all the movement rules, gives varying cover, has interesting lines of fire, forces or restricts movement.. Imagine a video game where the player models are beautifully textured, but the levels are just a big empty room with a few boxes or walls. Nobody would play that. The levels are what makes or breaks gameplay. I never understood why terrain isn't the #1 focus of the warhammer hobby.

[@Hobbyrepubliken]

Love the shout out to Mel. He's has had a rough year. He's still recovering from being really sick

[@petras8385]

Röda nördar! 👍

[@grinningtiki220]

As a former supervisor once told me "Don't get bloody, cut towards your buddy."

[@aequanimus63247]

You're the man Eric. And thanks for shouting out Mel, he deserves all the love. Keep killing it.

[@corneliusperkins7363]

Great build - I particularly like the way you did the deep cuts for the sedimentary layers. Most people seem to shape first, and then basically scratch the surface, so they don't get that layered shape. Really nice.

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Cornelius Perkins thanks! Thats an innovation i am pretty proud of :)

[@dartfast]

Wow. That part where you cut hundreds of slices horizontally into the XPS and then chipped off the pieces was brilliant. I had not seen that technique for making rock face before, I'm so stealing that, man, hahah. Usually it's just the "cut a v shape and pull a chunk out" bit with the XPS rocks but this one's a real eye-opener with the low-effort and great results. Great terrain, too. I hope you're getting some Gorkamorka action on that, too

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Thanks! Im pretty proud of that technique. It really hides the layers between the foam too

[@Digitalfiendscom]

​@@EricsHobbyWorkshop 100% agree! Those are some of the best foam rock formations I've seen on KZbin (or even from manufacturers like Gamemat.eu or Gale Force 9). Thanks for showing that great technique for making them (excluding the tribute to Khorne). I was thinking of trying to make some myself instead of buying some and now, after finding this video, I'm convinced DYI is the way to go. :)

[@WylochsArmory]

YES

[@GoobertownHobbies]

OOWWWWWEEEEE aaaaahhhh ahahhhhhhhh

[@datheavyguyiguess]

monkey noises

[@yankeejones9596]

are you okay?

[@StudsonStudio]

This terrain is great, so many track options for a tabletop Boonta Eve Classic. I love that arch especially, little Annie needs to watch out passing Sebulba through there.

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

yippee!!

[@knightterrain6936]

I loved that you talked about real world lighting versus miniature lighting and how it affects the way we see color. Well put!

[@macaabra8599]

lol I have just checked for the terrain tutor, and he just posted video about coming back! What a lucky day :D

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Really? Awesome!

[@RFDHobby]

Awesome work Eric. Glad you found the battlemat video somewhat helpful, and thank you for the mention mate. I'm looking at doing a 40k mat myself soon so it was great to see how you went about it. Those rocks you did are just awesome, I will have to try some of those for my SW Legions battle mat when I get there. Thanks again.

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Thank you! Your tutorial was a big help. Glad to do it

[@RFDHobby]

@@EricsHobbyWorkshop I couldn't help but let out a 'Noooo!' when I saw you ended up having half as much caulking mix as you needed, when I had twice as much as I needed when I did mine, between the two of us hopefully someone gets it right eventually.

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

RFDHobby haha I saw how much excess you scraped off and was like “oh this should be plenty”. Didn’t take into account how large the mat was.

[@johnsm3568]

This is exactly how I imagined the board I've always dreamt of making would look! I'm jello of your determination and accomplishments. Just a few years though and my kids will be old enough for me to direct in making all of my dream tables become realities. Fantastic video.

[@Kirk.t.g]

The image of troops and tanks struggling through loose sand is so nice

[@kerilawrence2669]

Sorting out a Dathomir Board for Legion- this video has been vital!

[@rhino5419]

Absolutely epic low level photography at the end. It makes it look so real. I could not help thinking this would make a great Geonosis board for Starwars Legion. All the best.

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

It sure would! Thanks rhino

[@kenlipson8686]

You are one of the greatest youtubers (i don't even play GW games anymore, but I love your content)

[@TheFluffyDuck]

Geologist here. Love your rocks! Nailed the lighting. Going back was the right choice

[@mx01pdx]

just watched a bunch of your videos. you are killin it! keep it up!

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Thanks Max!

[@YalelingOz]

Beautiful work here mate. It's perfectly timed for me. I started a desert board a while back, and the board part is nearly done. The XPS foam is stockpiled, and the months spent looking for my wire brushes has paid off. But you've got me rethinking the colour of my board, and definitely set the idea of basecoating my rocks super dark. Thanks.

[@Boylei]

This is really nice, man. Great tutorial and I really think the choice to dry brush after the fact was the right one. Finished product is awesome.

[@salamada007]

Your channel has come a long way since i last watched one of your videos. Keep up the great progress.

[@SavageBruski]

These same videos inspired me to do my own battlemats and terrain. Black magic craft turned me onto a mix of caulk, paint, pva and sand to texture terrain as well and it makes some durable stuff. Well done! Great video, and thanks for showing this!

[@norcalonline1]

Dude. I'm impressed. This is such a great video for several reasons (your wit and humor, the glamour shots, the snappy music ;-), but mainly because you're effing fearless to jump right in and try shit. At first, I was like: oh, that's sketchy. I saw the dirty sidewalk that you used as your work surface, the casual flip flop attire, and the slap-dash combination of caulk, paint, and sand for your base mixture. Although the three trips to Home Depot were funny (and it's happened to everyone), you eventually got your battle mat right on the money! I saw RFD's video a couple weeks ago and was impressed, and yours turned out great too. But the video was made even better by your XPS terrain. I liked the way your structures turned out, but I was like: meh, the paint job looks okay. And then you said eff it and black-bombed over all your work and started over. The re-paint was awesome. The dark base with lighter overbrush and lighter drybrush turned out fantastic. It truly inspires me to go into my garage and drag out my XPS pieces in the corner and make some desert terrain! Thanks for always making great content that is useful and fun to watch. I also appreciate your polysyllabic soliloquys! It's obvious you're a smart dude, too. Top notch, mate. Cheers, --Bo in Sacramento

[@Azaghal1988]

The repainting of the rocks was really transformative, from looking artifical and bland colourwise to looking like the real deal. totally worth it, amazing job.

[@Beaut_Beau]

Just that thumbnail image alone looks so awesome!

[@NatesMiniatures]

This is a great build mate, I enjoyed the real talk and how you over came the issues you had. Keep moving forward is key!

[@anthonyl3088]

I really appreciate that you show your mistakes and thought process while keeping the video going, really helps when trying it myself

[@matthewnaughton514]

21 seconds after upload and i can tell it's going to be good!

[@mrmaat]

This is awesome. When working with razor blades and XPS, I’ve had my fair share of cuts. A cheap pair of safety gloves have saved my hands from many slipping blades.

[@unclesam1756]

One thing I really like about desert terrain is that it often uses very light colors which helps the minis to stand out more since a lot of people tend to give their figures really dark paint jobs.

[@zid_just_zid]

Like for Diggas in the intro :D Ive also done a caulking mat, spread on caulk one tube at a time then sand before it dried, i think i used 4 tubes for my 6x4. Painted with a watered down mix of a dark brown acrylic crafts paint and PVA. Then drybrushed with a reddish brown, yellow ochre and a lighter gray. Applied a "wash" of black/brown and PVA. Then applied multiple layers of watered down PVA to make absolutely sure no sand will come off and to protect the paint. Mixing it all in like you did is probably more durable and with paint inside the caulk i think any cracks would be near invisible, i test bent a corner on mine and while it did get a bright crack it isnt visible when the mat is laying flat. Also did some stone arches and standing stones but i built a hot wire cutter for shaping them, in the end i think the surface texture you got using a knife looks better than the ones i did. Amazing work!

[@pitotony1496]

Hello I'm a French guy so it's not easy to understand everything but it was enough to try myself. Excellent video. Continue like that 👍

[@OreoPriest]

I love those canyon views. Just incredible!

[@dmmomma]

You've outdone yourself. The build, the paint job. Excellent work!

[@BehappyBhairava]

So glad I rewatched this.. Definitely making a mat (I've so many 2 x 4 sheets of foam made into boards, with all the decoration...and storage is hell. What fantastic guide, thank you Eric

[@FISTFULATHUNDER]

I think this is the best video you've ever done! Great job! I love that you started with the battlemat and carried the theme through all the terrain you made for it. Maybe do a forest set, then a snow, plains, etc... You are quickly becoming my favorite channel sir.

[@gergokerekes4550]

At first I was like repainting won't make that much of a change. Damn I was wrong, soo wrong. I might try my hand at this, always loved the desert and dry arid places in games/movies, last year I got to go into the middle of Australia, might use those photos for a guide.

[@lukashuettner]

I generally love your videos and you are one of the very very few channels, I really enjoy watching the entire video without skipping it. But every time you display your arranged terrain in the last section of your video I am like: "O-O suuuuuuuuper coooool!!!" You do a very good job without being too fancy and accurate with everything. The best reason to watch your videos is, that you show how a regular guy can build beautiful terrains with just basic stuff from the hardware store.

[@christinastalder1268]

This truned out great! I love your videos, you give me so many ideas. Thinks for sharing your ideas, an talent with us all.. stay safe

[@allistransitory]

Came out so good Eric. When you tried out the mat near the end, you unfolded a board of sorts. Can I ask what you've done to make that please? My kitchen table isn't big enough and I've been thinking about fixing up something like that which folds away.

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Literally just 3 pieces of 4’x2” mdf from home depot. Actually i think one of the sections is plywood. I taped them together with duct tape. It works pretty well! I fold it up and put it behind a shelf when im not using it

[@allistransitory]

@@EricsHobbyWorkshop great stuff, figured it was something like that. Thanks.

[@TheDodd2012]

The map looks awesome! And one thing I have learned over the years when cutting, be mindful of where your off hand is.

[@veetheamazinggreek5422]

My mouth became parched as I saw the finished product. Man! You knocked this one pout of the park.

[@tonylloyd5077]

Reallt love going back over your older videos. Awrsome work.

[@CastroCassius]

Dry brushing still seems like magic to me. Those repainted mountains/cliffs look absolutely fantastic!

[@paulaneary7877]

WOW, you put a lot of work into that! It came out just gorgeous! Great video. Someone else commented that they liked the pacing of your video, I did too. I also appreciated the safety tip and the tip about having reference photos. I find it is good when working on a project to at least have some idea of what you want in the end, and a reference photo helps that. Great, great job on the re-paint also. Thanks for the video.

[@idontwanttopickone]

Top tip: Use simple colour mixes that you can write down and repeat at a later date when you want to make more terrain for your table.

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Who needs to write things doen when you have it all on video? Haha but seriously thats a good practice

[@idontwanttopickone]

@@EricsHobbyWorkshop many of us aren't KZbinrs. 😜

[@shaneflickinger]

That chipping effect to create the rock strata turned out great. Very nice terrain set. Thanks for sharing!

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Thanks Shane

[@travisjackdrums]

caulk and dropcloth.... GENIUS!!!

[@johnnydump2229]

Good to see another Canadian in the hobby universe

[@MrZellybrown]

The textures on these rocks is the best ive ever seen. I was about to buy a hot foam wire cutter. This is so much more detailed. I'm in the process of building terrain for a Gaslands track. WOW Your builds are amazing kid.

[@corvusboreus2072]

This user friendly tutorial insprireded me to finally build my own long procrastinated project of a desert battlemat, and I have started work on some rocky outcrops and dunal drifts. Nice one bruvvah!

[@CommanderCheapSkate]

This looks so epic! Love all the boulders and standing stones! The battle mat is superb as well! Also, I nominate you for the "I am a Wargamer" challenge!

[@drpretzel2086]

This video has been absolutely helpful for me in building a board for my Dark Sun campaign

[@marvinprice6476]

The slow motion was lovely

[@andytate5670]

Hi Eric wouldn't worry too much about desert colouring I spent some time in several deserts and I was amazed at the variation of colour as the sun and sometimes the clouds causing shade make it so many different variations it really is hypnotic if you look at it for a long time, The Desert you mention in Jordan I've been there. I cut myself exactly that way a couple of weeks a go I turned the air blue with bad language.

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Nice. I would love to go there sometime. It looks so gorgeous!

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

I think thats my takeaway too - the colour is less important than painting some contrast on the rocks so the detail pops out no matter the lighting conditions

[@andytate5670]

@@EricsHobbyWorkshop I've visited lots of desert Areas in my youth, and I love them (Jungles not so much you are always wet, and polar conditions not so much as I'm not fond of being cold) some were for work others for holidays/visits my Favourite was the Arizona Desert mainly because I grew up with Cowboy movies as a child. they all have their own character. I would one day like to see the Australian out back and the Gobi in Mongolia. but I doubt very much this will happen.

[@Robster881]

That blue sky background really brought it all together - looks killer!

[@tolgaaksoy90]

I love this build! Probably the best sedimentary rock texture I've seen anyone achieve using foam.

[@vurrunna]

9:00 Holy crap, I physically recoiled at that--that's a freaking nightmare scenario right there! Glad to hear your hand got better though. As someone who's cut his fingers more than a few times, 100%, always remember to be safe when using hobby tools--confidence means lickety-split when there's a knife coming at your fingers. All the same, I love how the terrain turned out; those finishing shots were really evocative, and had my mind racing with possibilities. Might have to give a set of these a go myself. :)

[@WarGamerGirl]

I'm going to have to try some of this. I really like the way those rock turned out.

[@raultebelin5354]

weathering will enhance the colors... I liked your videos, no short cuts and everything. nice work.

[@TJM108]

Shows just how big the fort is! Awesome as always

[@perrygrosshans8537]

Finally got to watch the video! So not totally "fresh" but still new, lol. I continue to be amazed at your builds. Love watching you put them together and their transformation into awesome terrain is so cool. Man, those rocky outcrops turned out EPIC! I just happen to have watched that RFD Hobbies video the other day as well. Man, I need to make me a battle mat! Love the funny commentary as usual. The slasher bleating sheep part made me laugh out loud, lol! Keep up the great work! Love watching these videos, and very inspiring for me to make some stuff for myself!

[@jamesandrews4746]

Incredible carving on the XPS. Wish I had seen this technique sooner. Looks like i'm going to be needing those cut resistant gloves after all. Last time was trying to push an exacto through a plastic fender that had a hard spot in it, at exactly the moment i decided to ease up it went thru like butter. Was so furious that i only thought to dress the wound after noticing blood getting slung everywhere.

[@zesicarius]

Hello. I saw many of your videos, still i missed this one so far. Really great. Thanks.

[@AzraelThanatos]

Another option for the rock striations is to go with foamboard or peeled foamcore and build up in layers before final shaping by cutting into it using those layers to help with it. I've done some terrain that way recently...after everything shut down and all I had was a small pile of foam core sheets along with some old foam board.

[@123Billygoatman123]

Really good video, I would not have thought about making my own game mats from canvas drop cloths and caulk "paint". Brilliant! so many ideas for my table.

[@veetheamazinggreek5422]

Love the Silver Surfer issue posted on your wall. I have it also.

[@AlexDrawingStuff]

So awesome,just watched it a second time :D

[@wollibar5263]

really nice - great shots at the end of your video showing your models in all glory

[@battlebrotherguy]

Diggas! I am in. Tarp Size Shenanigans, Check. Khorne tax for a project, Check. This is shaping up to be a classic! Really Well done. Thanks.

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Thanks Guy! I had fun with this one. Scab is almost healed 😂

[@TomJones0065]

I love this idea, I like how it has the patches of color. Makes it look a bit more REAL! I SO Love this idea, something for my Nephews Kids for Christmas, something they can carry around and set up where ever! THANKS FOR THIS!! I needed some kind of inspiration! THIS DID IT MAN! Ur the best!! BE SAFE!! I saved THIS ONE FOR SURE!! MORE MAN! MORE IDEAS!! HAHA!

[@Miniac]

8:19 Ripping and tearing you say? kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIuwmGyorsqKhdk

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Well damn, that rocked

[@913buz]

Doom eternal is definitely the miniature maniacs favourite game

[@xX_wiLLiam_Xx]

**loads shotgun with malicious intent**

[@tykale]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXnLgKFondOko6s

[@gnollman]

Turned out fantastic, that'd be a joy to play on for sure.

[@christopherthompson4026]

That sir is beautiful! I hope you enjoy using it as much as I enjoyed watching the build.

[@3DPrintedTabletop]

That was a wonderful bleat. 10/10. But honestly: I love that outpost and the rocks - this is super versatile. Well done!

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Hahaha thanks Danny 🐏

[@perkinsdearborn4693]

Ouch! I did something similar, cutting a big hole in my jeans - missing my leg by just a hair. Scary stuff - but it is a lesson that teaches very well. I am doing a similar sandstone spires terrain set this week. Thank you for the great content!

[@perkinsdearborn4693]

My reference images are from Antelope Canyon. I like to smooth, twisting stones. I plan on using spackle to cover the spires and brush the 'grooves' into the twisty surfaces. I do not have a lot of room to store terrain so I am doing roughly 2x2 feet worth of sandstone spires for a 4x4 foot table.

[@Kim_Thomas]

I have watched this several times - (as I do with yours and other terrain masters!). Always good to watch and learn something new with each view

[@wendybrown7068]

You can make your gesso to cover any material, let it dry and then paint it. The gesso will leak though but will make even a bed sheet like canvas after its painted and dried. Wrinkles make a textured look.

[@HacksawsHobbyBunker]

Excellent. And, one of the few times that one could confuse desert with dessert!

[@Robr1701]

Great work Eric , don't know about availably in the US and Canada, but in the UK you can easily get brown and magnolia/cream coloured acrylic calking , may help make colour mixing easier.

[@FrankyDCrafter]

Beautiful piece for sure

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Thanks Franky! Orktober is just starting!

[@toddanderson1506]

Wow! Awesome for an RC rock crawler course too!

[@xenomorph1312]

Amazing set! you are honestly one of my biggest inspirations for starting to build my own terrain

[@tonybarr858]

Quite an inspiration for my planned NW Frontier set up! Thank you.

[@MrStuffedowl]

I have to say only just found your channel the other week, I have watched loads of terrain tutorials these are the best rock formations I have seen ever. Great work

[@thepiratepenguin4465]

Expanding foam is excellent for making desert terrain. The bubbly nature of the product is make it's a good representation of sandstone which is common in North Africa & the Sinai Peninsula.

[@Kradokk]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the inspiration. Love the channel and stumbled across it while doing research for a terrain build for Adepticon this year. The horizontal cut and chip method is brilliant. Just missed you on Sunday, saw you by the bar and meant to thank you in person but before I could you had headed out. Hope you had a good Adepticon!

[@halloweencrab]

the rocks turned out great! definitely made the right choice going back and repainting it with the super dark shadows, really helped capture that desert stone feel

[@EricsHobbyWorkshop]

Right? Im happy i did that

[@idiotluggage]

I had watched the videos you mentioned in the last few weeks & have been wanting to try this technique myself. I like the way you did the terrain. The raised sections to represent difficult terrain is a great idea.

[@jackwhorton6826]

This is awesome. I don't have any terrain as I play at venues that provide it but I really want to make my own and remembered your channel and low and behold desert terrain is exactly what I wanted to do! Thanks

[@jonathanshelton2137]

"its a great time to be alive" 🙌❤️It's October again! thanks for the video!

[@ColdFusionPower512]

You are one, if not THE BEST terrain channel ever. What i like is that you go step by step and give a lot of information. Like i would have stopped painting the rock at your first try, but then all that talk about lighting and how on a desert it reflects from the sand was mindblowing. Also, one question i have is how the battle mat will hold, do you reck a lot of gaming will chip away at it? Is there any way to maybe coat it?

[@finnthecheese2846]

My guy being this good should be illegal, keep it up!

[@iamalpharius3959]

.........stooopid varus!!! I want to play 40k....... this is a sick guide. I like how he takes weight and storeabilty into account. And how modular all that is while looking pretty great. Awesome vid dude!

[@king_aeron]

ˡᵒᵒᵏˢ ᵃᵗ ᵐʸ ⁱᶜᵉ ᵗʰᵉᵐᵉᵈ ᶜʰᵃᵒˢ *What a good time to build a desert*

[@DuhRake]

That terrain repaint looks 100%!