How to Make Battle Ruins Terrain for war games

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In this video MiniWarGamer Dave shows you how to make battle ruins terrain for miniature war games. Enjoy!
Music is royalty free from incompetech.com

[@KrahulikIsGod]

It really is impressive how cool something can be made with so little effort.

[@kevinwallace4635]

every once and a while i looked at it and was like "how on Earth is this going to work in the end, it looks ridiculous" but as he or Deffy would never let me down it came out great, nice job

[@totalEvilized]

Simple and comprehensible tutorial, helped me a lot. Works also pretty fine with cork-board for the base and karrimats/thermomats (or whatever you call them in English) for the walls. I'd also like to add that fixing the foam pieces with toothpicks (or wooden meat-spits for the larger pieces) into the base makes it a lot easier as they tend to fall over when only glued to the base. Also, used guitar strings are handy to add for example wires or cables to the ruin. Great job, Dave!

[@redheadger91]

This is awesome. You manage to motivate me one time for another to build more terrain pieces. Thanks miniwargaming!

[@Gamer0900]

I love it that you guys are drifting towards the information side of the hobby again. (the funny stuff is good too) But I really love these 'how to' videos.

[@Squigsaplenty]

Those ruins looked really great! Good job!

[@ObiwinKenobi]

I continue to be impressed with MWG. Less than 24 hours ago I bought a few items off of clearance, and already (a few hours ago) got the email saying its been completed/shipped out. These videos are awesome as well. You really understand the connection between the wargaming community. Keep up the work.

[@Ocodo]

"So that's why we paint stones to look like stones" god dammit! XD

[@connor9024]

God I swear every game store has this exact thing It’s like watching a chef make a meal So fantastic

[@Nikitaro]

Sounds like you've caught a cold there, mister. Great video!

[@xXxKazamaxXx]

HAHA the pizza bit was brilliant XD I love your tutorials; very clear and helpful. That's hard to come by, these days.

[@WheelchairActual]

I knew about spraying with acrylic, but I didn't know about the PVA. Thanks for the tip, man.

[@sanguisdominus]

If you've got a course sand, and you've got a finer sand, you can glue the finr sand to the walls, and use the coarser sand for the base and the rocks. Jus' adds more texture to the walls, makes them look like they're made out of stone, or brick.

[@TrailerrHikk]

A good substitute for modeling sand is ground cat itter. It's a lot cheaper too. Plus the clumping kind makes for awesome stones for basing.

[@Getz-Da-Chompy]

Dave: Be sure to cut away from yourself, as always Also Dave: *doesn't cut away from himself at several points*

[@pawa241]

I concur with day-old pizza being the most important component.

[@MrZagy20]

Thank-you so much miniwargaming you've inspired me to build terrain.

[@bogusbladegameing4897]

nice comment

[@kinsmansteve]

If you paint the exposed foam edges with watered-down PVA and let it dry you can paint it with whatever you like. The PVA dries like a varnish and protects the foam from the paint, but it doesn't damage the foam itself. Or spray with acrylic paint, that shouldn't harm the foam.

[@SamEighteen]

Yeah, I used spray paint and it turned out great. Saved a ton of time too.

[@dylanloomis6197]

almost 10 years later and I still can't get over how much foam board was wasted in the process of making this ruin.

[@bodycount5708]

It’s officially 10 years later

[@DarkZholt]

Nice I've seen a guy who used human hair for the grass. Just painted it green and glued it to the sand plate. Looked pretty nice, like tall grass.

[@Trueflights]

as a shortcut, if you just brush the base coat over the top part of the walls where the foamcore is exposed. Then you can use spray paint to base coat the rest of the piece.

[@Evrenovic]

Nice! I didn't know it was so easy to make all of this. I am an old wargamer, and your videos ignited my interest in Warhammer AGAIN. I think I might go down to the local store on wednesday and see if there something I can pick up! Thank you!

[@nightmanhunter]

Dang... I am just beggining to do war gamming. I plan on getting involved and you guys are awesome!

[@DarkZholt]

Yeah xD ... well, it looked pretty clean and I suspect it was his own hair. I give him points for creativity and improvisation xD This grass powder thingy looks much better for short grass, though.

[@WheelchairActual]

You can buy it from many hobby stores or office stores. Not expensive and it's sturdy. Just make sure not to spray paint it. It'll melt the foam. Hope I could help

[@JANNOSPR]

Use a bigger brush when applying PVA espcially when its watered down as this should eliminate the problem of it drying too quick! Also its best to paint brown on the base over the black, so that any uncovered bits looks like mud and it looks better through the flock! The brushes used were too small but other than that, nice!

[@Anderslang14]

To be honest whenever I use sand for any kind of basing, I undercoat and paint it with the rest of the terrain/model to avoid paint being spilt onto the already finished parts.

[@cillarklown]

To add a bit more detail, you can take your knife to the foam and cut lines into it, make a stone Brick look.

[@Asmusei]

@Malganess I buy the cheap acrylic paints from craft stores and use those on my guys all the time, works just fine.

[@MrAdrianSW]

Home Depot (or loews) have foam board. A masonite kinda board, small pebbles and glue. Find a place that sells model railroads. They are bound to have the turf and grass. But if you can find just some fine wood shavings from your chosen hardware store (take a baggies and grab some from the wood cutting area) you can apply that to the scene, then use a green wash to color it....

[@HamHammer]

Nice job but... I'd suggest some spray-paint instead of base-coloring such big pieces with hand. xD

[@nicengle2739]

+Hamekun Spray paint tends to melt foam pieces if not sealed in advance.

[@1freethinkr388]

Amazing look you have there after you've finished!! Nice work! Great tutorial as well. Do you have a tutorial on making basic stone blocks or bits of trees for example for forested areas?

[@BL4D3RUNN3R0M3N]

You can also stick paper clips in the sides of the foam board to make it look like rebar.

[@Maikacir]

Yes - If you cover all of the foam of the foamboard with white glue. If you don't cover the foam with glue, the foam will melt away because of some of the chemicals in the spray.

[@101bluedrop]

if anyone dosnt have the matierals to make this you can use any kind of balsa wood or timber for the base and for the walls you can use the foam that comes in some box's even flames of war stuff has foam in the box to protect its contents and last but not least sprinkle sand where you want grass then spraypaint it green. end result: not as good as daves but easier and you dont have to go out and buy much!

[@TheAgain]

Alot of the foam products are melted by Spray paints so if you're not sure if you spray paint will melt its usually safer to just paint everything

[@Minecraftlover455]

my tarrain looks so good now I follow ur advice thanks miniwargamer dave

[@DeadStupidFilms]

@PrimarchBlade It can dissolve the inside of the foam board, so it's not recommended. You can risk it, but be prepared in case it goes wrong

[@Dorkus89Malorkus]

I really need to start building some terrain once I get some time over for it.

[@Darkvoidof40k]

That........Is......So.....GODDAMN...... AWESOME! This is what I subscribed for, all those years ago (or w/e) when you guys had about 50 subs :p

[@xXxb00mheadshotxXx]

this is great for my lord of the rings warhammer ^^

[@cyclone8974]

@TheModelFanatic lots of different miniature war games out there but the one he had the mini for was Warhammer 40,000.

[@MrDreamblade]

im gonna do a few of these, but one will have a pringles can smoke stack or something. this was helpfull, thanks.

[@Sammy6751]

Its 2022 and here I am again. Love this.

[@BigCrater]

One of the best i've seen. 5/5

[@CreationSensation]

a good thing to do is use styrofoam as it's thicker and resembles a thicker wall, cover it in gesso and then paint on whatever other paint. Has a reall nice end result

[@sexyxetsu]

It's a light board used in the back of cabinets. It's kind of like wood.

[@Dimitrij90]

Terrain VIDEOS ARE AWEOSOME!

[@battelman97]

yes and no use staic grass near sand so it looks like a better transition than just like dry sand to luscious grass

[@UBERSMIL3Y]

I love making model terrains and diorama's!

[@linkinhearts666]

these "how to...."s are soooo good!

[@CrazyDuude99]

Dude you have an artistique gift!!!

[@GOMMetalGods]

@GuitarzeroX7 Its best to use a sturdy board as the base. Foam board tends to warp over time in my experience. Hope this helps.

[@TheMAXMUK1]

When I first saw it, it looked impossible, but by looking at this video, it looks easy enough 2 make :)

[@Guyseph97]

I am so going to make this. It looks so good. I found some Foam Board on Amazon for £15.41 including shipping. It is black, 5mm wide and has 10 A4 pieces in it. I am going to get it. And that price only goes if you live in the UK.

[@TenaciousD872]

wow this is great! my walls didn't go to plan so i'm gonna do this

[@Deathofblades]

Maybe some wires sticking out of the walls to make it look like the buildings interior damages more realistic.

[@mjrdoctor]

@redriot1212 oh sorry I didn't realize it wasn't polystyrene. Yes you could spray it but it wouldn't lock the sand particles in as well as a painted base coat.

[@Jondrik0]

As for spray painting it, I know that spraying that blue foam insulation causes It to melt, perhaps spraying the foam board might also have a similar effect? Could be wrong, just found a place that sells foam board this week so will be playing around with it to make some terrain in hopes to inspire me to finish some of my armies.

[@SIcorpian]

damn the end result was badass

[@castlecruncher]

It's so easy yet so awesome!

[@claymonatic]

when you put the glue on put a bit on your finger then smuge it on so the glue doesnt show up . and great terrain love it and also plz seell the made terrain on your website.!!!!

[@MrTree5555]

nice it looks amazing and it helped me make some better battle fields

[@spyriadon]

for those of you (like me) who are too lazy to paint the terrain and still want to spray. cover the edges of the expozed foam in tape and spray then un cover once dry and finish the edges with regular paint!

[@MrWolfification]

COME ON MEET LOVERS XD, this is an awesome tutorial, i hope to see more, and milk is awhsome X)

[@BagiClaymations]

@darkavenger281 I wouldn't, but it depends on the effect you're after. It would make a really good wooden fence wall but not a stone wall.

[@procession101]

Wow, looks awesome!

[@SG_88]

@lrpracer123 because you are going to be modeling on the base first... You always do the modeling before the painting.

[@TheLiam1000]

@TheModelFanatic Warhammer 40k, read background information and buy a codex for a race to become more intrested.

[@awesomeODST]

hi, Is that static grass you use there or is it something else thanks! oh and by the way I've got to say that is an amazing piece of scenery you made there!

[@timmietimmins]

The propellant in some spray paints melt some foams. Do a test first, but yeah, I would say so.

[@Jimpiedepimpie]

I was going to do something similiar, but replace the grass with baking powder for a snow effect, and some really watered down red on the walls for a blood effect.

[@Noble40K]

I know this is 4 years late but if you're going for a blood effect i would highly suggest Blood For The Blood God from Games Workshop

[@supersonicgeorge3762]

You really need to make a tutorial of waterfalls and trees!

[@Da40kOrks]

"Painting stones to look like..stones" I always thought that was a strange concept...lol.

[@Torresx3cool]

Thxs for inspiring me I just finished making mine!!!

[@PolskaProdigy]

......wow........Wow.......WOW! Thanks so much!

[@SamEighteen]

Elmers glue is a brand of PVA glue. PVA is just any white glue you find at walmart and use in school.

[@ringberar]

amazing! looks wonderful

[@WheelchairAccessible]

christ, that's amazing and looks REALLY fun to do.

[@SacredArbiter]

Dam dave this is amazing!

[@impooser]

Thanks!! Love that video, very instructive!

[@Aaronveer]

Making terrain is more fun than actually playing the game imo

[@theideotswithacamera]

I don't have masonite so I made my base with foam board it works but you can't really curve the edges but it still looks ok.

[@AvoidingtheQuestion]

Dave your terrain looks too good.

[@garethfarrell8146]

that is seriously impressive

[@Bowtied]

Very nice. I love these vids.

[@40kchaoslord]

im gonna buy me some masonite soon so i can make some stuff like this. i was wondering though, what would be best for cutting masonite? great video miniwargaming!

[@MrDevonlewis]

@monstermorrill Thanks I will keep that in mind, Happy Wargamming.

[@Julian_The_Apostate]

Citadel:Chaos Black. Reaper:Pure Black either will work.

[@LordTharapita]

Very helpful indeed, thank you.

[@maisbrood89]

nice work mate

[@Abraleo]

@leyniapi No, if you spray it, will melt

[@TheLittleJotunn]

stones are made of different minerals and crystals,so stones has different colors.

[@Shadeofyoux]

An easy way IMO to get the black, just use a black primer on the entire thing

[@shanewoodward1710]

that is great i think ill try to make one now

[@Musabre]

looks awesome

[@vizzyb0mb]

i had thought it would be way more complicated to make that good of scenery.

[@afoolis]

Awesomeness is the right word O.o

[@MrAlchemist120]

wow, that is so awsome! i'm goin to get my supplies right now! hahaha