Lets Make - Modular Trenches (Pt1 - Basic Construction)

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We're tackling an 6ft modular trenchline system to wrap up our Lets Make Battlefield Basic Scenery Series. In this video, I share all my tips for creating the basic modular earthworks for our trenchline terrain project. This will set the foundations for adding all the various bunkers, fire pits, saps etc to make this an awesome wargaming trench terrain set.
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[@robertpowell7616]

Mel I love the excitement you have regarding a whole centimeter to work with. Anyone else would panic with that little amount to work with, for you, that little space was everything. Thanks for the great videos!!!!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Make the most of what you've got mate

[@stuartjackson7864]

Think you need to get an afro wig Bose, you've truly become the Bob Ross of terrain!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

LOL, it's been a long time since I had big hair buddy!

[@4hedgesfamily]

My oldest got a bunch of Mega Blocks HALO troops for Christmas, and started building trenches today. I've got to show him this one!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Nice!

[@Hobbyrepubliken]

That Pva anti-warping trick is so usefull. Thanks Mel!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

It's a good one that one

[@dz0nn3]

So cool, i like how those modular pieces fit together, very impressive! i can't wait for the next parts!!!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Coming soon bud

[@IshFarid]

Thank you for sharing your art and expertise. You’re a scholar and a gentleman 😃

[@TheTerrainTutor]

It's what I'm here for buddy

[@repairmanbruce7318]

Thanks Mel. Practical and engaging as always. Spot gluing to fight the forces of the Ruinous Powers and using templates to match up modules are simple tricks that make it all easier. Keen to see the next one and to use these techniques to finish my own languishing trench project.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Coming real soon buddy!

[@warlordgames]

Awesome effect sir :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Don't call me Sir! I work for a living ;-D Cheers mate

[@ChristopherBrunsdon]

Thank you. I'm getting into terrain next year with the focus on modular systems and this exactly what I'm looking for.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Hope it helps buddy

[@AzraelThanatos]

One thing I've noticed, when working with foam, is to skip the edge template as you did it and cut out several of them out of wood and mount them on the edges for it Makes a better join part for things of this nature and less likely to have any divergance there.

[@Jaytheradical]

Watching this, I can't help but think "I should use this to make a Tatooine city..." I could definitely throw together a cantina and a moisture farm with this setup...

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Do it!!!!

[@TheRiflemanUK]

Been looking forward to this, I've got plenty of foam to use to build along with! :D

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Crack on buddy

[@EtobicokeCentralRailways]

This is awesome! Endless possibilities using this method.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers bud

[@bushranger900]

Great tips on the PVA to MDF Mal cheers

[@bushranger900]

TheTerrainTutor Hey Mal I have had a mind to do this for some time. Quick question ...How to work out the scale accurately..I want to do mine in 1:35 may involve armor eg Micheal Wittmans "Last Ride" is what I am going to call it. So as a min it will involve 3 - 4 1:35 scale tanks Tigers and at least one Sherman Firefly. So can you give me some idea how to work out the Terrain Scale etc..

[@TheTerrainTutor]

This scale and half again mate ;-)

[@michaelmanning5379]

Very nice. I'm thinking of using this approach for city ruins that include sewers and tunnels.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

That'd be cool mate!

[@dave_s_vids]

Absolutely loving this, Mel. Can't wait for the others!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers buddy

[@c.e.jarvis1512]

As always amazing...can't wait to see the rest of this series. Itching to see how this one looks in the end. :) Thanks for the video.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Looking forward to getting back stuck in mate

[@mhxistenz]

Great video! Looking forward to the next.

[@Xn7000]

I feel like making the end caps 15 x 12 is a bit of a missed opportunity. If they were 15 x 15 you could use them as a corner piece between two lengths of trench. Though you would have to make a good three or so 6" peices to make the set work properly for different table lengths. So maybe it was the right call....

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Table edge length was my priority, there's not many L shaped tables about tbh bud

[@Nachbo1234]

Sweet vid, Mel! This was loaded with lots of great ideas and info, Sir.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers bud, hope it helps!

[@RotGolem]

Awesome. Can't wait for pt 2!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Me neither!

[@Telamon8]

What about using kinetic sand? Like, have slots to place the sand in and then shaping the trench like that, then trenches can be built then-and-there and they can all be made differently each game without having to have piles of massive foam blocks lying around?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Insulation is our go to material due to availability mate

[@Telamon8]

That's a pretty good point, I hadn't considered that. Plus, I'd imagine the sand stuff would get pretty expensive very fast for anything large-scale.

[@GregoryGeilman]

Looking really good as always:) Great tip on the glue spots for fighting warping issues. Not sure that I will need trenches any time in the near future, but still worthwhile seeing. I have been working on learning to painting with acrylics the last few months to help with my general painting.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers buddy, at least there was one tip in it for you ;-)

[@DeathKorpsCommissar]

Thanks for making this.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Here to help buddy

[@kalleolson7296]

So awesome!!! I have always wanted to make trenches so thank you so mutch!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Hope it helps

[@SerMattzio]

I have that same coffee mug on my desk...lol.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Great minds!

[@RickyBurgess]

Great video. Thanks for making it!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

:-)

[@karstenlund8956]

Brilliant! Thank you for these tricks 👍

[@dak6853]

Been wanting to do a Death Korps of Krieg diorama/display board for a long time now, I think now is the time

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Sounds like an awesome project mate

[@chaoschild0144]

Brilliant instruction video sir!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks!

[@bearbearchell]

I love the videos...great creativity. Very inspiring!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers buddy

[@TheTalentedMrZing]

Truly amazing work here. You inspire me!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks mate

[@TB--sp9wy]

Absolutely fantastic! I've subscribed.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you .

[@TheTerrainTutor]

My pleasure

[@federicobaggi2544]

Wonderful!

[@Oddhin]

Looks good! Realism wise it might be missing corners in the trench lines? We were always told to make corners and turns to our lines so the blast waves and shrapnel don't travel that far and there's no straight lines to shoot if the enemy storms it.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Yeah but functionally it wouldn't work due to the available space on the base

[@johnwaddell1915]

You're videos are awesome. Thanks for all your hard work!!

[@amethystcraft8792]

Your skills are amazing!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks

[@TheKiltyONeal]

I can't stop saying "higgledy piggledy"!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Win!

[@michaelbock4276]

Awesome! Thanks.

[@christopherparry7389]

Very impressive i want to attempt a similar build. If you don't mind me asking roughly how much were the materials? It'd be good to know a starting point to budget for such a large project.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

£15 for the foam, £12 of the MDF, £2 filler, £5 balsa wood, £3 das putty plus a couple of tester pots

[@christopherparry7389]

TheTerrainTutor thanks so much. And thank you for the tutorial videos i love seeing how you make simple terrain come to life its amazing

[@Tatti12321]

Your a champion.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers

[@bartolome41165]

Awesome! Simply awersome! When do you dare with a future (40k) escenarios tables?? & Do you recomended me some book to make futured war game tables. Merry cristmas and a happy new year from spain!!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

40k stuff next year mate, have you seen the GW terrain books?

[@Hobbyrepubliken]

Treeeeeenches! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

[@Hobbyrepubliken]

Would it be possible to make a middle piece so that you could make a U-line using the end pieces?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Yes but I won't lol

[@imp3ri3x93]

Great video Mel. Bunkers are looking great. Can you do some vids on making a necromunda board or terrain please soon? Having bought the new game I'm dying to get a 3D terrain map built. Thanks.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I'm looking into getting into necromunda myself mate

[@imp3ri3x93]

TheTerrainTutor ideal, you will loved it! It's different to 40k in gameplay which is refreshing. It's fun on the 2D boards that come with the set, but with the advanced rules you can up your game on a 3D board. We gonna need to build a decent 3D necromunda board. Hint hint 😉

[@totalnoob4961]

Mel! I hate You!... No, seriously. great video. about a year ago i designed a board for Konflikt 47 that used a hill / bunker similar to this. The first 2 feet was flat, then 2ish feet of hills and bunkers and a large set of doors wide enough for a truck. the last 2 feet was all underground German Konflict Sci-Fi lair / underground bunker... I just was lacking the space to store the models when not in use. I see this excellent video and now I want to revisit that dream... I'll have to find storage space.. I can't wait for the rest of the series. Keep up the good work..

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Crack on bud, that sounds like an awesome project!

[@SBEARD12345]

What do you use the off cuts for? They are substantial pieces and surely could be reused on other bases or dioramas? And if you don't want them I will happily have them.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I always recycle them and use them for something mate

[@necronwarrior]

Great vid, thank you! Can hot glue be used instead of PVA to prevent board warping? I'm guessing it might not bond well to the MDF board.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

You can, I just prefer pva mate

[@03dashk64]

That laugh!!!

[@dccsound9209]

Why thank you kind SIR

[@TheTerrainTutor]

my pleasure mate

[@BramsCommando]

What kind of miniature was that? Thanks in advance

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Warlord Games 28mm Chindit

[@interreptor]

can we show somewhere, how do you play on you ownbuild terrain?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I don't do battle reports mate, soz

[@interreptor]

okay. would be cool to see the terrain on a battlefield :D

[@magikninjafreak8501]

Hi mel.wheredo you get your black foam/poly from. Looks really good density and would save on some black paint (abit 😀)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Jablite from B&Q mate

[@jamesmcclanahan2558]

kool

[@BeroBikes]

Awesome vid Mel, great tips around PVA application, angled trenches and edge templates. How did you decide on the trench width? Iv'e been dreaming of an A4 modular mine/cave system for western, PostApoc and fantasy gaming. What would I need to factor in for the minimum width and comfortable width of the tunnels

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Base size plus 10mm either side mate ;-)

[@BeroBikes]

Perfect thanks Mel!

[@dccsound9209]

Could you please tell me what is the brand of foam cutter you are using and where you got it please Thanks Dan. Ps looks really good

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Hot wire foam factory tools mate

[@maxw383]

@@TheTerrainTutor if you don't have a hot wire foam cutter, what other cheapish tool do you recommend? Btw great vids!

[@maxpula6441]

Got a good cheap easy source of the styrofoam stuff you use UK based please Mel?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Jablite from B&Q mate

[@maxpula6441]

TheTerrainTutor cheers that’s perfect!

[@illsthaprophet]

Why didn't you put filler across the whole surface?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Still got work to do on it mate

[@RJCModelsOfficial]

Hey Mel, what a grate video, I was wondering I model in 1:35 scale could I do the same as this and all the efficacy you do?

[@MrPorkmann]

Sensible solutions to the trench problem.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers mate

[@donjardine8734]

With the publishing of Warlord's Korea supplement and this video bring on Pork Chop Hill

[@dgfrederick]

Thanks so much Mel. Is the MDF base you’re using about 5mm thick?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

6mm mate

[@dgfrederick]

@@TheTerrainTutor Thanks!

[@davedogge2280]

Is this a WW2 trench or a WH40K type one or both ?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Kinda both mate, it's more about the trench techniques than the specific setting

[@chSongCao]

I think it looks more like a ww1 trench because their are more static warfare weapons unlike the more mobile weapons common for ww2

[@Merlin_262]

I think its ww1

[@drummerkidd12]

this is amazing! i need to make this for my death korps

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Do it!

[@drummerkidd12]

right away! will make a great diorama for armies on parade day.

[@carlmayne3519]

What thickness MDF you using there Mel? ... Off to B&Q tomorrow :D

[@wingviper]

Carl Mayne i think he mentioned he likes to use 6 millimeter mdf

[@carlmayne3519]

Okiez, Good stuff ... Cheers :D

[@TheTerrainTutor]

What Mick said mate

[@gregwhite6005]

No risk of warping when that thin, Mel?

[@gregwhite6005]

Oh, watch the whole video Greg. Spots of PVA! Genius.

[@captaincosmo6157]

I've asked this kind of question in the past, but: expanded polystyrene (even if it is a bit denser) doesn't seem to work well with sandpaper for me (at least what i'd normally use for hardboard or MDF bases). What grade of sandpaper are you using, or is it jus tthe case that you are some kind of god with the sandpaper?

[@captaincosmo6157]

Ignore that, I paused the video too early (just before you explained the breaking of polystyrene) because I had a "Mel, I bet you haven't thought of this" moment. My bad!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

;-D

[@eruptdave]

@TheTerrainTutor where did you get that fancy styrofoam-cutting knife from? Cant find it anywhere :/

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Hotwire Foam Factory mate

[@eruptdave]

TheTerrainTutor thanks alot :)

[@MichaelRErskine]

Make sure you get the little reinforcing plastic bit for stabilizing the arms-they sell it separately

[@eruptdave]

ok, thanks :) i'll order it next month. I'm wondering if they ship to switzerland tho

[@AdventuresHobbies]

I do like that one.

[@mima1299]

How tall was your trench?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

3"

[@CMAC86]

Where do you get your foam from? Thinking about starting a crafting project and wanted to know? B&Q? Thanks

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Yeah, B&Q mate

[@bury_sperg]

Oh boy, I made it here before 100 views :D

[@twinvisionphoto]

hi there thanks for your amazing videos..i just wanted to ask whats the best hot knives to buy? thank you in advance

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I use Hot Wire foam Factory tools

[@alexbarton8692]

Us brits love r standardisation, Sometimes

[@yaboyzzz9098]

Where's the bunker from?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Which bunker?

[@richardthurman2260]

How do I donate or join your channel ?

[@michaels728]

I always enjoy your videos and your builds. You have done bunkers and log bunkers. But have you ever thought to do different types of military defensive positions ie foxholes yet? From the single soldier laying foxhole to the different style of standing foxholes like the 2 man position, the heavy machinegun position, etc. Including the ones that have a grenade pit within the foxhole so the grenade explodes upward and away. Like these cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1600/1*A0b0360Tez4B85_pRVlG_w.png Sure would like to see a tutorial on foxholes someday.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Check the battlefield basics series in the lets make playlist mate

[@michaels728]

i havent gotten the chance to see them all yet. I did see some a year ago and forgot some of the comment ideas I and others offered to new model builders. And I figured since I have a big upcoming project soon I wanted to go back and see what comments I made to help others and refresh my own thoughts or ideas I may have forgotten and was going back over the posts I made over a yr ago to save into Word and add any new ideas to my old list of techniques notebook Ive done in the past. But I have seen them a while ago but didnt remember everything so going back over to watch them again. Keep doing great work its always good to help others who are just learning or getting back into it and have forgotten some techniques. I just havent found your foxhole ones yet.

[@neprigodniy]

Не понимаю чего говорит, но смотреть интересно)

[@hongtanke]

nooooo, the krakin is a backin!

[@markmatthews9102]

Hi there, can anyone link me where to buy that stuff? "Jablite High Performance Universal Insulation Board" ?? Only, I can't seem to find that exact product anywhere (in the UK, on diy.com or wickes.com)

[@markmatthews9102]

@TheTerrainTutor help please!

[@markmatthews9102]

WOuld it be this (different product name though...) www.diy.com/departments/jablite-premium-insulation-board-1200mm-450mm-25mm/26830_BQ.prd

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Yep

[@Stringbean421]

@@markmatthews9102 Hey Mark,..did you buy that stuff from B & Q in the end?? Is it the right material? I noticed that the foam has orange bits in it (going by the box art), whereas the Terrain Tutor had plain black Jablite? I wonder if there's a difference.

[@MightyMadFish]

At the time of writing this comment, 861 thumbs up (myself included) and 10 people who are wrong.

[@tommothedog]

I love you

[@kristijansusnik1297]

I can see myself like him once I finnish high school in 3 years

[@andynelson7773]

Lol Grey knights jokes

[@dobry374]

what kind of filler is this?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

B&Q Diall Ready Made filler

[@rileythomas9998]

is he watching lord of the rings back there

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Black Sails mate

[@mesul4313]

You talk to much.

[@CHA1NZZ]

i would LOVE to be able to watch your stuff but your content is so patronising with you constantly saying " Yeah " as if you think we are thick and can't follow what your saying.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Sanguine Studio it's a verbal tic, a type of tourettes