The ESSENTIAL guide to build WH40k Ruins (scatter terrain)

This set of scatter terrain pieces fit great on any Warhammer 40k Battlefield. This level of realism can be achieved by anyone with a little patience and some cheap supplies. This piece of terrain was inspired by the aesthetic of ruined/bombed out city battlefields, such as the Battle of Stalingrad.
The half-started project that sparked as the catalyst for this build was a set of air dry clay made sandbag fortifications that had long sat on my shelf. It's nice to go back and finish off old projects.
Patreon Link:
/ knarbmakes
Affiliate Links of products mentioned in the video:
- DAS air dry clay: amzn.to/3d5qiN3
- Plastic Syringes: amzn.to/3cbkqSZ
- Black Gesso: amzn.to/2QnlCtZ
- Cheap Air Brush + Compressor: amzn.to/395J2dN
- Makeup Brush: amzn.to/3rjTq8j
Credits Composition (Joel Santos) www.joelsantosmusic.com/
00:00 Intro
01:04 Setting out the rough Shapes
01:58 Building up the walls
03:36 Floor tile detail and wall detail
04:50 Rebar detail
05:10 Sculpting paste
06:24 Rubble detail
07:10 Tile grout
07:48 Flag mount
07:59 Pencil erasers as glue bottle caps TIP
08:18 Gesso base coat
09:17 Zenithal Highlight
09:31 Painting
10:00 Flag Detail
10:48 Showcase

[@alantheschmallan1933]

How does this dude not have more subscribers?! His every video is frikken masterpieces!

[@KnarbMakes]

Are you enjoying this type of tutorial? Let me know if you want more content like this in the future. Cheers! Make sure to check out my Patreon if you want to support the kind of work I do and get access to some cool rewards and a community where I share behind the scenes tips and early access to all my videos: www.patreon.com/knarbmakes

[@daviddickson412]

Yes this was great brother!

[@vesperd7697]

I've been watching your videos for a few weeks now and they're awesome. Thank you for providing so much detail. What do you use for hardening the XPS foam? I think it was sculpting paste with cellulose insulation and drywall. I'm using foam to build a wall but it breaks easily and I'm trying to find some way of toughening it. I also had a go at making a roll mat with caulking. Thanks so much for your videos, they have been a great inspiration and help.

[@JennellJaquays]

I really like the suggestion of using old vinyl tile pieces for the base.

[@turnipslop3822]

Really love the rebar effect you've achieved with the garden wire, it's simple but adds so much to the feel of the buildings

[@BillMakingStuff]

Lots good tips in here. I like the use of those erasers as lids... among other things

[@KnarbMakes]

I initially got them as a crafting Greblie, but they work really well as lids.

[@Visigoth_]

I really love the old school "DIY" aspect of your builds... most content creators nowadays have gone the "prefab" rout (buying most of their pieces.).

[@crossbones8956]

I would actually just use these for a Stalingrad game. Since I play Bolt Action, these kinds of scatter terrain would look great for various bombed out areas of Europe. Great video!

[@HacksawsHobbyBunker]

Another great build! Also - I wish all of my half-done projects all fit in one box :-(

[@KnarbMakes]

I've thrown out a lot of stuff in the past, haha. Good to keep that pile in check every once in a while.

[@ErokLobotomist]

As soon as you said, "tip snips" I was like wait, this guy is Canadian. That vinyl tile idea is great, never considered it. Cheers from BC!!

[@euansmith3699]

I love your style of presentation; and the terrain looks great.

[@KnarbMakes]

Thank you very much!

[@DustyLamp]

This is low-key the best terrain video in KZbin.

[@athollmcnicoll256]

That was an insight into what we term battlefield rubble, as no area is ever dead flat, so even piles of dead soldiers, though smelly over time can be effective and in War there are always casualties.

[@angrybadgerminis3077]

I'm a simple man, I see Knarb and I click "like".

[@GK-Bredbeddle]

Very very nice 👍 I like how these designs are at once generic yet interesting. That’s a tricky balance. It means no matter what war game you play, they will fit and look good.

[@SuperSaiyanPhysique]

Pastel weathering pigments, what a tip!

[@Andrew-px4on]

Very happy someone mentioned Zona Alfa! I'm working on a dual purpose board right now. Love your videos dude.

[@House-Atreides]

I would love to see a video from you on the playability of terrain pieces and what are common pitfalls that make terrain less fun in games. I hate seeing under-populated boards or terrain pieces that just go to waste (particularly in fantasy games). Conversely I enjoy seeing a decked-out board and terrain that integrates easily into the flow of a game. As a kid I only loved Necromunda just because it was the first game I could get shooters at high elevations.

[@KnarbMakes]

I'll give it a shot in one of these videos. Cheers!

[@tungstentoothpick6788]

Those pieces look great, I will absolutely give it a try

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks for watching. Happy crafting!

[@radicaledward8486]

THAT SHOWCASE TRANSITION THO!!!!

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks :D

[@kentellis5384]

Outstanding! I love you bring in history into your build.

[@RACKSO99]

Good stuff pretty realistic and looks playable. Some things I found useful for building bombed out urban terrain is to actually build the whole building or infrastructure in tact and then cut it up and brake it down. The broken segments can then be used for the ruble, can be orientated to make more terrain, create (textured) ramps and just makes it feel more realistic. Also being deliberate about the destruction adds a lot to it. Big charred craters and bullet holes work great. The gardening wire you used worked great for rebar, you can also use thin copper tubing for piping. Raid your spare parts, you can add insignia, equipment, weapons and body parts from any army to show fighting.

[@marcwittkowski5146]

Absolutely gorgeous, really great. And a great tutorial, too.

[@matthewneil3016]

These are absolutely brilliant. I am inspired to make my own.

[@battlesbrushes5662]

Brilliant!! I’ll definitely be giving this a go!! Once again a great tutorial!

[@markchristy9704]

Some great ideas and a fun project. Thanks for sharing.

[@frankgarcia9350]

Very nice tutorial. Quite inspiring. Thank you.

[@House-Atreides]

Well made Vid! I like your pace and especially the little factoid/tips you throw in that explain the materials, sources, and rationale for your choices. It’s nice to hear the same concerns that go through my head coming from a fellow crafter when making decisions during the build.

[@callum-solomonfrescomain9245]

Subbed, you've got great style for terrain craft! :)

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks for watching and subbing!

[@kaneworsnop1007]

Nice scatter terrain, I'll have to add this to my list of future projects.

[@garybuettner7920]

I like the return to previously abandoned projects. It gives me hope. This was a very cool build.

[@earlkriewall7251]

Yes! This is the kind of scatter terrain tutorial I'm looking for and which moved me to subscribe. Thank you for the inspiation.

[@Bluecho4]

Great terrain. Love the bombed-out city look. Classic warzone set dressing.

[@reconreview9353]

Very nice. Some more very useful terrain. Great results for your effort and it's always nice to finish those unfinished projects that just sit around taunting you. 👍

[@RichardHaywardMelbourne]

I really like this video. Your technique is very creative and thorough. It's definitely an inspiration for me with my first terrain project which I will start in 2022.

[@reddogterrain]

The broken up dry wall to act as concrete works real well. Nice.

[@tinyfishhobby3138]

Huge fan of this type of terrain!

[@harriswilson9952]

Just had this vid recommended. Instant sub. Great stuff.

[@pedrobastos8132]

I've made a lot of big buildings for my table, but whenever I put them to play I feel something off, like something is missing. I guess I need more scatter terrain! Great video as always.

[@KnarbMakes]

Can never have too much small scale scatter. Cheers!

[@d-emprahexpects]

Inspiration successfully delivered! 👍

[@MadsTrier]

I love this channel! - really love the narration and the old school DIY - just going with what seems right and experimenting

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks Mads!

[@chedges83]

You editing has really improved over the past couple of videos! I really appreciate the balance you've achieved here of how much footage of each step to include - this is just enough to follow along without wondering how to #drawtherestoftheowl while still keeping the pace of the video relatively snappy

[@KnarbMakes]

Thank you so much!!

[@TempestStrecha]

What a fun journey it is to see you improve your already great videos with each new release. Amazing build, and great changes to the presentation as well!

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks a ton! There's a lot to learn in video production still, deep well.

[@LukeQuadrio]

Great content mate, really appreciate that effort you put in.

[@KnarbMakes]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@patricknoble3090]

These videos really are JAMMED full of content. Zero fluff. Great stuff.

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks Patrick. Trying to keep them interesting for u guys!

[@WeltenbauerClub]

Great video. I guess i need to build some more ruins too 😍

[@Relemdeen]

by far one of the best crafting youtube channels i have ever seen for terrain! each video is simply amazing!

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks so much!

[@nathanbucud9219]

The intro music reminded me of the KZbin channel 'That Chapter'

[@10urion]

Very cool idea with the historical inspiration

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks Tenurion

[@erinweatherly6539]

Big fan of using the stick tile as well

[@joeg875]

Solid techniques and tips sir. This will also work for my Bolt Action terrain. Keep it up!

[@KnarbMakes]

You bet!

[@alrethianscraftsbattles]

Quick, easy and you can build a tables worth of these in no time 👍. Great work again my friend.

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks 👍

[@imperialjake114]

Great build!!!👍👍👍👍

[@pytle]

Love your work man! Keep it up!

[@KnarbMakes]

Appreciate it!

[@nicholaswalker4045]

These look great, nice Job!

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks!

[@daviddickson412]

Holy cow epic as allways!

[@SeanvanderM]

Great idea to use vinyl tiles! Been looking for a good base for terrain that is still reasonable easy to cut.

[@woshstudios]

Great content yet again!

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks so much!

[@charleyedwards2121]

awesome man

[@bicskeiz]

Wow, thats a very easy and good looking scatter terrain! I will probably scale down a bit, and make it for 20mm WW2 battles.

[@timeb9300]

Wow amazing

[@rondanuser1204]

Thanks!

[@CampaignTerrain]

Nice one, Knarb. Really enjoyed the insights into your processes. Totally gonna get me some erasers, now, too; pro-tip, that one

[@KnarbMakes]

Best thing is, the packs come with 20+. So if you ever lose a cap, it's easy to just grab another, haha.

[@eastcoastgaming8652]

This looks amazing. Good job! I'm subscribinh.

[@FacilityD20]

love it! - I have some barrier terrain coming in the future too!

[@KnarbMakes]

Ooooh can't wait to see it.

[@Beartree]

Wow! Superb!

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks a lot

[@mraide]

Really like that

[@peterheinzo515]

awesome, earned my sub

[@natedawg7974]

You definitely inspired me. Instantly subscribed to your channel bro 🎉

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks Nate! Happy crafting.

[@cojiro9616]

This tutorial is a godsend. Now, if only I had the cash to buy all the materials lol

[@KnarbMakes]

This was mostly made from scrap materials. The actual cost of everything put together in such small quantities is very little, but I do have most of it in bulk. Cheers!

[@thejonathan130]

This is pretty fantastic honestly

[@KnarbMakes]

Thanks!

[@thejonathan130]

@@KnarbMakes No problem at all! I can't wait to see more, and also steal some of your ideas

[@genericusername-ki9ni]

Great!

[@j453]

I need to make a box of half finished projects then I'll fill it, and hide it lol

[@andreazaltron6850]

wow amazing build pls make more scatter terrain. little pieces are less intimidating to make also consider medieval fantasy

[@kurogiza]

This is the most I've learned from a youtube video about wargaming terrain in 11 minutes. The tip (pun not intended) about the pencil erasers itself is awesome. Likewise, sprinkling the tile grout with water to make it flow and harden by itself randomly is great, as is the tip about the acrylic gesso. Lastly, the terrain looks super cool and very useful. Thank you for sharing! One question: which pastels are you using to do weathering with?

[@KnarbMakes]

Cheers! Happy to help. It's this set of pastels: amzn.to/39fdDWq

[@kurogiza]

@@KnarbMakes Excellent, thank you so much!

[@ArdWulf]

So Knarb Green isn't just for pipes!?! Heresy, I say. Heresy! Sweet addition to the library...love the eraser trick, but of course the overall build and presentation as well. Cheers! (And yes to this type of tutorial...or whatever else fits your needs, because so far there hasn't been anything not worth watching)

[@KnarbMakes]

Still tubular, so it checks out. Haha!

[@ArdWulf]

@@KnarbMakes Hahahaha...yup

[@smoothgrvs]

I love the look but whats up with thin walls?

[@JuanGarcia-ep7kc]

Goat

[@oldschoolfrp2326]

Nice; do you think the black acrylic gesso will last a while similar to paint once opened?

[@KnarbMakes]

Should last for years, as long as it's air sealed between uses.

[@SavageBruski]

My only issue with chipboard is that it warps VERY easily unless it's anchored to something. Have you found a way to minimize that?

[@TheJankmaster]

Noting the mask...do you also use a booth, or just the mask alone. Also, is the choice of booth/no booth due to the size of your space?

[@KnarbMakes]

I need to set up a booth at some point, just to keep the mess down. In the meantime, the acrylics I spray in my air brush aren't that harmful if they float around for a bit while I paint in my workshop.

[@YoutubeEnthusiast1000]

Wondering how i will do this paste without a vinyl base... the amount of water and contraction might cause the dreaded warping of the base. hmm

[@KnarbMakes]

Get a thick base, or clamp it while you are working on it, unclamp when fully dry

[@FredWilbury]

👌😎 fred

[@Michael-ko4ko]

👆 was here

[@Karlmakesstuff]

So hang on - your unfinished projects fit in ONE box? o_o

[@Karlmakesstuff]

That aside, brilliant build man. Love the end result!

[@KnarbMakes]

Haha, yeah I try and keep myself pretty focused on one thing at a time.

[@Karlmakesstuff]

@@KnarbMakes focus? What is this sorcery?