A comprehensive guide to using foamboard to make wargames terrain

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[shawnyfin]

This is why youre among my favorite terrainers. You teach us methods for basics and terrain necessities, not "this week, I make a chaotic center piece Im going to use once"...so thanks, mate.
On the half cuts: what i do is make the half cut, and then instead of bending away, i slice a 45 on the inseams, so it can be folded inward, making it appear seamless :-)

[rufuscopperpot]

Great and priceless tips...
One more for you : when I glue pieces together, I use what I call a reverse half cut... Meaning I remove one side of the card board and the foam underneath it, leaving just one side of the card board. After removing it, I have a small piece of cardboard (only) where I can put my glue. That way, you don't see the foam on the join, you only see the card board... The rest of the technique (pins and all) is the same...

[dougsundseth]

A couple of minor things:

For corners, I like to plunge cut: Place the back of a #11 blade right at the corner, then push the tip straight through the foamcore. You have to be careful to make sure that you're vertical in both directions, but once the corners are done, it's just connecting the dots to finish the opening.

For people who are worried about cuts, you don't have to go to butcher's mail gloves, there are "cut-resistant gloves" available as well (we have them at work for some of our assemblers). They're more flexible and allow a better grip than mail, but they're still a bit rigid and constraining. I don't use them for hobby work (hadn't really though of it until reading the comment section here), but I might try them the next time I'm don't some serious cutting.

[brerrabbit]

When you give a tutorial, you really give a tutorial. I've just learned more about foam board and the cutting of it than I thought possible. I'm not even half way through the video yet. Salute....

[remowo_]

Thanks for sharing and your time sir. A rookie here. It's magic when something new and spontenious happens while recording...

[Kwansu_Dude]

Loved this video. I was cutting me foam wrong, but I don't plan to make those same mistakes again. I always wondered why me cuts were coming out jagged. Now I know. I always liked watching your videos.

[mohantm]

An outstanding terrain tutor! Only a great teacher can make professional techniques look easy. Great job Mel!

[rejoyce]

"You sot!!" 🤣😂 You are so much fun, as well as helpful. Thanks! So glad I found your channel!

[susanhamilton]

About to use foamboard for the first time and you came up in my research re cutting it - I learned so much more! Loved the serendipity cardboard peeling moment & the half cut curve technique has given my project a total redesign. You're a great teacher, thank you!

[roryarsenault]

Great video! As someone returning to terrain building (after 15+ years) your videos are a must!

Plus, the discovery at the end of the video made this even better. Keep it up.

[DrDeathmonger]

Another great video. I really like the fact that you explain everything in great detail in your Back to Basics videos. I'm sure some folks have taken their hard earned knowledge for granted and just intuitively understand what they're seeing when they watch terrain vids. I would definitely recommend your videos to anyone just starting out.

[DrMurdercock]

I am gonna begin making dioramas thanks to your teaching...i feel likee you share methods others would only offer to a paid apprentice. You taught me that I CaN do this. ty so much man. Cheers from Indiana USA

[hansdevos]

Great video. I've learned some new things. One thing I did pick up from watching other videos is that when you don't want the foam to show in the corners, you can do a half cut on one wall a wall's width from the edge (in the case of the foam in this vid, 5 mm). Skim of the foam and you have a piece of cardboard that will cover the foam of the other wall. An added bonus to doing that is that it will give you more surface area for the glue to hold on to and make a stronger join.

[deepred]

Pins, Lego, half cuts, masking tape! These tips are brilliant mate. You are the man. I wish I'd found your vids earlier, woulda saved me some wasted foam board

[thomaskeesman]

Well, every time I watch/listen here, I learn something new and useful. Thanks

[raghdahaider]

This has been so helpful. Thanks mate! you helped me from all across the world

[CookingandWHkVideos]

I’ve just stumbled onto your channel and after seeing it I’ve been so excited to build I can barely sleep

[michkabailey]

This was the best video on foam core I've seen. I learned a lot from it, and I've been working with foam core for a while now.
I do have one tip. I have noticed that if foam core warps from being painted, you can usually get it to warp back to flat by painting the other side of the board. Don't know if this is a problem you've experienced, since you brace your projects. Just thought it might come in handy.

[harthfire]

For america the dollar tree sells foam core for YUP $1 but the paper is made to peel off so you can have just the core but also works well for buildings and such

[BigMekDanskull]

Great stuff Mel! Just got my hands on some old pictures from work, mounted on foam board & wasn't too confident in attacking it until I'd seen this. Cheers!