With armies on parade taking a leading role at GW events and garnering lots of praise. Therefore, it's only fitting that this post focuses on the basics behind making a foundation for an army display board. We'll be taking a look at creating a display board in parts, first, focusing on the board's foundation, second, creating terrain effects and scenery fit for an army, and third, painting and finishing the board. I'll take you along step-by-step as I create the display for my Daemons of Tzeentch army, let's get started!
First we need to gather together our tools and supplies, we'll need:
1. 1/4" thick wood board (not pictured), I used composite board for its rigidity
2. 1/2" insulation foam board, sold in 8'x4' sections
3. Handsaw or other wood cutting device
4. Box-cutter
5. Glue, I used Titebond all-purpose
6. Tape measurer
7. Felt tipped pen
8. Applicator (not pictured), for spreading glue, I used an old paint brush
Start construction by marking two 2'x2' squares onto your insulation board. Cut them out with your box cutter, a three/fourths deep-cut on one side of the board and then bending on the seam should give you a clean split.
Cutting out two sections will give us the ability to create a good measure of gradation to the terrain. If you don't want to have any hills or only slight change in terrain elevation, one 2'x2' section will do just fine.
Next, mark your base board with a similar 2'x2' outline and cut. Yes, I did feel old school using a handsaw. A point of note, keep the saw as horizontal to the plane of the board while cutting, this will give you a straighter cut along your line. Dipping the saw "nose down" will allow you to easily wander off your line.
If the board is warped and doesn't sit flat on the ground, get another piece that will, you'll regret a wobbly board later!
Put on a liberal application of glue to the wood board surface.
Use your applicator to spread the glue evenly across the board, making sure to get glue all the way to the edge. If you're working in a location where you don't want to make a mess, put down a tarp or plastic sheet to prevent overflow from marring your flooring surface.
