The Commander Series Forum

Does anybody use the downloadable paper terrain files that are available from places like Wargames Vault? I like the idea but think that card buildings start to look a bit tatty after a while. I've had an idea in the back of my mind for a while now to try printing a building on to 0.5mm thick plasticard. It should go through my printer fine and be more hardwearing than card, but would the ink stick to the smooth plasticard surface or just smear off?

I've got my eye on a set of roads:

https://www.wargamevault.com/product/196057/Roads-1-285

At the moment I'm thinking of spraying some plasticard with white, to give the print ink something to stick to, then printing on to the plasticard before spraying with varnish to seal the surface. Alternatively I could print on to card, then glue it on to plasticard to make it more rugged.

Be careful you don't wreck your printer!
I'd suggest printing onto thin(ish) paper and then sticking to the plasticard and varnishing them (1st coat gloss, 2nd matt).

It is similar to what I do to make really detailed 15mm and 28mm flags (especially if there is heraldry to be painted).

I print out the design onto as thin printer paper as I can get hold of. Then I stick it to thick foil (Sainsbury's tomatoe puree tubes are fantastic ... we eat a lot of tomatoe based sauces in the Fry household ... pure coincidence ). Then I bend the flag into shape and piant it up.

Obviously the foil idea wouldnt work for terrain ... but you get the idea.

I've done it and it's fine. What helps is to have a pack of (the kids) felt pens handy to colour in the often white edges and folds if the print "cracks".

I havent long had the exact set, good for single roads or dual carriageways. The 4 lane roads are only straight and could have done with even just one curve.

I printed on 300gsm card (on a commercial printer) then put plasterboard joint tape (like a thread grid with adhesive on one side) on the back for extra stiffness and grip.
Then coloured the edges with dark grey pastels. Now i have to fix it with hairspray.

Worth the $4 imo

Is a pic of them slapped down after id made the paper buildings (whch are all free downloads)



Glenn