I got a great tip from a fellow wargamer (can't find link so speak up if it was you) about these Eco-Rugs. $20 for a 8x6 outdoor carpet piece from Lowes. These are way different from grandma's cheapo outdoor carpet. It's not so "green you'll never find in nature" and doesn't have the flakey weave to it. It's made from recycled plastic.
the rug is nice and heavy so it lays flat.
It's still an awful color for realistic grass, and a little part of me dies whenever I see nicely painted armies sitting on putting a green. So, I painted it.
I grabbed a cheap gallon of my favorite green ( great to have extra for making hills, etc) and rolled it on. No need to be precise. Let those happy mistakes take over. It will soak in. It was more important to knock back the color than completely cover.
Next step it taking a sponge and adding bits of brown. This mat is for To the Strongest. It's getting a 6' grid on it. Great part is, I can flip in over and make a different grid, or none on the back.
This project cost me about 2 hours of time and under $40. Considering the new printed mats I see everywhere would cost me close $90 just for half my 8x6' table, I call it a bargain.
Update: Here's the original article: Anton's Wargaming
6 comments:
OH that is a good tip! Do they have any that a little smaller?
I saw the same thing, here:
http://antonswargame.blogspot.com/2016/07/diy-game-mats.html
http://antonswargame.blogspot.com/2016/07/more-fun-with-cheap-diy-table-mats.html
http://antonswargame.blogspot.com/2016/07/more-fun-with-diy-wargame-mats-caution.html
I intend to try the same thing, but I'm trying to figure out the best way to paint it to get a good result. That guy appears to have just drybrushed some brown over the top, though he did use house paint rather than craft paint. Can you describe how you painted it a little more?
I used house paint. Flat latex interior. Cheapest "house" brand they had. Just used a roller. That's about it. Brushing on seemed a pain.
Adam. This stuff's easy to cut. $20 and you could cut down to multiple mats.
I'm completely new to this, but love the idea of it. Care to share what colors green and brown you used to get the more realistic look?
Thanks for the great tip!
--Joe
Hey Joe, not sure I still have paint swatches. I actually took one of styrofoam hills up to Lowes and matched to a paint chip. I'll go dig around the garage and see if I can find the can.
Toy Tank Green!
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