Here we'll showcase the various tools of the trade needed
to create and manipulate materials to look like, and be used as war game terrain.

The Wonder Cutter. Used for cutting polystyrene into hills, rocks, or any other piece of terrain. The less expensive route. About 10 US dollars. Can usually be bought at any craft store. Uses lots and lots of D batteries so it's basically a trade off. More up front for a foam cutter that plugs in the wall, or less up front for The Wonder Cutter and more down the road in battery costs.

The Foam Factory's Hot Knife cutters are wonderful. Retailing at $99.95 for the 3 in 1 crafters kit they are well worth their weight in gold. There are less expensive options on their web site if you are not interested in the 3 in 1 kit. Check out our review of the 3 in 1 crafters kit.

Everyone needs a glue gun! Its uses are endless... from making terrain to putting the little metal plaque back onto your favorite beer stein. You should definitely invest the extra money for the $20.00 cordless one that just plugs into its nifty base. No cords to get in the way, which saves lots of hassle.

Single speed Jigsaw used for chopping up masonite and various particle boards to make bases and templates. Absolutely necessary.

X-Acto knives are super useful! You can use them to clean your mini, get off any excess flash. On plastic minis you can use it to carve the bottom of its hex base so it sits flat. It's an indispensable tool. Similarly, the Creative Versa Tool doubles as an X-Acto knife but has many other uses. A worthwhile investment indeed.

Variable speed rotary tool such as a Dremel. Used for cutting, sanding, and cleaning minis. Also used for smoothing edges of masonite and particle boards. The uses of the dremel are endless when it comes to battletech terrain. No war gamer should be without... unless of course, you intend on purchasing your terrain

A multi purpose brush, an awl, wire cutters, and a pair of needle nose pliers

A multi purpose electric drill for drilling holes in masonite

Besides all of the various tools you will need listed here this is the section that will outline all of the various supplies you will need to be successful in your terrain making endeavors.

 

Masonite, used for basing almost everything. Masonite is the only material thin enough that wont warp when turf is glued down to it. Edges can be sanded down with a dremel to create a more aesthetically appealing slope.

High density, extruded polystyrene. The blue or pink foam found in retail home improvement stores. You must use this and not the white bubbly kind. A 3/4" x 4' x 8' sheet should run about $9.99

Various turfs and foliages used for basically everything.

Extra Heavy Gel medium, goes on thick and can be shaped and molded. Dries almost completely clear, can be painted.

Elmer's PVA glue. Used to affix flock and foliage to trees and hills. When mixed down 40/60 with water it makes a cement used for permanently affixing loose materials to a surface.

Plaster used for making rough ground, filling in bases, stuff like that. Plaster also goes by the name 'Gypsum' over in the UK and is most often used for making casts from latex molds.

Batteries used for powering hand held hot wire cutters such as The Wonder Cutter.