Sherpa Fleece Terrain Mat
Sherpa Fleece Terrain Mat
There were numerous inquiries following the recent Partizan event regarding the terrain cloth used for our Battle of Degsastan game. In response, I’ve gathered the images from the creation process and drafted a brief guide for your reference.
Rocks and dolmens enhance the aesthetics of my sherpa fleece cloth.
Growing up, I spent countless hours gaming on a plain green table tennis table, which sufficed at the time. However, I often found myself longing for a setup that mirrored the natural beauty of the landscapes I observed during countryside strolls. While practicality is essential for gaming terrain—allowing for easy storage and stable positioning of miniatures—there is also an undeniable visual component to consider. Although some may be fortunate enough to enjoy dedicated wargaming spaces with ample storage for elaborate sculpted terrain, I, unfortunately, fall short of such luxuries.
The Lake District in England continuously inspires my terrain designs.
Yet, to me, the visual aspect is significant. Miniature gaming is about creating a compelling visual narrative; we craft our unique environments where heroes and monsters engage in epic battles. The hours we dedicate to perfecting individual models—sharing techniques online for painting details like mail armor and bronze helmets—ultimately culminate in one vital element: terrain. It is the terrain that undoubtedly leaves the most profound visual impression during a game, and thus, investing time in it is an endeavor well worth undertaking.
The clash between Noldor and Orcs flourishes on the sherpa fleece mat, effortlessly allowing for hills and slopes to emerge beneath its surface.
Following the rise of TSS expanded polystyrene terrain tiles in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the advent of printed terrain cloths marked a notable advancement in the gaming community. Companies like Cigar Box Mats and Geek Villain have emerged, offering visually stunning and highly portable cloth mats that elevate gaming experiences. However, my passion for crafting led me to explore the sherpa fleece alternative.
A few years back, captivated by the intricacy displayed in the gaming community online, I experimented with various types of teddy bear fur fabrics. Despite my eagerness, I struggled to find the right material that fit my vision without extensive effort. Teddy bear fur, while versatile, requires a significant amount of work to create an authentic grassy landscape and often conjures images of vast steppes or savannahs, rather than the moors and valleys reminiscent of the British Isles, which is where my gaming narratives unfolded. Ultimately, a trip to Northern Ireland, surrounded by its breathtaking scenery, inspired me to seek out more suitable materials.
A snapshot from my holiday in Northern Ireland consistently inspired the creation of my terrain cloth.
Historically, I would procure my fabric for terrain projects from local markets, ensuring I could physically inspect what I was purchasing. However, as those options became scarce, I turned to online sellers, discovering a broader selection of fabrics available. Many eBay vendors offer samples at minimal costs, so I took the plunge and ordered a variety of textures to experiment with. I remember a particular fleece, which was perfect for a Kermit the Frog puppet, though ill-suited for my Dark Age moorland concept!
Upon receiving the sherpa fleece sample, I nearly dismissed it at first glance, as it appeared unfit for my purposes. However, after running a wire brush over the surface, I noticed a remarkable change—it began to resemble grass-like textures. This prompted a whirl of experimentation with various techniques.
Note: Before diving in, it’s essential to note that sherpa fleece is rather “bouncy” and features considerable depth, making it less ideal for skirmish gaming with single figures. Though it can be trimmed and flattened, it is best suited for larger bases, as my games typically involve units on 120 x 60 mm bases and heroes on 40, 50, and 60 mm round bases. Using dice trays can also mitigate the potential for cocked dice!
After extensive trials with my samples, I felt confident enough to move forward with a 12’ x 5’ cloth and meticulously document each phase of the process.
STEP 1: Wire-brush the whole fleece to remove fluff and create texture.
Utilizing a wire brush dramatically altered the fleece’s texture and eliminated excess fluff.
Tools essential for this task included a sandpaper-covered wooden spoon (for pressing large fleece areas post-heating with a hot air gun) and protective gloves. A respirator was also necessary to safeguard against fumes, along with working outdoors.
STEP 2: Use scissors to trim areas of the fleece, followed by a heat gun to flatten sections.
At this stage, I commenced trimming and melting sections of the sherpa fleece to disrupt its uniformity. This was completed outdoors using my respirator and gloves.
STEP 3: Create roads. I determined a trackway would enhance the mat’s character, so I carefully melted this track using gentle heat gun bursts, flattening each area using the sandpaper/ wooden spoon technique throughout.
STEP 4: Initial painting. Using a large house brush, I dry-brushed the cloth in various shades of green, employing acrylic craft paint.
Craft paints can be observed in the background during the painting phase.
STEP 5a: Adding longer “grass.” To achieve the desired variability in grass length, I decided to incorporate patches of longer pile fabric from teddy bear fur, preparing it using my earlier techniques.
Trimming the teddy bear fur to achieve an irregular effect was critical for creating visual depth.
STEP 5b: Painting the teddy bear fur involved a time-intensive process, where I slapped green fence paint on both sides, then combed through to achieve a clumped texture.
Drying the teddy bear fur works best outdoors to preserve indoor harmony!
Once dry, a touch of wire brushing might be needed to revive the texture.
STEP 6: Affixing the patches of longer grass involved tracing irregular cuts of the teddy bear fur onto the sherpa fleece, before hot-gluing these firmly in place.
Goto Silipi Technology to know more.
A Northstar Celtic chieftain and his Alternative Armies wolfhounds exhibit the texture variation from long to short grass.
STEP 7: Integrating heather. I sourced a captivating yet costly (£20) sheet of imitation heather, cutting it into small irregular patches for strategic adhesion onto the base cloth using hot glue, enhancing the overall visual appeal.
Heather patches strategically placed, featuring an Alternative Armies Fir Bolg warrior.
STEP 8: The road. Although a larger, independent piece would have served better, I desired a winding track across the moor. I opted for flexible frame sealant, applying it delicately and embedding sand for added texture while it set.
Adding sand enhances the textural quality of the road layout.
STEP 9: Earth patches were crafted using quality PVA wood glue to which sand was sprinkled.
A close view of the sandy patches awaiting their paint.
Afterwards, I showcased the piece on my washing line to evaluate the finished product.
STEP 10: Selected painting and staining. A wash of Burnt Umber craft acrylic provided a consistent base color for the road and sandy patches.
Following the drying process, both the road and earth patches received light brown dry-brushing to accentuate details and create contrast.
STEP 11: Scatter material was glued around roads and exposed soil patches with PVA glue, topped off with assorted tufts and flowers sourced from Gamers Grass for diversity and visual interest.
At this stage, the terrain mat was nearing completion. Due to size constraints on my kitchen table, I chose to work on sections in isolation, continually adding elements until I was content with the overall aesthetic.
Finally, I updated my Last Valley trees, aligning them with the new table setup, incorporating matching tufts and cloth to their bases. Adding internal weights helped counterbalance the “bounciness” of the sherpa fleece.
A close examination reveals an array of textures and effects integrated throughout the terrain mat.
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