Yeah there are some really great mats out there. This was about $10 and about 5 hours crafting time. Some cheaper fabric could cut that by a few dollars, this was a remnant of pricey cloth I had leftover. I also wasted a tube of caulk (from the dollar store).
There is no denying the fact that printed mats are a phenomenal addition to the wargaming hobby. The resolution, the flatness, the durability - all highly desirable qualities. They are worth what they cost. However, some people just like to make stuff themselves. It’s not always cheaper either, but good or bad, it’s yours. Your work. Crafting is a big part of the hobby. There is a lot of pleasure to be derived from doing it yourself.
I gave Mel an introductory game of Gaslands the other week in his studio, he loved it and it's inspired some ideas. I'm going to make one of these mats with an oval/figure 8 combo to exactly fit my smaller Gaslands size game board. I'm sure Mel can help me out with it, glad he gave you some tips and inspiration.
Thanks for this video! It's always great to see someone try to recreate a video and come out with good results. I'll definitely be trying this at home!
Very cool method to make a battle mat. Acrylic caulk is pretty cheap, too. You might be able to add different textures by using crumpled plastic, maybe vapour barrier, or a damp sponge with large pores.
I've used that with clear silicone caulk and briefly considered trying it with the acrylic. I was already concerned with it cracking and I thought the IPA would contribute to that. Have you used IPA with acrylic? Does it cause cracking?
I've had it in my mind to do one of these since I saw Mel's video and I never got round to it; I still have the items in a watch list on eBay haha :) this inspires me to maybe give it a go early next year :) Thanks man, enjoyed this!
I use dry pigments to colour caulk, resin, fillers (spackle), etc... Work really well, don’t dry a different colour, and don’t change the chemistry of the substrate. Just a suggestion. Good looking finished product. Congrats.
The cloth I used was cotton duck fabric from Jo Anne's fabrics. It is probably a little expensive for this craft, but I had it left over from another project. I think most people use canvas painter's drop cloths which you should be able to find at any hardware store for quite a bit less.
Pretty good. I did get some cracks from letting it sit and get flat, I wrapped it up around a carboard tube and it hasn't gotten worse. Also the edges like to keep the rolled shape, so I se tit out flat for an hour or so before play with some books on it. Thanks for watching!
This is some left over from a clothing project, I'm pretty sure I got it at Joann's Fabrics. You can get canvas painter's drop cloths at any hardware store a little cheaper. Thanks for watching!
Pretty good, no cracking at all. The paint has worn in a couple spots, a clear coat would have helped that. It does tend to curl along the edges after being rolled up for a while but a couple heavy books for 10min straightens it back out. Thanks for watching!
Whats the total cost. Just curious. I buy a lot of battle mats. I love mouse pad mats the best. Very durable and machine washable
Yeah there are some really great mats out there. This was about $10 and about 5 hours crafting time. Some cheaper fabric could cut that by a few dollars, this was a remnant of pricey cloth I had leftover. I also wasted a tube of caulk (from the dollar store).
There is no denying the fact that printed mats are a phenomenal addition to the wargaming hobby. The resolution, the flatness, the durability - all highly desirable qualities. They are worth what they cost. However, some people just like to make stuff themselves. It’s not always cheaper either, but good or bad, it’s yours. Your work. Crafting is a big part of the hobby. There is a lot of pleasure to be derived from doing it yourself.
@@peterdickinson4599 Also, a custom mat allows for a perfect color match for terrain and bases.
@@philhelm1318And texture, which most (if not all?) the commercial mats lack
Great job
Thank you!
I gave Mel an introductory game of Gaslands the other week in his studio, he loved it and it's inspired some ideas. I'm going to make one of these mats with an oval/figure 8 combo to exactly fit my smaller Gaslands size game board. I'm sure Mel can help me out with it, glad he gave you some tips and inspiration.
Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun! Mel is exceptionally creative, I'm sure his ideas for Gaslands are amazing. Best of luck and happy crafting!
Thanks for this video! It's always great to see someone try to recreate a video and come out with good results. I'll definitely be trying this at home!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun making this mat.... I really need to make some different biomes.
That looks fantastic, the desert lolk worked out great.
Thanks Zero! I plan on making a few more of different biomes.
Top notch, mate. Looks great and no cracks!
Thank you! I'm sure it will crack eventually, but it will have served many hours of fun before that. Thanks for watching!
Looks absolutely great
Thank you! It still play great too, no cracks.
Very cool method to make a battle mat. Acrylic caulk is pretty cheap, too.
You might be able to add different textures by using crumpled plastic, maybe vapour barrier, or a damp sponge with large pores.
Good ideas. I've considered some broken car bits in there too. Guess I need to make more. Thanks for watching!
I was thinking. omg this can't end good. it ended super good. great job!
Haha, thank you!
great job Mel would be proud of you.
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Thanks for this video definitely gonna try and make a DMH mat with this method ❤
Best of luck and happy crafting!
You killed it. The paint job is fantastic.
Dude, the baking soda was a nice touch. Looked like a moonscape.
Yeah, that turned out really nice. Thanks for watching!
Great work on the mat
Thank you!
That is freaking awesome man, I so need to make one of those, great build, keep up the great work.
Some isopropyl alcohol mixed in with the caulking helps to thin it out while mixing.
I've used that with clear silicone caulk and briefly considered trying it with the acrylic. I was already concerned with it cracking and I thought the IPA would contribute to that. Have you used IPA with acrylic? Does it cause cracking?
That worked out really well!
Yeah it did, lots of different directions to take it too!
Great looking mat
Thank you sir! And thanks for watching.
Fantastic! Thank you for making me aware of this.
No problem, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
I've had it in my mind to do one of these since I saw Mel's video and I never got round to it; I still have the items in a watch list on eBay haha :) this inspires me to maybe give it a go early next year :)
Thanks man, enjoyed this!
Do it!
oh man that's great! I need to make some now
Yes you do! Do it!
I use dry pigments to colour caulk, resin, fillers (spackle), etc... Work really well, don’t dry a different colour, and don’t change the chemistry of the substrate. Just a suggestion. Good looking finished product. Congrats.
That's a great idea. I've got some pastels I've been grinding down to use as pigments. I'll have to do some experimenting. Thanks for sharing!
Nice, I need to up my Tatooine terrain from felt to something more realistically detailed
Interesting I am giving it ago wondering about the Pre tinted caulk I know there are browns but don't know if it's paint able.
I've never used it. If it's acrylic it should work fine. Probably best to make a test piece first before investing in a big mat. Happy crafting!
Mel used a wide plastic spreader or squeegee. Regardless, nice job. Enjoyed the build.
*Whoa new intro!* It doesn't take much to impress me.
Yeah man, I made that subscribe animation too.
@@m3verse
Thanks for this. Great stuff.
You're welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Very cool 😎. Mike Espo .
Thanks Mike!
Do you have to use paintable caulk? The mat looks so good!
Any acrylic caulk should do fine. Do not use silicone.
Hello where get ur mat?
The cloth I used was cotton duck fabric from Jo Anne's fabrics. It is probably a little expensive for this craft, but I had it left over from another project. I think most people use canvas painter's drop cloths which you should be able to find at any hardware store for quite a bit less.
Very cool
Thanks Rivers! Lots of fun to craft too, who doesn't like making a mess?
So it's been a couple of years since you made this, how did the map hold up over time?
Pretty good. I did get some cracks from letting it sit and get flat, I wrapped it up around a carboard tube and it hasn't gotten worse. Also the edges like to keep the rolled shape, so I se tit out flat for an hour or so before play with some books on it.
Thanks for watching!
I'm here because u r cool.
Much appreciated!
Where do you buy the canvas?
This is some left over from a clothing project, I'm pretty sure I got it at Joann's Fabrics. You can get canvas painter's drop cloths at any hardware store a little cheaper. Thanks for watching!
How has this held up after 6 months?
Pretty good, no cracking at all. The paint has worn in a couple spots, a clear coat would have helped that. It does tend to curl along the edges after being rolled up for a while but a couple heavy books for 10min straightens it back out. Thanks for watching!
How’a the mat held up?
Still pretty much just like when I made it. The paint hasn't even worn off yet.
How long did this take you
2-3 hours not including overnight drying. Thanks for watching.
Is that cloth?
Yes, cotton duck canvas.
If I say it’s marvelous?
Then you have to make it!