folding portable tabletop

[jediguru]

Wanted to post a quick question or two regarding building a game table. Planning on building a board that consists of three 2'x4' sections that will be hinged to create a tri-folding surface that can be used for either Warhammer 6x4 or Warmachine 4x4. Having said that my questions are not about the construction. I'm a carpenter and the design I can figure out. My questions are about how best to create the gaming surface. I've read through quite a few builds and I see a lot of people either flocking the entire surface or using sand and paint. Flocking an entire surface seems like a major pain but it DOES look nice.

For those who have done it, how much flock did you end up using for your board and how much did it cost you? How's the longevity of the play surface?

I'm considering covering the play surface with felt instead and using an airbrush to paint variations in the terrain rather than using flock and sand.

Has anyone had any experience with using felt in this way? What are the pros and cons of this method? Is this a viable solution?

Also, what about those grass mats that model railroaders use such as this for instance. Anyone use one?
http://www.amazon.com/Woodland-Sceni.../dp/B000C8FC1W

Thanks guys. I'll be posting up here at some point in the future once I get the table underway.

[Jhokalups]

One of the coolest folding designs I saw was Papabear's Folding Tables. These were only half fold though and he used a 4x4 rubber mat in between. Perhaps you could adapt what he did for you own purposes with felt?

I am excited to see what you come up with and hope that you post a nice step by step log so that we can marvel at your master craftsmanship. (Hopefully it will be awesome enough for people to copy)

[PG_Pake]

You could try the GW's gaming mat. It's very durable because it's fabric, not paper. Or buy the GW scenery basing kit.
It has 200 grams of grass which is plenty for a 4x6 table.

[jediguru]

the GW mat is a little hard to come by now that it's been out of print for awhile now. Would maybe consider it if I could find one. Anyone have any experience with these?

http://www.thewarstore.com/product40277.html

[sergeigen]

just use a regluar square of cloth, and texture it all kinds of things... glue sand to it, paint it, airbrush it, the more beaten and textured terrain surface looks the better!

[PG_Dalthoraz]

Zuzzy Mats are awesome they are a little expensive but we don't get in this hobby if we don't understand that.
http://www.zuzzy.com/
They have a great selection and are durable.

[jediguru]

Not a huge fan of the zuzzy mats myself. And while yes I do understand that this is an expensive hobby, I also like to keep most of that money spent on my models.

[Cassiaus]

I bought a 8x4 1/4 sheet of wood. Cut I it into 2' strips. Put hinges on them and bam! Two tables. Them I took a roll of velcro (the hook side) with adhesive back, put pieces along edge and middle. Sticks great to wood. I use felt for top . Velcro keeps it all nice and snug. White felt for winter battle, tan for Skorne desert etc. all folds up and tucks away. Two tables with three surfaces cost me about 50$.

[omnivision6]

I use my old wool blanket the army issued me. It was free... kinda.

[jediguru]

Ha! Nice. Good Idea.
Well, I purchased my first batch of supplies to get started on this project. I'll post up picks once I get a start on it.