Rocks

**redmanphill** · 07-25-2011, 12:27 AM

I always found Rocks to be a great addition to a table. Massive boulders being my favourite as they not only block movement but also line of sight. With that In mind I set about getting a test piece done for my own board:

This piece turned out really well and I am half in the mood to make a themed set of terrain that pretty much is only out crops like this. I can imagine it would really make for some interesting decisions when traversing the board. They are really simple to make, just some cork chunks on a cd with some cheap modelling clay to blend them into the base a little better. Painting them is simple!

**Toothy** · 07-25-2011, 06:07 AM

That is a surprisingly good looking rock. Kudos.

**PastorJayRich** · 07-25-2011, 06:16 AM

Where do you get cork that size? My LGS needs some terrain that isn't forest.

Oh... and it's amazing.

**GreenJello** · 07-25-2011, 07:14 AM

Very nice looking. I think that you can get some decent smooth rocks out of foam, and crystals, but nothing like the textures you've gotten out of this cork. Very cool looking.

**CT GAMER** · 07-25-2011, 11:05 AM

Looks great. A themed table with 15-20 pieces like this of various sizes would make a very cool battlefield...

**DoktorVivi** · 07-25-2011, 11:25 AM

Um, that looks awesome. Got any WIP shots of it?

**Thracy11** · 07-25-2011, 04:18 PM

Where did you get cork that size?!

**PastorJayRich** · 07-25-2011, 10:47 PM

I found a taxidermy place online that sells large pieces of cork.
http://www.van****staxidermy.com/CBKF1-P3731.aspx

edit: so apparently the pp forums don't like the name of the website. four letters that are missing from that url are d - y - k - e. It's a person's name for goodness sake!

**juckto** · 07-26-2011, 12:12 AM

Ah, it can't be worse than another forum I go to where you're not allowed to s******.

+Edit. Although apparently it's no better. The words means "a smothered or half-suppressed laugh"

**Blue Claw** · 07-26-2011, 12:45 AM

Second the request for some WiP shots to get a better idea of how it was done. Looks great!

**Krasnay Volk** · 07-26-2011, 07:44 AM

I've been using pink foam with a serrated blade that gives very similar finish to this, but i've never found any thicket than 2", good find on this. Do you remember how much you really get out of just a pound of this?

**Darguth** · 07-26-2011, 07:49 AM

I *really* like this. I've been wanting to do some rocky outcroppings as well for impassable terrain features and was wary of using foamboard or other foam-based materials. Large corks sound like a great idea.

P.S. I think CD based-terrain is of the perfect modular size. It allows you to make small features that allow for a LOT of board customization.

**Thracy11** · 07-26-2011, 02:43 PM

So, I appreciate your help sourcing this, PastorJayRich, but how do we gauge cork sold per pound? How big is one pound of cork -- seems like it would be pretty big!

**BlackSwan2276** · 07-27-2011, 01:32 AM

Cork blocks are used in Yoga, so you can buy sizable blocks of cork as well, but these are the type of cork that looks like it has been through a blender... much like cork board.

Cork bark is sold for animal habitats and florist activities (certain flowers like to take root in cork bark), but it more expensive.

Both of these items can be purchase at your standard online retail store (like amazon).

I am wondering which type of cork was used for these rocks. I would have to guess the cork bark due to the smoothness of the surfaces.

**akroma1979** · 07-27-2011, 03:55 AM

Very nice rock. congrats on the project.

**PG_Avatar8481** · 07-27-2011, 04:03 AM

This stuff is available on amazon, pretty good prices, seems like the right thickness. Sold as aquarium decoration.

**Blue Claw** · 07-31-2011, 03:59 PM

Bump for WiP

I really really want to make these.

**redmanphill** · 08-01-2011, 03:34 AM

Sorry a busy week meant I didn't get to check back! Thanks for the compliments. Here is a link to where I discuss building the piece. I don't have many WIP shots of this piece sorry. I do intend to make a few more of these so once I get around to that I will show the very simple process with some better shots. One of the difficulties is in getting the cork. I buy this stuff in my local hobby store. Its fairly cheap and I make easily make about five pieces of this size from it. I don't really need to get any texture as the stuff comes basically like you see it. All I did was paint it to bring the natural roughness out. The cork blocks you usually see is just the stuff I buy ground down and reformed into placemats, bottle corks and so on.

This is a simple shot with the piece sprayed grey. I then washed and drybrushed it to bring out the texture. It really couldn't be easier.

This shows one of the green washes I put on in a few places to simulate some damp mould or moss growing. In most cases this wouldn't be needed but I wanted to see how it might come out.

**Blue Claw** · 08-01-2011, 08:25 AM

Ahh wow, never seen cork like that. Anyone know where to get it in the US?

**DFM** · 08-02-2011, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Blue Claw

Ahh wow, never seen cork like that. Anyone know where to get it in the US?

http://www.corkstore.com/Products/Arts-Crafts-Hobbies

they have a bunch of different types. I like the 280mmX100mmX100 "brick".

**LordKillian** · 08-03-2011, 07:38 AM

Amazon has Cork Bark for sale at about $18 for 2.5 lbs. (Not sure on the dimensions yet but I will post them once my order comes in today.) If you have Prime then you can get it shipped to you in 3 days for free. If you are a college student you can get Prime free for a year with your college email.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QFSNWG

**Grimmnar** · 08-03-2011, 01:24 PM

At first when i saw the pics i wasn't thinking cork i was thinking bark. These look quit nice. I know people have been using Cork for years now for smaller things like bases. A rock base yes but nothing this big. Looks very nice indeed and lightweight and easy to use. :-)

Grimm

**BlackSwan2276** · 08-04-2011, 01:09 AM

Please update when you receive the product. I am interested on how it looks once it arrives. (size is especially a question)

**Blue Claw** · 08-04-2011, 02:07 AM

It doesn't look like any are exactly what he is buying yet.

**redmanphill** · 08-04-2011, 02:16 AM

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QFSNWG

Is exactly what I bought but I just broke/cut it into chunks and then used it. A good piece like that will last for a good few bases!

**Blue Claw** · 08-04-2011, 10:23 AM

Ahh cool thanks! I was mistaken then, I thought it looked different on the hobby links, but those pics were pretty small

**Thracy11** · 08-04-2011, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by redmanphill

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QFSNWG

Is exactly what I bought but I just broke/cut it into chunks and then used it. A good piece like that will last for a good few bases!

Yes! That's exactly what this thread needed!!

**LordKillian** · 08-08-2011, 01:10 PM

Sorry, I forgot to post pics of the stuff. I will make SURE to post tonight but the length for the large piece went from about the tip of my fingers to my elbow so it was almost 2 ft long. I was surprised by the size and the large piece is enough to make roughly 15-25 rocks like in the initial post.

**LordKillian** · 08-09-2011, 08:17 AM

Okay so here are my photos.

This is the chunk of Cork Bark I got from Amazon which I linked to earlier. I would say it's about 20 inches long and 12 inches at the widest end then down to 6-8 inches at the small end. You can compare it to the keyboard behind it on the desk. There are a few chunks missing because I all ready have started making three pieces which I will post next.

This is the curve of the chunk. It's curved because it really is just a chunk of bark removed from a tree.

**LordKillian** · 08-09-2011, 08:30 AM

Now I've started three pieces using the same method initially posted here. I recommend using a small hobby saw combined with some brute force to break off the pieces for your rocks. While it is only bark, unless there is a seam it can be quite tough to just break apart with your hands.

These photos show the terrain pieces before primed. I used just simple air drying clay to blend the pieces into the CD spindle inserts.

**Blue Claw** · 08-09-2011, 11:56 AM

Looking good, I got mine recently also, will post up some shots soon. A Nats fan! I'm sorry :P

**LordKillian** · 08-09-2011, 12:11 PM

Haha! I'm only really a 'fan' because they are the hometown team. The card is actually for my friend. I favor soccer and DC United more than anything.

**redmanphill** · 08-10-2011, 04:43 AM

Yep these look exactly like the one I built. I packed the base with more cork though so that the entire base bloacks line of sight rather than the rock part. It can save discussions during the game as to what can be seen and what can't. I also made sure to only put on small amounts of the clay at once to stop the CD base from warping too much. It takes an evening extra but it is worth it so that the base is flush with the table. If the base has warped already then some glue on the bottom can help pull it back into shape (not too much though!)

**Mordjinn** · 01-05-2012, 01:13 AM

Great looking stuff. I think I need to build some boulders. Now where's the nearest pet store...hmmmm...

**Woldwrath** · 01-05-2012, 07:04 AM

I have a few of those in my Uromastyx's enclosure...and a few more downstairs. NICE!

**Tarrant** · 01-05-2012, 09:12 AM

Nice job!

T.

**redmanphill** · 01-13-2012, 08:03 AM

I had a look around a local petshop yesterday. It turns out that they sell cork by the kilo. So for ~ $12 I managed to pick up this:

I am already wondering how I might ever manage to use so much. First thing though is a big hill with a rockface on one side.

**PG_Avatar8481** · 01-13-2012, 04:12 PM

I bought a similar sized piece and used it all without too much trouble. Filling CDs with rocks actually used up a lot, and I made one large piece.

**R.J.** · 01-14-2012, 09:33 PM

Great materials tips in this thread, thanks for posting it.

**Mordjinn** · 01-17-2012, 11:06 AM

Thanks to this amazing thread and redmanhills great instructions I got inspired to build some rocks for our gaming table. Got the cork from the local pet shop for 15€ and after building 12 rocks of various sizes I still have 1/3 of the chunk left for future projects. Breaking the cork up was definitely the hardest part of this project, but well worth it.

Instead of mounting the rocks on the CD's I used plasticard. As the rocks can be smaller near the ground I decided to make the bases the same size as the rock, its extensions and smaller rocks on the "ground". That way when playing the models never step on the bases and you can track the LOS and cover by measuring from the bases, which is a lot easier than trying to figure if a bit of "rock" is giving cover or not. Also all the rocks are as tall or higher than a warjack, so they block LOS for everybody.

When breaking the cork in pieces I ended up with a lot of little "rubble". I'm thinking of building some rough terrain areas from these as they would bring a new terrain element to our table.

Redmanphill: I don't mean to hijack this thread and just let me know if you wish me to take my pictures elsewhere. Just thought to show what I managed to do with your instructions. Thanks.

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