Solitude Gaming Map Construction Pt. 3

This phase was the most interesting part of constructing the board: bringing the closer almost to finish and flocking the board. After seeing the board go through phases of stark foam to browns, this was the first part where we finally began to see how the finished board would look with it's full greys, tans, and greens.

   

The stone path and keep interior were the last and most detailed parts of the board to paint. Gaudy greens and greys were used on the base layers and later highlighted with bright tans and cream colors.
We used a few different kinds of shrubbery in the flocking process. In the more open areas we used a brighter green with a darker green peppered in to break up the color and rest in receded or shadowed spots. Small bushes and trees were then fixed into place. Once the flock was dry we finally set in the docks by cutting down balsa wood and gluing the boards into place.

   

   

   

There's only one phase of construction left and it's incredibly tempting to play on it as is. The edge of the board needs another coat of black, there's some more work to do on the castle walls and building rooftops, and the water needs some effects to bring it together but for the most part it's almost done!

photo credits: the incredible Mark Brooks

Solitude Gaming Map Construction Pt. 2

Once all of the foam was set in place and the glue had dried it was time to coat the entire board with textured paint. A few thick layers of grey cemented the ballast in place and reinforced the whole piece. The grit in the paint itself was key to providing a rough texture that really pops out in later steps. 

         

   

   

After applying a few coats of the grey paint everything was covered in different browns. From there we started building up to the basic mid-tones most of the board would eventually have. The rocks and dirt were painted by dry-brushing brighter tans and creams, then lightly touched on the edges to bring out some sharper highlights. 

   

   

Once the rocks and heavy dry brushing parts were finished we filled in the stone paths and bricks in the keep. Although the finished colors reach a grey and tan, the flat primers were loud and very saturated so that when the board is finished there's an amount of variety to the palette.