We've recently (and not so recently) been exploring the world of MDF terrain. There's a tonne of it out there, and some of the most interesting and certainly most detailed comes from an Australian manufacturer, Miniature Scenery.
They have a number of different genres including fantasy, sci-fi, Eldar-esque, vehicles, and some great cityscape terrain called Battle Grounds.
Today we're going to show the product we bought to test out their kits, the Power Generator!
They have a number of different genres including fantasy, sci-fi, Eldar-esque, vehicles, and some great cityscape terrain called Battle Grounds.
Today we're going to show the product we bought to test out their kits, the Power Generator!
The first thing to say about these kits is that they are detailed and a little fiddly, but if you follow the instructions they turn out a treat. This entire kit comes on one packed MDF sheet which is also engraved with surface detail. I sprayed both sides of the sheet black before assembly to avoid intricate painting after assembly - it's like an onion of detail - have a look at the underside of the finished kit (below left).
The Power Generator is built in two symmetrical halves which you then obviously glue together - you can see the back side of one of the halves (below right) with it's multiple angles and locking pins.
The Power Generator is built in two symmetrical halves which you then obviously glue together - you can see the back side of one of the halves (below right) with it's multiple angles and locking pins.
Once it's together there is a slight join down the middle of the two halves (below left) which you could fill and sand if you saw fit, or leave as a feature. There are surface details like scoring as well as a vent on one side and an aerial on the other. It has a feeling of Tau about it really, but would suit any battlefield I'm sure.
Previous experience with MDF shows that the sharp lines around the edges make it look a bit fake, so once dry I sanded the edges of the entire kit to round them off a bit - you can see where the black spray has worn off leaving the MDF exposed (below centre). I quite like the effect and regret having to paint it!
There are arcs of energy in the middle of the Power Generator (below right) so I left the front plat off to make it easier to paint later on.
Previous experience with MDF shows that the sharp lines around the edges make it look a bit fake, so once dry I sanded the edges of the entire kit to round them off a bit - you can see where the black spray has worn off leaving the MDF exposed (below centre). I quite like the effect and regret having to paint it!
There are arcs of energy in the middle of the Power Generator (below right) so I left the front plat off to make it easier to paint later on.
All up this took about 2 hours to make, leave to dry and sand which is pretty good for a very detailed kit.
Frankly I really like this. It was a bit of work at first, but once you hit your stride, you're away.
I'd really like to build more of their kits and have ordered some Battle Ground road plates and a few buildings from their Sci-Fi range to test them out.
Frankly I really like this. It was a bit of work at first, but once you hit your stride, you're away.
I'd really like to build more of their kits and have ordered some Battle Ground road plates and a few buildings from their Sci-Fi range to test them out.
The last shot on their instruction sheet (which unfortunately are all online only) shows this row of Power Generators together which is an awesome look for a Battle of Hoth-style Star Wars battle, but would be a bit of work - ultimately rewarding as this was a joy to make and have in the growing scenery collection.
++UPDATE++
I got some paint on it!! Yes the weekend gave me the opportunity to get some hobby done, and this was it.
In a way I really liked the very charred and worn black undercoat, but this scheme will fit better with the rest of the scenery I'm planning. You may also notice I cut out the lightning bolts from the generator. I wanted this to look dormant, so the lightning didn't really fit. Here's a War Hound for scale!
Probably a bit more work to do, but overall it's come up well as an experiment.
In a way I really liked the very charred and worn black undercoat, but this scheme will fit better with the rest of the scenery I'm planning. You may also notice I cut out the lightning bolts from the generator. I wanted this to look dormant, so the lightning didn't really fit. Here's a War Hound for scale!
Probably a bit more work to do, but overall it's come up well as an experiment.
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