Cyberpunk City - Help/Suggestions

[warzoneD]

Tired of playing only with ruined buildings I've decided to try and build a cyberpunk type city.

I wanted it to be modular (i.e. I could assemble it in different ways.)  So I cut out 1/4" hard board into road sections 12" x 6"
that will wrap around 12 x 12" building areas.  These buillding areas will be changeable--

Right now I have enough bases cut out to make a 4x8 playing surface.  This includes 15 building areas.

The buildings will prob have detachable flors so you can play inside them.  I still have to figure out the best matertial to make these out off.  Has anyone work with mdf?  If so, how was it and, where did you buy it?

Some ideas--

Corp Tower lobby and 1st 3 floors
Stim sim Theater
Shanty Town with open poluted canal
2 Bars with an alley between them
Pumping plant
Power station


Also if anyone has any cool art they can share for inspiration or places to get cheap doodads and parts (street lamps, etc.).  Any input is always welcome.

Here's some stuff I found a tutorial for I'm going to take a shot at making--

[Veez]

That stuff looks fantastic and very corporate (would probably work well for Rezolution as well).  Where did those pics come from?

[warzoneD]

They're from the infinity forum.

D

[Coil]

By mdf I take it you mean the hard boards made of pressed together sawdust?

I think it would be hard to work with and cut to get the shapes you want for the buldings. I think that foamboard (styrofoam with paper on both sides) is a good material for buildings. You can get it in various thicknesses and it is easy to cut with both hot wire cutters and knives.

In the pictures it looks like they have also used plasticard to create details.

[warzoneD]

Yes - Have learned a few things since my last post.

MDF = masonite.

Plasticard was engraved with an engraving machine using patterns designed in photoshop.  Trying to find out how that all works now...

[Veez]

If you don't have an engraving machine lying around Evergreen  Plastics are good (if expensive).  They come in pre-etched square patterns and can be found usually on sights that sell model train stuff.

I use PowerPoint a lot for this sort of thing since I don't have photoshop. 

The down side is that unless you can find a cheap supply of polystyriene plastic (maybe scraps from a local sign maker or buy the sheets from a local plastics supplier) this can get pricey.  Plus there is the cost of that engraver...

[Seamus]

For more terrain ideas, including city boards go to this website:

http://www.terragenesis.co.uk/

[Ludwig]

Yes - Have learned a few things since my last post.

MDF = masonite.

masonite is much easier to work with. Don't get them confused though - they are not the same thing.

[warzoneD]

Yes almost everything is covered in Sheet Styeren (aka plasticard).

I've never worked with this - how does one take a pattern from photo shop and get it engraved on the plasticard?

Also - are there any websites that sell this stuff?

D

[semai99]

The city looks great but I wonder how usable it will be when playing a game on it are you able to go into the buildings and each of the floors? And the accessibility across the table unless you are using a small table.

[DogOWar]

Thnaks for the website Seamus. 

City looks cool, if difficult to build. 

[warzoneD]

Yes - I've seen the pics - the sick thing about it is that EACH FLOOR can be taken apart and is fully detailed inside.

It's one of the most ambitious and welle executed terrain sets I've ever seen.

D

[Alpha]

I would use foamcore as the basis...then balsa or plastic card for details.

You can score the foamcore with a pen to create many neat "panels" or "tiles". Also, if it's too smooth looking you can paint it with a thin wash of spackle to add a slight texture....