Scratch Built Sci-Fi Terrain
Posted: 06. 04. 2022.
After messing with scratchbuilding a few drones late last year, I felt very confident to take it up a notch and tackle larger projects of this type. I sat down with my tools and boxes of assorted bits/junk to build SF scenery. I only had a vague idea of what to put together; mostly I was guided by the bits themselves - test fitting this with that until something clicked. I ended up with four small terrain pieces that will fit well on any futuristic battlefield, and in backgrounds of many upcoming scenic photos. I'm already looking how to expand this small collection. I'm particularly eager to make more weathered industrial architecture, so if you like that kind of stuff you have something to look forward to.
Here are some of the bits and materials used to put these things together:
- noodle and pudding containers
- pens
- toy car underside
- staples, pins, thumbtacks, paperclips
- electric kettle parts
- laptop parts
- bottle caps
- air rifle pellets
- rapid test casing
- acrylic gems
- action figure's sniper accessory
- broken earphones
- styrofoam ball
- pizza saver
- wire...
Since I was excitedly wrapped up in work I didn't bother to document the process this time, but I'll surely share more WIP stages from similar builds in the future.
Do you scratch build scenery for your miniature SF wars?
What are your favourite/weirdest bits to use in such projects?
Did you ever buy a food or cosmetics product just because you wanted its packaging/container for a terrain build?
Tell me in the comments.
Comments
Thank you Frank! Yeah, getting into building these things forever changes the way you look at everyday objects. 
Yeah, i once bought a can of redbull coke because i needed an empty one to built a wh 40K ork petrol tank truck.
hrld
These look fantastic! Great work and looking forward to more.
@hrld - Cool! I’ll have to look for some interesting beverage cans for further industrial terrain builds.
@Warburton - Thanks!
Fantastic work!
My current favorite bit is the Yakult yogurt drink container - makes a nice little tank that looks good grouped together.
Thanks Marc! The Yakult bottles do look rather neat. I’m not sure if it’s sold in my country; I’ll keep my eyes open in grocery shops.
These look brilliant. I made a load of fantasy terrain but am slightly intimidated by doing sci fi stuff as wonky angles in XPS foam really break the realism in sci fi whereas fantasy let’s you get away with it. Using lots of random household bits and pieces from the recycling seems like it creates much better results. You’ve inspired me to give it a go!
These look amazing! Trashbashing and terrain are one of my favourite parts of the hobby. I’d love a guide to how you paint yours, so good!
@Iain - You’re right, the industrial/tech look of SF terrain calls for a different choice of materials. I’m glad you’re inspired to make some!
@David - Thank you! I may do a tutorial for that down the line. There are so many tutorial requests on my list to cover.
Very late to this this post, but could you explain how you attach all these flat bits and pieces to curved surfaces?
@Slobster - The tiny bits are too small for the curve to matter. As for the bigger stuff, plastic can be carefully bent into a slight curve.
I go always, really always my ways with an eye for materials. Nearly every day i can find something and yes I bought some cheap things for their packaging, for the cap ... and not for their contents
You do this work very great, resulting in very dense packed, convincing objects.
By Frank on 2022 04 06