The latest in a series of books, A Wargamer’s Guide to Making Tabletop Terrain: Tales of a Wargames Widow Vol. 2 may not be a title which slips off the tongue but functions as a useful guide for gamers. An 85-page softback book, each section outlines the process and materials used to create a number of different items for tabletop use.
The book begins with an occasionally humorous introduction to the what is basically a guide to a number of terrain making projects. The book begins with a major project, building an Indian or Afghan style fort using food packaging. The second project is making tents. Both are explained simply with plenty of visual referencing through the use of photographs.
The projects are many and varied, from basic terrain to ships, paddle steamers, balloons and airships, trees, single buildings and more. The text description is always accompanied by stage by stage photographs, which very clearly illustrates what needs to be done, from beginning to the end.
A major feature of the book is the fact that every material used is easily available and simple to use, plus remarkably low cost. The need for specialist tools is minimal, and the overall skill level is easily achievable. Only one of the projects makes use of something that must be bought, the converting of a cheap plastic train set, which is also perhaps the weakest project as it is fairly obvious!
This is a really useful book for those starting out in terrain making or looking for simple projects to try. The easy going style of the writing is quite refreshing, and everything is explained as simply as possible. Useful for beginners or experienced modellers, this is ‘old school’ wargaming at its best, mixed with the modern concerns regarding recycling. Another useful resource from a publishing house which specialises in such things.
