DM making a comeback

Im not talking about a digital Map, but a real one. I consider myself very artistically minded so I think I could do it without it looking too bad. What materials would I need, how much time would it take? I wanna do a global map from about 1920.

@hopper1999 I’ve access to both resin and PLA printers, and while resin has a couple of extra steps compared to PLA, I wouldn’t consider it painful. I’ve come to appreciate resin’s ability to show detail even in very small scale. For me its worth the extra steps to clean and cure, for those results. What’s great is there are so many free units available, with some simple editing/converting you can quickly build cool armies.
As for casting, while I haven’t casted any A&A parts yet (still building my unit library), I have casted a lot of 3.75 action figure parts. I’ve gotten best results using a syringe and pressure pot. (I converted a old paint pressure tank). You inject your mold, and then put it under pressure, I’d do around 30psi, to help the resin into the thinner parts of the mold and prevent bubbles. It also helps, when making your mold to put it under pressure as well. I’ve found it helps prevents bubbles in the silicone and between the silicone and the part being cast.
I plan on using casting to duplicate units I already have, that I can’t find stl files for.

@AlphaKappa:

I’ve been looking for a control tower for air bases.  Good luck with your molds!  Hope that comes out well.

Thanks! Ill be sure to post them, as well as offer them if anyone would be interested. I moved here (CA) from WA awhile back, I knew where to get all that casting stuff, ive looked here, cant seem to find anywhere locally… ordering online is murder, shipping jugs of liquid… in addition, not sure what im getting. I may end up using fiberglass resin, something this small, should be fine… just takes long to cure and I gotta make a grip, unlike the casting resins, takes like 30 seconds.

I’m not aware of such a blank outline map existing.  Your best option might be to cover the game map with several taped-together sheets of clear acetate (the kind used for purposes like overheard projection) and trace the borders with a felt pen to produce a blank outline.  You’d then have various options for transfering this outline to the wood surface.  A low-tech method would be to cover the wood surface with sheets of carbon paper (if you can still find any, since it’s gone out of style), place your acetate outline over the carbon paper, then trace over the borders with a hard pencil.  Alternately, you could scan or digitally photograph your acetate outline and use that as the printing file you mentioned.

For sure it would be awesome to make our own at home!

In the meantime, if you really want to and can come up with an appropriate 3d art file, Shapeways would be a good alterntative for some special items (they spent the money on the uber-expensive equipment already).  It just sucks to have to wait for it, pay their overhead and then pay for shipping.

I’d LOVE to have a 3d printer though!

@CWO:

@Fishmoto37:

Flags to designate armies to place on army cards off the board.

Very nice.  Is there any particular reason why the Russian tank is flying the ensign of the Soviet Navy?

That matches up with an army (navy) off board card that I was using in the Barbarossa game. No navy in that so just used for army. No other reason.

I use Photoshop Elements.  Its not the best but it works.

I have them formatted to avery .75 round labels. see house rules ( pieces and where to get them)