Tjoek's A&A Anniversary OOB Map file (Updated March 23rd)

@Tjoek:

I would love to see pictures of your printed map!

So would I! (because that would mean we finally have a good one-piece map solution to Anniversary).

And…. edit…

Just picked up my printed map from Fed-X print shop… but stuck in errands and traffic from Hell… can’t wait to check it out at home…

Okay… per request, here’s pictures of Tjoek’s AA50 OOB map file, printed up…

Details:
For various reasons, I went ahead and printed the map at the same size as the original board map (which is 24"x46")… but now I have a one-piece map that I can roll up, and I won’t have anywarpage or “three-pieces-sliding-around” issues.

I took it to the local Fed-X Print Shop, they recommended Outdoor Banner Vinyl (I asked for measurements, official name and thickness in mm… they looked blankly at me and said “it’s called outdoor banner vinyl, that’s what’s on your receipt”… and indeed it is… so not sure what else to call it other than "outdoor banner vinyl from Fed-X print shop).

They charge $6.99 (US-Dollar) per square foot and if you go for the default size of 24"x46", that turns out to be 8-sqft… with tax, it was a $60 project grand total. If you want to enlarge it to a bigger size and go through Fed-X, that’s what you can work with for estimates.

I didn’t do anything fancy like lamination or sticky sides or whatever… it’s a straight up printing with no frills… right now, I just wanted a warp-proof single-piece reproduction of the OOB map for cheap and Tjoek’s map file offers just that. I might do something fancier later for a larger size, but right now, I just wanted a reprint in a single piece that works better for our group (and it does). I got exactly what I want for $60… I think that’s pretty good. I can always make another down the road if I need to.

Attached are 4 pics for your viewing…

Pic-1, the vinyl map (with Fasces), straight up…
Pic-2, the vinyl map with the original board placed over the right and left sides (center piece not placed) to show how exact the vinyl matches the original board on layout.

Pic-3: Italians enjoying their new Fasces roundels
Pic-4: Japan perusing the Pacific

@Nowhere:

Okay… per request, here’s pictures of Tjoek’s AA50 OOB map file, printed up…

Details:
For various reasons, I went ahead and printed the map at the same size as the original board map (which is 24"x46")… but now I have a one-piece map that I can roll up, and I won’t have anywarpage or “three-pieces-sliding-around” issues.

I took it to the local Fed-X Print Shop, they recommended Outdoor Banner Vinyl (I asked for measurements, official name and thickness in mm… they looked blankly at me and said “it’s called outdoor banner vinyl, that’s what’s on your receipt”… and indeed it is… so not sure what else to call it other than "outdoor banner vinyl from Fed-X print shop).

Hey Nowhere Man,
This is very encouraging! The colors in your picture actually look better on the printed vinyl than colors of the original board! Thank you Tjoek for this fine work!

My needs are almost identical to yours Nowhere Man. I don’t plan on doing anything fancy such as lamination either. I also just want a nice, clean rollup mat that is completely seamless. I will have my board increased 1.5x in each direction, and I’ll be sure to post pictures as well. That should make it roughly 3 ft by 6 ft.

The “Outdoor Banner Vinyl” could very well be called Scrim Vinyl, which is what my local print facility recommended to me. It is supposed to withstand wind, rain, sunlight fade, and other harsh weather conditions (might as well throw tornadoes into the mix :-D ….).  I think they recommended you the right choice.  I’m just hoping it is the same material as I was recommended in case others here would like to request the same thing.

Finally, your second set of pictures with the pieces on it look EPIC! Thanks for sharing! I cannot wait to get mine printed up!

@Tjoek:

Really awesome to see that map! Especially with the original boards on top.

Thanks for sharing this with us Nowhere Man.

NP, ty for making this incredible map file, it was really needed for AA50… I did the old map on top of new map picture as almost an afterthought… I was more curious to make sure my print shop made it the same size as the original map… I was actually surprised to see the colors on your map were more vibrant (and pleasing to the eye) than the original game board.

A last thought on possible adjustments, I know you have an income tracker as an option on one of your maps… so this would (in theory) eliminate the need for a separate income-tracker board… BUT (there’s always a “but”)… the income tracker board with AA50 also has the tech tracker on the same board… if you print up your map with the income tracker, but also need the techs tracked, you STILL have to use that board (thereby defeating the purpose of the income tracker). If there would be a way to put both the income tracker and the tech tracker on the printed map file, that would completely eliminate the possible need for the board… just a thought… as for me and my group, we’re pleased as punch with this printed map (and we like using the income board anyways).

@2Huskies:

Hey Nowhere Man,
This is very encouraging! The colors in your picture actually look better on the printed vinyl than colors of the original board! Thank you Tjoek for this fine work!

My needs are almost identical to yours Nowhere Man. I don’t plan on doing anything fancy such as lamination either. I also just want a nice, clean rollup mat that is completely seamless. I will have my board increased 1.5x in each direction, and I’ll be sure to post pictures as well. That should make it roughly 3 ft by 6 ft.

The “Outdoor Banner Vinyl” could very well be called Scrim Vinyl, which is what my local print facility recommended to me. It is supposed to withstand wind, rain, sunlight fade, and other harsh weather conditions (might as well throw tornadoes into the mix :-D ….). I think they recommended you the right choice. I’m just hoping it is the same material as I was recommended in case others here would like to request the same thing.

Finally, your second set of pictures with the pieces on it look EPIC! Thanks for sharing! I cannot wait to get mine printed up!

I’ve had maps made in the past at Fed-X and always took their recommendation but never asked specifically what they used. Seeing people talk about different types of vinyl, I wanted to know exactly what they used, and to make sure they used the same on this map as my prior maps (that i’ve always been happy with), so I took an older map in the print shop with me to confirm… the first person I handed my old map to asked her supervisor what it was and I could’ve sworn I heard him say something like “yeah, that’s SCRIM VINYL”… when I came back after all was said and done to pick up the map and asked what they used (talking to a different person), that’s when I got the answer of “that’s outdoor banner vinyl, it’s on the receipt”… but I did hear the word “scrim vinyl” used when I first dropped it off.

The thing I really like about this type of vinyl is that it lays incredibly flat… I also roll my maps up with print-side facing out… that way when I unroll it, if there’s the slightest bit of curve, its a downward one towards the table and flattens even quicker… I always store my maps in poster tubes (like this one here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AJ569N2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1 )

Saw this information when I looked it up… they are definately one-in-the-same…

Scrim vinyl is the most common substrate for printing outdoor banners. Scrim vinyl is a polyethylene substrate, reinforced with polyester cording. This internal cording is what gives it strength and durability to withstand damaging winds and weather conditions. The smooth surface makes it a great contender for displaying graphics and text. If you pair scrim vinyl with  solvent-based inkjet printing; you will get a sharp, color saturate set of graphics that will last. The solvent-based inks will actually become encapsulated into the substrate, creating essentially a tatoo within the fibers of the vinyl. The colors are vivid, and the inks do not fade to sunlight; and last even longer when laminated. The embedded ink image, with its permanence, can potentially outlast the surface of the scrim vinyl! This substrate can sustain between three to seven years of wind and weather, depending upon its abuse levels and if its been laminated. Longevity is the name of this game if you are looking for a solution will likely last beyond the original purpose of the signage!

I have 1941, 1942, Global and now Anniversary maps all printed in this material… I can attest it lasts with a lot of play and lies flat. I’ve heard really great things about show-floor, but its hard to break away from something thats been working for our group for so long.

Should this thread be moved and pinned to the AA50 forum? [shrug]

@Nowhere:

Saw this information when I looked it up… they are definately one-in-the-same…

Scrim vinyl is the most common substrate for printing outdoor banners. Scrim vinyl is a polyethylene substrate, reinforced with polyester cording. This internal cording is what gives it strength and durability to withstand damaging winds and weather conditions. The smooth surface makes it a great contender for displaying graphics and text. If you pair scrim vinyl with  solvent-based inkjet printing; you will get a sharp, color saturate set of graphics that will last. The solvent-based inks will actually become encapsulated into the substrate, creating essentially a tatoo within the fibers of the vinyl. The colors are vivid, and the inks do not fade to sunlight; and last even longer when laminated. The embedded ink image, with its permanence, can potentially outlast the surface of the scrim vinyl! This substrate can sustain between three to seven years of wind and weather, depending upon its abuse levels and if its been laminated. Longevity is the name of this game if you are looking for a solution will likely last beyond the original purpose of the signage!

I have 1941, 1942, Global and now Anniversary maps all printed in this material… I can attest it lasts with a lot of play and lies flat. I’ve heard really great things about show-floor, but its hard to break away from something thats been working for our group for so long.

Haha I found that same information about scrim vinyl when I was researching it! I am glad it is working out so well for you. I am excited to see how mine turns out as this will be my first map print ever! Also, thanks for sharing the link for your storage solution. That poster tube looks really nice!

@2Huskies:

Haha I found that same information about scrim vinyl when I was researching it! I am glad it is working out so well for you. I am excited to see how mine turns out as this will be my first map print ever! Also, thanks for sharing the link for your storage solution. That poster tube looks really nice!

The poster tube is a must for me…. when not using the map, I roll it up (print side facing out), shove it in the tube and put the tube in my game closet… I don’t have to worry about it getting kicked, or crushed or bent or flattened in any way… it’s stored safely in the tube till the next time I need the map.

Hope you enjoy your first printed map… let us know when you get it done and feel free to link pictures!

Has anybody printed one of these yet and have an idea of the cost and where to take the file to have it done? Not a fan of the 3 pieces sliding apart plus mine are starting to warp.

@SeekAndDestroy:

Has anybody printed one of these yet and have an idea of the cost and where to take the file to have it done? Not a fan of the 3 pieces sliding apart plus mine are starting to warp.

I wrote extensively about my experience printing this map, including pictures, scroll up to the top of the 5th page in this thread for my report including pictures…

In a Nutshell:
Printed the OOB map with *Fasces on Scrim/Outdoor-banner vinyl at same size of board map (24x46) which cost me $60 (US). A larger map or using different material can change this price of course.  Please scroll to the top of page 5 of this thread for pictures.

*OOB with Fasces is the historically accurate version of the Anniversary map… the default Italian Roundel is actually Iran’s roundel, not Italy (which would be red on the outside circle,  not green), but Fascist Axis Italy only used the fasces on their roundels during the war… to get matching control roundels (with fasces), you can pick these up pretty cheap at Historical Board Gaming website.

Hey Tjoek,

Would it be possible to share with us a file with the Italian fascist roundel on the map with the income tracker?

Cheers

YG

Thank you Tjoek for all the hard work and time you put on the A&A Anniversary Edition Map!

I had my map printed on scrim vinyl at 1.5 times the size, and it came out absolutely amazing!  My map measures approximately 35 inches wide by 68 inches long!  It also has about a 5/8 inch white border.  Below is a comparison shot of the original map with the three boards and my printed map.  You will see some slight distortion in the corners of my map in this picture, but that is not present on the actual print.  It is a result of having to use a wide angle lense to capture the entire photo of my map sprawled across my Queen size bed!

With Tjoek’s permission, I worked with a friend to make a couple changes to the original OOB map file that he has available to the community.  The changes are:

• The Russian borders have had the color changed to a Soviet Communist red.  This allowed them to be more visible while still fitting the theme of the game.
• The Italian borders are a slightly darker brown in order to make them more pronounced.

If anyone is interested, Tjoek has my png file and can add it to his original post as another alternative version to print.  I will post some close up pictures as well, and I look forward to hearing what you guys think!

Below is a picture of my alternate map displaying Europe and the Eastern front so that you can see what both the Italian borders and Soviet Communist borders look like.

Below is a close-up picture of the Russian borders being changes to a Soviet Communist red.  My camera doesn’t make them appear as red as they are in person.  These borders are more visible against the background color of the territories, and they still fit the theme of the game.

Below is a close-up picture of the Italian borders from my version of Tjoek’s map file.  The borders are a slightly darker brown, which makes them more pronounced and visible against the background color of the territories.

Again, if anyone is interested in this version, please reply.  Tjoek has my png file and can make it available if others are interested.  Regardless, I look forward to reading your comments on what you think!

Thanks,
2Huskies

Very nice, but with a map that big, where the heck are you going to play it? More importantly, how are you going to reach across the map to shake the hand of your opponent… you can’t reach him!  :-D