Sunday 4 January 2015

Terrain- Laser Cut Card Containers

So, I am back with more terrain, this time with some containers.

I am a big fan of the humble container, because they are all about efficiency. The container was a complete revolution to shipping goods, so much so that it is actually difficult to imagine how we got by without them. So naturally, my apocalypse needed more than a few containers. I would love to be able to have a container yard, or even a whole port worth of containers!

My containers come from a company out of South Africa, called Laser Cut Card (website is here). I had gotten in touch with them before, to pick up one of their vehicles out of sheer curiosity. Now, in the world of 3mm MDF laser cutting, cardboard is a little... odd. I was skeptical at first about spending my hard earned cash on something which I thought would be so fragile!

I was so impressed with the vehicle, that I bit the bullet and ordered a fair bit of terrain from them. Lots of containers, some odds and sods and conversion bits. But for this project, I have started small, with a pack of 3 containers. So bear with me here, because I think they are pretty cool.

When they arrived, the container pack looks like this:


Which when you opened it, it comes out as a few thin, flimsy (albeit detailed) sheets of card:


However, as with the vehicle, I got over my prejudices really fast when I realized how solid they are once assembled. The card is folded into a rectangle, the ends glued on and additional parts glued on top of them. I used superglue for the assembly, and despite a few stuck fingers, they have come out really nicely I think!


And with Selene for scale:


I kept the detailing pretty simple, just a few pieces of information on the ends of the containers. So while I have only completed three so far, I have enough kits for a fair few more (lots more!). I think some of the next few will have to have graffiti like the Jersey Barriers. But before I can do that, I need to actually build them!

I must be about due to start making some more terrain- 3 containers and some Jersey barriers just isn't going to be enough is it? I was struck by a flash inspiration when I was unpacking my Christmas presents once we got home from our holiday. Taking Zabadak's lead of posting a mystery box which will soon be turned into terrain, here is the first box which I have started construction on...

Bet you can't guess what it will turn in to!

Anyway, back to painting, gotta finish this week's survivor. And the third wave of zeds (Zomb-annie!). And terrain. And this building. And now I am back at work......

Chris

11 comments:

  1. Love those containers dude!
    My guess for the mystery box is that it's going to be a supermarket.

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    1. Thanks bud.

      I would love a supermarket- and will now have to build one! However, it would need to be bigger than this box!

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  2. those containers are great! They are one of the terrain items on my list so will have to follow the link to check them out.

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    1. I recommend them- I think they are a pretty cost effective way of getting them. I think they were having some postal strike issues, but I believe they have been resolved.

      Which reminds me that there were some buildings from them I was tempted by too....

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    2. I'm very tempted to buy some of those container models. They do look very good and I just love card terrain, so they'll fit in well with my existing scenery.

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    3. I think card is a really effective way of doing it- it is pretty cost effective and I think gives a good result. I agree on having them fit in with your other scenery too!

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  3. I'm sure I've seen these before on another bloggers site and was very sceptical of them too, but these look great and your detailing hasn't been overdone either, which I like.
    As for the box, well without dimensions it's a bit of a lottery to guess what it'll be so I'll just guess it's a building !

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    1. Thanks- I like them. I am sure you could go loopy adding more and more detail to them- but if you are planning to make lots, then you are just making a rod for your own back!

      I will have to add a perspective picture, to allow you to guess properly!

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  4. Like you, I was sceptical about laser-cut card when I first saw it. However, I've seen enough reviews now to convince me that it's pretty good!

    As for the box - well, a square box could be turned into just about anything, couldn't it :-) ?

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    1. I am definitely a fan of laser-cut card!

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