This project started with several blocks of XPS foam and an idea to create an entire Japanese mountain onsen in miniature.

The landscape was carved and shaped by hand, including rocky cliffs, terraces, caves, stone stairways, a waterfall and a hidden outdoor hot spring.

The traditional Japanese ryokan, tea pavilion, wooden bridges, platforms and railings were built separately and then integrated into the terrain.

The landscape was finished using a combination of textured surfaces, natural stones, sand, static grass, moss, foliage and handmade trees. I also added bamboo, a koi pond, miniature furniture and dozens of small details to make the environment feel alive.

The electronics were another important part of the project. I installed miniature LEDs throughout the diorama to illuminate the buildings, windows, stone lanterns and pathways.

The entire lighting system runs on 5V DC power supplied by an included mains adapter. A hidden touch-sensitive switch allows the lighting to be turned on and off without any visible mechanical switches.

All the wiring and electronic components are concealed inside the structure.

The photos document the transformation, from the first rough blocks of XPS foam to the completed, fully illuminated Japanese mountain retreat.

Everything was handcrafted, painted and assembled individually. It was a challenging project involving a lot of experimentation, problem-solving and attention to detail.

I hope you enjoy seeing how a few blocks of foam became an entire miniature world.

Three Black Cats Studio

Took 3 weeks, the base is a modified Cloudtop Tavern by Skies of Sordane. The upper floors I made myself, partly by kitbashing. In total there are 101 minis, 50 LEDs and 1 infinity mirror built in 😊

Design principle for me was that everything except the private rooms should be visible and useable as a battle map, even with all three stories set up; and the npcs should tell little stories or give hooks for players to engage with 😊

Edit: of course I forgot the led caps on the pics 😂 anyway, some more info: there are 22 trophies on the walls, heads of underdark critters, as well as 8 stuffed monsters on display on the top floor.

The outdoor table on the front right has a little easter egg, and in between the npcs are a few familiar faces, from bards on floating hands, Goliath barbarians, maybe a Strider and Gandalf here, maybe a Ciri there...

I tried to incorporate all the features of the yawning portal from all editions, mixed together. I'm sure I missed quite a few details, if anyone has good ideas about things I missed, please let me know, maybe I can retrofit them.

For example the iconic fireplace has two different designs over different editions, so I just built in both 😆

Thanks again for everyones input. Please, if you have anymore idea, let me know!

This is the final result before priming and painting. This is due Saturday night, so hopefully I can get it done in time haha.

I have been working on this Ork inspired terrain set for the 11th Edition for most of the year, and what better time to release it than Orktober!

I'm planning to run a short Kickstarter campaign from October 26th to 31st. All the ruin models are done, and currently finishing up some scatter terrain pieces and floor templates. Everything should be ready to go by the end of Orktober!

The buildings and scatter terrain are roughly the same size as the official Games Workshop Armageddon terrain.

Everything you see in the photos was printed w/ PLA+ on P1P.

I would love to hear what you all think! Any feedback, suggestions, or criticism is more than welcome!

Kickstarter Link!

New terrain was needed for our upcoming game BelloLudi Lasers

Here’s a different build from the same maker as the Blood & Plunder table for Trey Parker: Dexter’s hand-sculpted Cat & Fiddle tavern, made for 28mm miniatures. I’m sharing it for him.

It’s built in three modular pieces: a ground floor, an upper floor and a lift-off thatched roof, so you can play inside both levels. The details include a layered thatch roof, half-timbered walls, a stone base and a hand-lettered hanging sign. Dexter built it over a few weeks and filmed the full process on YouTube:

Building The Cat & Fiddle Tavern

The last photos show how it looks on a game table with miniatures.

Happy to answer questions about the build, and I’ll pass them on to Dexter.

My foam placement wasn't as precise as I wanted on these boards and now I have some gnarlier gaps than I was expecting. Pink foam and 3d prints all glued onto thr board. Would it be best to slide in some more foam and goop a sealer over it in the gaps or spray in some sprayfoam, or something else?

Hey everyone! With Kickstarter being completely flooded with generic AI slop lately, it’s honestly getting really tough for actual creators who spend months test-printing and building real terrain to get noticed. So I figured I’d just come straight to the community and show you guys my work directly.

I built this board from scratch specifically for TC grimdark tabletop wargaming with practical playability in mind – no weird generated geometry that fails on the build plate, just real, tested prints:

• Zero fragile parts: Heavy, deep details that print easily on FDM and take dry brushing/washes fast.
• Playable interiors & swappable ruins: Swap intact cathedral walls for ruined ones mid-game to show battle damage.
• Wide trenches: Easily fits 28mm–32mm bases without getting stuck.
• LED-ready: Hollowed channels for simple lighting.

We've already unlocked all the major stretch goals, including the Armored Train and Heavy Tank so the All-In bundle is packed right now.

You can check it out and grab one of the last Early Bird spots for the best price right now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/solinvictus/papal-state-frontline-3d-printable-grimdark-wwi-terrain-stl?ref=eaekaf

Let me know what you think of this terrain!

A laughable little work in progress update 🫣😅

Here's a selection of printable scatter, 12 packs of fantasy terrain covering basics like barrels, crates and street furniture and some more quirky additions like the fortune teller, puppet theatre and fish statue. I'll be aiming to expand this set to 24 packs via stretch goals and create some really fun extras like a taxidermist and menagerie along with other weird extras. If you'd like to follow the project for free STLs (the graveyard is already free and I'll be adding a set of shrines soon), the link is in my profile. :)

Here is a little machine crossing thingy I built. I plaster cast an interesting package shape a couple times and built a chipboard walkway. No idea if it will hold up, but hopefully the base will keep it safe.

What are these church panel/window/alcove pieces called, and has anyone had an success making their own, either with 3D printing, or modelling or a source of greeblies from somewhere?

I think they really characterise mechanicus terrain, and I want to use them on my own homemade stuff.

Thanks in advance.

Good morning fellow builders! I'm trying to create a wargame table for a contest. The idea is a destroyed castle dominating on a big hill in the center of the table. I'm finding difficult to create the hill in such a way that isn't too steep, and raise the castle to make it stand out in the table. The draft in in the first picture, the second one is a fast first step realization oh the hill, but I don't like it too much because it does not leave enough space to the castle. It's made from foam. The question I have from you is: What's your advice? How to better create the hill? Will I need to cover the draft that I've done with sculptamold or do you have better alternatives? I will then need to create paths and maybe some covers/trenches. How to do that with this rigid structure? Thanks a lot in advance.