after making a few successful scenery items i have decided to make myself a gaming board!

i have already put together a plywood base with a re inforced underside and was wondering:

<should i put a polystyrene sheet onto of the plywood

<how to make my board "hilly"

<tips and techniques

<is a grass mat necessary

Hi,
First of all, your questions are very general, so it is hard to response in just single sentence way.
But, not leaving you just like that, my take on your questions is following :
1. Should i put a polystyrene sheet onto of the plywood
This is not necessary needed. However could be considered if you would like to break "flattish" surface by making more natural looking terrain. It can be an easy way for quick small hills and valleys shaping (but this can be achievied in different ways, too)

2. how to make my board "hilly"
All depends on your board concept, i.e. If hills should be permanently formed and not movable (not recommended) or "flexible" and repositionable. Use knife shaped or hot wire cutted styrofoam. Rolled piece of papers finished with mix of sand, glue or plaster on top are other way.
Search internet, youtube for tutorials and examples.

3. tips and techniques
Use styrofoam and/or plaster for terrain shaping. Sand, cheap acrylic paints from regular stores and static grass or turf for surface coverage. Finally, trees, foliage and whatever else for finish.

The best for assembly of above is Pva glue, for quick and small pieces you can use hot glue alternatively.

4. is a grass mat necessary
No, it is not. But if you want to make VERY easy and quick game board, can be the best choice.

_________________
Greetings from Dark Side of the Moon
Mars_2000
--------------------------------
My WIPs

thanks soo much

I agree with everything that Mars_2000 said, but to follow up on one thing, dont buy the PVA glue from games workshop. It is just repackaged Elmers glue and then marked up 400%. Instead use super white Elmers wood glue or similar product. It is the same thing and you will get a ton more for the same price.

Additionally, sand at Home Depot or similar stores, and static grass from Train set locations will be better than GW material. GW simply repackages this stuff as well and marks up the price.

thank you so much...

just one last question:

i i would use plaster of paris to create my board , is newspaper is all that is needed to shape the board

Yes, but!

General how to from Woodland Scenic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRQC12X7RIA

Plaster bandage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6X6CnyKOEM

news paper and cardboard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6X6CnyKOEM

Helms deep bugs will eat the paper mache

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4zR6-k ... E25F40A25E

Plaster cloth cost no more than plaster of paris
Homemade plaster cloth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4T4F3Y ... E&index=28

_________________
"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

thank you so much..... you guys have been agreat help

Stay away from plaster and use lightweight acrylic spackle instead. Plaster is heavy and tends to chip and seperate. Acrylic spackle has more "give" to it and you can mix acryllic paint right into it, so if it chips, you won't see white blotches.

Use plaster cloth for roads and streams, as it is a good base to work on. You can also use it to smooth out mountains made from foam stacks. Newspaper is a poor choice when styrofoam is so easily available. It's much more sturdy and easier to shape and carve. Good luck.