I have been playing around with different configurations for a custom table and wanted to note some things I’ve landed on that I really like. A main one thing is having the map mounted so that it can slide around as needed on top of a bigger playing area. My table is 65” x 95” in total with a 5.5” arm rest around the outside and the middle is a recessed neoprene surface. I have the OOB Global map mounted on 1/2” rigid foam with a 1/2” aluminum frame around it. This allows the map to slide up close to whoever’s turn it is, but then be in the middle so both players can roll dice In front of them without disturbing the map and in easy view of the other player. (Plus we like lots of room to roll the bones). This ability to adjust the surface along with a standing height, makes it comfortable for long uses because you can move around more and don’t feel as tied down.
Things I’ve learned and changed from original design - I originally used too big of a frame for the map and mounted it on too high of a foam block (you can see these pictures at the bottom) - it made it hard to see the other player’s dice and the big frame took up too much real estate. My global map is mounted on much thinner foam (the framing is bad, you can see if you look closely) but I also used much thinner aluminum angle for the frame. This gives just enough grip when needing to move the map around (I use furniture slides on the bottom, which glide very nicely on the neoprene) but doesn’t make the whole thing too bulky. Having it an inch or so off the surface keeps the dice off, but isn’t so heigh that you can’t see the other player’s dice rolls. When playing other versions (such as Zombies) the board is much smaller, but it can easily swap in and out on the same table since it can move around where ever it is needed or be pushed aside.
I originally made it normal table height, but found long reaches while sitting were harder and it just felt cramped. Standing height with a bar stool is a great way to have the best of both worlds.
The 5.5” rim around the table itself gives you a nice arm rest that doesn’t interfere with the gaming surface. I’m playing with how to best add some cushion to this part - open to suggestions. Sometimes I just lay a piece of leftover neoprene on it.
Dice bounce nice on the neoprene and stay off the floor. It also feels nice and has enough give to allow things to slide but be picked up easily. Wouldn’t definitely go with neoprene again as a surface covering.
I made the drawers open to the inside of the table so you can stay hunched over the action while accessing and stowing stuff away. 50/50 on whether I would keep this if I were to do it again. If I were doing it again, I might try to build customer drawers form scratch using actual drawer glides, but that was beyond my ability when I first did this, so I just used clear plexiglass boxes with aluminum pulls mounted on them. It’s nice having them clear, and I was happy with how the pulls came out, but without glides they can be a little fussy sliding in and out of their slots.
I originally designed the table so that I could put a cover surface back on top when not in use, but find I don’t really ever do that, so if I were to do it again, I might not mess with that part (I never even finished staining those as you can see in the pictures).
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1940 Global table & painted pieces
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After seeing all the awesome tables and painted pieces, I was absolutely inspired to make one of my own. Once my wife saw how much space was consumed on the dining room table, I had her full support, lol.
This was my first woodworking project of any kind, and I am very pleased with it. I am gathering a small group of players, and a few helped with ideas on the layout.
Its a basic sheet of plywood bolted down to a 6 foot folding table. I used 1x2 inch pieces to do the trimming. I rounded off all the edges, sanded it down and gave it a nice cherry mahogany stain. After scanning complex, naval base and air base markers onto adhesive paper, I placed them on the map and topped it off with plexiglass.
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“Good work, Commander!” (Darth Vader) and a lot of efforts worth the outcome! Personally, I think a printed map in one piece would look a little bit nicer than the 4-parts OOB map but this is definitely an extra amount of money for things one have got already.
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Yeah, I have read alot of threads and seen several files regarding enlarged map files, but I just didn’t find one that I liked. Since I limited myself to the dimensions of a sheet of plywood, I just went with the OOB board. As I was trying to finalize a layout, it ultimately seemed like the right size map anyway and I just went with it.
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Nice work. I notice that the tray areas for equipment surround the table on only three sides rather than all four sides, which is an interesting and original design feature that I don’t think I’ve seen on any other custom-made tables; the result looks very good indeed.
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Thanks. The other half of my garage has a heavy bag mounted and a weight set, so putting this up along the opposite side wall still gives us the middle to move around.
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Here are a few more pics. Scanning the base and complex markers worked out well. Stuck those on the board so we don’t have to mess with those during setup. There are a few Russian infantry pieces on the right that I have started painting.
LOL, did anyone else notice the error? My son was helping place the complexes and bases. He put one in Central America instead of Central United States. It was corrected before the first game on this table.
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LOL, okay so I started painting pieces during my breaks from the table project. I just kept finding more and more pictures on this site that motivated me to do all this. I think I came down with A&A fever, good thing I have a loving and understanding wife.
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Great work, and welcome to the addictive and compulsive obsessive hobby that is A&A customizations.
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YG,
@Young:
Welcome to the addictive and compulsive obsessive hobby that is A&A customizations.Â
Amen, Brother! :-D
“Tall Paul”
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Scanning the base and complex markers worked out well
Could you please upload the scans? I like to modify an electronic map by inserting the icons (…always bothered by the card board markers)
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Nice till for the IPCs.
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Nice till for the IPCs.
Thanks. It’s actually an adjustable cutlery tray made of bamboo that a found at Walmart.
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Table is looking good, painted pieces are looking good too! :-)
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Nice till for the IPCs.
Thanks. It’s actually an adjustable cutlery tray made of bamboo that a found at Walmart.
Way to improvise, I find my best stuff at dollar stores.
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That’s a total beauty. Good choice of stain.
Yrs.,
R. -
That’s a total beauty. Good choice of stain.
Yrs.,
R.Thanks, my wife gets all the credit on that.
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nice setup! but painting the little star on the russian tanks is a trip
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nice setup! but painting the little star on the russian tanks is a trip
Barney, I don’t want to mislead you, the red star is a decal. I’ve been trying Flames of War decals, but I just bought 30 packs of decals from I-94 Enterprises.
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OK, so last little touch on the table. We found some camo material and used Velcro to go around the table with it.
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Now that the table is officially done, I am back to painting the sculpts. Working on Japan now.