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I originally made it normal table height, but found long reaches while sitting were harder and it just felt cramped.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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John Brown's 96x48 Global 1940 Waterproof Metal Map
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Here is my Global 1940 Metal Map that I finally had done and got today. I hope the pictures turned out alright. This will be my second attempt to ever post pictures. I hope you enjoy them. If these turn out alright, I will place all my newly painted pieces in their starting area as Spitfire38 sends them. When both maps are put together it is 96x48, but when apart, they are 48x48.:-D
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Pacific Side of Map.
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It is not letting me put any more pictures. It says the file is too large. How do you put more pictures? Do you have to wait for someone else to post? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
John
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Japan, showing Kamikaze symbols. :-D
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I think I’m figuring this out. Trial by error, right?
LOL :-D
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The next picture will be a close up of Italy’s true roundels. :-D
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Well, I thought I had this figured out. :-(
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It is not letting me put any more pictures. It says the file is too large. How do you put more pictures? Do you have to wait for someone else to post? Any help would be appreciated.
Great-looking map!
The maximum number of pictures you can attach is two per post, and the maximum allowable size of each attachment is 1,563 KB. If any if your pictures are over this limit, try pasting them into Microsoft Paint, shrinking them, then re-saving them under a new name.
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@CWO:
It is not letting me put any more pictures. It says the file is too large. How do you put more pictures? Do you have to wait for someone else to post? Any help would be appreciated.
Great-looking map!
The maximum number of pictures you can attach is two per post, and the maximum allowable size of each attachment is 1,563 KB. If any if your pictures are over this limit, try pasting them into Microsoft Paint, shrinking them, then re-saving them under a new name.
Thanks Marc, I may have to try that tonight, after work. Thanks for the tip. :-)
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@CWO:
It is not letting me put any more pictures. It says the file is too large. How do you put more pictures? Do you have to wait for someone else to post? Any help would be appreciated.
Great-looking map!
The maximum number of pictures you can attach is two per post, and the maximum allowable size of each attachment is 1,563 KB. If any if your pictures are over this limit, try pasting them into Microsoft Paint, shrinking them, then re-saving them under a new name.
This will also make it easier to see the entire image without having to scroll from left to right and up and down.
Very nice map! I was not aware that this was in the works. I’m excited to see it with some pieces.
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@CWO:
It is not letting me put any more pictures. It says the file is too large. How do you put more pictures? Do you have to wait for someone else to post? Any help would be appreciated.
Great-looking map!
The maximum number of pictures you can attach is two per post, and the maximum allowable size of each attachment is 1,563 KB. � If any if your pictures are over this limit, try pasting them into Microsoft Paint, shrinking them, then re-saving them under a new name.
This will also make it easier to see the entire image without having to scroll from left to right and up and down.
Very nice map! I was not aware that this was in the works. I’m excited to see it with some pieces.
I wanted something worthy of your painted pieces, LOL. :-)
There is a story about this map, and it started in May, before you started painting my pieces. I never mentioned it to you, because to be honest, I didn’t think I was ever going to get it.
She told me it would be done in July, well I didn’t get it till yesterday. She thought it could easily be done, and got in way over her head. I found out she had never done one before, but she convinced me she could do it, which that is where I made a mistake.
I should have taken it, somewhere else. If I had, they probably could have eliminated the board creases that she couldn’t get rid of with her program.
I noticed other people’s maps, don’t have those creases, but mine does. So that tells me, it could be done, but despite that, she did everything else I asked her, and to be honest, I’ve been ready for it, for a longtime.
I could have taken somewhere else and got my money back, but I would have had to start the whole process over, and I’m to impatient, so I decided to accept the creases.
Other than that, I really love it. It is huge, LOL.
I’m just glad to finally have it.
I’m glad you guys like it. :-D
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Here is the close up picture of Italy, I promised. You will also notice the bold white convoy zones, Enjoy! :-D
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As promised, here are some pictures with my newly painted Japanese set, by none other than Spitfire38, on my brand new map.
Enjoy!
Suddenly a storm comes from the east, a thunder of heavy machinery and boots marching on ancient shores, and the eerie sound of hundreds of planes screaming in the skies above, Japan has invaded China.
What happens next?
Stay tuned for more broadcasts. :-D
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More pictures! :-D
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And more pictures! :-D
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Here are the last two pictures. I hope you all enjoy them. Stay tune for the next painted set. Over and out! :-D
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Way Cool!
You have tons of room for dudes! The game pieces are Badass!
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Way Cool!
You have tons of room for dudes! The game pieces are Badass!
Thanks barney! If you go to the second page under customs, Spitfire38 has a thread on my whole Japanese set. Check it out!
Thanks again for the compliments. :-D
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Very cool! Since the Chinese and ANZAC will be done next, you’ll have something to face off against the Japanese.
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Very cool! Since the Chinese and ANZAC will be done next, you’ll have something to face off against the Japanese.
Yes, the board will look better, when the Chinese troops, realize the Japanese have landed on their shores, so Anzac be prepared, the UK is feeling the pressure. :-D