Sci-Fi Terrain with LED Magic

Created by 80sbloke

I've always loved scale models. I can spend months on a kit: sanding, priming, customising and painting. Working on every little detail with immaculate painstaking detail. Making models is a labour of love and admiring them in my cabinets is my reward for the weeks I spend making them perfect.

Wargaming terrain used to mean a few books under a tablecloth to make hills and a couple of plastic trees from the aquarium store. But, as I grew older I realised that terrain can really bring your miniatures to life. An appropriately-dressed table can transport the imaginations of the players into a world of your own making, and a world of science fiction should be overwhelming with exposed tech, futuristic design and lights.

Exposed Tech

Taking influences from Star Wars, Halo, Warhammer 40k, Alien, Mobile Suit Gundam and many, many other beloved franchises, I came to love the aesthetic of opened panels and the gears, pistons and motors unveiled beneath. These intricate details draw the eye away from flat surface and gives you something interesting to drybrush.


Futuristic Design

The best Alien designs in science fiction always have one thing in common: no parallel or perpendicular lines. These are hallmarks of human engineering! The covenant have beautiful curves and you wont see any straight lines on the Alien ship. Straight lines are deliberately human and they are best used with reflex and obtuse angles to direct the eye and produce realistic panelling. Since this is a human outpost, be prepared to see lots of straight lines, angles, panels and vents.

Lights

A science fiction setting usually means space-faring civilisations and if I was going into space, I'd bring some lights. When I build mobile suits and starship kits, I go to great lengths to light them up so they look spectacular on my shelf. So why wouldn't you want your terrain to look spectacular on your table? I can understand that many modellers don't want to use a soldering iron so ALL of my models have been designed to be assembled using inexpensive LED kits and adaptors which will make secure connections without the need to solder.


All the lights are available as off-the-shelf enclosed products or 50/50 LED tape which is assembled with plastic clips and a 12V DC mains adaptor.
3D Printing

I got into 3D printing during the pandemic and, like most makers, have encountered most problems. I've aimed to mitigate any issues you are likely to encounter. 

Every single model i have designed has been printed on an Ender 3 Pro and I'll upload photographs of the finished products (without post-processing) so you can see what your prints are likely to look like compared to the renders. 
I find that the underside of the Z-axis where supports meet the model, detail is often obscured. For this reason, I have designed each model that has overhangs or needs support, for them to be hidden when the model is assembled. 
Every model has alignment holes to ensure that when you glue it together, the model will be aligned correctly. To use them you will need to use 3mm brass rod which is widely and cheaply available in model shops and on the internet. It can be cut easily using a hacksaw and a mitre block but please use PPE. These brass rods also give structure to very small parts like gun barrels so they don't break easily.

Above: These optional parts will improve the quality of your models. The 3mm brass rods will ensure each part coordinates perfectly with others and add strength to delicate pieces. 3mm thick acrylic can be bought inexpensively from plastic cutting shops in simple geometric shapes. these complement the LEDs by piping the light though the model where it can be seen.
I have printed all these models on an FDM printer using PLA. You could use an SLA printer but the buildings are quite large and would need to be spliced using a program like Meshmixer to ensure they fit on your print bed. 

The Outpost Files
The Communications Tower:

Above (3D Render): The Communications tower has three levels and is loaded with details. The radar dish at the top can be swapped out with any of the other turrets to give it defensive capabilities (Miniature for scale purposes and is not included).



Above (FDM printed model): The Communication tower assembles into three modules. Each can be taken apart and is coordinated with two short moulded pegs on the top of each floor which slot into a hole on the bottom of the next. The floor slides up and down in a hidden groove so internal gameplay can be achieved. The roof has a mount for a radar dish or a turret. The radio mast uses 3mm brass rods for strength and clean cylindrical form-factor.
Three different sized Pillboxes



Above (FDM printed model): Pledgers will receive the files for three different sized pillboxes. Each one has a roof that fits it's base with moulded pegs and holes. The doors all slide up and out using hidden grooves. Each pillbox also has a roof that seats a turret. Backers who pick the LED option will receive a second version of the 'large outpost' which has moulded internals to seat a AAA battery compartment and acrylic windows to make energy shielded windows - Perfect for a command centre when coupled with the radar dish turret!
Three Turrets and a Radar Dish

Above (3D Render): The four turrets all use the same base so they can be placed on any of the four buildings included in the package. You have the option to use 3mm brass rods through the central axle and through the main barrels to ensure they balance centrally and to give them more durability.


Above (FDM Printed models) The three turrets and radar dish use the same mount and can be freely swapped between any of the buildings and the freestanding ground mount.
Parapets


Each parapet comes in three parts: The base, the wall and the platform. The base houses a 50/50 LED strip which can be cut every three LEDs to accommodate each section of your barricade. The light pipes through the base via a 40mm square piece of acrylic and comes out of the inner edge and the top. The platform piece sits on top and blocks the light except to illuminate the firing direction or barricade number. The wall snaps nicely in front.
The parapets have been designed to be used on the ground and provide support structures for the pillboxes but also affix to special parapet 'endcaps (pictured below) to allow you to build armoured walls to surround your outpost.



Three Pledge levels
The basic tier includes all models that don't use LEDs and is best suited to makers who want to print their model and pop it on the table. These files require the least post-assembly and is the least expensive at under £10. This pledge-level will also include all stretch goals that do not incorporate LEDs.


The second tier includes all models from the basic tier and also includes LED mountable alternatives. These have been specifically designed to work with inexpensive lighting kits which are widely available and 5050 LED strip tape and adaptors. This means that no soldering is required to make a beautifully lit outpost.


Above (FDM Printed model): This command building uses (1) a hidden compartment inside to hold a AAA battery pack with two LEDs lighting two pieces of etched acrylic to make blue windows and (2) a button LED underlighting a octagonal piece of acrylic beneath the turret. The roof can still be removed for gameplay and the door slides up and out for breach warfare.
The merchant tier is an option for sellers who want to print off my models and sell them. Those who purchase this tier will receive a merchant license which permits them to sell my physical models in their shops and online marketplaces. But, please understand that my files are not to be sold or redistributed and remain my intellectual property. The license is valid for life.

Value

If you've read this far, thank you for sticking with me. This is my first venture on the internet and it means a great deal that you've invested your time in my project. I've priced my models very competitively and the value increases with every stretch goal unlocked. We live in troubling times and I know that purses and wallets are tight. Hopefully, my prices are reasonable enough for your interest. These files will sold in the future on another platform but at a much more expensive price point. So please take advantage of the bargain prices while they are available.