(These molds are available at
Hirst Arts which has many pictures, plans, and tips for casting.)
Being a new Necron player in Warhammer 40,000, I wanted to create some terrain for my table that matched my ancient techno-nightmare toy soldiers. A friend pointed out a web site that sells not terrain but rubber molds that allow one to cast blocks out of plaster, blocks that can be assembled into any shape that one can conceive. Several molds usable for science-fiction terrain are available, but most of the molds available are geared towards fantasy/medieval terrain or are generic pieces. Molds range in price between $21-34 each.
Service: Excellent. I ordered two each of molds #311 (the "Skematic Pyramid" mold) and #212 (the "Skematic Floor Tile" mold), using the online shopping cart on the website. They arrived within a few days of ordering, shipped via Priority Mail. They were undamaged even though my mailman had attempted to stuff them into my small apartment mailbox and had ripped the envelope wide open.
The Molds: Both types of molds that I purchased are very detailed, with mold #311 made of stiffer rubber than #212 (in part, I suppose, because of the level of detail on the sides of the molds). They are roughly 5"x 1/2"x4" in size, and are very tough. The manufacturer claims that they will stand up to hundreds of repeated castings. I twisted them with great force (well, as great of force as I could muster, in any case) and they showed no signs whatsoever of tearing or misshaping. Since that time they have been used repeatedly with no signs of wear. All blocks created by the molds are measured in 1/4", 1/2", or 1" sections, so they can be interchanged or used with other molds.
The floor tile mold has twelve flat 1"x1"x1/4" blocks, each with a "circuitry" pattern on it that runs off at least one edge of the tile. Each block on the mold is different, and they are designed to be placed to form patterns on the floor of the terrain piece.
The Skematic Pyramid mold (a sort of techno-Egyptian style) makes 32 different blocks of different shapes, including wedges, points, squares, rectangles, and an end cap piece. It also includes two floor tile pieces (both of which are different than the ones on mold #212). Each block has a distinctive pattern set into it, but these patterns match up when the blocks are stacked together, resulting in lines that twist and bend up the walls of the terrain pieces you build. Many of the blocks have patterns on two sides.
The Blocks: After buying some Plaster of Paris, I got to work. I used the recommended "wet water" approach given on the Hirst Arts web site, which involves spraying the molds down with a solution of water and dishwashing liquid (or, in my case, "Jet Dry" anti-spotting agent), and this seemed to eliminate air bubbles forming in the blocks. It took some experimentation to find the right way to mix and pour the plaster, but again, tips are available on the web site. It takes several castings to produce enough blocks to construct most pieces, so it is a good idea to order two of any mold that will see significant use. It takes roughly a half-hour (most of it setting time) to produce one mold-full of blocks, and they need to dry for a day or so before they are ready to be used, so multiple molds are a big timesaver.
Each block was very clearly detailed. The only problem I had was with the general lack of strength of Plaster of Paris, which often resulted in damaged or powdery blocks as they came out of the molds. Stronger plasters such as Excalibur or Di-Keen (a dental plaster) are recommended by Hirst Arts, especially for pieces that will see much use on the tabletop. As I experimented with my PoP mix, I found that adding less water to the plaster, and leaving them in the molds a little longer to set took care of the problem, and resulted in perfectly-formed blocks. Some of the more delicate blocks could definitely benefit from stronger plaster, and care needs to be taken when popping them out of the mold so they do not break, especially with the stiff rubber of mold #311.
The First Project: After casting the Pyramid mold several times, I started on my first project, the "portal tomb" (instructions are available on the web site). I decided to use some blocks from the floor tile mold in place of the floor tiles from the Pyramid mold. The piece was assembled in sections, then painted before final assembly. The blocks fit together very well, with only a slight seam to show where two blocks meet. The interchangeability of the blocks served me well as several times I decided to change which block I used for a section (and in a few cases, if a block was damaged I simply glued two other smaller ones together to form a useful substitute). When finished it looked very impressive, a mix of modern and ancient technology.
Conclusion: I'm hooked.
While somewhat expensive, these molds are definitely very, very useful and should serve well for years. Compared to much of the terrain being produced, they are a good value so long as one is willing to spend the time and effort it takes to produce, glue, and paint the blocks.
My next project (when my new shipment of better plaster arrives) is to build a sectional necron ship than can be used for Battlefleet Gothic/Warhammer 40K Invasion scenarios. I also plan to purchase several of the stonework molds. I've been itching to construct a modular dungeon...
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