To start off with it is easier to make a ruined corner section. You can then work up to bigger, more complicated projects.

First, you will need to cut the base for the building. I would recommend making the base in a right-angled triangle shape, and at least 10 centimetres long on two right-angle sides. When you have finished cutting the wood, bevel the edges so that they slope towards the ground.

Unless you are using really thick corrugated card, like the stuff that comes of heavy duty packing boxs, you will need to glue two or more sheets together. One way of testing whether your card is strong enough is to gently bend it. If it bends really easily, chances are that you will have to glue some sheets together, but if it proves quite sturdy then you should be fine. It also depends how thick you want your walls.

If you glued some card together leave it for a day or two to make sure the glue is really rock hard. If the glue is still wet when you do the next step, your ruin will be spoilt and won't look as good as it should do!

The next step in making your ruins is to cut out two rectangles of card which fit nicely onto your base. If you made your the sides of your base about 10 centimetres long then the walls will need to be about 8 centimetres long. Make the walls slightly higher than your tallest unmounted, human figure.

To make the walls look ruined you will now need to cut a jagged edge which usually would slope down to the ground. If you want you can keep the offcut and make another ruin with it.

When you have finished "ruining" your walls you will need to glue them onto the base. This is very easy, as all you need to do is butt them up next to each other so that they form a corner. You will then need to secure them to the base and each other with some PVA glue. To help keep them straight you may want to cut a tiny triangle, only 1-2 centimetres long and glue this in the corner.

It is a good time now, before the glue has dried, to add some rubble around the walls to represent fallen bricks and stones. To do this you will need lots of little stones, some very fine gravel will do. Alternatively, you can cut up little bits of sprue, and use them instead. Glue the stones/sprue down to the base in small piles around the ruin. A good place to put rubble, is in the corner, where you put your little triangle of card. This is a great way to cover up the piece of card. Fill in the gaps between stones with some sand. The glue from the stones should secure them so there is no need to worry about gluing the sand to anything.

You will then need to Paint and Texture your ruin. The base can be detailed using instructions on this page.

Now that you have made a simple ruin, and feel that you can tackle something a bit more complicated, try making a ruin with a doorway or even the remnants of a second floor.

If you decide to make a larger ruin, maybe with 4 walls, remember to make it manoeuvrable so that your troops can get in. An easier way of making a complete ruin is to simply make 4 corners and place them near to each other on the board.

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This page was last updated on:
03-Aug-2003