TerranScapes ~ Care and Storage

Taking a little time to understand how to best care for your terrain will ensure that its beauty and functionality continue for years to come. Below are a few simple tips to help your terrain be its best.

Hills and Game Boards
The flocking on the hills and Game Boards has received a matte sealant to adhere to the textured/painted foam. While this makes a very good bond, the flock can be rubbed off if it is handled very roughly. Prevent the flocked surfaces of hills from rubbing together. The rough surfaces work against each other and will shed the flock. Stack hills with the smooth side down or place a piece of paper between them to reduce this surface friction.

The surface of the hills have been coated with sand and latex paint prior to flocking. This reinforces the surface greatly and provides a fantastic texture to paint and flock. It can't protect the edges of the hills however since they come to a fairly sharp point. Take care to not strike the edge of the hills as this can dent or tear the edge. Should an accident occur however, a small dab of white glue can often repair the tear with little or no seam showing. The upgrade to a hardboard bottom significantly strengthens the hills at this weak point and is recommended if the hills will be transported frequently.

Water Features - Acrylic Coatings care
The water surface is a very hard two part polymer resin that is quite durable. This coating is then covered by one or more types of acrylic water effects. Storing weighted objects on the water surface (bridge footings, metal miniatures, etc.) for a prolonged period of time may leave an imprint in the surface. In addition, high humidity environments may cause clouding to appear in the acrylic layers. This is a temporary effect and the layer will clear again when the humidity drops.

Cleaning Water Features -
The best way to clean the river surface should it get dusty or dirty is to apply a window cleaner to a clean paper towel and gently rub the surface of the river along its axis. Should any scratches appear, they will be in the direction of the water flow mimicking the movement of water. The acrylic coatings are very scratch resistant however, so few if any marks should appear. If dusting a pond or marsh, simply wipe in the direction of the contour or in small circles. Marshes may prove tricky to dust and it may be helpful to use a soft bristled paint brush to brush of the dust while blowing across the model.

Foliage and Vegetation - Clump Foam
The foliage used on the terrain is comprised of foam which rebounds to the brief touch, but will remain flat if it is crushed for extended periods of time. Avoid stacking terrain in a way that presses on shrubs or grasses to keep it from being damaged. Trees for example should be stored upright in a box which both keeps dust and cobwebs off the stands while still allowing other terrain items to be stacked on top. TerranScapes tree stand designs are intended to help with this storage and you will find the bases to be very resistant to tipping. Note that all clump foam is firmly attached with hot glue, but some light shedding during early use is to be expected. The surface of the foam will have some 'crumbs' clinging to it which will be quickly shed leaving the base foliage solidly attached.

Foliage and Vegetation - Lichen
The lichens used for foliage should not dry out as they are treated to absorb moisture from the air. In extremely dry conditions however, such as deep in the winter of the Northeast of the United States (40% humidity or lower), the lichen can dry out and become brittle. Take care to not rub the lichen during these periods. The moisture in the lichens will naturally return when the ambient humidity rises again. I find that different brands and colors have varying degrees of moisture retention with some becoming more brittle than others.

Tree Stands
The plaster tree bases have holes in the bases that are slightly larger than the pin in the base of the trees. This allows the trees to come loose if they are struck hard, and through regular use, they may work free from the base. A small dab of any adhesive should easily return them to their original place with out any visible change. On the hardboard bases, the individual tree bases are much more difficult to dislodge, but should one come loose a small dab of super glue should restore them.

The trees have intricate foliage which is nearly impossible to clean dust from. (I have used a can of Air Duster to remove dust however.) All tree stands should be stored in a dust free environment (a box) for the best appearance of your trees for years to come. If trees are removable (such as the hedgerow stands) the trees can be stored in a bed of foam packing peanuts to prevent their foliage or shape becoming distorted.

Felt Game Mat
The felt mat is fairly resistant to wrinkles on its own but a warm iron can help to shed the final wrinkles once you unpack it from its shipping box. Afterward, storing the mat with a single light fold and then rolling it up gently will help to prevent wrinkles for future gaming sessions. Should liquids be spilled on the mat, blot them up with water and a cloth towel. A small amount of dish detergent can be used in this process if needed. Do not machine wash the mat since it will distort the texture and size of the mat.

Resin Cast Pieces
Terrain items cast in resin are extremely durable against impacts but paint tends to chip off the surface easier than from plaster which is more porous and absorbs the paint better. All of TerranScapes resin terrain items are primed in automotive primer to help the paint adhere to the plastic. Users should avoid rubbing the surface of painted resin pieces aggressively however as the paint can be flaked off if enough pressure is applied.

Unfinished Resin Pieces
When you receive your resin casts, look them over for flash that will need trimming and then wash them with a soft brush under hot soapy water. This will remove any remaining release agents and will help the paint to adhere to the model better. Finally prime the model with a quality spray primer before painting with the hobby paints of your choice. Thin pieces of resin can be heated with a blow dryer and then shaped while hot allowing for creative shaping of fences for example.

*** Building with Tuf-Stone Cast Blocks
Tuf-Stone is a fiber reinforced gypsum cement. This means that the plaster is embedded with a network of very fine fibers that add to its strength. When you receive your cast blocks, you will notice these hairs poking out around the scraped edge of the blocks. These hairs are extremely fine and do not show up in the finished project when painted. While each mold is rubbed down prior to demolding, occasionally some scraped plaster will be clinging to these hairs. Running your finger or fingernail along this edge usually removes this residue easily. (I just lightly rub the block as I go to glue it in place.)