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Post by davidsh on Dec 7, 2016 9:55:28 GMT
I came across a US based site, Hotz Mats that produce a range of battle mats and felt fields. The gallery pictures look good (I know they would anyway). I just wondered if anyone has experience of them or had used them?
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Post by bruce on Dec 8, 2016 1:35:10 GMT
I have not seen these first hand or used them, but I know that Bruce Weigle uses their flocked fields to create his scenic masterpieces. Hotmatz are much expanded from several years ago when I first looked into them because I liked the idea of the custom printed grids option. They have a good selection of sizes, good looking colors. They are felt, fine if your bases are smooth enough on the bottom. I have also looked at the newer Cigar Box Battle mats, also in the US I think. They have some nice patterns.
I know this doesn't help your search for first hand experience with these, but you got me thinking about playing mats, which we have not discussed very much on the Forum. It might be interesting to ask everybody what their preferences are with regard to playing surfaces. How about it Forum members? David, if you haven't quite made up your mind yet it might be helpful.
I finally opted for Chessex vinyl Megamats, but I now custom paint my own vinyl mats using marine vinyl from the Joann's fabric chain. Very affordable with one of their coupons, textured, several base colors, takes acrylic paints well, makes great looking rolling terrain with just about anything placed underneath it. I have made several for winter, summer, dessert, etc. Bases move very smoothly across it, I rarely pick them up. Wrinkle free. Like painting figures, painting my own mats has become a creative part of the hobby for me. Bruce
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Post by tim on Dec 8, 2016 6:45:56 GMT
Never seen them in the flesh. Their fields do look good I must say but dread to think of the cost of postage from the US to UK. There were some moans about delivery times (or lack of it on TMP some time ago). I have a mat from Terrain Mat in the UK which is quite good. linkI only use it for WW2 where line of site is critical.
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Hotz Mats
Dec 8, 2016 10:52:41 GMT
via mobile
Post by davidsh on Dec 8, 2016 10:52:41 GMT
Thanks Bruce I have just bought a mat from Terrain Mats and am intending using it for the first time next weekend to stage Borodino. I have had some home made terrain tiles for many years (cork on mdf with card/polystyrene contours covered with a 'grass' railway modellers sheet). Trouble is some have warped and require liberal use of foliage to disguise! Plus it's difficult to get a good long ridge or series of hills. With the mat you can lay it over almost anything to create features. I also bought some of their fields which can be cut to various sizes. I guess if they work I will stick with Terrain Mat for anything else. Beats the pale green blanket I used when first starting out with this hobby!
David
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Post by bruce on Dec 9, 2016 3:23:52 GMT
Great choice, their artwork really influenced my home made mats. I might have gotten them myself except for the shipping cost to the US. As Tim says, it's a major consideration. I am a regular UK visitor but Scotland only, where I use paper armies. I should be bringing this kind of stuff back with me! Bruce
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