One of the newest concepts in wargaming terrain is durable rubber or latex terrain pieces that are molded, then painted and flocked by the manufacturer and sold ready-to-play. A number of small companies have started making such terrain, which fits the budgetminded wargamer who has neither the patience and/or the talent to make his own custom terrain pieces. Among the better of these entrepreneurs is MINIATURE WORLD MAKER, an Australian company that moved from making terrain features out of Styrofoam or extruded polystyrene to molding them out of unbreakable, unchippable latex rubber. They manufacture a large line of terrain that is fully suitable for 5-6mm, 15mm, as well as a smaller line of 25mm pieces for the ACW and other periods.

They make fields full of crops, plowed fields, wheat fields, etc. as well as streams, rivers, swamps, ponds, beachfronts, dirt roads, sunken roads, walls, fences, hedges, etc. all made of rubber. All are painted and flocked and look very nice on the table. In addition, Miniature World Maker makes houses, gun emplacements, shell holes/craters, and similar accessories - simply pull them out of the bag and place them into position on the gaming table.

Illustrated throughout this article are photographs of a 15mm ACW game depicting a rather loose rendition of Longstreet's assault on Sickles III Corps at the Peach Orchard on 2nd day of Gettysburg. Miniature World Maker's rubber fields are evident, and have been laid over top of the 4" GHQ Terrain Maker hexes to add color and variety to the terrain. I have also tried using Miniature World Maker's pieces grassed mats as well. In every case, they are flexible and wrap nicely on slopes and hillsides. Using shears, the rubber mats may be cut to fit certain spaces or es desired field sizes for the layouts. They may be treated as open or broken terrain for common rules sets. Miniature World Maker also makes a line of rough terrain (rocky fields, crags, uneven ground) that works well for more rugged terrain than the gently rolling Gettysburg fields. Although not illustrated, these rocky pieces fit very nicely with gamers choosing to recreate Western battles where rough ground was more common then in many eastern theatre scenarios.

Of interest as well is MINIATURE WORLD MAKER's line of specialty pieces. Their small cemetery for example would be a nice addition to any gaming table where small community cemeteries were in the line of fire and line-of-sight (Baton Rouge, Antietam, etc. scenarios). It would also work for Gettysburg's Cemetery Hill with some minor cutting and trimming of walls. Again, as with their entire product line and the 'plug-n-play concept, simply take the pieces out of the package and place them on the table - no work.

Included with this article are some photographs from our recent wargaming 15mm ACW adventure at Advance the Colors '99 (HMGS Great Lakes convention in Dayton, Ohio in September of 1999).

Old Glory, Essex, and Musket Miniatures Figures painted by Scott Mingus,Tom Mingus,and Ron Strickland. 4-inch GHQ terrain maker hexes customized by Scott Mingus.

More Reviews

Firing Line 25mm Caisson
Redoubt 25mm Zouaves
Redoubt 25mm General Staff
Miniature World Maker Terrain (1)
Miniature World Maker Terrain (2)
Antietam Documentary Video

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