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8 Feb 2014

Make your own quality Shaken / Disrupted / Whatever markers


Various types - including Viking, Japanese, Indian, Anglo-Saxon, Tudor and German


What you need

Some 40mm x 10mm MDF bases (e.g. from Warbases.com)

A colour printer

Microsoft Excel

PVA glue

A pair of scissors


What you do

Go into Google and type in your your period followed by 'fonts' (e.g. Viking Fonts).  Download the font(s) you like (usually free) then ensure they are available in your Fonts folder.

Once done, open up MS Excel and type the word you want into a cell (e.g. Shaken).  Then select the font you downloaded (e.g. Viking).

Now size the cell to be just smaller than 40mm x 10mm (trial and error to be fair - it took me 2 tries before I got it).  Then change the cell colour / font colour / size etc. to suit.

Then copy and paste across a page worth (1xA4 is more than enough) and - when ready, print them out.

Then just cut out and paste onto your MDF bases.  You can have alternate options (e.g. Disrupted / Fragmented) on either side of the base so can just flip it over if the morale state changes.

Base and uncut markers


Need to change them at any time?  Leave them in water for about 3 minutes then peel off!

Simple yet effective.

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5 comments:

  1. A-Historian08 February, 2014

    Watch out with this method - the glue can bleed through if applied thickly, leaving an unpleasant mottled effect. It's also a good idea to seal them with a thin top layer of PVA, otherwise they get all smudgy from people's fingers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Broeders10 February, 2014

      You're right. It only needs a thin coating. Varnishing is a good idea - if you're not planning to re-use them in the future.

      Delete
  2. fogsoldiers08 February, 2014

    Nice method. I recommend to use double sided adhesive tape instead of white glue and then spraying gloss varnish :-)

    Marzio.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ben Gilmour14 February, 2014

    Excellent idea, Phil. I have a lamintor at work, so I might put it to some non-work use with your font idea. Having an mdf base would give a little weight and substance, though.

    ReplyDelete
  4. X. Moctezuma05 May, 2014

    Great idea. I suggest using Vinyl laminate flooring instead of bases. Flooring can be cut in any size. Just print, peel off the back of the floor tile, stick the printer piece of paper, no need to glue anything, and then mark the cut with a knife. Just one pass, no need to cut through, once the tile is "marked" with the knife, bend the piece an it will cut straight. It also works fro basing and movement trays!. I use
    TrafficMASTER 12 in. x 12 in. Chaucer Select Solid Vinyl Tile (45 sq. ft./case) from home depot.

    ReplyDelete