Behind the Scenes: How We Build and Design Our Modular Wargaming Tables

If you’ve ever popped into our Latchingdon shop at Unit 12a Mayfair Industrial Estate, you’ve likely seen them: our purpose-built, tournament-prepared competitive gaming tables. Maybe you’ve even rolled some dice across them during a weekend Warhammer 40k match or a casual gaming session with mates.

But have you ever wondered what goes into creating a professional, modular wargaming table from scratch?

At Megathorium Models, we believe the hobby is more than just a game—it’s an immersive journey of creation. A great battle deserves an incredible battlefield. That’s why we design and supply custom, modular wargaming tables for homes, clubs, and events.

Here is an exclusive look behind the scenes at how we bring these battlefields to life, from the first design sketch to the final coat of paint.

Step 1: The Blueprint—Designing for Modularity and Fair Play

Every great table starts with a plan. When designing tournament-prepared tables, we have two main goals: aesthetic immersion and modular functionality.

A standard 6x4 or 44"x60" battlefield is fantastic, but it can be a nightmare to transport and store at home. By designing our tables in modular sections (typically 2x2 or 2x4 foot tiles), we ensure they are easy to reconfigure. This means you can play a small skirmish game one weekend and expand to a massive Apocalypse-level battle the next, all while easily packing the boards away when you are done.

We also carefully map out the placement of terrain, choke points, and line-of-sight blockers. Whether you are a die-hard strategist or a casual player, the board needs to be fair, balanced, and tactically exciting for both armies.

Step 2: The Core—Building the Foundation

A warping battlefield is a gamer's worst enemy. To prevent this, we construct our modular tiles using premium, lightweight, yet highly rigid materials. We create a strong frame (or sub-structure) that ensures the board lies perfectly flat on any surface.

Once the structural tiles are cut and assembled, we secure a durable top layer. This layer is engineered to handle the weight of heavy terrain pieces, chunky resin scenery, and the occasional accidentally dropped metal dice block.

Step 3: Texturing and the "Megathorium Touch"

This is where the magic happens. A flat board doesn't tell a story. To create realistic terrain features—like trenches, rocky outcrops, craters, or alien landscapes—we use a combination of dense carving foams, custom textures, and our specialty: Custom 3D Printing.

Because we house a premium, commercial-grade 3D printing service right here in the shop, we can design and print bespoke structural details directly onto the board. Need specialised sci-fi bulkheads seamlessly integrated into the landscape? Or thematic fantasy runes embedded into a stone floor? We print it, fit it, and fuse it to the base.

Step 4: The Paint Phase (The Best Part!)

To give our tables a professional, hard-wearing finish that stands up to hours of tournament play, we dive straight into our own retail shelves. We use the exact same high-quality brands we supply to our customers.

• The Base Layer: We prime the boards using The Colour Forge sprays. Their incredible coverage and colour matching give us the perfect, durable undercoat for massive surface areas.

• The Details & Weathering: To bring the grimdark or fantasy settings to life, we rely heavily on Dirty Down effects. A splash of Dirty Down Rust on 3D-printed pipework or a coat of Verdigris on forgotten ruins instantly adds years of environmental decay and gritty realism to the table.

• The Highlights: Finally, we use The Army Painter paints and washes to drybrush the rocks, pick out the details, and ensure the entire board pops under our store lighting.

Step 5: Sealing for the Competitive Elements

The final step is arguably the most important for a public gaming hub. Tabletop gaming can be brutal on scenery—tape measures scrape across the surface, models are dragged, and drinks get spilled.

We apply multiple layers of heavy-duty, matte protective sealants. This locks in the paint and textures, eliminates glare from overhead gaming lights, and guarantees the table looks as good on its 500th match as it did on its first.

Pop In and See Us—Or Take a Table Home!

Our passion at Megathorium Models is creating a welcoming space where all creatives, hobbyists, and gamers have the room to thrive. You don't have to just look at pictures online—you can come down and experience these battlefields in person.

• Come and Play: Want to test your mettle on our in-store tables? Swing by the shop, meet the local community, check out our massive range of paints and miniatures, and book a gaming session with your mates.

• Custom Build Your Own: If you want a custom, modular tournament table built specifically for your spare room, garage, or local club, we can bring your exact imagination to life. From custom 3D-printed terrain features to bespoke board sizes, we handle the design and construction from start to finish.

Find Us In Store

We love chatting about all things hobbying, so feel free to pull up a chair, grab a tea or coffee from our refreshments selection, and talk through your next project with us.

• 📍 Address: Unit 12a Mayfair Industrial Estate, Latchingdon, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 6JF

• 📞 Phone: 01621 220590

• ✉️ Email: info@megathoriummodels.co.uk

Have an idea for your dream gaming board or need some custom pieces printed? Give us a call, drop us an email, or pop into the shop today to chat with the team!