Not a new project (Jan 2017) but one that i was happy with and thought i'd share as it may or may not be useful.
Finding a table suitable for Epic and other similar wargames isn't insanely difficult, but not everyone has a conveniently sized table available all the time (or ever).
The bigger the table the better, especially once you take into account books, dead units, tape measures, dice, gubbins, widgets and beverages.
While i do have a sturdy desk it's not quite the right size for Epic: tiny bit small.
So i made an disassemble-able table topper which covers the basic 6x4 specs.
12mm mdf sheets provide enough mass to prevent wobble, tilt, and bump unless you're a grandmaster-level klutz.
The segments are connected with 'removable hinges' for like indoor/outdoor doors. They just slide together to connect and make a solid connection. Available at i.e. bunnings for not too much, so not specialist gear.
They do create a small bump on the upper surface that is barely noticeable once you have terrain and a mat - same for the connection gaps.
Can't really recess them any further as there's not enough wood to screw them into - plenty of glue there as well. Also don't want to put them on the underside and risk scratching the table beneath. Flipping them makes the gap too big. So probably the best of a bad set of options.
Have some regular ol' towels under the boards for scratch protection etc.
Add a table cloth, some settings, dinner is served.
update 2020-07-13 (yep, that's a lot later)
I'm in a hobby lull. After finishing off interesting/taxing things i am not really in the mood to pull the trigger on anything else 'big' right at the moment. so revisiting this project apparently.
I had had discussions with the local guys about the table topper and i had mentioned that it worked really well except for a tiny bit of lumpiness on top.
Over the last day or so i had an idea for that and it's actually coming together nicely.
The screw heads are the biggest lumps, combined with the divots for the hinges makes the whole area a little uneven.
With the mousepad (neoprene) mats you probably wouldn't even notice, but the soft fleece mats (cigar box) make the effect a little more noticeable (not that it would ruin you day by any means).
So i'm gluing a full 3mm sheet over the entirely 'top' surface. minus some holes (below) for the screw heads to recess into.
Everything on the top surface is now flat except for 3 small holes per hinge (and gap between boards which doesn't have a noticeable effect).
Additionally, once the sheets are bonded and the edges sanded more-or-less straight i'm filling the holes with wood glue and will sand to flush once dried.
Just neatens up the whole surface and gets rid of the potential snag points.
Closer to what i had envisaged when starting out the project.
update 2020-07-15
Now filling in the divots a bit more with wood glue.
Board 1 done done. Glue dried and sanded.
Not 100% flat and smooth though i probably could add more glue... but am not going to.
It is SUBSTANTIALLY smoother than all the hinge cut outs, so this is as good as it's going to get. Very happy with the final results.
Without a doubt the most work i have done to create a flat board.
You can get it to show the join gaps and maybe this might come out over time during a game.
quite neat...
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