Setting the Scene - A Blotz Review

Hi again.

King Fluff here with a short but sweet post on some of the scenery I've been using recently. The company I've been using is Blotz - this is a fantastic company who specialises in laser-cut MDF scenery (amongst other things).

Now if like me you've been around the block a little, going from making polystyrene packaging into fortresses and getting really excited about plastic scenery, you may have passed over MDF scenery. My initial thoughts on most of the MDF scenery I saw was that it 'looked' like MDF scenery, the joins were obvious and the finish wasn't really something that could compete with other scenery types on the market.

Then I found Blotz.

 I initially did a trial order to see what the quality was like - this was for my fledgling, then 6mm, Adeptus Titanicus project. I was really pleased with the finish on the MDF and how the multi layered approach to the kits added, detail, depth and effectively hid the joins on the kit pieces. They're range is pretty extensive - covering multiple genres of games from Wild West Exodus to Drop Zone Commander in different modern and classic styles of architecture. 

When Adeptus Titanicus was re-released I wasn't overly impressed with the scale of the plastic buildings, I found the panels to be small in comparison to the size of the models and that multiple kits would be needed to represent buildings that would be able to obscure a titan in the game (since then Specialist Games have announced that they will be doing further building kits with larger panels that go someway to rectify this). I did some research and found the 10mm Blotz Art Deco buildings were the perfect scale for Adeptus Titanicus. I bought a few kits and began building.

All the kits come as flat pack sheets in baggies. There are no instructions included, only a product picture, although the company do have instructions and guides on their website to refer to if you need them.

You'll need a sharp scalpel and some superglue, for these I also used a superglue accelerator.

When cutting out the pieces you'll only need to cut a couple of connections points per piece, some of the pieces contain cut details which may come loose if you chose to snap the parts out or are using a blunter blade.

The kits are pretty simple to go together.

Flat sided buildings have a level of additional detail that is added as a fascia, I've found this easier to attach prior to gluing at the corners.

Flat sided buildings have triangular lugs that affix into the corners of each wall. The more detailed buildings have sub assemblies that need to be fixed on the back of wall sections before they are joined at the corners.

For additional levels there is the capacity to glue on strips which act as locators for the levels and, if you so wish, something to glue the levels together to. For these builds I kept the levels detachable as I have plans to buy additional damaged sections so they can be swapped out in game (when using the optional Adeptus Titanicus rules).

As you can see each level goes together in a similar fashion, the roof being no exception, acting as a group of conjoined corner lugs.

The finished article is robust, although I've found that the kits with the recessed doorways will need a base making as the MDF struts of the door arches are a little delicate for significant transportation.

What is great about these buildings is there modular nature, you can make buildings as tall as you'd like, with tiered structures on top of each other or by buying additional levels. The ability to disassemble is very valuable for transporting, mix and matching and for adding in damaged sections.

Now I've also been playing with the Blotz sci-fi walls kits. These work very well as walls for games of Necromunda but also are a great cheap alternative to the Forge World Zone Mortalis tiles, coming in at around one third of the cost.

Again these have the same level of detail - some being optional on this kit, and the same hidden joins, although on this kit you can see the joins and some gaps on the top of each wall section. I think these could easily be hidden by adding an additional detailing plate to the top if you wanted to.

As with all the other Blotz kits they paint well from the packet with a primer spray and then regular model paints on top. 

Well I hope you've enjoyed this stroll down a scenic route. I'll be following up with a full look at my Adeptus Titanicus set up in the future - so subscribe to the blog if you want to be the first to see it in all its glory.

Stay safe.
KF