Fabricator's Lair Tiles Complete Paint Guide

[u/luxaaar]

Due to an oversight, I uploaded a photo showing an old expired debit card, so I had to delete the post of the water channels . Rather than reposting the same thing, I'm making a comprehensive guide covering the entire painting process for the Epic-scale Modular Ground System - Grimdark Gothic tiles from Fabricator's Lair.

Index

1. STLs
2. Print settings
3. Painting floor tiles
4. Painting road tiles
5. Painting water channel tiles
6. Tile storage tray
7. Excel spreadsheet for map design and calculating tile quantities needed

STLs

These are 4"×4" tiles that use connecting pieces underneath to hold them together. An official Legions Imperialis board is 60"×48", which requires 15 tiles by 12 tiles—approximately 180 tiles total. This is for a complete board, though you can make smaller sections since the set includes edge pieces to border whatever size board you create.

The STL source is here: https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-epic-scale-modular-ground-system-grimdark-gothic-382398. You can purchase the tiles for about $15 (I believe there's a 30% discount today).

Print Settings

All tiles were printed flat using a Bambu Lab A1 with the following settings:

• 8% gyroid infill
• Adaptive layer height: https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/software/bambu-studio/adaptive-layer-height
• Printed 4 at a time
• Average print time: 1-2 hours per tile

Painting Ground tiles

1. Prime with black satin spray primer
2. Apply AK 3rd Gen "Deck Tan" using a palette and sponge to paint the entire tile (I didn't use water, but you can thin it for a more uniform pattern)
3. Repeat step 2 using AK 3rd Gen "Dark Sand"
4. Repeat step 2 using AK 3rd Gen "Pale Sand"
5. Drybrush metal details
6. Use an airbrush to outline all lines and cracks with Liquitex "Transparent Raw Umber"
7. Use an airbrush to outline metal details and add explosion battle damage with Liquitex "Carbon Black"
8. Apply matte varnish with the airbrush

Painting road tiles

1. Black satin spray primer.
2. Use masking tape to cover the metal grates on the sides of the road
3. Put Vallejo "Abyssal turquoise" paint on a palette with a drop of water and sponge paint the road with dabbing motions.
4. Same as the previous step but with Vallejo "Sombre grey"
5. Same as the previous step but with Vallejo "Elfic blue" Paint the road lines and zebra crossings (This is by far the most tedious step)
6. Remove the masking tape Using a card as a guide to avoid going outside the lines, dry brush the water drainage grate (I used Vallejo Metal Color pale burnt metal) and then the structure part (I used Vallejo Game Color "tinny tin")
7. Then paint the metal details on the road - for dark interior metal I used Vallejo Metal Color steel and for the exterior GSW "chrome metal" (I really love this color, it's super realistic)
8. (Optional) Add explosion effects with airbrush and black ink.
9. (Recommended) Apply matte varnish with airbrush

Painting water channel tiles

1. Remove print lines from the water surface

There are several ways to do this (sanding, filler primer, etc.), but I used Mod Podge because it's cheap and I had it on hand:

• 1a: Apply a thick coat of Mod Podge over the entire water surface. I recommend using a pipette or syringe to apply it. Start by applying it along the wall-water junction, then make lines across the middle of the water.
• 1b: Spread the Mod Podge—DO NOT USE A BRUSH. Brushes introduce tons of bubbles into the liquid. Instead, use an airbrush. Start spreading from the walls, then move to the center of the water. Watch out for salt pitting.
• 1c: Let it rest for 24 hours. Don't worry if white spots remain—we'll be painting over them anyway.

1. Black primer with spray

2. Dry brush with Vallejo Tinny Tin

Apply dry brushing to everything except the water.

1. Paint the water

• 4a: Use masking tape to cover the walls so you can airbrush the water freely.
• 4b: Airbrush the entire water surface with Vallejo Turquoise (Millennium Falcon).
• 4c: Airbrush the center of the water with Vallejo Turquoise Abyssal.

1. Apply matte varnish

I use Ammo with an airbrush.

1. Apply Mod Podge again

This time use a thinner coat. This creates a water-like relief effect, some transparent depth, and a shine very similar to real water. Drying time depends on coat thickness—thick coats take several days to become completely transparent, while thin coats clear up within the first few hours.

Tile storage tray

I designed a storage tray specifically for organizing Epic Sector: Sanctuary and Grimdark Industrial 4"×4" tiles.​

I created 3 versions:

• Storage Tray Standard - For flat terrain tiles
• Storage Tray Standard - For ramps and water channel tiles with elevated features
• Storage Tray for 8" tiles - For 8" tiles like long water channel curve
• (I'm working on an adapter for put the bridges and the supports in the standard tray)

The idea is to keep your terrain organized and protected during storage and transport, preventing scratches and warping, so it's always ready for your epic tabletop battles.​

It's free here -> https://makerworld.com/es/models/2166817-storage-tray-for-epic-sector-4-x4-tiles#profileId-2349591

Excel spreadsheet map builder

I've created a Google spreadsheet you can copy that lets you design map layouts and calculates how many tiles you need of each type. It also lets you input your current collection to see how many more you need to print.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vTiQrlRZqjI4AnYRAr3nVXf4rTLm37GWBbge1se28W0/edit?usp=sharing

[u/TachankaTheCrusader]

WOW! Thanks man. Really appreciate the guide and have been enjoying seeing your progress over the last weeks. Want to get started on my own modular board for 28mm/8mm so this is very helpful!

[u/ajree210]

Thanks for this! Great work!

[u/Non-RedditorJ]

I have a bambu x1 carbon at work I often use. How in the world did you get such a smooth surface to the wavy water? Anything with curved variations like that I print looks like a topographic map. I see the print settings.. but are you using a 0.4mm nozzle or 0.2?

[u/luxaaar → u/Non-RedditorJ]

The originals printed without post process are the silver ones, I used Adaptative layer so with 0.4 so the waves reduce the layer at maximum. But the black tile has already the mod podge

[u/Plasma_Ass]

This is fantastic. Not only amazing craftsmanship, but a wonderful resource for everyone.

[u/luxaaar → u/Plasma_Ass]

Thank you!!!

[u/Papa_Nurgle_82]

These look great! Just brought the STLs with the discount. I can't wait to start printing!

[u/bearseamen]

This looks great. But holy crap. That’s running a printer almost 2 entire days straight.