Martin and Stewart both saw my first voyage into the realm of using a photo backdrop as a play mat when we played TCR earlier this month. I have ordered 3 more mats that have now arrived. 10 days from ordering to delivery so fast. Only problem was a minimum order value of £15 which led to me ordering 3 cloths of maximum size. I have found it quite difficult finding good high res ariel photos that are taking direct, or almost directly, from above as most seem to be taken from the side which wasn't the effect I looked for.
The cloths are polyester and this size (58x83") appear huge and would have enough material for 2 normal PP game sized cloths as far as I am aware. They do have a very minor problem with creep when laid on top of a sheet. This can be fixed easily with a few safety pins I think.
Anyway. time for the reveal:
(https://i.postimg.cc/pyjTxjt5/IMG20250812224720.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/pyjTxjt5)
Overhead view of the Sumatran Jungle (current time). Nice mix of light and dark.
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZWbKrDv6/IMG20250812224756.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZWbKrDv6)
Amazing phot of the desert including dry river beds. (Photo source didn't specify where or when)
(https://i.postimg.cc/TLDRRzBv/IMG20250812224633.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TLDRRzBv)
Actual WW2 ariel phot reconnaissance photo of the Irrawaddy river 1942 taken by RAAF B25. The straight light items to one side are Teak logs floated down river ready to be taken by ship to Japan. Think this would work well with Mikes Air wars project as well.
Yes Stewart, they would have looked better if I had ironed then first :)
https://www.temu.com/goods.html?_bg_fs=1&goods_id=601099992781279&_oak_stage=6&_oak_page_source=703&_x_msgid=210-20250806-06-B-895070995817811968-427-7U0IDOo9&_x_src=mail&_x_sessn_id=4f97xia9n4&refer_page_name=bgt_orders&refer_page_id=10054_1755076039175_rtujirc678&refer_page_sn=10054
I know its a long link but this is the seller I used and they seem to be efficient and have a good price and quality.
Derek
Thanks Derek
I have ordered a desert mat for PITS
Stewart
They look alright. What did you use to mark the grids? Was there any bleeding into the material?
John
They are pristine so far John. Think I will keep the desert and photo rec print as is but will cut the jungle one in half.
The one I did mark up for TCR I dotted instead of gridded. Used a paint pen for that and seems to work without too much bleed. I need to change the colour I did it though as its dark on a dark background. OK, once templates are on its not a problem but will center dot the blue dots with white paint pen. should make it stand out a bit. If not then red. lol
Derek
I have just ordered one of these using a cropped version of these images - https://www.wargamevault.com/product/280246/Battle-Maps-12-x-18-Posters (https://www.wargamevault.com/product/280246/Battle-Maps-12-x-18-Posters) cropped to a 10x8 and a bit grid (the 150x130cm one). hopefully it will come out the right size and just need the width trimming down but will be pre gridded to hopefully the right size. fingers crossed! if it comes out as i'm expecting, i might play around with the image file a bit to have the required squares and add a border with dead/reinforcement zones etc. fingers crossed!
Ben