How to Make Warhammer 40k Craters

Explosions, explosions, explosions!!! In the Warhammer 40k universe they’re an everyday thing. It is therefore a common occurrence to see craters due to things landing from the sky. IE the dent a lascannon would leave if it hit the ground.

Materials List

-polystyrene (styrofoam)
-utility knife
-PVA glue (white glue)
-Plaster
-toilet paper
-paint brush
PAINTS
-acrylic black
-tin bitz (dark gray/brown)
-graveyard earth (dark brown)
-bestial brown
-snakebite leather (light brown)
-camo green

Step 1 Prepare base

There are a number of things you can use for your base. A piece of thin wood or thin styrofoam will work. For this project we used thin wood.

Step 2 Cut out crater bits

Simply grab your styrofoam and cut out small triangular wedges.

Step 3 Glue wedges

Use PVA glue (white glue) and stick your wedges to your base.

Step 4 Fill in gaps

Fill the gaps between the wedges using plaster. You may also use putty if you have it.

Step 5 paper mache you crater

use strips of toilet paper and paper mache your crater using watered down glue.

By doing this you’ll keep the plaster protected so it won’t chip off. The paper mache also gives for a more earthy look.

Step 6 Base coat

Prime the crater with acrylic black paint

Step 7 painting layers

These are our suggested layers to use. Begin with tin bitz (dark gray/brown), then dry brush with graveyard earth (dark brown). Next dry brush bestial brown and then snakebite leather. Lastly, dry brush a final layer of camo green to give a mossy effect.

And there you have it! Nice, realistic looking craters made easy.

(Special thanks to Dan for providing the photos of the craters and making the craters themselves. Great Job!)