Scatter terrain always helps to make a table 'pop'. Not only that - it helps to keep your hired hands alive just a bit longer and provides that extra point of armour that your close combat monster needs to make it across the board and whoop up on those pesky opponents. Boxes and barrels were items commonly found in western towns and provide a nice addition to any board.

As in the last post, you can throw this scatter terrain together for just a few dollars.

Cheap and quick Boxes and Barrels

Supplies Needed:

  1. 3/4” wood blocks

  2. Mini pickle barrels

  3. Hot glue gun and glue sticks (your hot glue gun does not have to have a googly eye like mine)

  4. Acrylic Craft Paint: I am using Earth Brown, Black, and Desert Sand

Step 1:

Layout your barrels and boxes in whatever patterns you like and hot glue them together.

Step 2:

Basecoat your barrels and boxes in your preferred shade of brown.

Step 3:

Using black, paint the bands on the barrels (you can, of course, do these in any colour you like). For the boxes simply paint around the edges in a lighter shade to simulate the banding on thE boxes as well. You can also cut strips of cardstock and glue them onto the boxes instead of painting the banding on. Since I am generally making between 50-75 boxes I prefer to just paint them as it is much quicker and gives the same general effect on the table top.

Step 4:

The last step is purely optional. Red craft beads make great apples. Simply apply some white glue to the top of one or more of the barrels and sprinkle the beads into the glue. After the glue dries put another layer of undiluted white glue over the beads. This will help to keep them in place and the white glue also does a nice job of filling in the holes in the beads.

Boxes and barrels are quick and easy. Most importantly though is that they are cheap. For only a few dollars ($5-$15 depending on how much scatter you want) you will have enough scatter terrain to keep your posse safe while they get into position to eliminate your hated foe.

Don’t forget to post pics of your boxes and barrels on the Dark Council Facebook page and the Wild West Exodus Forum.

Next time... Mining Tents.

Vaya Con Dios Outlaws