Echoes carved in polystyrene.

I’ve been slowly expanding my collection of scatter terrain – and these new menhirs are the latest addition. This little project started as a way to get back into the hobby after a long break. I wanted something simple and atmospheric to build with my own hands – and it turned into a small series of stone monoliths that could easily belong in the world of Middle-earth.

They’re made from XPS foam, cut to shape and textured with a hobby knife, crushed aluminum foil, and even a few real stones pressed into the surface to create that irregular, weathered look. Before painting, everything was primed black, then finished with the good old black wash and several layers of drybrushing in varying shades of white and light grey. The result is a set of stones that feel ancient, heavy, and rooted in the landscape.

From a gaming perspective, these work as classic scatter terrain – tall obstacles where a single model can hide from enemy fire, but not large enough to give cover to a whole unit. Depending on how you place them, they can also become something more narrative: a circle of monoliths forming a druid’s grove, or a magical landmark in an RPG scenario. That flexibility is one of the reasons I enjoy making terrain like this – it’s simple, yet full of storytelling potential.

There are two more in the works – overturned ones this time, because ruins are just more fun to make. 😄 If you’re into handmade fantasy terrain and moody tabletop scenery, stay tuned – more is coming soon.