MDF Farm - JB MDF Products - a review of sorts

 I spent a few days looking for sensible, cost effective options to quickly get some 20mm terrain onto the table ASAP. Across Ebay I was finding options where the cheapest looked to be about £10 for a single ruined building - 3D printed. In tact buildings were a little more. Then I came across this. A four building farm for £15 and a whole load or ruins for £11 all from 2mm MDF. I have put the farm together so far and wanted to give some initial thoughts. 

1. These buildings are meant to be thatched, but the thatching material looks better as hedges I think, and the roofs have a tiled pattern so I will be leaving them as they are. 

2. They came with access to online instructions - these basically said what parts go with which building. The instructions were fine, I didn't really use them mutch.

3. The windows came with an outer frame and an inner pattern. Both pretty cool and I reckon you could get away without the inner pattern.

Part 1: Walls. I put each building together in two pieces. I thought it would be easier to pop those two corner parts together once dry. I also put one or 2 of the corner strengtheners into each corner. The corner strengtheners were game changers. Very good idea. What I should have done is plan further ahead and attach the other corner strengtheners to the unconnected sides so I could just slot the two pieces together. As it stood, I was impatient and ended up not waiting that long. A few buildings fell apart a little. but in the end I had them all fully connected. 

You can just about see the single story farmhouse at the back. You can also see how the wall is bent outwards from the lintel on the door frame. That was annoying, but it was a natural weak point. I can't remember if I broke it or if it broke in transit. 

When the farmouse was fully glued together the damage is not noticeable and has absolutely no impact on the building. With a door in the frame it is even stronger. Phew. 

The rooves look good. There are also more doors than I need. Saving those for later.

Part 2: Windows and Doors. The doors and windows look pretty good to be honest. I am pleased with them. On my previous scratch built building the windows and doors were the thing that really let it down. A guy at the club scratch builds buildings but 3D prints windows and doors. Clever.

Step 3: The roof. The roof sections glue onto triangular sections that slot onto the top of the side walls. They fit pretty well. Any of mine that don't fit well are down to my poor gluing skills or lack of patience. I honestly don't care that they sit a bit strangely. I am just chuffed with the price and simplicity of these. It will be nice to have some 20mm buildings that look better than the awful creations I have knocking around.

I am unsure how I will do the doors on the below building. Closed or open. Closed means I don't have to paint it... Open might look better. 

Overall I am pleased with these buildings. I would recommend picking them up on Ebay for sure. I hope the guy comes out with more 20mm buildings. He has quite a lot available for 15 mm and 28mm. 

I have also picked up a large sheet of MDF from the free offcuts bin at B&Q that is perfect to make some walls. These will be simple walls, man height and lower that probably can stand on their own with no base.