Wargamers are makers — we build terrain, convert models, scratch-build entire boards. So when a display stand is just steps and risers, DIY feels obvious. Sometimes it is. But “materials cost less than retail” isn't the whole equation, and having sat on both sides (we build displays for a living, and we've scratch-built plenty), here's the honest arithmetic.
Route 1: Foamboard (~£8, one evening)
Foamboard, PVA, a sharp knife and a steel rule will make a serviceable tiered riser in an evening. Honest verdict: brilliant for prototyping a layout before committing money, and fine for lightweight plastic infantry. Weaknesses: it dents if you look at it firmly, edges fray, it sags under resin or metal within months, and it looks like foamboard. Paint and texture help; they also double the build time.
Route 2: MDF (~£15–25 + tools, a weekend)
6mm MDF, wood glue, filler, primer and paint produce a genuinely sturdy stand. Honest verdict: structurally excellent and satisfying to build — if you already own a saw, clamps and somewhere dusty to cut. The catches: cutting accurate steps without a workshop is harder than it looks, MDF edges drink paint (seal them or they fur), and the finished surface is high-friction matte paint that scuffs. Cost honesty: if you need to buy even one decent saw and clamps, you've spent more than several retail stands.
Route 3: 3D-print your own (£3–6 filament — if you own a printer)
Free or cheap STL files exist for display risers, and filament for a stand runs a few pounds. Honest verdict: if you already own a well-tuned printer, this is the strongest DIY route — repeatable, sturdy and tidy. The catches people discover: a tiered stand is 10–30 hours of print time, failed prints eat filament and evenings, untuned printers produce warped or weak-layered parts (our guide to what makes printed stands good or bad applies to your own prints too), and free files are rarely designed around real base sizes — expect overhanging 40mm bases. And if you don't own a printer: £200+ buys a lot of finished stands.
The line everyone forgets: your hours
Value your hobby time at whatever you like — but value it at something. An MDF build is 6–10 hours of measuring, cutting, filling and painting. The real question isn't “is DIY cheaper?” — it's “is a display stand the thing I want to spend my making-hours on?” Most of us would rather spend those hours painting the models that go on it. Terrain is fun to build; steps are steps.
Side by side
| Route | Cash cost | Time | Durability | Looks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foamboard | ~£8 | 2–4 hrs | Months | Craft project |
| MDF | £15–25 (+tools) | 6–10 hrs | Years | Good if finished well |
| Self-printed | £3–6 filament | 1–2 hrs active + long prints | Years | Depends on tuning |
| Bought modular stand | From £11.95 | 0 — ready out of the box | Years | Designed finish, tested base fit |
For reference, WarSplay® stands are £11.95 entry, matte anti-glare, rubberised feet, tested for 25mm–100mm bases — compatible with Warhammer 40,000® miniatures and other popular 28mm–40mm systems — and dispatched in 2 business days from our UK workshop. That's the benchmark DIY needs to beat. Over a thousand wargamers have already chosen that route over building their own — not because DIY can't work, but because most would rather spend the hours painting.
When DIY genuinely wins
- Odd spaces: a display for one specific alcove or shelf nothing retail fits.
- Themed display boards: scenic bases with terrain — that's modelling, not shelving, and nobody sells your imagination.
- Prototyping: foamboard-test a layout before buying — we'd actively recommend this; pair it with our army display planning guide.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest way to make a tiered display stand?
Foamboard, ~£8 — ideal as a trial run. Expect to replace it within the year.
Are free STL display stand files any good?
Mixed. Check the file lists supported base sizes and the designer prints their own work. Budget for one failed test print while dialling settings.
Is it worth buying a 3D printer just for hobby displays?
Not for displays alone — £200+ plus a tuning learning curve. If you'd also print terrain, it changes the maths (and honestly, the terrain is the fun part).
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