3D Catan Game Board by Mihi Mini Studio

I am currently working on a custom, handmade 3D Catan game project. I have completed the board which includes the hexagonal resource tiles and interlocking ocean border pieces. Each piece is a miniature diorama scene. My 3D Catan game is inspired by real life ancient civilizations, fantasy, science fiction, and film culture. There are many easter eggs spread throughout the game pieces. Keep an eye out for them!

Materials Used to Build 3D Catan Board

I used the following materials to build this handmade 3D Catan game board:

Birch laser cut blank game pieces (CuttingEtchGA on Etsy)
Polymer clay (Sculpey Premo and Super Sculpey Firm)
Miniature acrylic paints (Vallejo, Army Painter, Citadel Colour)
UV epoxy resin (ResinArt)
Resin pigments (Jacquard PearlEx pigment powders, Smooth-on UVO pigment)
Model scenery (Woodland Scenics, Vallejo, AK Interactive)

Ocean Borders

Catan’s game pieces include six ocean borders that encircle the hexagonal resource tiles. The ocean borders contain resource trading ports. I made my 3D Catan board ocean with resin, pigment powders and dyes, and a heat gun to spread the resin sea foam and create a lacing effect. Additional ocean effects were added using AK Interactive model scenery materials.

There are nine ports in the base Catan game, which are:

(4) 3:1 ports (assorted packaged exports)
(1) 2:1 sheep port (wool) – Viking boat
(1) 2:1 wood port (lumber) – logging barge
(1) 2:1 wheat port (grain) – Egyptian boat
(1) 2:1 brick port – Chinese cargo boat
(1) 2:1 ore port – Roman boat

There are also three easter eggs spread around the ocean tiles.

Wheat (Field) Resource Tiles

3D Catan wheat resource tile with crop circle and UFO

3D Catan wheat resource tile with scarecrow

Wood Resource Tiles (Forest)

3D Catan wood resource tile with pond and mushroom fairy ring

3D Catan wood resource tile with cut stump and logs

3D Catan wood resource tile with sleeping grizzly bear

3D Catan wood resource tile with river through trees

Brick Resource Tiles (Hill)

3D Catan brick resource tile with dinosaur tracks

3D Catan brick resource tile with petraglyphs

3D Catan brick resource tile with canyon

Ore Resource Tiles (Mountain)

I had the most fun designing the ore / rock resource tile easter eggs.

3D Catan rock mountains resource tile with crater and island inspired by Crater Lake and Wizard Island

3D Catan rock mountain resource tile with cave, dragon tail, and gold coins

3D Catan rock mountains resource tile with doors of Durin and watcher in the water inspired by Lord of the Rings

3D Catan rock mountain resource tile with doors of Durin and watcher in the water inspired by Lord of the Rings

Sheep Resource Tiles (Wool)

3D Catan sheep resource tile with partial stone henge

3D Catan sheep resource tile with pond and catfish

Next: Custom Civilizations for 3D Catan Players

The next phase of my 3D Catan game project entails sculpting, casting, and painting players’ game pieces. I will create custom civilization game pieces (settlements, cities, roads) for each of the members of my household. Please stay tuned for more updates! You can also find me on Threads and Mastodon.

3D Catan game board