My movement tray project, but is it all tourney legal?

I want to make modular movement trays that are also decorative. If you have never seen them on youtube before, a painting service called Blue Table Painting offers magnetized movement trays that come in multiple pieces to allow removal of tray parts as troops are killed off. I think this is a great for avoiding those big emptied out, blank trays on the table but don't like the flush design. The trays are made without a border like those available from GW.

At some point, I came onto a blog that I, unfortunately, didn't bookmark so cannot site my source. This person made his own trays and added epoxy putty around the edges to create an irregular terrain look vs. the perfect squares of a normal tray.

I have yet to play a game so my questions are, how far out can my tray edges extend from the unit (internet searches have been fruitless) and could I be told, "you can't use that" in a tournament setting because of the irregular edges and corners?

Luckily, I saved a picture of one of this fellow's trays for reference. If you are or know this person please say so. I remember it being a good blog. I'd also love to know if there is an unobstructed picture of that ogre anywhere.

I have also included a diagram I drew up showing how I may make the tray. This is for a 3x3 tray.

That unit looks like might be one of PychosisPC's....and yep! Found the image on his blog (along with what looks like a very nice multi-part tutorial on how he does the trays).

http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/10/introduction-to-my-method-of-making.html

I've done trays of a similar size for my Chaos Dwarves...



They really haven't been a problem for me. I generally do make it clear to my opponents that I measure everything from the models rather than the tray, and it can get a little fiddly with scooting them forward an inch after a combat is done to get them to where they "really" are. But as long as you're reasonable about it and it looks good I doubt anyone will give you a hard time.

That's a pretty sick looking tray. Thanks for linking his blog. I'm sure to be making use of that tutorial.

I wasn't so worried about using these trays in a friendly setting, but I guess in tourneys it's just another one of those things to ask about ahead of time?

I just always tell my opponent that I measure all things from the models base, not the try.

I used the Gale Force 9 wooden trays, and it adds close to 1/4 inch on all side.  No one has ever had and issue with that position.

There are plenty of situation where you cannot match up unit to unit anyway, because of horns, weapons, etc...that this is just another one of those things.

Awesome movement trays/bases are always better.

I've brought the Chaos Dwarves to one tournament, and no one there had a problem. My other armies all have smaller, but still sgnificant (probably similar to captkurt's - about a quarter inch) and again, never any problems.

Are the trays for your display board?

Maybe consider making the trays insert into the larger decorative bit in case folks have a problem with it?

I would recommend keeping the larger tray at the same measurements from the edge in - that way if people have issues you can tell them they are all 1/4" deep or whatever. As long as you are consistent with your measurements (both for you and against you) I don't see a problem in tournament play.