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Post by Jonatron on Dec 10, 2015 18:27:42 GMT
Heya, looking for a (selection of) solution(s) for basing. I've currently got a lot of cheap plastic toys of a mostly appropriate scale (tiger that's nearly 3" long in with 1.5" long horses? WTF?!) and mostly semi-decent sculpt quality which should be perfect for the table after conversion to make various mounts and I think I'm going to go with a 50" round approach like these guys use: stuffershack.com/store/horse-minis/ - that way I can place the cavalry at the side. It doesn't seem entirely wrong in terms of how closed you'd want to be on foot to a mounted comrade without genuine risk of being trampled. Though unmounted (horse+rider), and mounted (horse+rider) would be ideal, impossible until you're in a campaign and know what's happening and have loads of duplicates for some reason? I've seen some places selling 2D abstract horses on bases which you can then slot the PC base into which looks good but I have all these horses/elephants/rodents-of-unusual-size begging conversion. So the question is: best option for bases? I can see I can get most types for 15p each before delivery charges. LitKO seem great at first, $5 and change for 25 50" bases but $16.70 delivery to the UK kinda puts the dampener on that one. Hasslefree minis seems to be UK based, so £3.50 for posting a 290g order would be fine-ish. 50* 50mm flat bases is £10, so 20p each - not bad though only seems worth it in bulk I can't entirely justify what with how many miniatures I got recently... For some reason lipped are only 2/3rds of the price and I'm not keen on fully flocked spectacle bases so that doesn't jump out at me. Flight bases at 10 for 84p which would be a no brainer for flying mounts if they weren't hex for wargaming (drilling a whatever perspex stick I can find sized hole into a 50" base is my best plan). Heresyminiatures are also UK based, so £3.60 delivery on top of 5*50mm flats for £1.50 (30p each) is a loser to Hasslefree. Ebay's got 50mm flats 10* for £30, so 30p each including delivery seems a winner unless going for bulk in which case Hasslefree for the UK.
I'm aware of using 1" washers and filling the centres for general minis but for larger washers would be cheaper getting bases. Short of the long term investment in a lathe and a jigsaw any avenues for cheaper/more instant basing for 2" and 3" x3mm
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Post by sgtslag on Dec 10, 2015 23:08:46 GMT
I'd suggest peel-n-stick vinyl floor tiles. I stick two together by peeling the paper, and sticking the two glue sides together. I buy 12" squares of tile, for US$0.40 each at the local DIY store. I don't care what they look like, as I will be covering them up with glue, sand, and possibly paint. They can be cut to whatever size I need, with a utility scissors; I mark them with a felt-tip pen: trace around a circle of the correct size (round bases), or use a ruler (for rectangular bases), then cut out. Easy, inexpensive, and entirely customizable to my needs. Cheers!
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sotf
Advice Guru
Posts: 1,084
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Post by sotf on Dec 11, 2015 6:10:32 GMT
You might want to try other options as well. Things like some of the wooden bases are actually one of the predecessors for the modern plastic ones. Woodcrafter.com is a good source for those in just about any size you want. (Just so you know the " mark after tends to be for inches...and I kind of doubt you're needing a 50 inch base unless it's for something truly massive like a floating island) 2" round 1/8" thick is under $3 US for 10... The other option that seems to be becoming somewhat popular is to get the transparent plastic/plexiglass bases. They tend to be simple and easy, plus you don't need to do anything to them for basing as it lets them blend in with anything they're placed on top of. A bit more expensive, but they really look cool... I'd suggest peel-n-stick vinyl floor tiles. I stick two together by peeling the paper, and sticking the two glue sides together. I buy 12" squares of tile, for US$0.40 each at the local DIY store. I don't care what they look like, as I will be covering them up with glue, sand, and possibly paint. They can be cut to whatever size I need, with a utility scissors; I mark them with a felt-tip pen: trace around a circle of the correct size (round bases), or use a ruler (for rectangular bases), then cut out. Easy, inexpensive, and entirely customizable to my needs. Cheers! Unfortunately, the major problem with using them this way is that they will warp, they don't take paint and glue very well, and the sticky backing tends to be problematic in getting them aligned properly in the first place...while air bubbles are a pain in the rear to deal with.
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Post by Jonatron on Dec 11, 2015 13:51:11 GMT
You might want to try other options as well. Things like some of the wooden bases are actually one of the predecessors for the modern plastic ones. Woodcrafter.com is a good source for those in just about any size you want. (Just so you know the " mark after tends to be for inches...and I kind of doubt you're needing a 50 inch base unless it's for something truly massive like a floating island) 2" round 1/8" thick is under $3 US for 10... Thanks Sgt. Slag for the Vinyl tip though I fear it might not be right for me. Yeah, I don't need a 50" base - no 250 foot reach creatures here! Typo between mm and my ". They have a sale right now on them! But $14 dollars for delivery to the UK. Real shame too, £0.63 for 10x1", $2.77 for 10x2" and $3.37 for 10x3" So for 5+3+1 ten packs of those respectively the price doubles. Crying shame because that would've been an optimal compromise. Looking on from your suggestion for plywood circles I've found a similar site in the UK. Leaving it here for anyone in the UK who finds this post in searches. www.craftshapes.co.uk/ ply, 3mm thick and bags of 10 (5cm and 2.5cm), sadly the 7.5cm are only 3 for similar prices. So a tad poorer value than the American site you recommended for those, but I'm thinking the best option for me. £9.70 will get me 50 small bases, 30 large bases and 3 huge bases - Doubt I'll find better than that. I'd be interested in clear plastic/plexi posts for flying units. Keeping an eye out for those.
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sotf
Advice Guru
Posts: 1,084
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Post by sotf on Dec 11, 2015 15:22:06 GMT
You might want to try other options as well. Things like some of the wooden bases are actually one of the predecessors for the modern plastic ones. Woodcrafter.com is a good source for those in just about any size you want. (Just so you know the " mark after tends to be for inches...and I kind of doubt you're needing a 50 inch base unless it's for something truly massive like a floating island) 2" round 1/8" thick is under $3 US for 10... Thanks Sgt. Slag for the Vinyl tip though I fear it might not be right for me. Yeah, I don't need a 50" base - no 250 foot reach creatures here! Typo between mm and my ". They have a sale right now on them! But $14 dollars for delivery to the UK. Real shame too, £0.63 for 10x1", $2.77 for 10x2" and $3.37 for 10x3" So for 5+3+1 ten packs of those respectively the price doubles. Crying shame because that would've been an optimal compromise. Looking on from your suggestion for plywood circles I've found a similar site in the UK. Leaving it here for anyone in the UK who finds this post in searches. www.craftshapes.co.uk/ ply, 3mm thick and bags of 10 (5cm and 2.5cm), sadly the 7.5cm are only 3 for similar prices. So a tad poorer value than the American site you recommended for those, but I'm thinking the best option for me. £9.70 will get me 50 small bases, 30 large bases and 3 huge bases - Doubt I'll find better than that. I'd be interested in clear plastic/plexi posts for flying units. Keeping an eye out for those. For the posts, look for clear (or colored) acrylic rods, they tend to be quite cheap in the long run. For the prices with shipping, bulk purchases tend to be the best option even ordering from the US...though you might find other options as well. As a side note, you can make a VERY cheap version of wylochs bases with a whole lot less work with a few simple steps if you start from the 2.5" squares they sell as well...
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Post by sgtslag on Dec 11, 2015 16:28:50 GMT
Clarification on using vinyl floor tiles...
They take Wood Glue rather well, as this is what I paint onto them, before dunking them in a mixture of three colored sands, along with some RR ballast, which serves as rocks/boulders, in the mix. Add some dish soap to the Glue bottle to break surface tension in the Glue so that it won't bead up on the vinyl tile; spread it around using a 'school paint brush' -- 30 for $1.00 at Wal-Mart, throw out the brush when done. They usually require two applications of Wood Glue, and 'sand', to achieve good coverage. NOTE: they will warp, a bit, with the Glue shrinking as it dries; this is negligible on 1" bases, becoming noticeable on 1.5"+ bases. It can be corrected by painting Wood Glue on the bottom, without adding sand -- as the Glue dries, it will pull back, against the initial warpage, not guaranteed to work, but it can help. You may also try using 2-part epoxy, in place of a water-based (shrinking) glue. The epoxy will not shrink when it cures -- more money, more hassle, but an alternative.
When using vinyl floor tiles, be sure to put two pieces together, putting the glue sides together. I place them on edge, on a flat table surface, aligning them so they are centered. Then I press them together, curling them such that they join bottom up to the top. To date, I have sandwiched two pieces together more than 20 times. I have yet to have issues with air bubbles. I've done this for several years now, and my only issues have been with warpage. Warping was more pronounced when I was adhering a foam sheet to a single layer of tile, then applying glue, and sand, on top of the foam; two pieces of tile glued together, show far less warpage than a single tile.
Vinyl floor tiles are also great for a heavy, durable, base for 2D PDF terrain pieces. I use Fat Dragon Games' Copper Dungeon Tiles, applied to floor tiles, and cut to the edges of the PDF's, for my 2D dungeon layouts. They can warp, but I just flex them back, and they're fine. By using vinyl tiles as a base, I can print out my PDF's on regular paper (card stock is unnecessary), then attach them to the glue side of the vinyl tile. I do, however, apply clear Contact Paper (translucent vinyl) over the ink side of the PDF paper, first, to improve its durability.
Two pieces of vinyl floor tile, stuck together, is around 1.5 mm - 2 mm thick. The edges are not perfectly smooth. However, they can be covered with glue/epoxy, and then sand, or they can be painted black, to hide the edges. Not perfect, but not a terrible set of compromises, either. They really shine in their affordability, versatility, and ease of use. Like anything, they have their quirks, and their special needs. Once you learn these traits, they can prove quite useful -- another group of techniques to throw into your crafting toolbox. Cheers!
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Post by Jonatron on Dec 11, 2015 17:03:13 GMT
For the posts, look for clear (or colored) acrylic rods, they tend to be quite cheap in the long run. For the prices with shipping, bulk purchases tend to be the best option even ordering from the US...though you might find other options as well. As a side note, you can make a VERY cheap version of wylochs bases with a whole lot less work with a few simple steps if you start from the 2.5" squares they sell as well... Clear acrylic rods are exactly what I was after. Not sure if I can find them in local craft stores but failing that seems the cheapest way to buy them is in a long length, uncut. I think jr hacksaw with a little masking tape to prevent slipping that would work decently?
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Post by Erasmas on Dec 11, 2015 17:48:01 GMT
You might also looked at the slotted bases sold by Wyrd Miniatures (the makers of Malifaux). The 30mm ones that I order from them come in a 10 pack and, the last time I checked, they were only $2.50(USD). Now... I cannot speak to any shipping costs to the UK. But, at the very least, it's another source for you to check out.
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Post by DnDPaladin on Dec 11, 2015 18:54:32 GMT
well i'm also looking for clear flying like bases. can't find anything good so i guess internet should be my friend at this point. as for bases themselves. if its for minis then go with washers, they are cheap durable and give the minis some weight as well.
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Post by sgtslag on Dec 11, 2015 20:08:47 GMT
For ease of use, metal washers are hard to beat. If frontage is a concern, mark the bases with a "-" of brighter paint, to denote front, flanks, and rear on the washer's edge. This is the limiting factor for me, as my wargames require rectangular bases for unit cohesion, and formations. While I could take my own advice with regards to washers, it is much more labor intensive to do so, hence my preference for rectangular bases... If your mini's are for RPG use only, then washers are easy-peasy, effective, and cheap! They come in a variety of sizes -- check out your local DIY/hardware stores for selection. They also add heft to lightweight plastic figures, which goes a long way towards making them easier to use in a game -- it makes them difficult to turn onto their sides... They will virtually never fall over, per se. Cheers!
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Post by bluecloud2k2 on Dec 12, 2015 10:39:39 GMT
Clear flying bases?
Plastic shot glasses available at dollar tree.
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Post by Chris Stevens on Oct 4, 2016 2:21:35 GMT
Hey, there. I'm really late to the conversation, but I thought I'd let you know that we also sell the acrylic bases that our horses are on, and we have some that are also smaller / larger. stuffershack.com/store/#!/Acrylic-Bases-Discs/c/11691147/offset=0&sort=normal I don't know if they're a cheaper choice for you, or if you've already found something that suits you. I just thought I'd throw my two cents in. Also, I have a solid amount of plain wooden bases (2 centimeters wide?). I can part with them as is, or paint them black and seal. These wooden discs are much cheaper than the acrylic. Game on!
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Post by margaret on Oct 15, 2016 2:19:20 GMT
Quick tip about washers: you can get 1-inch washers with a large hole or 1-inch washers with a small hole. It's a lot easier to use the washers with smaller holes. I have to hunt around the hardware stores in my area, as many tend to carry only the washers with large holes in the quantities I want.
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Post by kgstanley81 on Oct 16, 2016 6:06:28 GMT
Smaller holes are called fender washers
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Post by margaret on Oct 16, 2016 23:43:45 GMT
Thanks - the exact name does make it easier to ask for them, but not easier to find in quantity, sigh
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Post by DnDPaladin on Oct 17, 2016 3:20:53 GMT
just asked my father about 2 inch washers and larger for huge or colossal creatures and my father says, you wont find any washers above the 1 and a half mark in hardware stores. so i guess thats too bad for us huge monster makers. i am also trying to find washers with smaller holes and its a real pain to find them in large quantities.
so i get what you mean.
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Post by lordmorbius on Oct 25, 2016 14:14:20 GMT
Heya, looking for a (selection of) solution(s) for basing. I've currently got a lot of cheap plastic toys of a mostly appropriate scale (tiger that's nearly 3" long in with 1.5" long horses? WTF?!) and mostly semi-decent sculpt quality which should be perfect for the table after conversion to make various mounts and I think I'm going to go with a 50" round approach like these guys use: stuffershack.com/store/horse-minis/ - that way I can place the cavalry at the side. It doesn't seem entirely wrong in terms of how closed you'd want to be on foot to a mounted comrade without genuine risk of being trampled. Though unmounted (horse+rider), and mounted (horse+rider) would be ideal, impossible until you're in a campaign and know what's happening and have loads of duplicates for some reason? I've seen some places selling 2D abstract horses on bases which you can then slot the PC base into which looks good but I have all these horses/elephants/rodents-of-unusual-size begging conversion. So the question is: best option for bases? I can see I can get most types for 15p each before delivery charges. LitKO seem great at first, $5 and change for 25 50" bases but $16.70 delivery to the UK kinda puts the dampener on that one. Hasslefree minis seems to be UK based, so £3.50 for posting a 290g order would be fine-ish. 50* 50mm flat bases is £10, so 20p each - not bad though only seems worth it in bulk I can't entirely justify what with how many miniatures I got recently... For some reason lipped are only 2/3rds of the price and I'm not keen on fully flocked spectacle bases so that doesn't jump out at me. Flight bases at 10 for 84p which would be a no brainer for flying mounts if they weren't hex for wargaming (drilling a whatever perspex stick I can find sized hole into a 50" base is my best plan). Heresyminiatures are also UK based, so £3.60 delivery on top of 5*50mm flats for £1.50 (30p each) is a loser to Hasslefree. Ebay's got 50mm flats 10* for £30, so 30p each including delivery seems a winner unless going for bulk in which case Hasslefree for the UK.
I'm aware of using 1" washers and filling the centres for general minis but for larger washers would be cheaper getting bases. Short of the long term investment in a lathe and a jigsaw any avenues for cheaper/more instant basing for 2" and 3" x3mm I've used a number of various options for basing miniatures of various sizes, ranging from plastic buttons, resin poker chips, washers, bottle caps, an inexpensive plastic "FOR SALE" sign from my local dollar store (cut down into various sizes, shapes for different bases) to just using a blob of glue that dries on a sheet of wax paper. Some work better than others, depending on what you are trying to base, the material it is made from and how heavy the miniature is. My best advice is to experiment and see what works best, from the materials available to you.
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sotf
Advice Guru
Posts: 1,084
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Post by sotf on Oct 25, 2016 15:52:15 GMT
Another option is to buy a few of them and then cast them up for your own use. I know several people who do that because they like the look of the various plastic bases out there, but hate the fact that they're so light. He casts them up as blanks with BBs in them and magnets for that use. The plastic bases he gets with minis tend to be used to sculpt other bases off of them and then cast them up.
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Post by jennifer on Nov 4, 2016 21:48:08 GMT
I print all mine out. I can print them to any size I like. I print like 12 of the 25mm x 2mm ones at a time. Did some 50mm the other day as well.
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