19 replies to this topic

[Doc Gigawatts]

I want to put my FSA fleet on some kind of bases, to aid picking up, etc.

I have seen several people have used plasticard, but don't really fancy faffing around trying to cut it square unless I have to. Are there any sensible solutions out there that don't cost too much?

I am familiar with most of the custom base manufacturers, which are fine for the frigates and cruisers but they don't have anything for the battleships and above.

What have others done?

Or do I have to suck it up and do it myself.

Cheers

Rob

[Mr Evil]

you can get plasticard that has squares in its surface so you can snap to size and its always straight, but like anything the more specialist you go the more the £ or $ goes up..

if i was to base my fleet i would use clear plasticard (choose a quite thick option) then just paint a few bits if white on the top or bottom to represent waves hitting the hull...

if picking them up is the problem maybe try a hoover or leaf blower ?

[Commodore Chris]

I don't base my fleets (don't really think it is necessary as we don't play in a competitive environment and it just looks nicer without bases, IMHO), but in 2011, I got a large batch of custom-cut perspex bases from Oshiro Model Terrain:

EDIT: Link available via PM

James is an allround nice fellow, and he can cut square/rectangular bases to pretty much any specification you require - I've also seen round-recess movement trays for a HYW project which worked out superbly, so he should also be able to do curves.

Excellent service and value-for-money. If you are in the UK or Europe, I'd strongly suggest getting in touch with him and ask if he can oblige.

[cliffs]

I am planning on doing some tiny flier movement trays of some description...probably something clear

[illuminus23]

I am planning on doing some tiny flier movement trays of some description...probably something clear

I have thought about this myself. Might have to think of a way to make them so you can reconfigure your TT wings based on size of unit and mark its fule. Not sure just how much time one of these might save with movement.

[Slackratchet]

I've used ovals for the units that would otherwise fall over. Looks more natural to me than square bases.

[Luddite]

I've based my Japanese, but to be honest, i'm planning to snap them off. The basing gets in the way during play and means my ships don't keep to the formation i want them to.

My opponent hasn't based his Brits and i prefer the way they look and the utility of them on the battle surface.

However, if you want basing, many suppliers will laser cut mdf bases to order. Either that or you'll find something 'close enough' in size.

[Dr.Z]

Hi,
There are three of us at my local club that base our ships. Two of us use polyfilla and the other uses green stuff, we all use "60 thou" plasticard.
If you have half hour to waste there are "some" pictures on my clubs website (but you will have to scroll for them in the galleries, sorry).
http://www.wessexwyv...id=50&Itemid=89
We like bases because it stops the "car park" syndrome and has no ill effect on the game, but just our choice.

Dr.Z

[Doc Gigawatts]

Thanks all.

One of the main reasons I wanted to base was appearance, especially the rough bottom edge you get no matter how much time you spend on clean up. (that sounds a bit dodgy)
However the extra time and hassle involved, especially in terms of painting, means I'm going to leave the bases for now until the rest of the fleet is painted and then revisit.

[Hoida Yoshida]

Have pondered basing my EotBS seeing as the ikas are on bases so it looks alittle wierd when fleet is set up.

Don't know what to use for bases but will have a look at peoples suggestions on here.

[von Klinkerhoffen]

I don't base my fleets, don't really think it is necessary as we don't play in a competitive environment and it just looks nicer without bases, IMHO

I'm with Chris on this one and do not base my ships. My main reason is they don't need it. I suspect it would also cause 'issues' (perhaps) with collisions and movement particularly when near another ship or terrain?
I admit that there are some very nicely based ships out there. On the old forum a member who had a very nicely painted EotBS force had gone down the basing route and did a tutorial in which he used plasticard and 'modelling putty' for the ocean effect.

[Slackratchet]

A couple of guys in my group used some kind of wall spackle because of issues with green stuff warping the plastic.

[old beetle]

In other games, I've used metal bases from wargameaccessories.com. They have a lot of different sizes, but I've mainly used them for De Bellis Antiquitatis stands. I line a tray with a magnetic sheet and set the stands on the tray. The sheet keeps the stands in place when I transport them as well as giving me a base to model. Hope that helps.

[Dr. F.G. Hobo]

I am going to base my ships, if only for the sake of consistency throughout the fleet. If I have air units, they are based. If I got a Metzger, it'll be based. So why shouldn't my ships be based?

Since I am currently waiting for my first batch of Prussians to arrive, I've got quite some free time on my hands to read up on basing. I think I'm going to use a method similar to this: http://www.ipmsstock...h_sea_water.htm, but I'm going to use resin instead of plaster. I then plan to make molds of the bases - I don't want to go through the whole process again just to make bases for a squadron of small ships. Of course, for the sake of playability, I'll try to keep the bases to a minimum - just trying to simulate the waves generated by the ship.

I'm currently trying to convince my fellow players to base their ships as well, so we won't get any mix-ups between based and unbased models.

[myth28]

i agree that the based models look better but half the time during my games is spent avoiding collisions with either my own ships or my opponents . i dont think bases would work in my favour there

[André]

Bases for ships only caused trouble during our games.

[Dr. F.G. Hobo]

André, were all ships bases or do just two or three players use bases?

[MgySgt.Reed]

maybe, this would work for you http://community.spa...dystopian-wars/

[Renen]

I am working on a fleet that i am planning on basing up.. or I was. I am not too sure now. But I got them from GF9/Battlefront at Cold Wars this past March. Perfect sizes and I got to mix and match.

Ren

[Luddite]

As i said above i based mine but i've now snapped them off. The bases were just too troublesome, getting in the way of manoeuvring, stopping ships getting into tight positions, etc.

I'd recommend not basing.