On the subject of bases..., Basing Options

[Sikil]

So, as I arrived home from Spiel at 8am monday morning I vent straight to bed... Only to have FedEx ring my doorbell at 10am! *argh*

But hey! They had a Shadow War box, a leaping fem Shootist and a Vayl (HORDES) for me, so I didn't complain. (Not loud enouth to let the poor lady hear it anyway).

I'm sitting in front of a big pile of loot, and starts to plan the conversions needed to materialize the image I have in my head. Problem no. 1 is the PK heads. I want them to be 100% enclosed, visor and all. That's a week worth of greenstuffing and fine-tuning, unless I can trade heads with someone or something. Problem no. 2 is the basing. Normal bases isn't as cool and fitting for a game that is mostly spent in urban areas, office complexes and industrial areas. I've had a look at the Aberrant bases and might give 'em a try, but I still have the two Class 3's and my "baby TADS", all three have base sizes larger than those Aberrant have in production with regards to senic.


So, has anyone got some good tips on how to build suitable bases? (I do have one idea that I'll try on my Marshal later today with a fully pictured howto... ) Any inspiration at all is welcome!


Oh, need to remember to check the car-parts market for mesh-wire.

[BigStompyRobot]

You might wish to check with MicroArtStudio, a Polish company which sells a wholesome load of nice resin bases. I´ve used a large ruin base for my Stomper:



The manufacturer´s website can be found at: http://microartstudio.com/shop/catalog/

Good quality and price. However, some of the bases are rather cluttered and add quite some to a miniatures height, especially the "Trash", "Ruined Factory" and "Ruins" bases.

I´ve also used some "Tech Bases" for US Space Marines:

[Sikil]

Nice!


And oh... I knew I remembered the base you've used for your Class 3 'bot! They had their stand in Hall 6 at Essen... Too bad that I didn't have to money to buy me some back there, might have a look at their site again and see if the prices are affordable.


Thanks for the linky!

[Schogun]

What figs are your Space Marines? I don't recognize them. Void?

[Sikil]

What figs are your Space Marines? I don't recognize them. Void?
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It's the plastic Interdict Marines from the VOID1.1 starter box. (One of the two factors that made iKore bankrupt, as the Chineese didn't downscale the first monster-sized batch that iKore ordered. They ended up with alot of 3-ups that wasn't good for the box thus delaying something that was badly needed to keep faith in the product! The other factor was insider theft. )

[Sikil]

Prices on the non-aberrant bases looks abit high, and if I went with any premade senic base, it meens that I'll have to wait for it to ship to Sweden...

I might go the normal, sandy way and paint it up as concrete rubble or something. I will still try the cereal package way as it might be good enouth.

[Nathoruuk]

I haven't tried anything yet myself but was considering two options. I have seen people get some pretty convincing cracked concrete effects with a 1/16" roll of cork sheet. Maybe cut or punch a 1" circle and rough it up a little.

I've also got a few laminate samples from the hardware store with possible flooring textures. I was thinking of smear/rolling an thin even coat of green stuff on my bases and pressing the imprint into it. Not sure how that's going to work yet. Some of the special textured styrenes would look good too. Heck, if I could find a way to nicely cut/punch some disks, just cut some disks to apply overtop. 1" hole saw in a drill press?

[Sikil]

Yes, cork is a good option. Problem with it? I have yet to find any ('cept the ones at IKEA for frying pans and the likes, and they are too thick... ).

[BigStompyRobot]

I hate to contradict Sikil, but the Marines are pewter Assault Marines, predating the plastic minis by at least a year; Void 1.1, nonetheless. Got them for 2,- Euros each at my local store, too good an opportunity to pass by, and they look great next to my Gripping Beast modern US forces...

If you wish to decorate your bases by yourself, I can remmonend glass paper (hope it´s the right term, the stuff used to sand down wood and similar) of a larger grain to represent tarmac roads - a very regular, yet contrasting surface. Of course, you´ll have to remove the models´ tabs before placing them on the base, and some pinning might be advisable. Plastic Tube is also great for debris - for example, the tubes from Q-Tips if you can´t get plastic modelling materials easily. Here in Germany, better craft stores (called a snazzy "Creativmärkte"... uuhh, sign of the times!) also stock thin sheets of cork (some 3mm thick, of 50x70cm) which is great for making flat rock areas.

For cutting circular discs of plastic, I recommend the use of a good circle cutter, which is in effect a graphic compass with a blade in place of the pencil. I use this tool extensively for all kinds of discs, from hatches to roadwheels on tanks. I don´t know how it is in Sweden (cool, from all I know, and the pun is intended!), but here in Germany, the better office stores stock a variety of circle cutters for acceptable prices. Good models start from about 10,-€, which should equal some 90 Kronor, if I´m not mistaken - taxes et al might modify the price. Always go for a stable and well-made model, and if possible, ask if you can try it out - there´s a lot of cheaply-made far east trash on the market, although one of the best circle-cutters I used came from the Japanese firm "Olfa".

[Sikil]

Ah, yes... Been too long since I looked at my own shelf...

(In my case I use the plastic marines with the arms and rifles from the metal ones/rifle kits)


The Circle cutter sounds awesome! Will now dig up that office catalouge I had somewhere (knew it could come handy! ).

That sanding sheet idea is a GREAT one! Perfect! Thanks a bunch! (I live next to "Biltema", and they should have such sheets in alot of different types and shapes).


Now to plan (and get more drillheads for my pinvice, as pinning WILL be needed, as you said).



If anyone have more ideas, they will be welcome, as my APAC will soon be started upon, and it can be cool with another type of custom base on them!

[Nathoruuk]

Yes, good ideas with the sanding paper.

I have to find one of those cutting tools. That would solve a lot of propblems. I was initially thinking of the heavy wood and metal working variety, but those do not cut small sizes.

[Maple]

Take a look at Epicast bases. I believe that they make bases that would be sized for Stompers and other bigger based figs.

[Sikil]

Take a look at Epicast bases. I believe that they make bases that would be sized for Stompers and other bigger based figs.
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Looks good, but so far I think that I like the sanding paper version the most.

[Sikil]

This pavement looks to be a good one. I'll order a couple of 'em along with a circlecutter ASAP!

*dancing around in joy*

Thanks alot guys for your helpfull comments!

[BigStompyRobot]

Of course, model railroading materials... I just thought you were primarily after alternative materials. Looks good, if maybe a bit retro. I´d prefer tarmac, or the rubble I´ve added to my bases.

[Sikil]

The regular and non square formations looked futurish enouth... I hope... It is in N-scale and should be kinda... Small...

Painted up in a metallic colour it should look like a factory floor or spaceship deck or... Anyway, worth a try.

[Chopa]

Have you seen the simple tutorial on the infinity forums
I think its quite neat

though I do pretty much just use champ bases

[Sikil]

Have you seen the simple tutorial on the infinity forums
I think its quite neat

though I do pretty much just use champ bases
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Jupp, seen that one... Tried it and realised that my knives wasn't sharp enouth... (And realised when painting together with Palocles of the PP forums at Spiel that my own brushes are not good enouth... )


As I eagerly await the arrival of the basing material I have started assembeling the troops. Where else to start than with a Class 3? *evil grin*

I realy realy realy like the big bugger!

[Maple]

I realy realy realy like the big bugger!
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I don't they have a bad habit of killing my Shootists.

[Sikil]

I don't they have a bad habit of killing my Shootists. 
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Imagine then what my pair will do to your entire Ronin crew?