The Commander Series Forum

Hi,

I have been making my own bases for WWII kit out of plastic card, but am thinking of taking a short-cut for my CWC 6mm Soviets and using Litko pre-cut plywood bases to speed things up. Any advice on the pros/cons of the different material options?

I'm tending towards the 0.8mm thickness since I like the look of the plastic card bases which are pretty thin. However I don't want to be struggling with a material that is easy to damage, warps if you use woodglue, etc etc.

Cheers,

Pete

P.S. I add my own slightly undersized magnetic strips which adds some fraction of a mm to the overall height & makes the bases a bit easier to pick up.

I settled on the 1.5 mm FOW size bases for 10mm figures. The 3 mm is too thick and the .8mm bases will sometimes warp when painted or glue spread on only 1 side.

I use metal bases...... no warping but are really to thin.I have to use a smaller one underneath to raise them slightly and make it easier to pick up the figures.

I use .8mm ply for my bases but do not use pre-cut bases. I buy a small sheet of plywood this thick and simply cut it with a large pair of scissors. This is a great deal cheaper than pre-cut bases and means you can cut them to any size or shape. I always put a coat of dark brown acrylic paint on one side and the edges before adding any glue or scatter etc. I do not know if this is the trick but I have never had any trouble with warping until I got up to a 3"x3" square as a base for a town section. On some of my bases I have added a thin magnetic base but once again this has not caused a problem.

Pat

I base on pre-cut 2mm mdf bases from either Minibits or ERM. The 2mm thick base stands a little proud of the table top, but I like the effect and it works for me. Not had any warping except when I tried using air-drying modelling clay, which shrinks as it sets and bent the base badly. Not had any problems with cyanoacrylates, PVA or wall filler type glues/basing materials. I'm not a fan of metals, especially coins as they have a habit of splitting and lifting off, or of FoW plastic bases as I spend ages scratching the surface to key in the glue - otherwise they lift off too.

Cheers

Andy

I'm too cack handed to cut my own, i have too many wonky based Ancients & AK-47 figures to make that an option.

I use Warbases usually or pop a pack in from Pendraken if I'm ordering. They're cheap, exact cut, renewable sourced, a carbon sink, easy to work with and of acceptable thickness for picking up etc without makin even 6mm figures look oddly huge.

If its for something that needs magna basing that adds to the height but not by much.

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies, very helpful. I guess the 1.5mm from Litko might be the safe bet, it is not much thicker than the 1mm plastic card I use now.

I know I could do it myself cheaper, but looking at 200+ vehicles for once I feel inclined to trade some cash for speed & convenience

Cheers,

Pete

I use LITKO .8mm bases without problem. I spray paint them a base color then mount my figures and flock. Never had them warp.