| myxemail | 15 Apr 2007 4:47 p.m. PST |
I am building up my WW II fleets and getting ready to play. The rules do not mention basing, but do any of you base your ships? If so, why? And lastly, do you standardise the bases i.e. a specific size for DD's, another size for CL & CA, etc? |
Shagnasty  | 15 Apr 2007 5:28 p.m. PST |
Basing make things easier in some ways and less pleasant in others. On the downside is the extra trouble especially in texturing. There is also the less natural look, particularly if you use fairly thick bases. On the upside many people like being able to handle the base rather than the ship. This is particularly good with the delicate GHQ ships. Secondly you can put the name/type/nationality on the end of the base or the side, making identification easy.
I would definitely advise choosing a standard base size for the different classes of ships. This helps storage, identification and homogenity. Litko makes, on special order, really nice clear plastic bases. My FLGS is stocking these now with the upsurge of interest following VaS' advent. Whatever you decide, good sailing! |
| shelldrake | 15 Apr 2007 5:49 p.m. PST |
I base my ships so i don't have to touch the actual ship to move it – i can touch the base instead,
plus i put the ship name/type on the base for ID purposes. |
 McKinstry  | 15 Apr 2007 7:12 p.m. PST |
My 1/2400's are strictly Spanish-American and ACW/Ironclads but I do base them to avoid having the models handled, add a bit of identification and just for me, I like having the wakes and bow waves. |
| 21eRegt | 15 Apr 2007 7:14 p.m. PST |
Me too, three, four… Always have based my ships, regardless of scale (I don't go smaller than 1/2400) for all the reasons above. Michael |
 Extra Crispy  | 15 Apr 2007 7:26 p.m. PST |
I base mine (though I'm talking 1:6000 for WW1) like this: link I'm going to do WW2 in both 1:2400 for small engagements and 1:6000 for bigger ones. Regardless of scale I will base on the steel bases (very useful, and very thin). You might also look at the new blue transparent acrylic from Age of Glory (I saw them at their booth at Cold Wars and they looked very, very nice). |
 MondayKnight | 15 Apr 2007 7:49 p.m. PST |
I base my smaller ships, specifically those that might have one or more of the same type in any battle. This is simply so I can ID the ships on the bases and thus in combat. -W |
| HardRock | 16 Apr 2007 2:06 a.m. PST |
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| Magister Militumn | 16 Apr 2007 2:20 a.m. PST |
I have been experimenting with basing on a perspex sheet recently. By printing the name of the ship along with a flag and sticking it on the underside you can get a great base with very little effort. It helps identification and doesn't involve trying to create wave effects. |
| myxemail | 16 Apr 2007 3:56 a.m. PST |
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| Schlesien | 16 Apr 2007 7:49 a.m. PST |
1 – yes I base my ships
2 – to protect the model. Players can grab the base instead of the model.
3 – no standard size. The rules I use have no standard size. |
| JFox61 | 22 Apr 2007 9:49 a.m. PST |
See above. Protects the ship as you handle the base not the ship. And it helps too with model spacing when in squadron formation |
| Mal Wright | 06 May 2007 1:05 a.m. PST |
I used to put my ships on card bases and paint them appropriately. In fact I did that for at least 3 decades. Nowadays I use clear plastic or perspex exclusively. That way the sea base is seen through it and the ships do look much better. I usually include the pennant number and a small flag, but they are the only obstructions to the see through effect. Mal.Wright. |
| pelo008 | 14 May 2007 7:23 a.m. PST |
I do not base my ships. Once did but nevermore. Though I can accept plain seatextured bases for protection/handling of more detailed ships.
The thing with miniatures is to use them INSTEAD of counters to get a more realistic feel. Identification shall not be easy !!
If you use a base with ship name, numbers etc. its just another counter !! (There are som really scary examples out there with mahogny bases, big flags etc. Sic.)
Try this: just put the names under the ships and then You as a commander, and Your enemy, has to know each others ships by sight, just as in real life looking through a binocular. There was no big "HMS Whatever" painted on the sea to help identification.
Of course You can use ship recognition books as help, and you could write down some notes, but Your enemy is not allowed to see them. Also that could make for some interresting moments like, "witch one is the Iron Duke I got a hit on in turn x", or like when my brother once shot at his own ship :-) he thought it was my cruiser. Those things have happened in real life. Imagine that captains vocabulary.
We who have changed to baseless miniatures can never think of going back to bases. Give it a try. |
