"Why are slotta bases cool?" Topic

To me, they are just too fragile for metal minis, and all the more likely to snap when the tab on the feet of the mini is too big.

Still, many swear by them, as witnessed by GW's confirmed legions of followers. So, do you think slottas are cool? If so/not, then why so/not?

I've never had a slot break in over 20 years. Weapons, yes. Tabs no.

I've never had a tab break. My problem was the base itself cracking while putting the tab in.

I don't understand the reason for having slotta bases in the first place. I don't like them.

Cool.

And I've never had a slotta base break, either, and I've been getting them since they came out.

If you're forcing a too-big metal tab into a too-small plastic slot, um, what do you *think* is going to happen?

Just trim enough of the plastic away until the tab fits.

Don't use them, don't like them (really don't like them). I prefer my troops on multi-figure bases anyway.

I prefer washers in general. I've never really liked the "everyone riding their own robot vacuum" look it gives a game. Unfortunately some figures don't have enough surface area on the bottom to be based any other way…

Regards,

Mark Severin
Scale Creep Miniatures

I have never had a slotta break under normal circumstances. Why are slotta bases popular? For gaming they provide a standard sized base for all models at a fraction of the cost. They are also easier to use than the old fender washer.

I prefer washers. I have recently started to cut away tabs in a way that leaves a pin to insert into holes drilled in a washer.

For me, its about consistency. I'm not big on the pedestal look, but I think it looks aweful when you've got minis on every washer size under the sun, plus some loose change bases, oh and those dudes on poker chips, and this guy who I never based at all…. you get the idea.

Basically, at this point I've got so much stuff on slotta bases that I want all my 28mm stuff on slottas, just to match what I've already got. I'm not sure I'd do it that way if I started all over again, but ya know in the grand scheme of things I think "going slotta" worked out better in the long-run than most of the other decisions I made when I was 14.

I presume they solve some design problem in plastic mini molding. They certainly move base production into real economies of scale, especially if it would add to the cost of the mini just by casting it on the sprue.

I don't like them. I don't like the bowling trophy look.

I don't think they are cool, but they aren't fragile either. I'm not a huge fan (though nor am I a hater), but it is nothing to do with robustness, just aesthetics.

Slotta Bases are cheaper than 8 cents apiece? Too many figs are already oversized for what they say they are to put them on another 1/8" or taller Roomba.

Why don't the figure manufacturers just make their bases larger?

I'm sure that I'm going to hear all kinds of cost savings arguments, but those really don't hold water with me. I've commissioned my own SYW figures and I know what the metal cost is and a few more micro-ounces of metal isn't going to increase my cost per figure in any substantial or material way.

Hate them like Mark says. I use fenders.

What are fenders? I'm aware of the word a boating context, and the use in American English in relation to automobiles, but I can't see how either of those could be used as bases.

Put me down in the haters section too. They're ok for display minis, but not for armies.

I cut them away and put the figures onsuitable flat bases.

But I've never had one break by accident.

>What are fenders? I'm aware of the word a boating context, and the use in American English in relation to automobiles, but I can't see how either of those could be used as bases.

He meant "fender washers", so called because of their main use, in the construction of Fender Stratocaster guitars.

Cheers

w.

In my world, this is a fender:
picture

Oh. Wehrmacht beat me to it.

I use them when the figures demand it, but I'm not a fan of slottabases. Big, clunky things. And I've had the tabs break off, but maybe I am unusually thuggish.

I do put their popularity down to the GW cult of fanboyism, at least in the beginning.

integral bases have the advantage that you can build the base up how you want, or leave it, but slottas are nice and stable. the only time they annoy me is when i'm using mapsheets and you get a bit of overhang….

Plynkes- Fender washers are large outer diameter washers with a small interior diameter hole. Think big, thin disk with a tiny hole in the middle.

I like the tabs . I can cut them off and mount the figure to a scene base ( many styles sold) or put them in a regure slor . the intergral I mount to washers but it is harder to make a nece scenic base

I hate slotta bases.

I love slotta bases.

"…but I think it looks awful when you've got minis on every washer size under the sun, plus some loose change bases, oh and those dudes on poker chips, and this guy who I never based at all…. you get the idea"

Now this, I like a lot.

I have no strong feelings about slotta bases.

(I felt compelled to say it to fill out the series.)

I personally don't like the slotta base especially for gaming. That is me. There are lots who like them. I accept them for special units or something unique but overall I avaiod them. They are nice for collector/showcase quality figures especially in a curio and such but otherwise not for me generally. I sometimes use them when they come in the box but otherwise I don't.

I dislike them. Both the added height and the top heaviness

Ah, those things are called Fender Washers, are they? I have some German camel troops based on those. Thank you for expanding my knowledge of the names of things.

lol, fender guitars, i bet that had a few scratching their heads!

I like slotta bases, to the point I remount figures with integral bases on them. Besides consistency with all my other figures, they give me sufficient space to pick the figure up by the base rather than the body, allow me greater ease in texturing or building up scenic bases, and the figure looks more "finished" to my eye than something on fender washers or sheet metal bases. Having tried all those options, I came back to slottas for the simple fact that they look better…

Damon.

I don't like them and won't buy figures designed for them – only been an issue once really. I can't understand the point of going to the effort of making everything else look as realistic as possible within the restrictions of a playable gaming terrain only to stick your figures on a what looks like concrete step.

Nasty ugly things IMHO.

I have a hate/love thing going on with them as I've had trouble getting paint to stick to washers so have some armies on them and others on washers .
I fill the base with filler so they arent so top heavy and sometimes glue magnetic material underneath.
The best solution IMHO is to produce a base about half the height of a slotta base with a metal insert fitted in the bottom . I would like an integral base on the figures so you can build groundwork up to the feet rather than burying them.

This comes up every so often -- you could probably find a similar topic going back every 2 months for the entirety of TMP's existence.

Slotta Bases:

Pros for gamers – consistency of base size, helpful indicia on the bare figure tab, good thick base for grabbing figures by the base instead of the part that's painted, and for those who don't use slotta bases, the tab is easy to trim down into pegs (or remove entirely) for whatever basing system is desired.

Pros for manufacturers – consistency with large existing lines of figures, better for quality control, and helpful indicia can be inscribed on the tab.

Pros for retailers – compatibility with large established lines of figures, which is helpful for those customers who like consistency.

Pros for sculptors – helpful indicia on the tab, and no worries about what sculpted base to go with which figure.

Cons for gamers – people who complain about them will.

Cons for manufacturers – none.

Cons for retailers – customers who complain about them will.

Cons for sculptors – none.

I don't like them though I've never been quite sure why. I do like big bases, and mount my figures on ceramic floor tile, but I've never liked slottas. To each his own.

Hate'em.

To me, slottabases are no different than basing badly painted historicals on mdf, thick card, styro, etc. Basically, anything that is not on plastic card or sheet metal, to me, looks the same (i.e. fine). But if you base on a 1-2mm base, it looks great.

HATE THEM!

Pros for manufacturers –

Actually the main reason for their existence

Pros for retailers

Hand in glove with manufacturers, or at least will do anything the manufacturers say because they are desperate to sell

Pros for sculptors –

These guys are generally the manufacturers

Cons for gamers –

Their figures now look ugly as ****

Cons for manufacturers – none.

Cons for sculptors – none.

Some folk think they are Kewl….Emporers new clothes anyone?

I use them (and the ones without the slot for other minis) because it adds an easy consistency for distance judgments. It also tends to end up protecting the paint because a lot of people use them to pick up the mini in my experience.

It also tend to help draw peoples attention to the minis when playing, especially in more dense terrain.

They also keep consistency in appearance with the resin bases I've used.

I may be reaching on this, but wouldn't the amount of time saved in sculpting and, to a lesser degree, the metal saved during casting by using the slotta bases vs integrated metal bases constitute a significant amount of money over time?

I can see this being a non-issue for smaller manufacturers, but a large production company with actual cost accountants who work to pinch every penny of profit might think this a good thing.

<shrug> I rebase everything as needed anyway..no real dog in the discussion other than perspective.