"Drones and stands...." Topic

I'm moving this onto a new topic, following on from the earlier discussions here:

TMP link

On the matter of drones/UAVs, for both 15mm and 25/28mm, how do folks prefer to base their flying drones? The traditional two-part plastic clear stand (as we supply with our present UAV hoverdrones) is OK for minis of that sort of size, but once you get down to the smaller micro-drones the plastic stands are way too big for a single drone mini. My personal favourite method is a metal base (for stability) and a thin wire maybe 30-40mm high, but does anyone use anything different?

On the same topic, would people prefer to have the bases packed with the drones (for example, 3 drones + 3 bases) or would you rather buy (say) 6 drones in one pack, and then 6 bases in a separate pack? I think the latter is more flexible, especially if you have your own pet method of basing, but I'd be interested to hear opinions!

Jon (GZG)

I agree with you on the wire and either a metal base or a large enough plastic base to stop the drones falling over.
So, I take it drones are the next release?
For a group of drones on a single stand I would create a tree type affair with some wire, soldering additional branches to the main wire for each drone(Ok if you have a soldering iron).

Cheers

Mat

There's some starship mini manufacturer who has a 'squadron' base with several fighters on a single cast 'tree' stand.

This is the sort of thing I was thinking of for my drone swarm. Sorry can't think who off the top of my head.

Cheers
Mark

I like the ideas of the drones in one pack and bases in another. I can then mount the drone on figure bases or tanks etc as support units rather than units on their own.

Drone swarms (SFB Kzinti comes to mind) may need a dice to mark numbers / hits / height and I do like the style of picture and link would be handy.

If you are making them small – have a look at link for bases

Andrew
blog.kings-sleep.me.uk

I would rather bases come with the mini. If I have to buy the base separately that just es me off. I can always leave the base in my bitz box if I decide to base the drone with another min, but I'd rather have the option. I'd probably base the drone on it's own anyway since a drone is supposed to move on its own and not hang about the controller!

If it's something you think ought to operate in a swarm then include a 'swarm' base.

Studio Bergstrom has the flight stands.

link

Thanks,

John

I'd prefer the drones separate from the bases… there's a variety of ways I might want to base them.

"I like the ideas of the drones in one pack and bases in another. I can then mount the drone on figure bases or tanks etc as support units rather than units on their own."

"I would rather bases come with the mini. If I have to buy the base separately that just [Bleeped text]es me off."

"I'd prefer the drones separate from the bases… there's a variety of ways I might want to base them."

See, this is why we can never please everyone….. ;-)
So far it's two votes for bases separate, one for bases included! :-)

Jon (GZG)

I prefer the bases separate from the drones as well, in case I decide to make my own.

Yes, for small drones, piano wire will be better, mounted to a small base.

I don't plan on having more than one drone per base, since they need to be out scouting for enemies. Clumping up might make sense for attacking targets, but even then, doing so from multiple directions would be best, in order to confuse the enemy, and defeat his AA fire – that's how modern jets do it, so no doubt that will be continued into the future.

Drones sold separate allows the buyer to base them how he likes without having to pay for bases he might never use. I prefer this way. I'd rather get many drones.

I prefer the thin wire style base for small flying things, reserving more robust flight stands for chunkier models. My flight stand should never overshadow the model attached to it.

-Eli

"I like the ideas of the drones in one pack and bases in another. I can then mount the drone on figure bases or tanks etc as support units rather than units on their own."

Couldn't have said it better.

Another vote for separate bases – this allows me to match the drone flying bases to my existing flying bases.

And the clear plastic jobbies are too short to look right for flying drones, IMO. YMMV. XOX. RSVP, ETC.

If the bases and drones are available separately…then why would anyone be mad?

Just order both if you want them.

If you are asking…I think separates leave people with choices and choices make people feel in control and less likely to be wary with the pennies.

I feel ripped off. I now need to buy two items instead of just one. Unless you're going to reduce the price accordingly.

I feel ripped off. I now need to buy two items instead of just one. Unless you're going to reduce the price accordingly.

Thats crazy. The stands aren't free!You have to decide what you want to pay for. I very much doubt even the most phianthropic manufacturer is going to give the stuff away. So if you want stands in the pack you will either:

a) get less drones

b) pay more for the same number of drones with the stands.

I dont think that is unreasonable or unfair. Its a market economy. Buy them if you think they are worth it. Dont if you dont.

I think what he was saying was that the drone should not be the same price line as a base.

"I feel ripped off. I now need to buy two items instead of just one. Unless you're going to reduce the price accordingly."

I'm not quite sure I follow your reasoning, James – if we're doing the bases in metal, as we're planning to (for weight and stability) then each base is going to have at least as much metal in it as each drone, probably more. What we're proposing is (say) a pack of 6 drones for £2.50, and a pack of 6 bases for £2.50. So you get 6 drones WITH bases for £5.00.
The alternative is to do a pack of 3 drones with 3 bases for £2.50 GBP – which, of course, works out at the same £5.00 GBP for the same 6 drones with 6 bases. I'd have thought that the person who might possibly feel "ripped off" is someone who wanted to use a different basing system, and found themselves "forced" to pay money for the metal bases which they would not be using….? :-/

Jon (GZG)

I understand the economics. I understand that one pays for the contents. However some manufacturers out there take advantage.

But if a pack of of 3 drones w/o stands is going to be priced for less than 3 drones with stands than all is good.

Your approach is quite reasonable. But other companies have marketed figures which are priced the same as any other figure, but you then need to spend extra to get the shields and spears, driving the overall cost per figure up. So I am always cautious.

Of course GZG has a good reputation for fair dealing, however I was taking the POV of someone who doesn't know you.

Jon,

I will repeat my preference for more drones w/o bases. I realize that this forces you to produce bases that may or may not get used, but it does give us all the option to base them to fit our current basing conventions.

Another way to do this would be to do a base that could be worked into other basing styles. As wargamers we all have based figures with integral bases into different style basing.

-Eli

Drones with out bases for me.

These are interesting, and fairly easy to represent on the tabletop:

link

One to two, per squad, in at least some of my units.

Modern/Sci-Fi warfare just got considerably more dangerous.

Jon while we are on the topic of UAV's how about something like the Honeywell MAV link and a NAC figure carrying/operating it? Maybe 2 figures wearing the packed MAV and contol unit. and two figures operating the deployed MAV. In one of your standard 8 figure packs you would have 2 figures with the undeployed MAV in a backpack, 2 kneeling figures operating the MAV, 2 backpack control units, and two deployed MAVs.

What you think Jon? You know you need something else to put in your busy schedule :)

. . . and what, pray tell, are the last 12 6mm gamers going to do? With Jon's valuable time taken up with this 15mm fad – Though he throws the FT people a bone occasionally . . . :)

More seriously, seperate stand options do make sense; Foreign customers get free stands with their FT orders, but taht is because the removed VAT usually covers the additional cost of the plastic stands. Heavier metal ones are too costly for the larger scales to make that workable.

Just to chime in, I am not a big fan of metal bases. They tend to be on the expensive side. W/o bases for me, please.

Thanks,

John

Hi Guys

I've updated Dropship Horizon with a photo of two prototype mini drones Jon has sent me: link

Cheers
Mark

I'll just chime in and say that I would prefer to base the drones myself, with bases that would match the rest of my forces.

I'll be picking up a pack of those drones when they are available.