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"Thickness of bases for 1/600th ships" Topic


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1,171 hits since 5 Mar 2010
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Comments or corrections?

jpimbach05 Mar 2010 10:47 a.m. PST

Hi,

I have to base some 1/600th ACW ships and I don't know which base thickness will be the best for them. I would like to use Litko bases and they come in several thickness. I can choose:
- 1,5 mm (plywood + one or two round magnets for each base)
- 2 or 2,1 mm (1,5 mm plywood + magnetic base bottom)
- 3 mm (plywood + one or two round magnets for each base)
Moreover, I will add some textured paste to the base top.

The 2 or 2,1 thickness is the more expensive solution. 1,5 or 3 mm cost the same. So? What is the best? Is the 3 mm solution too thick?

Cheers,

JP

Top Gun Ace05 Mar 2010 11:05 a.m. PST

I prefer thinner bases, since they are less distracting.

Heavyd1305 Mar 2010 11:19 a.m. PST

I use 20 gauge sheet metal

CeYa Dale

jpimbach05 Mar 2010 11:24 a.m. PST

I usually prefer thin bases, but, if they are too thin, the players will take the ships to move them (and I would like to avoid this).

Top Gun Ace05 Mar 2010 12:01 p.m. PST

Agreed.

1.5mm should be thick enough, especially if the people pick them up by opposite, diagonal corners, but you may still need to remind them occasionally.

3mm will obviously be easier to pick up.

Schlesien05 Mar 2010 12:10 p.m. PST

I'd go thin if you don't mind people picking up the model to move the ship. Thick, if you want people to move the model by the base.

My ACW ships have no bases (currently) as I don't mind people moving the ships by touching the model.

Ditto Tango 2 105 Mar 2010 12:24 p.m. PST

I prefer not to base 1:600 scale stuff, picture , as I feel it takes away from the visual effect. It also doesn't clash when I'm playing at sea or in muddy waters.

What also helps here with respect to handling is the material I use for water – clear vinyl, which lets players simply gently push the models without having to lift them up.

But for my smaller and rather delicate Age of Sail vessels I do: picture However, I use clear plastic bases to minimize the clash I mention above, though most of the water in these games will be sea and not muddy rivers.

To make the stands: It was my wife's idea to buy a clear plastic photo frame (the kind that stands up on its own) and cut it up – in fact, she brought one home for me after we discussed what material to use for basing. I scored the shape with a knife and then used a fine toothed coping saw. I added waves with glue gun glue and dry brushed them.
--
Tim

Scale Creep Miniatures05 Mar 2010 1:29 p.m. PST

ODGW is now making pre-cut clear acryllic bases with wakes etched on them. They are about 1.5mm thick I think. They might be a good option.

odgw.com

Dan Cyr05 Mar 2010 3:43 p.m. PST

Actually ODGW is not selling the bases right now as they seem to have a problem with determining the cost from the vendor they buy from.

Dan

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