"Coins for 15mm Bases" Topic

Tomorrow's War recommends the use of coins for basing individual 15mm figures – US pennies or Australian 5p pieces.

Do you use coins for 15mm bases?

Australian 5p pieces.

You might want to check that…

I use washers. I don't like using coins. Sort of insult to the country I suppose.

Yes, I know I'm strange. You want to see the people I mix with . . . .

There is not a cheaper base available :)

Put all my 15mm on them.

UK 1p coins

I use Canadian pennies from the years when they were ferrous (or whatever it is when they stick to magnets!). Roughly 2001-2009, but not all of them are (for some reason). People look at me funny sometimes at work when I empty my pockets of change and then start testing the pennies with a fridge magnet…

I use washers too, but can't find anything in the nice 19-20mm size of a penny.

2 cents (euro).

Pennies are a great way to base single 15mm figures.

I got a selection of hole punches, so I am going to start using that on 1mm plastic sheet to create bases for 15mm

US pennies are the only way to go… Work great, and about as cheap as it can get.

$5 USD at the bank can you get you enough to last for a long, long time…

I wish our pennies were magnetic…..

uK 1p for 20mm and 5p for 15mm I also us 2p for 28mm

Not the queens head side of course

Al

I prefer 20mm round wood bases like those available from Litko(I think), but I get about half of my 15mm minis from a friend who bases using these and I like my troops to have matching base size/thickness… When I can't get them, or I'm working on a totally unbased project, I use US & Canadian pennies, as I usually have a bunch lying around, and it's incredibly cheap to get them, $1 USD for 100!

Yes, UK 1p coins, as they are really cheap, you get 100 for a quid! :-)

I use US pennies for both 1/72 and 15mm. they're a lot cheaper than washers. I can usually get them for a penny each. Always, actually.

Only downside with copper is that it's non-magnetic. To overcome that problem I bought a 3/4 inch paper punch at Michaels for about $4. USD You can get self-adhesive magnetic sheets at walmart for about $2 USD for a couple or 3 5X8 sheets. It's not as heavy as magnetic tape, but works fine for 15s and plastic 1/72s. For larger figures you can always trim the heavier and more powerful magnetic tape.

Also, if you are look for an inexpensive alternative to "steel paper" and such for unit bases and the like, a 16 inch by 30 inch piece of thin steel sheet — its the stuff used in making furnace vents -- is about $3 USD or $4. USD The stuff is thin and can easily be cut with a pair of scissors. Only downside is that its kind of sharp, so be careful. Usually a good idea to bevel the corners to get rid of the sharp points

For unit trays I usually cover the metal's bottom and outside edge of the top with self-adhesive 2mm foam, allowing for a slight overhang. The foam in a variety of colors and it's less than a buck a sheet at michaels or hobby lobby.

So anyway, back to the original question, yeah, I use pennies.

I use 3/4" washers since they are ferrous and I can use them with boxes lined magnetic sheets.

Jeff

Yes.

I've recently started using 1 or 2 euro cents for some of my 15mm miniatures --for instance, 18th century individuals not straightly related to my WSS armies, or runners/couriers for these.

A few samples, here: link and link .

I'm usually basing foot figures on 1 cent coins, while mounted minis are going onto 1 cents'. Er… well, it mostly depends on each mini itself.

A US penny=1 US cent. A washer costs 1 1/2 cents. But I can put a bunch of pennies together to buy some troops. Most stores don't take washers.

Mag bases for me

I used it for a while, but much prefer washers. Also available in more varied sizes.

I use 3/4" washers since they are ferrous and I can use them with boxes lined magnetic sheets.

Jeff

Ditto.

It is a criminal offence to deface the current coins and banknotes in Australia. Section 16 of the Crimes (Currency) Act 1981 states:

"A person shall not, without the consent, in writing, of an authorised person, wilfully deface, disfigure, mutilate or destroy any coin or paper money that is lawfully current in Australia.

Penalty: $5,000 or imprisonment for 2 years, or both…

Steep fine for basing a figure on a 5c coin

Pennies work best, but I have decided that 15mm figures are too small to base as individuals. Now I use washers. I also enjoy lighting my cigars with burning Australian dollar bills, when I can get them.

It is a criminal offence to deface the current coins and banknotes in Australia.

Too bad. It was illegal in the UK, but The act was repealed in it's entirety by the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act of 1981.

Although personally, I don't consider sticking a figure onto a coin to be "defacement" – and I always make sure the Queen's head is on the underside!

Actually, it's quite arguable that the use of a coin to mount a figurine is not defacement at all.

1p … ancient and Medieval command figures, WW2 spotters

1p and 2p … casualty markers/FoG cohesion markers (you can use them in face values .. 2x1p or 1x2p both equal 2 hits and everyone who uses money gets it ..)..

I also use them to add weight to lighter figures.

They are versatile and cheap. And getting cheaper all the time, as far as I can see.

Phil
soawargamesteam.blogspot.com
ecwbattles.wordpress.com

I got the 100 1p coins for £1.00 GBP deal too….. highly recommended.

Seriously though I use 1p coins for 15mm and also stick a magnetic disc underneath to aid storage (in a box lined with steel paper).

I switched to pennies from 15mm Litko rounds, or should say switched back to. I used to base all my figures on pennies in the day when mos 25mm figures fit of them.

I used to base on pennies but the figs would slide all over the place and chip when transporting.

I switched to washers and store and transport on magnetic sheets. A little more expensive but a lot less repainting.

I based a lot of figures on pennies, and got tired of them sliding around. Now I use 1/8x3/4" fender washers instead.

Prone figures usually go on a 1/4x1" fender washer, but I am considering going to Litko .8mm wood rounds with flex-steel bottoms.

"Actually, it's quite arguable that the use of a coin to mount a figurine is not defacement at all."

In fact, doing so may even increase the value of the coin…. ;-)

I remember years ago that you could buy a mixed bunch of foreign coins from magazine ads, and that some countries' small denominations included were, well, small in diameter. Don't even know if some of those countries even exist anymore, but I bet those small coins could be bought in bulk for cheap….

Sometimes.

1 and 2p coins.

Before anyone rebases on washers so they can hold them down on magnetic sheet, check your coinage.

UK pennies have sufficient ferric content (or whatever the magic is) to hold to magnets. A quick check on the loose coins in my kitchen says US one cent pennies don't.

Just commenting as some people aren't aware of this …

Phil Steele
soawargamesteam.blogspot.com
ecwbattles.wordpress.com
pbeyecandy.wordpress.com

I use #10 washers for 15mm and #6 washers for 6mm. I tried using pennies for 15mm and they were too large.

For the 6mm I use a hole punch on some cardstock (get the color chits from the paint store), glue the figure to the punched cardstock and then glue the cardstock to the #6 washer.

I use clear bingo chips for bases. They come in differant colors, so I use red ones for zombies, green ones for the good guys and yellow for the guys that maybe good or bad. They are cheap and easy to glue

The Grand Duke echoed my feelings.

And washers are cheap in the US … :)

Phil
soawargamesteam.blogspot.com

Also, make sure you don't get stainless steel washers. They don't perform well with magnets. Zinc steel is perfect.

Best and cheapest 3/4" washers I've found: link Cheaper than a US penny with a Litko flex steel round.

Chris K.

Form basing no, put they work great for mounting figures will poster putty whilst painting them.

I use pennies for 1/72 plastics, (heads down of course) but then I don't invest a lot of time painting plastics. Washers bought in bulk are reasonably inexpensive so I use those for 15mm and 28mm figs.

I find that 1/8 x 3/4 Fender Washers are the best bet. Less than $5 USD for 100 washers.

you could try my 1/2 inch rounds gamecraftersltd.com

UK pennies have sufficient ferric content (or whatever the magic is) to hold to magnets

No they don't – OLDER ones do, new ones do not. You need to test them to be sure.

My daughter still reminds me of the time she asked me what I was doing peering at pennies and sorting them into two piles. "well," says I "ones dated 19xx are magnetic, ones after that are not."

"So why not just stick a magnet in the bag and keep the ones that stick?"

"Errrrrr……"

Every 15mm model i've ever bought has had its own base that it can stand on quite well (sometimes with a bit of modification- snipping a bit of base here, adding a bit here with green stuff). So I've never seen the need.

I guess (pretty rarely) my models fall over. But its not a big deal.

I like to squash coins on the train tracks.