"Best way to base fleet-scale fighters?" Topic

Hi all,

Looking for ideas on basing fleet-scale fighters – particularly the Stringvest/Studio Bergstrom Star wars stuff.

Mine are currently based on pins stuck into Bergstrom's silicone-like bases, glued to washers – but the spongy bases do not want to stick to the washers and are continually falling off…

Wondering if anyone has any bright ideas, like GZG's "FT-001" fighter stands or similar?

Thanks,

w.

I use the GZG spider stands and they work well . I have seen a Litko 3mm hex base with holes drilled it it to take the pins which are glued in place .

I buy the cheap 1 inch wooden discs from the craft store, 12 for $1. USD Mount the fighters on varying lengths of piano wire glued into holes drilled into the disc. Superglue a washer to the bottom to keep the stand in place in the magnetic-lined storage trays. Prime everything black, then paint the fighters. I either add a colored dot to the base or paint an ID stripe or mark on the fighters to match the parent ship.

I haven't tried gluing anything to those silicon bases from SB, but I think I've figured out how to paint them, and that might mean glue will stick now.

I started with gesso (black), sometimes the first coat just sucks and doesn't take, but a couple more tries and eventually you do get the paint on in a solid coat. However, it's still really flaky, and if you bend the silicon the gesso starts to peel. So I put a good coat of Future over the gesso and that seems to have sealed it.

My plan was to paint white dots (stars) on the base and then after painting the ships give everything a coat of Dullcote.

There's still some chance this is going to end in disaster, but I'm pretty happy with it so far. I think the Future should be able to take glue, but have no experience in that, might try with a spare deformed base I have lying around.

Chris

I have done it two ways.

One: I had 10mm thin wooden discs made from Litko, and just based the fighter on it, flat like a counter. VERY easy to store I have about 300 fighters based like this in baggies.

Two: bought a bag of Bingo plastic counters at Walmart.
Then bought cylinder beads from a craft store, and a box of pins. I glued the cylinder bead to the bingo disc, stuck the pin sharp end through the cylinder beads hole, and glued it in. Then the pin has a flat spot where I glue the fighter on top. Very cheap, way to base individually.

The GZG spider stands are my favorites. If you prefer 3-fighter flights Brigade offers a three-pronged stand topper (which you can see in the post immediately below) that works pretty well too – although you can get the same effect with the spider stands and a few seconds' work with a pair of clippers.

I've a liking for the fighter stands from Brigade Models:

link

Means a cost-effective trio of ships, evenly spaced; a mini neodymium magnet fixes the stand with ships to the plastic flight base below – some GZG Kfirs stand in for Colonial Vipers here:

I have used plastic poker chips for bases with holes drilled into them to attach wire to mount the fighters. Also left space for a D6 in middle of the stand to show the number of fighters still in the flight.

Here are some of my Bergstrom galactica fighters custom based using wooden craft bases, 3/32 brass tube, and paper clip wire.

doodlebot.net/redoubt/?p=836

- Mike

I use wood dowel plugs. They come in several sizes and glue them to a washer and piano wire to attach the fighter to the plug.

I like the ones with the wooden, or plastic bases, painted flat black.

For mounting the fighters, thin pins, or spring-steel wire (piano wire) work well, when painted black too.

Putting a bunch on a base looks good, if you have the money, and can afford it. However, putting 2 – 3 on a base, and then using dice to represent the quantity also works, and is more economical.

I'd recommend doing a little viewing of how other people have done them, to see which you prefer. You can review the archives here on TMP, or check out the subject on Star-Ranger.com as well, for ideas.

For most games, two to a stand is fine, but for some, you might want to consider more, or less, e.g. for the Original Series Battlestar Galactica, I'd do Vipers in pairs, and Cylons in vics of three. For the new series, you can go either way.

For Star Wars, pairs, or vics work well. For the Death Star, I'd do Vader in his own fighter, with two Tie Fighters on their own base. For the others, I'd just watch the movie, and make a decision, since pairs, vics, and even quads are shown, in addition to other combos.

I like the GZG and Brigade stands. Also like to use the WH40K clear flight stands with a single fighter on top to represent a fighter/drone/gunship squadron.

But I really prefer the 3 and six prong stands from Iron Wind Metals

link

Those do look nice.

With the pins, you can do a 3-D effect, making for a more "realistic" Sci-Fi Fighter squadron effect, by varying the lengths of the pins slightly.

I play at a slightly smaller scale than most people (the battles, not the miniatures), so I tend to just put them on the ground…. in the few cases that come with stands (GW's, for example) I just have them stood separately….

I tend to find that 'raised' fighters look kinda strange.

Actually I generally don't raise the ships, unless the design requires it.

What diameter piano wire works best for you all? I would want it stiff enough to hold a heavy fighter but small enough to fit in the bottom of the fighter without destroying the model.

Decision made and project executed…

link

Cheers

w.