"Differences in basing concepts between US and UK" Topic

I know there has been discussion in the past about differences between the US and UK about each countries take on the hobby with regards to conventions and shows and the style of writing rules however, I'm not sure we've ever discussed approaches to basing.

No surprise given my Timmo UK name that I'm based in England but I think I tend towards basing standards that I feel are more commonly used and accepted in the US than here in the UK. I use thin steel bases and tend to go for single rank not double rank bases. Neither seem at all popular in the UK but I often see US games that feature single rank basing and feel there is more openness towards it in the US. Certainly Empire and Valmy to Waterloo used it (the latter had an option to base in double ranks).

Similarly although we have excellent suppliers of steel bases in the UK they still only seem to be the choice of a few, the majority preferring thicker MDF, ply wood or plastic bases. I guess this kind of makes me think we're more traditional or conservative in the UK and the US is a bit more open to different ideas.

I'm always interested in the differences between the hobby in the UK and the US so does your own experience seem to bare this out or not?

I base my figures on thin metal bases and do double ranks.
I like the thin bases because I think it looks better on the table, looks more realistic having troops actually marching on the ground rather than on a platform.
However I am considering doing a wood base with magnetic bottoms so the figures can be moved by their bases and not by the figures themselves…..save their paintjob.

I can't even begin to say how much I've fretted over bases- it's kind of amazing considering how frivolous of a concern it really is. Most of the games I play function just fine if the two forces have different basing sizes. I use metal washers, wood, plastic… most of my artillery is single figures but I'm considering four figures on the same base as the artillery now.

I'm a schizo when it some to basing (USA).

I think you may be right, seems like many photos I see from Europe have figures in two ranks, or horde basing for things like Zulus and Dervish.

I agree with the thin metal bases looking better on the table. I do my mass troops on 40mm squares with two ranks of two.

I'm in the US, but I'm English.

I've a Yank who's been using thin metal single-rank for ages and just recently mounted 84 French line on Litko wooden bases, 2 ranks deep. Mid-life crisis? Except I'm past the mid part…

For 28mm figures based on multi figure stands, I go for 3/32" bass wood.
I've been doing it for many decades that way, and was unaware of this being anything national. It may be because I needed something easy to cut for WRG Ancients basing. I stick with bass wood whenever possible because I do not run out of custom bases that way.
For skirmish figures, I either vut bass wood or use steel washers.

The only 15mm I do personally is Flames of War, so naturally use the bespoke bases.

I had the same concern as cavcrazy…
thin bases get moved and picked up by the figs,
and I had too many figs bent and broken off at the ankles
by clumsy oponents (and myself)
so Litko bases for me now!

Chris

I do old school thin as I can wood bases, painted dark green and with Empire infantry wouldn't be worth flocking. Cav and artillery you could but if not doing all why do any.

The nice thing about MDF bases (one of the nice things) is that you can handle the element by the base edges, not needing to touch the figure.

They are also readily available, can be done at home if you wish and look feel and even smell lovely! :)

1815Guy-

I agree. I actually ended up rebasing my figures from thin steel to thicker plywood for that very reason. I feel that the ability to pick a model up without touching the paint beats the ability to blend into the table.

I countersink the models into the wood so they aren't quite as tall as they otherwise would be:

I'm in the US BTW

I'm in the UK & a lot of my figures are now based on penny/2p pieces (all magnetic) & use the Warbase movement trays with magnetic roundels to keep the figures in place.

However, at the moment I mainly skirmish or play RPG, although I will use the same method for when I start Impetus. The rest of my figures are still based according to WRG, but on picture card mounts. It's a slow transition, but one day…

I don't think it's a Country thing, I've seen many different types/thicknesses of basing in both countries.

John

WHat amazes me is that I still see models based on card that curls up at the edges – admittedly not often. The finishing off of the bases often consists of green paint. Each to their own of course.

I think the 'mini-diorama' effect is pretty universal though.

I considered plywood instead of steel. I thought the "move them by the base and not the figure" was a great idea. Until I started watching gamers. I cannot ever recall seeing gamers move by the bases. They always grab the figure and move that. So I went with better looking steel, and I do extra coats of matte spray. Haven't ever had a paint job chip, including being dropped on to a hard floor….

The problem that I have often found with metal bases is that in multiple based units the thin bases seem to end up overlapping each other and I am constantly straightening them out. Maybe this is just my compulsive nature, but it bugs me.

Allen

In the US, I do mostly WWII skirmish gaming and mount my figures on the smallest thin metal base that will hold the figure comfortably along with an ID strip. For zombies, old west and other skirmish gaming, I use washers – 1/2" or 5/8" for 15mm, 1" for 28mm. For ancients I use thin metal as well. What I like about the thin metal is that I can put magnetic sheet in the box bottom and have at least a reasonably secure set-up for storage and transportation. I don't like the thin plastic because it slides around in the box bottom, and I don't like thick plastic (FoW style) or wood bases because I find the thickness distracting from the figures.

Sundance-

You might look into steel flashing found in the roofing section of hardware stores. It's easily cut using tinsnips/shears and is magnetic. The stuff I've used is a bit less than 1/32"

I am a Brit and prefer Metal bases and agree with Extra Crispy about players never using bases to pick up figures especially when at maximum reach it the centre of the table. The only problem I have is buying the bases I get mine from the USA, Timmo where can you get them in the UK?

cavalry47

Get in contact with Ian at:

freewebs.com/pwsltd

They make excellent galvanised steel bases that are 0.8mm thick. If you can't see the sizes you need they will cut them for you. First class product and service.

Thanks Timmo very kind

I thought the "move them by the base and not the figure" was a great idea. Until I started watching gamers. I cannot ever recall seeing gamers move by the bases.

I agree. It's a fine idea in theory, but…

Well, I've gotten to the point that I like the way Litko bases (3 mm thick) look, (that dark edge from the lasers) and I just started putting 12 infantry per stand in two ranks – some with file closers.

I cannot ever recall seeing gamers move by the bases

True.

Haven't ever had a paint job chip

Likewise. And my figures have done a lot of traveling to cons and been handled by hundreds of gamers' hands. Even if there was wear and tear from handling, I would continue to use thin bases that blend into the ground cover.

I do base most periods in two ranks, though. I haven't noticed any definite preferences aligned with the nationality of the gamer.

In miniature wargaming, aesthetics trumps everything.

I don't think it's a nationality thing – surely it is down to the rules you use and maybe the figures/scale.

I'm an expat Englishman now exiled to the Great White North that is Minnesota.

Things have changed then in the 18 years since I left.

When I went to the States in 1996 the trend was to single ranks of figures mounted on art board.

In the US I noticed the tend was certainly towards double ranks of figures. This was because the rules popular in the US tended to be deeper – Napoleons Battles, Koenig Krieg, Final Argument of Kings, Johnny Reb spring to mind, whist UK rules, especially those from the WRG tend to go for rectangular bases that made fitting double ranks of figures impossible unless one adopted a micro-scale.

Now that I am in the US my bases are, with a few exceptions that use metal are all thing wooden from Litko.com

Depends on the period! Double ranks in WWII is just silly so my guys are on individual 1" fender washers or the larger ones for MG teams etc. My 7 Years war troops are in double ranks (although in reality they fought 3 or even 4 deep!), and am just in the process of changing over from bass or balsa wood to bases cut from tin flashing; this stuff is marvelous, being brown on one side and white on the other and easily cut with heavy duty scissors. My AWI armies are all on Renedra plastic bases, double ranked in 4's for Brits, Hessians and Continentals, single staggered rank of 3 for militia, Indians, Jagers &c, and will remain so – including future reinforcements. Artillery is on balsa bases but these will be transferred tin flashing in due course. BTW I'm also in the US…

I agree with Number 4 regarding WW1 and WW2 basing, it has to be individual, apart from team weapons perhaps.
Washers and coins help to add a little weight, and therefore stability, to the bottom of a plastic figure.
However, so long as a washer continues to cost more than 2p, I may as well use 2p coins (28mm figs) and 1p coins (20mm figs).
I also make a point of using the coins with the head (date) side downwards, just in case I inadvertently use a coin subsequently found to be worth something to a collector!

WW2 basing depends on what scale game you are playing.
Single basing only makes sense at 1:1 figure to man scale; same as in any other period.
If the smallest element is a squad (Crossfire, Battlefront:WW2, Squad Leader in Miniature), then it makes sense to base multiple figures together to represent a squad, and if the smallest element is a platoon (Command Decision, Spearhead), likewise.

General Jumbo, I have also been using 1p and 2p coin for a number of years to mount my 20mm figures with the Queen's head downward, as I was informed many moons ago that the other way up you are defacing the currency, allegedly ?

Has any one else notice the newer 1p and 2p coins will stick to magnetic sheets?
Now there's defacing the Queen's currency!

I'm in the UK. For 15mm bases I favour MDF and steel used together. The steel provides stability on the table and I use magnetic lined boxes for storage. The MDF provides players with something to get hold of other than the figures themselves.

link

This isn't a demonstration of bacist prejudice by any chance?

I think that the trend of more detailed, diorama quality bases with gravel and tufts began in the UK and has emigrated to the colonies.

Yes it did, because few Americans realize that these little rectangles of gravel and shrubs are actually the same size as the average suburban garden in the UK :)

I'm American and really prefer thin metal bases. I want the base to disappear. Some of my very old ACW figures are based on plastic or wood. That was long before you could buy pre-cut steel bases.

With steel I can line the bottom of my figure cases with adhesive back magnetic sheets and they stick like glue until I take them out. Never had an issue with anyone damaging my figs. As far as how many ranks that is really up to the rules I am using.