"Transparent basing experiments" Topic

I don't like basing, any colour I choose always turns out to be the wrong one for the next game. So I thought transparent bases ought to be the perfect solution. The only problem is that when they are viewed from just the wrong angle, they transform from almost imperceptible into MY EYES, THE GLARE!
So I thought I should try a coat of matt varnish to dull the shine.

                 Rim: varnish+ink         Varnish+light ink
          Nothing              Just varnish               Varnish+ink+black rim

Example: varnish+ink vs no varnish

It didn't work quite as well as I hoped. I'll probably go for varnish+ink along the rim, and possibly a very thin layer of varnish on the top surface.

More tests will follow.

You could glue the figures on tiddlewinks and colour code your figures, baddies on red goodies on blue etc. save you even pain-ting your bases.;-|

Thanks for sharing, been down this route myself but never followed through with all the different finishes – will have to try again.

Nothing looks pretty good to me, excepting at the low angles, but it still seems to be about as nice as any of the alternatives.

I'm thinking thinner bases are better, e.g. perhaps some really thin, clear material, about the thickness of overhead transparency film, or less than 1mm thick.

How'd you get the bases off of the figures?

Cut them away?

Grind them down?

A combination of both?

Thanks for posting your experiments! It's helpful to see the different approaches.

@Mako11:
These bases are pretty thin, about 1 mm, but I think they would look better with a straight cut rim instead of rounded. I cut off the bases from the minis using sharp clippers, first cutting around the feet so they look like they have very tall soles, then snipping those off horizontally and trimming with a knife if needed. It's pretty fast work, no more than a minute or two per mini. (Maybe. I tend to lose track of time when I'm "in the zone")

@Zargon: I have used tiddlywinks split in half link for basing, and they're nice and thin but still have to be painted to look OK (blurry cowboy on the left in this image re-used from a shapeways thread)

The long-leggedy beastie here is pretty cool, I have to say.

And although I'm thinking of it in 6mm scale, this would be a good way to make Grav/GEV vehicles hover. Litko makes some very nice flush-edge clear bases, I might add – may have more meat for your purpose.

--M

The beastie is a silt strider from Shapeways: link but the image was included to show the cowboy's half-tiddlywink base.

I just had an idea for flyers – how about using "water effects", moldable air-drying transparent plastic. Place a blob between the model and the base and shape it to show wind effects.

This is an interesting experiment. I think clear with a black rim might be the best. Although the varnish defeats the glare, it also destroys the invisibility of the base.

The other thing that bothers me about transparent bases, besides the glare, is the edge or rim of the base stands out too. Painting it black at least makes it less obstrusive.

I bought a pile of Litko clear bases for an Infinity project. I have almost every Nomad troop type that has Zero-Gee as a movement skill, and I wanted them to 'float' above the 'ground'.

So I used the 3mm thick bases, but I'm going to need to paint the edges for field of vision.

Thanks for showing the effects of varnish and inking the edges!

I was planing to use transparent bases for my 1:600 tanks..

But after making some and playing an actual game I am going to rebase them ..;/

Its good in theory but do not work for me in real life..

Theory

more
link
and
link

And the real life:

more
link

28mms looks much better than my little fellows but they do look a little like riding transparent board..

Your clear, 3mm bases certainly look a lot better to me than most others I've seen.

Nothing worse than seeing astro-turf type bases driving down a road, or on other terrain where it doesn't belong, e.g. on top of buildings, etc.

Been using the bingo chips for my 15s.
can get with or without a metal ring in them, clear and tinted avaialble.

Had to get mine on ebay no locals had them.

Think it was 400 for 6 use including shipping.

They are not shiny
I grassed most of mine for It Came From Beyond the Still.

Will try a few pics and post on how they do with seeing stuff through.

Thanks for the tips on cutting the bases away.

@Lfseeney:
That sounds interesting, please post pictures if you have any.

…but they do look a little like riding transparent board.

I'd think they'd be fine with an irregular outline. Of course, you might just see a shallow pond. ;->=

Doug

Hnag on Awuuuu…

I was planing to use transparent bases for my 1:600 tanks..

But after making some and playing an actual game I am going to rebase them ..;/

Its good in theory but do not work for me in real life..

Theory

…if those are 1:600 SA6's, where did you get them?

Nope, still not convinced about clear bases. Looks like they have a huge clab of glass or ice under them. I would definitely rather use a modelled base, even if it wasn't in keeping with the board that I'm using the figs on.

@Lupulus

Is that a Space Marine with a Stormtrooper helmet on? (those shoulder pads)

WOHOO! Another 15mm gamer with transparent bases!

Here are my efforts (15mm clear acrylic bases from Litko). Figure bases was modified with greenstuff before sanding and flocking.

commanderroj
I built them.

@Sargonarhes:
Yes, it's a bog standard space marine with a home-made stormie helmet. I had planned to make an imperial SW-themed eldar army (which makes a lot of sense if you compare the troop types – walkers, jetbikes, psykers and guardians as stormtroopers), but it fizzled out due to lack of time. I sculpted a helmet and cast a few. The space marine was just a test to see how it turned out. It's in the picture because everyone knows the size of a space marine.

@SirFjodin:
I like the look of those bases, how thick are they? Looks like 1 – 1.5 mm? (And what is that deliciously horrible brown thing? Jabba the Bear?)
The painting looks good too btw, not just the bases :)

(And what is that deliciously horrible brown thing? Jabba the Bear?)…/q>

Appears to have floppy ears; maybe Jabba the Rabbit? ;->=

Doug

Lupulus they are 1,5mm thick. Litko have Base Maker utility where you can choose custom base size and material. They only have 20mm clear acrylic bases in stock, so I asked them via Base Maker for 1000 bases of 15mm diameter. There was 1 month wait for custom bases but the good thing is – NO extra cost for custom bases!

Brown thing called Thing from Abyss.
link

Another clipper question.

Are you using something like the Xuron clippers, model railroaders use, for cutting stuff off of sprues, or something else?

I suspect my little, cheap nail clippers won't survive such abuse for long.

I don't know the proper name of the tool, but I recently got one of these: link which works very well.

So yes, probably something like Xuron clippers.

commanderroj
I built them.

They look good. Well done!

Lupulus

I had planned to make an imperial SW-themed eldar army (which makes a lot of sense if you compare the troop types – walkers, jetbikes, psykers and guardians as stormtroopers), but it fizzled out due to lack of time. I sculpted a helmet and cast a few. The space marine was just a test to see how it turned out. It's in the picture because everyone knows the size of a space marine.

That is a ludicrously awesome idea. Dang. Wish I'd thought about it, but shamelessly stealing it.

Steal away!

If you think about it, Vader is a farseer, his light saber is a witchblade and force choke is just another name for mind war :)

(Don't know if those are still in the codex – I last played 40k a few years ago)

Hang on a minute… Modelled bases on top of clear bases. Doesn't that defeat the object of having a clear base ?

I have been using clear plastic bases for several years, now. I paint the molded bases on the figures, black, then glue them onto the plastic; I tried cutting them off, but that was a challenge, and I damaged figures' feet, more than once. The painted-black, molded bases are small enough, that they don't bother me much, as I just rationalize them as the figure's shadow at their feet (barely noticeable at arm's length).

If you apply a clear, matte coat to the shiny, clear base, it becomes frosted, and translucent, showing the underlying surface through the plastic. It is not perfect, but, IMO, it looks better than a guy standing in the midst of rocks, grass, etc., while he is crossing a stone bridge, or a drawbridge, or standing on a castle parpapet, etc. YMMV. Cheers!

I may give this a try again, 3mm seems a bit thicj why not 1mm?

for thinner bases, try cutting pieces out of blister-pack material. Should be stiff enough to stand the mini and thin enough to not be obvious.

To my shame, I still haven't gotten around to finishing that Infinity zero-gee force… (this forum needs an :embarrassed: emoji)

I gave up on clear bases, a few years ago. Gone through several approaches over the past 20+ years. If you find this approach works for you, run with it. Your preferences may change, over time, as mine have. Enjoy the ride, whichever direction it may take you. Each basing approach has its merits, and shortcomings. Each has been fun to explore. Cheers!

Sgt Slag, I still use the method you described for attaching miniatures to clear bases. If the miniature has a long robe or skirt, maybe you can integrate the base with the clothing. I did that for a wizard miniature I have.

Clear bases are great for rebasing Heroclix miniatures.