"Basing 1/72 armour" Topic

I like the idea of mounting afvs on bases, protecting them from handling, and making them easy and consistent to store and transport etc.

Is there a commonly accepted base size for 1/72 afvs, or have you just gone by the size of the individual model?

I've been impressed with the standardisation in e.g. flames of War which seem to help with the run of play. I'd like to do something similar for my 1/72 afvs, and would welcome suggestions and recommendations.

(I will be basing the infantry on coins!)

Generally we use a base that fits the vehicle. Size does not matter in our rules as it is the model itself which determines sight lines. If you use the base for sight lines then larger vehicles will have a larger sight line anyway.

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I am with wrgmr1 on this one. I always base vehicles (also 1/72). I use mdf composite craft wood and chamfer the edges. I would say that the examples above are too large for me. I trim my bases as far as possible to the limits of the model – allowing only a very few millimeters beyond the extremity of what needs coverage.

I don't bother except for fragile/breakable items as it take up too much storahge space and looks odd on the table, especially NWE, desert, not so bad if the colour matches the table/cloth

What rules do you use 1815, and what do they have to say about basing? That would be my first influence. I put mine on bases that are just a little larger than the model. This stops the models crashing together as they slide around in my A4 box files en route to the game!

The only 1/72 scale stuff I base are the artillery and heavy support weapons. Armour that's fiddly need not be on the gaming table but to each his own. I find the bases distracting .

Whatever size is necessary, as small as possible…the key thing is the thickness, MDF, cardboard, they all end up too thick, with your tanks running around on massive plinths.
Go to the diy store, get some 1.5mm skin ply, its totally rigid and more than strong enough particulary when impregnated with pva woodglue used as part of the basing process.

Unlike Will and Terry, I find it is unbased vehicles that look odd when all the soldiers around them have their landscape with them (and stand several millimetres taller as a consequence) …

A little larger than the model's footprint unless the rules suggest something specific. The underside of the base is a good place to record details relevant to the model (unit, stats etc.)

Phil

I generally prefer unbased vehicles, but I know Piers makes some small, thin bases for his 1/72 beauties.

I'd use the thinnest plywood you can find. Litko has some super-thin light ply, I think it's 0.85mm thick. Great if you're doing standardized bases, say for magnetic storage.

I can't see why any WW2 rules (except for rules for big battles where one base equals a unit of company size or above) would need to specify anything about basing vehicles.

I don't base vehicles except a few motorcycles that won't stand up on their own. I only base infantry figures for the same reason. Unnecessary bases unnecessarily detract from the look of the table.

I mainly do not base 1/72 vehicles.

However, if you want to try some sort of standard basing, then I would suggest starting with 50 x 100 mm for tanks. This should fit everything up to Panther sized – though some heavy tanks might require a bit wider base.

Conveniently Renedra seems to have lately released 50 x 100 mm bases (and no, I am not working for them):

link

Small vehicles, like Universal Carriers or Dingo scout cars would require smaller bases, though.

I didn't use to base 1/72 vehicles at all.
Then I got into magnetic basing.
Or to be precise steel basing an magnetic vinyl lining the box I carry my toys in.
I use 20thou black plasticard just narrower than the tracks and only as large as the rectangle between the track will touch the table.
Then steel paper under them to stick to the mag vinyl.

Rules are Rapid Fire!

They are as loose as you can get when it comes to basing.

Thanks for the replies

:)

#1 pet hate – based WWII vehicles that drag around terrain with them even when they are moving on roads.

#2 pet hate – individually based WWII soldiers, ESPECIALLY on circular bases (coins, washers, etc) and ditto mobile terrain.

Yeah I know, I'm just sayin'….

1815Guy,

I've played Rapid Fire for many years. As I said above I use bases that are just slightly bigger than the model, mostly to protect them in transit. The bases are 1.5mm plywood.

My fellow players don't base their vehicles at all so there's no hard and fast way to do it.

As for the figures I found individually based figures to be a pain in the bum when it came to moving large numbers of them. I base mostly in pairs with some singles for casualty removal etc. Again they are on 1.5mm plywood.

Sorry to spoil your day Hornswoggler! :)

I Base mainly in 2s on 2p coins, and some singles on 1p coins. It's not a problem during play. In fact it's very flexible.

I base using 3mm plasticard. Works fine if you leave a bit of extra space around the edges for ground cover, and also allows for easy storage since most medium AFVs are on same-sized bases.

~iPaint

I base everything and glue magnet sheet underneath to reduce damage to models/figures when transporting and also make them stick to movement trays. I try to use minimal bases for vehicles, just wider and longer than the hull by a mm or two. I also try to minimize the terrain on said bases; usually just some grass.

As an aside, most countries have legislation about using their coins for anything other than currency.

Unlike Will and Terry, I find it is unbased vehicles that look odd when all the soldiers around them have their landscape with them (and stand several millimetres taller as a consequence) …

A little larger than the model's footprint unless the rules suggest something specific. The underside of the base is a good place to record details relevant to the model (unit, stats etc.)

Phil

Phil and I have had this discussion before. I don't bother as I find basing a chore! Painting and modelling I love, but for some reason I can't stand basing. The only vehicles I have based are some 1/56 AGNM tanks that came ready based and the one thing I hate more than basing is sanding off bases!
Of course the extra height of the figure bases is needed when firms like Peter Pig make 15mm models at a slightly larger scale than "true" 15mm would suggest to match based figures for height. Ditto Battlefront and their stretched height vehicles, which I find most noticeable on the Panzer III's which look odd.

iPaint
what is your website? excellent work