"I Hate Slottabases Because..." Topic

Why do you hate slottabases?

Over the weekend, I assembled some mono-pose spearmen using superglue that used slottabases. It was a snug enough fit between the plastic and the base, so it was going quickly.

However, one of the bases I did a little too vigorously and the super glue "spat out" and hit me square in the eye. I had to go do a rapid flushing of the eye, and it both hurt and bothered me for several days.

I have had this happen twice in the last year. That is why I hate slottabases!

Because I love having my minis standing on a hill in the middle of the base, and I adore having to carve off a huge chunk of metal, resin or plastic to be able to have more (any) versatility in basing. Integral bases are the best.

I hate slotta-bases because of the figures designed to fit in them.
There are those who insist that it's a cinch to snip the tab off and sand down the feet to fit on thin bases. Those people are idiots who have never tried to do this with figures with thin feet. I do gaming figures. Not display pieces.
I hate the look of figures standing on a truck tire. I can't believe that people do not paint the sides. That is uncouth.
Finally, I hate the elevation.

Ptui!

For one thing, square slottas severely limit how the mini can be positioned on a base, even if it has that second cut-away slot. Ranking up Warhammer minis used to give me fits, but it would have never been a problem with cast-ons.

I prefer a relatively thin cast-on in all but a few instances. Not like those sofa-cushion types like some Old Glory minis have. Seriously, they give me anorexic horses to save weight and metal, and force me to spend five minutes painstakingly grinding away an ounce of pewter per mini.

But I'm rambling.

I don't hate them but I'm not a fan of the thickness they give. I believe they are one (of a number) of the contributing factors that have led to scale creep in models* which is something I'm also not keen on.

They also led, I believe, to a stylistic animation simplicty in some quarters. In the nineties, especially, I remember reviewing figures I used to say were modelled in the 'Star Jump' pose (also known as "Mr very easy to cast". Without an integral base it seemed to become just a bit too easy to sculpt in a very flat pose because I'm told it is much easier to mould and I did – and do – dislike quite intensely.

John Treadaway

* 28mm became matched with bigger scale vehicles and buildings so that they would 'look right' next to doors and cars on a 3mm base. Then tje cars were noted as being too big and suddenly we have 32mm figures and… so it goes on…

There's no such thing as an ideal base, slottabase or otherwise. I've been buying figures for more than 50 years and I've always had to fix the base in some fashion. Slottabases are easy because they are predictable.

@HidaSeku: Thank you for reminding me that my presbyopia is actually a blessing. I can do most things without wearing glasses, but painting and assembling miniatures is not one of them.

I don't mind the round slottabases but for reasons stated above, I hate the square ones.

Loaded question. I'm fine with slottabases. Ask me about those old Old Glory 15s which are so "active" they can't stand up unless firmly glued to something.

Because they look stupid on a multi-figure base.

I have to fill in part of the slot. I don't do decorative bases (for reasons discussed elsewhere). So, it leaves a hole in the base that I have to futz with.

I agree the tabs on the models are painful to remove. So are integral bases.

I'm OK with them, but am not a fan at all of the Privateer Press variant---with the weird little lip for the rim of the base. It blocks where the minis' feet can go and can throw off what is otherwise a lovely miniature.

Because they don't secure the figure well and you have to fill in the huge slot hole afterwards, adds more work for little or no benefit.

However, one of the bases I did a little too vigorously and the super glue "spat out" and hit me square in the eye.

Don't use so much super glue.

I love Slottabases, prefer them over any other method. I even mount my figures with integral bases on slottabases, so that everything has a uniform look.

Damon.

I'm with Winston and hate 'em.

+2 for Winston.

Winston and nvdoyle are neck and neck in the final turn….

Now ask me about the GW horses that attach to the base by one single solitary ing hoof!

I hate them because they are too stable, too versatile and too easy to convert into integral-base-molehill-style-bases.

Touche, Lupulus.

They are too thick, have to be filled before I can fix magnetic basing material to them and are (I feel) less stable than my normal hand cut thin plywood bases or 2p coins.

All my many complaints and hatreds have been covered by the above posters, thanks for saving me the work, chaps!

Slotta bases, P.U.!!

No complaints at all. They've been an integral part of my wargaming hobby for 20 years. I've tried metal washers and just didn't like the look.

I use slottas if that's what they came with. Am I bovvered?

All my figures are on metal bases and the boxes are lined with magnetic sheet to hold them more of less in place. Slottabases just don't do that.

Don't hate them, simply don't use them and also avoid miniature companies that use them.

Easy peasy

I prefer slotta bases for some of my individual rpg and skirmish figures where I use a textured or clear base. I find it a lot easier to remove a tab than a integrated hillock.

I do prefer the integral bases for my army units where I base multiple figures per stand though.

Don't really get the hate. I found they made production easier and basing more consistent. Don't have any more trouble putting slot tab figures into slot bases than I do any other kind of figure on any other kind of base. And I'm the guy Winston was talking about who says it's easy to snip the tab off and attach to normal base when I want to.

Note I am not obsessed with having thin bases. i can see where if one was, one might have issues with figures designed for thicker bases, including slotta base figures.

This thread is just an excuse for some "slot shaming".

I don't mind them.

What Winston said

Another vote for loving the slotta.

I hate slottabases since I do not want my figs walking sideways into combat. I always have to carve out the parallel slot and cover up the diagonal slot to make them work. Way too much trouble.

The newer ones don't even have the parallel slot, so are useless to me.

I hate 'em; they're dumb. If you're building wargame units they are a colossal waste of time and energy. I avoid them whenever possible.

I hate them as they are too thick – I dislike the look of figures on damn great plinths. I can't understand why you'd go to the effort of trying to make other aspects of the visual presentation look realistic or at least have a nod to realism only to spoil it with what are pretty ugly bases.

There were two ranges I really wanted to get but once they were released and on slot bases I looked elsewhere.

All the reasons above. I've always preferred to have the bases already attached to the figure.

What tkdguy said.

Saves me typing…

They're obsolete. With plastics being so common, you can easily use a drill to hold the miniature to the base. Slottabases don't even hold a miniature in the base, and you have to fill in that slot. With miniatures having so many different poses, slottabases force the mini into one or two directions. If you have an entire somewhat homegenous army of GW or whatever company miniatures, I guess they make sense, but I'll at least put sand on my bases, so don't use them.

Agreed with all that the plastic bases are severely limiting

I would imagine it is easier to cast a figure without a base

It isn't too hard to snip the slotta away if you only cut vertically, but the slotta is still too tall for how most people base – if it were on average 1mm shorter it would be easier. It is possible but hard to reduce the height and then make vertical cuts, cutting the slotta away completely is likely to break the feet of the mini, or at least reduce the strength when the mini is glued into the base. Then you can drill a couple of holes into your base. I use grey stuff to cement it in place – sometimes needs to be supported while drying.

What a performance for something that could be really simple ! I do cut out an integral based shape in my regular minis and then build up so that it looks like the mini is standing on a flat surface. That too is too much work if you are quick painting hundreds of figures

John

+1 more to all the critics. Slottas are the worst imaginable solution. Thankfully they are seldom found on historical figures so are usually someone else's problem.

I do occasionally use the small plastic bases for other purposes: task one – fill the stupid slot in …

Phil

So the glue hit you in the eye? How about using a pair of safety glasses in the future to protect them? Might be worth the effort rather than causing you to go blind.

I remember trying to cut of the slotta thing under the feet of GW lotr figure then they and glue them on a regular base with now just having one and a half or two feet as a place to glue them to the base.

I just got done cutting 60+ warriors of slot bases so I could mount them on fender washers. I like them soooooooo much better that way.

They never seem to fit well, and I never liked using plastic bases with metal miniatures. I much prefer having the bases attached to the miniatures, like they used to.

I don't /hate/ them but I am not a fan of them either.

Acceptable with plastic board game pieces but I'd prefer not.

I had purchased a load of Uncle Duke's "Fantastiques" in the Eighties. They pretty much sat in the box until Games Workshop's LOTR figures came out. So I was able to glue them to slotta bases and I find they fit in pretty well.

Another vote for "I love slottabases."

Never did what they were supposed to do.