"18mm - size of bases?" Topic

I would like to base my miniatures, the idea quite dense, I made some trials basing them on card board – just to see how it works out, what do you think?

What scale are the figures? I think dense basing looks great in that the the actual guys would have been just as closely packed as that.

It looks fine, except the drummer on the command base is overhanging the side of the base. Maybe put them on a base the size of the 4 figure base, pack them closely and just have a little extra room on each side.

@4th-I think, based on the post title, they are 18mm figures, instead of frontage of 18mm.

yes indeed 18 mm miniatures, frontages changes according to numbers of miniatures

@ vWinterfeldt

For my collection, with basically "single rank of figs" much like you show there I did following as compromise between mass and figure manageability. 1;20 or 1:30 unit sizes with ability to reduce for strategic play…

For 2 rank troops:
British
Austrian ( yes 2 rank- at tactical lvl play… I play with the 3rd rank deployed to skirmish so I mounted them this way- either open order or in same 2 rank fashion as the "first 2 ranks troops" but troops are in skirmish typ. posses so they are easy to identify they are 3rd rankers)
Prussian 1808+ ( see austrian)
Russian jager ( see austrian)

28mm frontage base with 4 figures = 7mm per figure
this usually ends up staggered ( 2 forward 2 slightly rearward -shoulder to should overlap with bottom figure base toughing each other)
Side & front view shows some depth with good density

3 rank folks
[all others of my collection: French, DoW, Prussian 1806, Bavarian, Russian, saxon]
Mounted per 2 rank above but add 2 figures to back = 4.67mm per fig
Base 28mm width and with closer to 3/4" (19mm) depth.

All cav is 12.5mm ( I assume Lt cav will dense up some for charges and heavy spread a little once moving).
Thus the ratio to the infantry works per historic frontages to rank number ( 3 rank Inf; 12 men to cav 2 rank; 4 men or 3 to 1).
I am moving my cavalry to 3 per stand.
try it and see how you like it.

MG

I have AB figures pretty much based like this. 8mm frontage for foot on a base 24mm wide by 11mm deep (three castings) and 38mm wide by 35mm for three cavalry figures. It looks tight but that gives the unit table-top presence.

When basing them I set the bases up next to each other as they would be in line and glue the figures in such a way that the whole line is evenly spaced. I think this look much better than where there is a bigger gap between the figures where the bases meet. You get this rather clumpy looking unit rather than an evenly spaced line and when our model units are so small anyway I think you need to do all you can to help them look like more.

I have been dense here. Forgive me for a stupid question.

You were only asking about the dimensions of the basings?

Not about the idea of mounting them on cardboard……….I honestly thought you were planning to…..I thought why would he …etc?

Actually, it is really dawning on me now, that I have missed the point.

I was planning a very detailed reply about better basing materials, especially for work of this quality. How do you do quality of painting and this in 18mm, let alone 28mm? What about the buttons on the Austrian Grenadier Officer's coat?

For display only I pack them knee to knee, touching for cavalry (esp for heavy) and shoulders touching for infantry of the line. But, of course, my artillery guns are always far too close together.

The point about ensuring constant spacing, esp where one base meets the next, is a good one. In other words, figures nearer to the edge of each base than you might think!

It has been a very long working day. I am meant to be retired, but this was a mad day at work. I must sleep…..

I have no helpful suggestions on basing, but I am extremely envious of your painting skills.

They are painted to an inspirational level, aren't they?

But, yeah, I'm confused about what is being asked too. Are these for display or show? For display I think that close together would be better and two ranks are better than one.

no – they are for wargaming, there I am old school, one base equals one tactcial unit – usually a company

i Always base 18mm figures on 1cm x 1cm bases with four or 6 figures in two rows on a base (so 2cm x 2 cm or 3cm x 2 cm baes)
Cavalry we have 2 figures om 3cm x 3.5cm baes

My 15/18mm eighteenth century figures are based on 30x30mm bases. The line infantry have six figures in two ranks of three. All regular cavalry have three figures to a base. Irregular or skirmishing troops have ony two models per stand. Three bases represent a regiment in the King of the Battlefield rules.

My 15/18mm Napoleonic figures are eight line infantry to a 40x30mm stand in two ranks of four. All regular cavalry bases have three figures on the same size of stand.

Some cheapskate friends only have two cavalry to a base but I think that is too sparse.

Artillery is based on a 40x40mm stand for the gun and three or four crew. Limbers are on a 40x80mm stand. Six horse limber stands may need to be a little longer.

Two draft horses and a limber don't do it for me in this period. My eyes are not as good as they were but I'm still fussy about the spectacle on the table…

Have fun.

Go with what your rules say – but 8mm is probably right for standard rules such as general de Brigade (as 15mm is the frontage for 25/28mm figures)

And I love the officer in the blue jacket – why is he wearing this – is this an early period colour (I often see Austrian officers in a grey coat, but not the light blue) – looks really good.

Marc

the officer in the light bluegrey jacket is painted according to a contemporary print of Austrian Infantry in the French Revolutionary wars.

thanks for the usefull feed back so far

@V Winterfeldt

Regarding OP
What have you decided and if different, what does it look like?

thanks
MG

8 line infantry on a 40mm x 30mm base, 2 light cav, 3 heavy cav on the same size base.

1 gun + crew on 40x40. Skirmisher inf 2 figs on 20x40mm.

db

I myself prefer even more closer ranks, elbow to elbow and boots to boots.
7mm for infantry. Austrian infantry, as I heard, haved not so closely packed, so 8mm is good too.

But cavalry here are definitely in loose order, must be closer together.

@Sho
Thanks – must try out what you suggested