"Single basing 6mm figures..." Topic

Currently I am single basing some 6mm figures for games and thought I would make sure I didn't miss a option.

What I currently am using is 15mm circles (LITKO thinnest bases) and similar sized bingo chips (from my deceased Mother-in-Laws estate) for each figure.

Does anyone else single base 6mm figures? What do you use for basing?

It is a esthetics (.8 mm) versus handling (3mm) issue for me. The LITKO 1.5mm thickness has some compromise appeal but I use those a lot for 15mm figures. Comments? Alternatives? Ideas?

Edit: And yes, Editors and Bill, I do have 6mm figures I am looking to single base for all these genres/eras, hence all the cross-posting.

I almost always base my 6mm in groups of 3-6, generally in 5. Basing can be anything from what comes with the model(s) or a plastic sheets cut to size, etc., … Cardboard a has tendency to warp as time goes on, in some cases … Here's a mix of different bases I use, some from a model company(s) … some home made. link

As far as thickness, a little bit is good as it supports the models better and easier to pick up for play, IMO. In most cases, my bases are about 3mm, + or – …

I'm curious, how many is "some"? I agree the thinner base is the way to go. Something overall that I would not think about doing though. Post pics please.

You forgot the Basing board. ;-)

I single based some 10mm using custom 10mm rounds with magnet bases for doing fantasy RPGs. Worked but not sure how it would be for big units and smaller 6mm figures.

What games do you base single 6mm models for?

I have singly based 6mm troops on boardgame counters:

I'd like to add that it got really fiddly for me, and I quickly adopted multi-basing.

Three guys on a penny, can be a team or a squad, depending on what you're trying to accomplish.

V/R,
Jack

Nice work Jack !

I like using the 20mm lipped round bases. It makes it easier to grab the base and the recessed center creates an illusion that is visually pleasing to my eye at least.

Personally I rhink the base should be as thin as possible. My prone 10mm are on about 0,6mm thick as I can print that thin. To me (normaly not a wild model fan) can't stand as an example WarHammer figures sat on 4 mm m(guestimate) "cliffs" it just looks daft (to me). Sloping and/or irregulat bases look better (to me) but are harder to achive at smaller scales; particularly if you need the bases to fit down a narrow(at figure scale) road further limiting their size. I have had some success with 0,5mm magnet bases. They stay flat if sceniced while on a magnetic base and are about as thin as paractical.

Personally I think the base should be as thin as possible. My prone 10mm are on about 0,6mm thick as I can print that thin. To me (normaly not a wild model fan) I can't stand as an example WarHammer figures sat on 4 mm my(guestimate) "cliffs" it just looks daft (to me). Sloping and/or irregulat bases look better but are harder to achive at smaller scales; particularly if you need the bases to fit down a narrow(at figure scale) road further limiting their size. I have had some success with 0,5mm magnet bases. They stay flat if sceniced while on a magnetic base and are about as thin as practical.

Wargamer Dave,

You are correct. Perhaps the editors will add that.

I mount characters or leaders singly and I mount 6mm figures for skirmish or small battle games singly.

I have a Wargamer friend who uses nothing thinner than 3mm because he wants oeoole to pick up figures by the base and not the figure itself.

I see his point but at 6mm or even 15mm the "standing on a pedestal" look sometimes bothers me. I did mount my fantasy football teams in 15mm on 3mm stands but he jury is still out on that.

I want to note that single basing at any size/scale seems best for RPG, skirmish, or even platoon sized battles but the last is the grey area for me. Anything bigger than platoon a side implies multiple figures on a base to me.

Some means I did not count them but a bunch.

Well, a 20mm base for a single 6mm figure seemed a bit large. It works great for15/18mm single figures though.

Just Jack, those look great. What figures are those?

I base some of my 6mm troops singly, largely the science fiction ones. I use a 1/2" hole punch and cut it out of magnetic business card. If I want a particularly thick base I will also cut it out of craft foam sheet and glue the figure to that, then attach the magnet to the bottom of the foam.

Well depending on what you pay for the Litko bases, there's always dimes. Not sure of their diameter but they're smaller than pennies, which are about 19mm across, and thin. Won't be as cost effective as bingo chips though, but I expect they're smaller.

FWIW I've never used them, but have used pennies and nickels as bases.

Daler240D,

The individually-based guys are GHQ Modern Germans, the penny-based guys are GHQ WWII Germans.

V/R,
Jack

I normally base my 6mm figures in groups of 3-5, except LMG teams, light mortars and Anti-Tank weapons which are normally 2 figures. I started by using 20 thou plastic card, but recently changed to 40 thou plastic card. The size I use is either 20mm x 25mm for 3-5 figures, for 2 figures I use 15mm x 20mm.

I've done some on pennies.
In hind-sight I wish I had done them in trios, but if you can tell them apart by marking the base, you can put one on a penny and they'll do okay.

Did some 6mm Baccus FIW for Sharp Practice (or a any other FIW skirmish ruleset) using 9mm penny washers with small earth magnets. A little bit fiddly and I do use "movement trays".

Base Concept on my blog here.

link

On movement trays, here.

link

/ All the best

I experimented with it. I used plastic buttons, maybe 18mm, in various colors. I sand-flocked, painted, and grass-flocked the surface, leaving the edges exposed. the buttons are slightly concave, so the cast-on bases & flock didn't form a mound. They were color-coded by faction, to make the little guys easy to identify. I figured I would put thin adhesive magnets on the bottom later on.

I found it effective, and not as intrusive as you might think.

Another way to avoid the mound is to use modelling paste stuff that the figure can be "pushed" into.

That does make the base thicker but for 6mm figures, that's not such a bad thing.

I do like the idea of concave buttons, very cool idea.

Up.
For people using magnets as bases or under bases, do you also have metallic plates under your board to have the minis stick to the board?

When basing infantry, I decided to base one soldier on one base. In this way it can represent one soldier or one platoon, division etc., just like a tank, based or not, can represent one vehicle or a platoon, division etc.

For an example: link

I've used 10mm thin circular disks from Litko in the past. I found these to be much cheaper.

link

It is a nice option!