"Base labeling" Topic

Greetings,

I am going to be doing Phil Sabin's Lost Battles scenarios using miniatures. I would like to label the bases with identifiers of 'Levy Archers, Average Hoplites….etc'. I would like to glue on the base a metal strip, and then use magnetized label identifiers, so that I can interchange them where needed. Problem is, not sure what/who offers magnetic sheets that you can print, trim, to place on the bases. Any guidance would be much appreciated.

Dave

For Megablitz I used self adhesive piece of magnetic strip ("magnabase" in the UK) on the base, then stick printed labels on steel paper and cover with sticky backed plastic – the labels can be trimmed with scissors.

My advice is to get sticky back magnet sheets (readily available online). Create your labels in a graphic program that you can print out on decent photo paper. You should spray your labels with some Krylon clear coat to keep them from getting too worn. I suggest a coat of gloss, and then a coat of matte spray if you want them non shiny. Or you could spring some coin to have them pro printed and laminated.

The sticky back magnet sheet can be applied and then you can cut out each strip of labels to size. They will be flexible but should last some number of games.

There is this solution too- but I trust my method better because I can control the quality of the paper:

link

Thanks for the feedback. Alas, I have a color laser printer, and not sure if it works on some materials.

David

I do almost exactly what you are describing for a number of my armies. I use a strip of Ferrosheet (soft iron in vinyl and magnetically receptive) rather than a metal strip.

For the labels I print onto reasonably heavy paper (I use 130gsm but anything from 100gsm up will do fine) and then stick them onto the back of self adhesive magnetic sheets. They are simple to cut out with a craft knife, even scissors will do it (but you'll soon blunt the scissors).

Under normal circumstances I'd point you to my website to buy both items but I'm still recovering from a chest operation and not quite ready to hump about the heavy rolls of magnetic & Ferrosheet.

Send me a PM and I'll sort you out a sample of each if you are interested in trying it out.

Tony of Tiny Tin Troops

tinytintroops.co.uk

Thanks Tony. PM sent.

Dave

I print my labels on photo paper and glue them with removable glue (same glue that the "post it" notes use)

JJArtist
Can you give some examples of online sites where magnetic sheets can be bought in small sizes/quantities in the US please.

All I can find (searching from the UK) are either manufacturers (who mostly don't give prices) or sellers on Amazon & E-bay, who's prices seem very high.

Terminology seems to be different on US sites to UK ones too and using archaic units makes it more difficult to specify what to suggest to David Smith.

If I could see what is on offer on retail sites in the US I'd be better placed to advise him.

I use self adhesive magnetic sheet and and self adhesive steel paper for making label holders and labels respectively.

I've bought all mine from Magnetic Displays over the years.

magneticdisplays.co.uk

I can't say I've ever found a need to label bases for Lost Battles though. Veterans get one base, average two bases and levy three or four, as per the rules suggestion. The troop types are obvious from the figures (I use DBA bases, lots of them).

Thanks all. Martin, I am going to use 3d printed 2mm resin figures for my miniatures, and each base will be one unit. 60x30mm base for average heavy infantry for instance, and 120mmx20mm for light infantry/cavalry as an example. My Veteran Hoplites will be on 30mmx40mm bases following along with the board game counters. At 2mm with hundreds on a base, I would like to make sure I keep them straight.

As Martin recommended one base wide for veteran non-legion heavy infantry, two x two for levy Heavy infantry, two wide for all other heavy infantry and veteran cavalry, and four wide by one deep for all others. This takes into account how much space each unit occupies in a zone and how many attacks they count for. One base wide = 1/2 attack, two = one, and four wide = two attacks.
See rules 5.5 and 6.3

Boardgamegeek has images from the board game version of Lost Battles link These show the difference in bases sizes for the different unit types and quality. Clicking on the imaes will enlarge them.

I use 6mm figures. There are some AAR's and photos on my blog at link

TAP Plastics sells magnetic sign material which is what I've been using for years. It is by far cheaper than hobby material! They have store in CA, and might do mail order.