"3mm clear-stand basing?" Topic
15 Posts
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FlyXwire | 17 Apr 2021 7:08 a.m. PST |
Guys, I've yet to get this particular game board project developed to the point of fielding units on it. I dabbled at making up my own 3mm units digitally (inset below), but now leaning towards O8 minis for it. The board is pretty colorful and intricate, and now considering the idea of mounting the vehicle units and infantry pieces on clear bases so the board graphics show through. Any thoughts/feedback/experience with the idea – clear-basing 3mm or 6mm minis?
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Zookie | 17 Apr 2021 9:23 a.m. PST |
First off, amazing map! As far as clear bases I tried clear bases for my naval units and there are some pros and cons. They did look good on the table as they look like they are right on the water and blended into the map perfectly. The down sides were that the unit data I have on the base (names and firing arcs) were hard to read on clear plastic. Also they did not look as good "on display" as they did do on the table. Lastly it was hard to glue to clear bases. Super glue can "fog" the base so you have to get only a tiny amount in the right spot on the first try and PVA glue needs more to be strong and can leave a "puddle" look. I ended up compromising with translucent blue bases to get the best of both worlds. Easy to read the data, looks good on display and glue marks are less obvious. Though I am not sure if that is a good solution for 3mm. If display does not matter to you the glue marks may be a bigger issue because the models are smaller and their will be multiple figures per base. Make sure to go light on the glue and that you are sure of the placement the first time. One concern I would have with 3mm/6mm on clear bases is that the models are very small and if the units are camouflaged they might blend into the map too well and either be hard to see or identify. Or they may just be overshadowed by the map and not look that impressive on the table. I don't know for sure but I could see that happening. Especially with infantry. Perhaps a sepia tinted translucent plastic base would work. It would work on any map but give a slight "shade" the the terrain around the unit helping it stand out. |
FlyXwire | 17 Apr 2021 10:45 a.m. PST |
Zookie, your naval miniatures and stands above look excellent! I've found a super glue sold for gluing onto clear bases that claims not be fogging (we'll see) - link Luckily, I'm really not needing to have data on the unit bases themselves. With your feedback here, I might try experimenting with creating shadow surrounds on the bases in the places where the minis would be affixed (or just local flocking "bumps" that the pieces would be glued upon)…..sort of a semi-flocking application that would still leave the majority of the stand uncovered and clear. Hey, how about glue dots – those rubbery adhesive circles that can be bought in rolls at office supply stores! They could be used to stick the miniatures onto the bases, and any exposed area of the dot not under the mini could be used to accept some flocking or texturing. |
14Bore | 17 Apr 2021 11:47 a.m. PST |
I found sheets of clear plastic 1/16 think at Hobby Lobby, needed it to fix a cracked laser lense but might be what you are looking for. They had different thicknesses if you want. That is a outstanding game board |
FlyXwire | 17 Apr 2021 1:44 p.m. PST |
TY 14Bore, for the feedback on the game board, and for the tip to the plastic sheet available at Hobby Hobby. Btw, just ordered from Pico Armor enough to outfit a US TD Company, Cavalry Recon Troop, and Lt. Tank Company. I don't want to get too much piled up on the workbench at once…..but this will give me plenty for the coming experiments – muhahaha! |
Bezmozgu7 | 18 Apr 2021 5:47 a.m. PST |
That nice map looks like an edited and enlarged version of the map from the "Patton's Best" board wargame. It fits nicely with your 3mm unit bases! |
FlyXwire | 18 Apr 2021 6:35 a.m. PST |
Thanks Bezmozgu7, and your description is perfect for this game board in waiting - TMP link Shame that I finished it up last summer, but I'm just now getting around to outfitting it with some serious game troops – still, I think the evolving idea of clear stands may present a good way to go for it now. One thought I'm toying with, would be to allow "step" losses to be easily shown on [actually under] these unit stands, and an idea – Since any clear base can be seen through, then by inserting a colored washer underneath of an inflicted stand (like stacking it on top of a red "poker chip"), any combat reduction(s) could be easily noted. If the game system uses more than a single step reduction mechanic, different colored washers could be used to reflect these various reduction levels – thinking here that 2mm thick, colored fun-foam circles could be punched out for this (offering a little friction to keep the stands from sliding off of them too). My objective is to use the based minis to reflect sections and platoon level stands. Perhaps the sections being mounted on smaller bases (for recon sub-units, AT Gun detachments, HQs, etc.), and these stands removed outright with their first hits, while larger platoon bases would take multiple losses before being removed from play (using clear stands with stackable colored markers sounds sorta slick for this). |
Tortorella | 18 Apr 2021 8:30 a.m. PST |
Great game board surface! And I love 3mm O8s. I have ACW armies and Naps. Perfect for this type of map board. Litko, great to deal with, makes excellent acrylic bases in all kinds of shapes and sizes. You cannot use superglue, but I think they sell a glue that works. These make great naval bases, the surface is glossy, like water. I do not like acrylic as much for land basing because of the glare. I have used a sort of semi-transparent flexible thin plastic kitchen cutting sheet to make bases that you can see through but do not reflect glare. Got them at a dollar store and cut them to size. I use them for my WW1 aircraft, who move on a map similar to yours. That said I do use Litko acrylic for land basing some times because they are stable and easy to pick up, the old basing conundrum. A thick base helps in moving the unit, but looks kind of…thick. I am sure many people do not even notice acrylic glare, it may be just a thing with me. |
Thresher01 | 18 Apr 2021 11:39 a.m. PST |
I like it, and that is a great map, so you definitely need clear bases. |
FlyXwire | 18 Apr 2021 3:24 p.m. PST |
Tortorella, thank you for posting about your work with clear basing, and the concerns for the potential glare! I've read somewhere that clear, semi-gloss spray is an option to cut down on the potential plastic shine….(that sounds a bit risky though). Thresher my friend, thanks again for your encouragement. :) |
Decebalus | 19 Apr 2021 5:30 a.m. PST |
"Since any clear base can be seen through, then by inserting a colored washer underneath of an inflicted stand (like stacking it on top of a red "poker chip"), any combat reduction(s) could be easily noted." Good Idea. You could use the same bases (also vlear and the same size) with printed corpses on it as underlay. o8 troops have integral bases and they need it. So the best would be to have some terrain around the bases to hide the edge of the figure basees, but to leave most of the acrylic base free. |
FlyXwire | 19 Apr 2021 6:05 a.m. PST |
Decebalus, that's a neat idea! (could even make the underlying stand's graphics something like shell holes also) On disguising the stand outlines for the O8 infantry and hvy. weapons – that's where I was thinking those commercial, round glue dots might do double-duty (triple actually) – adhere the minis to the clear stands, create a rounded surround to the infantry bases, and the exposed portion of each glue dot perform as a flocking "platform" (the stickiness actually helping to adhere any flocking medium – if it's pressed down into the dot). Or, just carefully paint & flock each dot and over onto each mini's stand, once these are mounted onto their clear bases (the dots will take acrylic paint).
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Thresher01 | 20 Apr 2021 6:37 a.m. PST |
They make non-glare acrylic. It is more expensive than the regular stuff, but since you'll need only small quantities due to the small size, and thin material, it shouldn't be too bad. |
FlyXwire | 24 Apr 2021 7:04 a.m. PST |
A little progress report – got some acceptable paint onto some of the O8 minis I ordered last week (with fast shipment of them from PicoArmor btw). No clear bases yet, but there's a dramatic difference to be had between my 3mm PuesdoArmor flats, and with real miniatures, even with their fast paint jobs! At the same time, I'm down-sizing another areas-style game board to use with these, for quick roll-out, 1 vs. 1 games. I think from the normal viewing distance the minis should contrast against the board graphics fine -
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FlyXwire | 27 Apr 2021 6:16 a.m. PST |
Not clear 3mm basing, but some interesting technique and ideas here from the Small But Perfectly Formed blog site - link His sculpting impressions into the Milliput he's made to simulate track trails, could also be used as troughs for painting on company-level, color identification markings too (instead of on the traditional, side of the base location). |
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