"Finding "Matt-Board" for bases" Topic

I have noticed some gamers using heavy matt/poster-board for figure stands and like the look. They also have rounded the edges. I have some heavy beer matts around the house which I think would fit the bill height-wise. I'd like to hear from people who have been using this approach. I have a collection of Minifigs S range Franco-Prussian War figures that I'd like to bases in an 0ld-school fashion. Thanks very much. Hal

Hal,
I use matt board to base 28mm figures individually, especially cavalry. I bought a bunch of really ugly color boards an art shop was trying to get rid of years ago, and they have served me well. You can cut them with an exacto or even strong scissors. They can be shaped to fit your needs, and with metal figures I haven't experienced any warping. They also take paint and white glue with no problem. I'm very happy and satisfied with them. Good luck. Tom

The problem with bear mats are that they are designed to be absorbent. So applying glue, paint etc makes them swell and loose structure, just like a paper towel. Matt board or mount board is more resistent.

They come in different colors and available in sheets at art stores. I've bought offcuts and smaller sizes for years. These days I use sharp kitchen scissors to cut them to the base sizes I need. They will warp with too much white/pva glue.

Matboard will work, though I think styrene would be better.

I'd recommend using a sharp, razor knife for cutting them out, to prevent curling it with scissors.

Laser-cut acrylic will work too.

Hal,

Check with local picture framing shops for their scrap matt-board.

Jim

Second this idea.

For rounding corners, nail clippers work well

At one time i used matt board. Then I wanted to remount those figures. Removing them was a bit of a chore as often the top layer of the matt board game off with the cement and had to be removed from the figure base.

Then I went to sheet styrene and Elmer's (white) Glue. I don't believe this glue was ever intended to be used to stick metal to plastic, but it worked well. I was hoping if I dropped a stand of figures on the floor the glue would break before the figure.

I never had any problem iwth the figures coming off the styrene bases. Maybe five or six out of 4,000 or so with 15 or more years of gaming.

When I rebased again, it was very easy to remove the figures with an eXacto knife with what I think is called a chisel blade.

I will never go back to matt board, but now I use metal bases nearly all of the time.
Tom

Tom

As with Jim, sometimes at framing stores you can get the off cuts for free.

You're a genius Dexter!