"Why put a building on a base?" Topic

Part of the evolution I can track of my involvement in the hobby is the way my thinking about terrain and buildings has changed. We all love the look of a good table but given it is not a permanent diorama and needs to be packed away and stored how can we make the components so that they all look as if they belong in the same location? I've posted a fairly lengthy blog post on various options and ways I've found of doing this which you can find here Why put a building on a base?

What great looking battlefield scenery! I need to think about bases for houses and other buildings. I prefer things to be as modular as possible to facilitate storage. I am also trying to figure out how to uses bases in conjunction with cobbled and dirt streets in a town.

Cheers!

Gallo

Great job, nice article

Figures in the house – Hard cover, Figures on the base (garden walls, sheds etc, – Soft cover. And it looks nice!

Tally Ho!

A useful piece of advice for scenery. Make the bases (or the scenery if unbased) so that it fits in the boxes you already have

Well, in 2mm--even in 6mm, really--I find unbased houses a little finicky. (In 28mm, mine are largely unbased.)

What a brilliant, helpful, inspirational blog post, filled with gorgeous scenery and buildings. Tons of food for thought.

I am currently working on MDF tiles for both 6mm and 15mm, and slowly sorting through many of these questions, especially as they apply to urban areas. Your solutions and suggestions will prove super helpful.

Deep thanks.

Why put a tank model on a base?

Have some buildings on bases which allow great modeling – but as noted, does make them hard to store – the worst to store is a 28mm Fortified Manor which is on a 2 foot by 3 1/2 foot base – it does look good though

It keeps the scarecrow, garden, and path with the house.

So, I do it when I want attached yards, hedges, or other such things.

Excellent work, Tactical Painter! That is a great how to and why. I really appreciate your approach to figuring out how to best display buildings and structures for a game.

What do you use for your bases for your buildings? Is it MDF or do you use other things. I do my work in 6mm and looking to do some of the same kinds of things for my tables.

Thanks

What do you use for your bases for your buildings? Is it MDF or do you use other things. I do my work in 6mm and looking to do some of the same kinds of things for my tables.

Thanks. Yes all bases are MDF. Usually 3mm thick. Just the stuff you get from a hardware store. I find bevelling the edge makes a big difference (I use the sanding tool on my Dremel but you could just chamfer with a knife), it might really help avoid that raised platform look, particularly if you're thinking of using it with smaller scales.

Really like the concept of basing yards separately from the building.

Another advantage to bases is they facilitate external stairs, stoops and porches which are typical to many historical houses and buildings.

Cheers!

Gallo

Thank you very much for the info, TacticalPainter! I have been looking at a variety of options to do this. I do agree with the beveling so that the buildings and their accessories won't look like raised platforms.

I have not taken the dive into basing buildings with walled yard enclosures, but I generally base them on a bases that protrude maybe 1/4" from the building. That allows me to texture the base to match the mat, and to put bushes, etc. against the building for visual interest.

I put buildings on bases so that I can have a ruined one under the undamaged one. I originally saw this used by Charles Grant (senior) over 50 years ago and now use mainly PaperTerrain buildings, which use that same system.

Rod

My home made buildings are on bases just big enough to accommodate them, that makes for stability and strength; after that, I add fences, walls trees, other semi detached buildings, so I can chop n change, so that makes for flexibility.

I use bases for buildings when it helps keep the building from damage. I converted a plastic toy wooden fort into a fantasy piece.

I used Hot Glue to anchor it to its base, to keep its shape. It broke off after several years of use. I Hot Glued square dowels to both the base, and the plastic fort, the 2nd time around. I like the whole of it. The base provided critically needed anchor strength for the model. It allowed me to add bushes to enhance it, along with distracting the eye from the square dowels. The access ladders are anchored to both the base, and the catwalks, further strengthening the model. It should never fail again, in my lifetime. LOL! I may go back and bevel the MDF edges. I agree that would improve its appearance considerably.

I agree, a decorated base aids in the overall appearance of the whole. I find that a great many of my terrain pieces benefit from a base attached to them. Cheers!