"Flocked Steel Sabot Bases?" Topic

Hi,

I have acquired large 6mm Napoleonic Austrian & Russian armies based 40mm x 20mm, and 20m x 15mm, respectively.

I want to base for Blucher, and I'm thinking of running with 60m x 60mm brigade bases. I absolutely do not want to re-base these figures! So, I was thinking of using thin steel sabots, with 2 – 4 bases on them secured by magnetic tape. There would be a enough room for a label and a dice holder. I've done that successfully with my 15mm ECW armies.

I would like to paint and flock the steel sabots, but because the base depths are different, I was thinking of flocking the whole sabot, and not just the space around where the bases would fit. Has anyone tried that? I wonder if the flock layer would interfere too much with the magnetic grip?

Thanks

Paul

I have tried that, but the magnetic grip was problematic and eventually the flock wore out on the base edges and the edges of the sabot 'holes'. You can even up the base levels with a layer of something like Milliput though that does mean more precise work.

Thanks Artilleryman – thought that might be the case.

Not so worried about re-flocking, as that's a very quick job, but there's no point if the bases slide off. Tempted just to leave them painted green, as I will have a 100 or so to do

At that scale, it would probably work quite well. Maybe textured paint would enhance the look.

The magnetic 'pull' is likely to be significantly reduced by a layer flock, probably below usefulness. A few layers of paint is OK, or thin paper but nothing more.

It might work with the small 'super' magnets but not magnetic tape.

steel bases are bad also because as your base edges hit figures, as they will, they scrape paint off of your figures. I recommend plasticene bases

Thanks all.

Textured paint is an interesting idea, thanks Artilleryman.

Neverthless, think I'm going to try a single flocked base, in the 'interests of science', and will report back.

Chris, my base edges will not hit my figures, which will be well within the edges of my base. Not at all sure what you mean by plasticene bases!

For my magnetic sabot bases, I have a square of steel paper in the middle and flock around the edges. The paper is painted to match the flock (green stippled with brown and yellow).

The figure bases just go on top (their magnets are underneath). It all blends in OK, but some players don't realise they are sabot and try to pick the bases up by the figures. Which doesn't work.

Thanks Martin,

interestin idea. May give that a try

Well, I finally got around to trying flocked steel sabot bases. There is no doubt that the flocking (a thin layer) did reduce the magnetic grip. However, enough of a grip remained (just) to leave the stands sufficiently attached to the base – even when turned upside down. I can't see the point in having a very strong grip, anyway, so I think I am going to adopt this for my Blucher basing