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Post by bruce on May 2, 2015 1:58:33 GMT
Hi guys: When I left ironclad naval for napoleonics a few years ago, I made a lot of buildings out of card stock, also got some from Paper Terrain, to get going. They were light and I based them on craft foam sheets into towns, farms etc. When Leven started, I became a pretty steady customer and have a good sized collection now. A first I got away with basing some of the smaller structures on craft foam sheets, or not basing them at all, but now I have some pretty large structures to do as the Leven range has grown and I love all the extra touches so many of you add to your bases.
So..Steve, Ian, Tim, Richard and all the rest of you talented folk who have made this an art form and shared with us, I am still not quite sure what material you all use to base your buildings and grounds on. I am nearly done painting the Leven La Haye Sainte, which also calls for garden and orchard sections. I would prefer to have the base be fairly thin but still have the strength to bear the weight of these buildings and scenic surroundings and not buckle in the future. What do you guys recommend? Bruce
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Post by Richard on May 2, 2015 7:02:41 GMT
I no that plasticsard mdf and ply is used a lot I have used all of them and brass plates which are great really strong never rust I use push plates for doors and cut them down to size
Richard
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Post by tim on May 2, 2015 7:59:16 GMT
Hi Bruce,
My first choice would be 0.8mm sheet steel if you can get hold of it. It wont warp when you start slapping glue and paint on it, but you have to seal it well before decorating 'cos it can rust of course. Second choice would be 2 or 3mm ply, some of the guys use MDF but I don't like the stuff. I would use it in separate sections. For instance, for LHS, one section for the orchard, one for the farm (I would include a section of the road outside the main gate) and one for the garden on the north side. To disguise the thickness, shampfer all the outside edges but not the sides that butt up to other sections.
Hope that helps a bit.
Tim
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Post by bruce on May 2, 2015 10:23:44 GMT
This helps very much indeed, was not thinking about metals at all. Thanks very much guys! Bruce
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Post by steve on May 2, 2015 22:24:01 GMT
Bruce
I use 1.5mm plasticard or 2mm if a larger set of buildings. Easy to cut to size and does not warp. Black works best I find as any gaps in gluing on sand don't show up like white. Cheap too from various ebay sellers
Steve
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Post by bruce on May 3, 2015 2:04:21 GMT
Thanks Steve, I have only just heard of this material, wondered about it. I have a number of Leven buildings to experiment with, am glad to get the thicknesses from you guys as well for ordering online. I will try some different materials and see how I make out. I think I am not too bad at painting the buildings but I would like get better with the overall product and the finishing touches and appreciate the responses and your postings. Bruce
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Post by steve on May 3, 2015 16:37:32 GMT
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Post by bruce on May 4, 2015 3:22:05 GMT
Excellent, thank you, Steve, once again. Bruce
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Post by ian on May 4, 2015 19:56:48 GMT
Don't listen to these guys MDF is the way to go in 2mm LOL
At the end of the day it's personal preference and ease/cost of material that makes your mind up. If you use MDF then a dust mask is advised if you do any shaping.
Mike at Leven is a real pain, he keeps on coming up with cracking buildings :-)
Ian
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Post by bruce on May 5, 2015 4:15:14 GMT
Yes and I just keep ordering! Not sure how many at this point, but I have more than enough to try out two or three dozen basing methods and materials. Much thanks to all for the group consultation, I am really enjoying this forum! Bruce
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Post by ian on May 5, 2015 17:07:40 GMT
Yes and I just keep ordering! Not sure how many at this point, but I have more than enough to try out two or three dozen basing methods and materials. Much thanks to all for the group consultation, I am really enjoying this forum! Bruce Your right about the forum, not been to one that is this positive before. I think it's why so many want to keep it one subject one scale. All we really can get cross about is the best army witch is silly as everyone knows it's the Prussian Ian
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Post by bruce on May 5, 2015 19:21:10 GMT
Your are right Ian, except about the Prussians of course. My Austrians fought for many more years and scored one win, sort of, and several near victories! Bruce
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Post by ian on May 6, 2015 17:00:17 GMT
Your are right Ian, except about the Prussians of course. My Austrians fought for many more years and scored one win, sort of, and several near victories! Bruce But failed to show up at the big one Ian
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Post by bruce on May 6, 2015 18:57:02 GMT
Your are right Ian, except about the Prussians of course. My Austrians fought for many more years and scored one win, sort of, and several near victories! Bruce But failed to show up at the big one Ian Well,...er - we were on the way just in case, fighting the left behind French along the way. But there must be some reason Sam Mustafa named his latest Napoleonic rule set "Blucher"! Bruce
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Post by ian on May 6, 2015 19:13:23 GMT
But failed to show up at the big one Ian Well,...er - we were on the way just in case, fighting the left behind French along the way. But there must be some reason Sam Mustafa named his latest Napoleonic rule set "Blucher"! Bruce I think Napoleon was already taken LOL Ian
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