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Post by bruce on Jul 18, 2016 23:57:37 GMT
Has anyone tried using magnetic bases for individual stands of figures to allow formation changes or to mix and match stands of figures to create different units for different games or battles? Litko in the states sells both magnetic bases and flex steel as self stick items in a wide variety of sizes and shapes and I have ordered a batch.
It it seems to me that it might be handy to be able to switch from column to line to square with a quick rearrangement of stands with self sticking flex steel on the bottom and placed on a magnetic base. Or to reconfigure armies for different campaigns. Even add and remove unobtrusive casualty and status markers quickly and easily from such bases.
I am am going to fool around with this but I wondered if any of you guys have tried it? While I like well made and realistic basing for aesthetic reasons, I also want to see if one can compromise for easier game play. I am trying, among other things, not to use rosters too much for tracking various unit conditions - its starting to feel like being in an office instead of on a battlefield to me. Bruce
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Post by ooiittee on Jul 19, 2016 3:00:07 GMT
This is something I have given alot of thought towards. I would warn you about travelling this slippery slope of madness.
Basing - When you place flock or paint your base the coverage is all out of alignment when you turn your figures from column to line, or remove then and insert a blank ground piece to cover the gap, it all looks wrong afterwards.
Laser cutting is needed to create the pieces as they must be perfectly aligned, 1mm out and your entire stand is stuffed.
Your stand ends up looking like this from the base up....
.5mm Magnet (if you store them for transport on trays) - optional 2-3mm Base (MDF - Plastic - Cardboard) .5mm Flex Steel sheet
Insert 1mm Magnet 2-3mm Base (MDF - Plastic - Card)
On top of the flex steel sheet is a edging of the Base material (2-3mm) that needs coverage also, but with the .5mm magenet under the inserted figure base you now have the middle of your stand sitting higher than the outer edge.
So you need to glue 4 layers together seemlessly and of 3 different materials to a standing height of 5-7mm off the table. it becomes unsightly.
The best design I have come up with (yet to build it) is have a design of 70mm by 30mm MDF (3mm, so that it handles PDA glue better) that is glued onto a sheet of .5mm metal. With the MDF I have it laser cut so that 3 20mm x 20mm bases are produced in the middle of the frame leaving 5mm lip around the edges. I then glue the 5mm lip frame to the metal and take the 3 20mm inserts. These I have also laser cut out a 1mm diameter hole that I place a 1mm rare earth magnet into. This allows the insert to fasten to the metal base with no effort at all. You can also make 20mm inserts with no figures to fill the trays when taking off casualties.
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Post by bruce on Jul 19, 2016 16:23:18 GMT
I hear you Ooiittee! I have been on several slippery slopes in this hobby before, usually end up feeling sheepish. Maybe I really just want to play with the magnets. I will see how it goes and keep it simple.
In the end, I think I want my games to be easier to manage. That's why I use painted marine vinyl and Chessex for my gaming mats, everything moves smoothly and quickly. I keep going back to Neil Thomas for rules that are simple but variable, well researched and playable. I need a break from trying out other rules and being too serious about it. Quicker games, solo capacity, fun! Bruce
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Post by faenor on Jul 20, 2016 12:00:53 GMT
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Post by curlerman on Jul 20, 2016 17:44:34 GMT
I hear you Ooiittee! I have been on several slippery slopes in this hobby before, usually end up feeling sheepish. Maybe I really just want to play with the magnets. I will see how it goes and keep it simple. In the end, I think I want my games to be easier to manage. That's why I use painted marine vinyl and Chessex for my gaming mats, everything moves smoothly and quickly. I keep going back to Neil Thomas for rules that are simple but variable, well researched and playable. I need a break from trying out other rules and being too serious about it. Quicker games, solo capacity, fun! Bruce Bruce I mount mine the other style to most. I have my figures on small "generic" 40x20 steel bases and use larger wooden sabots with a magnetic sheet on so I can mount my troops depending on the rules I want to use.
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Post by bruce on Jul 23, 2016 16:14:47 GMT
I had another look Faenor, mine are coming out somewhat similar. And my instinct was to do the same thing Curlerman. I am putting the self stick flex steel on the bottom of the figure stands. The magnetic bases are getting a wash of color similar to the playing mat and the stands will go on them however I want. May use some flock around the edges, but these will less artistic looking bases than most of us do, I want to avoid the slippery slope! I have three different sizes of precut magnetic bases to fool around with. I will do a couple of small Armies and try it out. Bruce
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Post by suchet on Aug 15, 2016 11:09:06 GMT
I have all muy 6mm on bases of 10 infantry 10mm+25mm with magnetics underneath. 3-4 bases make a batallion. The battalion is on a base made of two flexsteel put together. You can move the batallion on the base and when transporting it is fixed on a magnetic tray. The two flexsteel is for stiffness and so that it sits well on the magnets when transporting. The batallions can be lifted right out ready for action. I have a separate case with flexsteel accomodating bases in line, that I shift too when changing formation. This way things always look aesthestically pleasing and is really easy to move with minimal figure damage. Artillery are on battalion bases after a similar model and so are cavalry But ordering basing material and bases from LITKO including p&p and tax to europe for approximately 400-500 units was not cheap - I think I am a bit mad.
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Post by bruce on Aug 17, 2016 4:26:19 GMT
Well then maybe we are all a bit mad! Most 6mm figures and buildings come from England, not cheap to ship to the US or Australia. I am loving the magnets, great for transporting as well as allowing for flexible formations and letting you custom build new grouping of troops to match different scenarios, set up for different rule sets.
The Litko experience has been a good one for me, many sizes for basing and affordable. But they are not light when you buy them by the hundreds, so the shipping will be expensive. Worth it, I think, if you want some flexibility in bases for gaming though. Bruce
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