Monday, April 6, 2015

Bases? Again? (Updated)

My 30mm bevel bases are great, but I am having issues with them.  Let's talk about that, shall we?

Yes.  We shall.

So first problem is that some early minis look just swamped by their bases. True 25mm scale need so much decoration to fill the void, it is eating into painty sculpty time.  So that is a concern, but only on some figures.

Problem numero two is that I am running short on display and storage space.  Space is a hard thing these days.  Also the bases do not fit doorways easily so my city scenery is cramped and tricky to use.

Third problem is I am running low on 30mm multibases and money is getting tight.

So the obvious solution was to downsize to 25mm bases for figures that need it... stick to 30mm for the rest.  Basically use the bevel as the constant.  This also means some models can have hex bases (Talisman) and so long as the topping i similar it all looks unified.  I did some tests and liked the result.

80's Skeletons and zombies looked particularly swamped.  This test warband nails it for me- they can swarm together suitably Harryhausen style.


I played with Renedra bases for a little while, and they are still great for gaming.  However, I decided the bevel let me pick up the mini by the base- so better for display details like mushrooms and ferns. My collection is part gamer, part painter, part collector.  It make sense to have the base as handle.

  I also like the black edge as it is what I grew up with.  Renedra is great for gaming minis because of the low profile, and is the next best thing to washers (but the paint sticks nicely).  I will still ship my minis with Renedra by default.


Another thing that ha been bugging me with my standard system is that it does not quite conjure the mossy, burn scrub from John Blanches paintings.  Tufts also look out of place.

So to that end upgraded my dirt mix from beach sand to a special blend of flock (sawdust), wood chips and pet store shellsand, to give a more John Blanchey scrub feel to the base when tinted with scorched brown and olives.  The goal is to have that rotten, mossy feel where you are like 'what the hell is that? Feel.  I want to hide details in the base and have people go 'hey look..'



Welp, I will have to sleep on it.  Comments welcome.  :)

18 comments:

  1. airbornegrove26April 6, 2015 at 11:11 AM

    How many bases would require rebasing if you did this?

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    1. Delaney KingApril 6, 2015 at 6:48 PM

      If I rebased EVERY mini? Around two thousand.
      That is the nice thing about this, I don't have to rebase everything. Just those that look wrong. I can do a unit, having lunging models with 30mm, maybe the champion and the standard too- the rest on 25mm except a familliar on 20mm.

      Oh and another reason is these are commonly available.

      Delete
    2. airbornegrove26April 6, 2015 at 6:57 PM

      I hear you on the availability. It just seems like to much of an undertaking to me. I had a wild idea to change all my 25mm square bases to 30mm squares about a year back. I'm glad I talked myself out of it. Just my opinion of course. If it is something that is going to gnaw at you, I say go for it. I would just leave everything the same if it was me. :)

      Delete
    3. Delaney KingApril 6, 2015 at 7:00 PM

      I will gently bleed over to a healthy mix of rounds with the occasional square and hex if it feels right. I have a big bag of bases from ebay that I can use for free, plus plenty of left over hexes.

      Delete
    4. airbornegrove26April 6, 2015 at 7:21 PM

      Word! Also just noticed the new banner up top. Lovely!

      Delete
  2. iemattiasApril 6, 2015 at 11:56 AM

    Lol, you and your bases.
    They do look good though.

    I'm sticking to my 1" and 1.5" fender washers come hell or high steel prices.

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    Replies
    1. Delaney KingApril 6, 2015 at 6:50 PM

      Shame you are not in Sydney, I have huge boxes of them you could have!

      Delete
  3. VeronaKidApril 6, 2015 at 1:47 PM

    Have you ever considered re-naming this blog "King's Bases?" :)

    They look great, Delaney. Guy-With-Beergut-and-Hookhand, especially.

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    Replies
    1. Delaney KingApril 6, 2015 at 6:52 PM

      The banner must spend a period with that title!

      Delete
  4. chrisApril 6, 2015 at 2:46 PM

    The bevel bases always look great for skirmish games but they can be very big for old school minis, they suit the newer 28-38????? Minis much better, but I do prefer the 25mm angled bases and like you prefer the edge in black. Some of my favourite mordheim minis and articles did it this way and nostalgia gets the better of me each time.

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    1. Delaney KingApril 6, 2015 at 6:53 PM

      By bevel you mean DS lipped bases - with the rounded ends.
      These are technically bevel bases as they have a slight bevel and are not straight at the sides (like dnd minis).
      Jus' sayin'

      Delete
    2. Delaney KingApril 6, 2015 at 6:58 PM

      Nostalgia is king around here (I am queen). He is a cruel Joffrey of a king though.

      I love Fraser Gray and McVeys black rimmed bases with dark toppings. Ansel's goblin green basing makes me physically sick. I wanna rebase his whole collection... And you KNOW I would!

      Delete
    3. chrisApril 8, 2015 at 12:17 AM

      Yep you are right, lipped etc etc, but rebase them alllllll argh, the bane of gamers the world over. Done it too often and well not pedantic enough ( or a good enough painter) to bother. But heh would you prefer to paint mins or base? Your call!

      Delete
  5. AnonymousApril 6, 2015 at 3:14 PM

    I just stick to 25mm slotta bases - works fine!

    Your models with the new bases look great. I like the (elf?) ranger.

    Warburton

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    Replies
    1. Delaney KingApril 6, 2015 at 7:02 PM

      He is actually from the Paladin range, sculpted by Jes Goodwin and appearing also in Dungeonquest bozed set.

      He is ranger to me. :)

      Delete
  6. UnknownApril 6, 2015 at 3:37 PM

    *shakes head* I don't know anyone else who thinks this much about bases. I had a stage that everything had to be based according to size in D&D. But most manufacturers don't make small creatures tiny enough in 25mm or 30mm scale so the miniatures don't have enough space around them. And certainly look really wrong on smaller bases, saying that 15mm Splintered Light Kobolds do fit smaller bases and look correct. Now medium creatures and smaller all go on regular bases, large and up get correct size bases. Usually Spotlight cup placemates. All must be round and never lipped!

    ... Ok maybe I think about it quite a bit too. But I'd leave them as is. Rebasing just cuts into painting time and stops progress on the lead mountain.

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  7. qazbnmApril 7, 2015 at 7:58 AM

    All my old stuff is based on square 20mm gw bases, and when I first got back into the hobby I just kept the squares. Recently (mostly after having browsed LAF ) I switched to the round low profile Renedra. Now I'm having second thoughts though, those round bases you use appeal to my nostalgia with those black edges while still being round (and everyone knows round = infinitely better) . Tabbed figures are sooo much less of a hassle basing with slottas although minis with integral bases look better with Renedras/washers. Decisions decisions...

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  8. astrochelonianApril 13, 2015 at 11:50 AM

    Where do you get your bases? I've been toying with renedra, myself. But, like you, I like to be able to pick up my minis by the base.

    ReplyDelete

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