Infantry and Vehicle Bases

Hurtlocker · Post by **Hurtlocker** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 1:30 pm

I have been trying to scurry across the forum for bases topic but haven't really found one.

My only inquiry is where and what bases can I use for infantry squads and armored vehicles? Square or Circular would be better? Ad where can I go about getting them

New to all this so do appreciate the help.

ferret701 · Post by **ferret701** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:57 pm

I typically use steel bases from Wargames Accessories. They're cheap ($5 per pack of 40-60, depending on size) and come in a vast array of sizes. Most importantly, they stick to magnetic sheeting, which I use to line various storage containers.

Generally, I use the 3/4"x1" for tanks, 3/4"x1/2" for squads and small vehicles, 1/2"x1/2" for command teams/support weapons and jeeps.

Here's a picture of one of the bases:

Gompel · Post by **Gompel** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:17 pm

The choice for bases probably depends most on the rules you use and personal preference.
Some rules advise you to use a certain size and shape of the base. For the rules I use it doesn't matter, but for ease of use, I made different sizes for different troops.

Squads are half circles with 180 degrees arc of fire, HMGs are quarter circles with 90 degrees arc of fire, commanders and mortars are square and don't have a fire arc.

There are some topics on this forum about basing vehicles. Some use square bases, others use detachable magnetic bases and quite a few don't use bases at all.
Because of the looks and ease of use (inbetween buildings and on small roads) I don't use bases, but this is up to your personal preference.

I don't think that any option is better than another, it really depends on what you want.
So a few things to consider are:
-transportation
-game rules
-the look
-damage by rough players (touching barrels etc.)
-playability
-markings for troops (like names/flags on the rear of the base)

Hope this helps. But if you give some more info about how you want to use your miniatures, we can give you some more details.

Thomaso827 · Post by **Thomaso827** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:12 pm

I use Litko thin bases, 20 x 15 mm for infantry of 3-4 figures each, 20x30 mm for most armored vehicles or trucks, 20x20 for smaller armored vehicles, weapons teams, jeeps and artillery. I use small round bases that I get in craft packs for command bases to make them stand out, but also use them for snipers who really dont need a larger base. Bags of these round pieces of wood have 3 sizes, which I'm afraid I dont have the exact measurments for, but small ones work for snipers and single leaders, the intermediate size works for something like a jeep and a leader or a command team, maybe a mounted cavalry command. The largest ones are nearly the same size as a 25mm round plastic base, and I dont use them for my micro-armor stuff. Only reason I use a 15mm depth for my infantry base is the prone LMG gunners. Most will fit within that depth, but a few hang over just a little and can be trimmed down. Litko also has a magnetic material you can put on the bottom, but I found a roll of magnetic tape at Michael's Crafts that works just as well and just happens to be 20mm wide. Best bet is to cut out a few pieces of card in different sizes and experiment to find what looks best for you and see if you can get bases that size. Most sets of rules are somewhat flexible as long as both sides are based the by the same standard.

Tom Oxley

BattlerBritain · Post by **BattlerBritain** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 10:25 pm

I just use 40-thou plastic card cut to 25mm by 15mm and painted green. A bit of flock helps hide the stands. For Machine guns and Teams use 15mm by 15mm.

Some infantry supporting some JS-2s:

Ragnar65 · Post by **Ragnar65** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 4:27 am

I stick to the size the rules MicroSquad and MATG deal with - 1" x 1" or better, as IÂ´m living in Germany where we use cmÂ´s, 2.5 cm x 2.5. For towed guns limbered to their trucks or other towing vehicle, I use 2.5 x 4 cm.

I donÂ´t use different sizes for HQ and normal squads, but the amount of infantrymen on the bases differ... HQÂ´s have 5 minis, squads have 4 minis and platoon leaders have 2 (Ldr and PltSgt)

I cut the bases out of thin MDF sheets. They arenÂ´t magnetic, but as IÂ´m stowing my Battlegroups in GHQÂ´s Bunker Boxes, they work fine for me... But to be honest, if IÂ´d start from zero, IÂ´d also use metal bases, because the option of magnetism isnÂ´t a bad one...

Mk 1 · Post by **Mk 1** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 5:41 am

For my infantry bases I use coins. Usually US pennies. 19mm round, very robust, and
quite economical -- I get 100 of them for only $1.

But the biggest advantage is availability. Few things frustrate me more than getting 80
or 90% of the way through the painting/modelling of a unit only to run out of something.
Bases are one less thing for me to run out of -- there are always a few more available
around the house, just look between the cushions of the couch.

I have also occasionally used US 5cent pieces (nickels) for units that require larger base
areas, in particular for my cavalry. Those are about 22mm round. But they are
somewhat thicker and notably heavier, making them somewhat clunky. Also they cost
5x as much.

My primary ruleset is Mein Panzer. It is a 1-to-1 unit scale game, with squad-based
infantry. I put 4 figures to an infantry squad. 3 figures to a "special purpose" squad,
such as engineers or HQ. 2 figures to a half-squad (MG teams, etc.).

I don't base my vehicles, except if needed to hold things together (like horses and
wagons, or vehicles with trailers). Could base them. But don't like the look, so I don't.

Some examples:

My GHQ Romanian infantry. Here a platoon, with 3 squads, a 3-man platoon HQ, a 3-
man 60mm mortar squad, and a half-squad (2-man) AT team.

A Romanian artillery battery. 75mm guns are loose, placed on 3-man artillery crew
bases (that also can serve my 100mm howitzers as well, if needed). Battery HQ and an
LMG security half-squad included.

The same guns with their horse-limbers. In this case the bases are cut styrene sheet. I
don't much much like the look of a flocked base on a road on my boards. That's one of
the reasons I don't like basing vehicles. But the caissons and horse limbers need to be
based. There is no proper solution to this quandry. I probably should flock 'em.

Went to a Brand-X vendor for French 75's and limbers for my Romanians. Never even thought to look at the GHQ Polish list. Wish I had.

Some of my R2 tanks (GHQ Pz 35t).

My Romanian motor pool. As I mentioned, most of my vehicles aren't based.

The disadvantage of coins is that they are not magnetic. I like the idea of having my
bases cling to magnetic floors in my boxes. Got no such solution at the moment. These
days I buy flat boxes called Panzer Keepers for my tanks. For my infantry I mostly use
baseball card cases I buy at the comic shop, which I line with cut foam.

Here is my Italian force. Multiple companies of tanks, ATGs and Arty, and a company of
infantry. All boxed up.

Hope that helps.

RedLeif · Post by **RedLeif** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:34 am

a solution a good friend taught me was to use floor tile. Not stone or ceramic, but the plastic -vinyl- stuff. its always available at home improvement shops, can be cut to most any size you like and is pretty cheap, not as cheap as pennies, but cheap. The top (flooring) side goes down and the sticky side goes up. Coat it in paint, and flocking grass or dirt and stick a model on it.

Just an idea.

RedLeif

Gompel · Post by **Gompel** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 3:26 pm

Hey Mark, your paint jobs look great. Haven't seen those horse before: nice colours!
But the best detail is the 'mark' pianted with glue on the cases

Mk 1 · Post by **Mk 1** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:27 am

Gompel wrote:Hey Mark, your paint jobs look great.

That's high praise, coming from the GHQ Forum's resident Video Laureate!

Haven't seen those horse before: nice colours!

I've done several sets of horses before. Never before felt I got the colors right. It's hard
to make the harnesses visible when it is supposed to be leather on a brown animal.
And then there is the question of variances in the colors of the horses.

I found that the best approach is to chose only 2 or 3 tones for the horses, going into the
red-brown and the yellow-brown shades, with perhaps 2 choices of main/tail colors
(black and brown-black). Then stay consistant with a dark brown for the leatherwork.
And then make sure to give the whole mix a good heavy black wash.

Just wish I had done it on better models. Oh well.

But the best detail is the 'mark' pianted with glue on the cases

Hurtlocker · Post by **Hurtlocker** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:04 pm

Thanks Everyone for the Great Suggestions!

I guess I shall be contemplating whether I shall be getting circle or square bases based on which gaming system I will most frequently play.

I do have some sort of rough idea though.

Brigade Commander · Post by **Brigade Commander** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:48 am

For Mechanized Infantry and Cavalry Scout dismounts I use Evergreen Plastic sheet styrene cut into 1" squares. I don't have a package wrapper left but I believe it is 0.040". Painted then flocked until the troop stands are covered. I don't base vehicles because I am more of a modeler than a gamer.

Not directly a part of this thread but I don't base ships either. The aesthetics I guess. Although, there are times when I start to re-think that when it comes to destroyers!

As others have stated so eloquently: "Just my $0.02.". If you feel you are overcharged feel free to skip the payment.