I'm working on painting and basing a batch of WW2 Micronauts for a friend, and find there are many materials and ideas out there for basing. Is there anything like an average or standard basing practice most players use? I've looked at the textured Plastruct materials and other things, but I cant find out what "most" gamers use. Thanks for your help.
Tom Oxley
Basing Micronauts
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Basing Micronauts
Tom Oxley, OD Green Old Fart
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I base my ships on magnetic foil. It's about 1mm thick and can be cut easily with scissors. You can just paint the top part deep blue to appear like sea or you can texture it and then paint it. Why this foil? I transport my ships in a metal workbox. This way the ships don't slip and slide when transporting them to my gaming club.
About the size of the base: I usually base them so as to have 1 cm left on every side.
About the size of the base: I usually base them so as to have 1 cm left on every side.
Member of the Tin Soldiers of Antwerp. Visit us at www.tsoa.be
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Tom,
All I can tell you is there does not seem to be a standard. From what I've seen, everyone does it there own special way. I put a lot of thought into this when I was first building my fleets, and decided I needed to base my ships using materials that are readily available in brick 'n mortar stores. That ruled out using metal bases because the sizes needed for ships either are not made or are not sold in stores. I've found that if the railroad and sci-fi people don't need it, a store won't carry it. I don't like ordering basing material off the internet because I haven't found it in the exact sizes I'm looking for.
What I have settled on is using sheet styrene plastic and flexpaste, both used by railroaders and architects, insuring that it will be readily available even after the last hobby and war gaming shops close their doors. I bought a floor tile cutter from Home Depot and it has been a purchase that I have never regreted, despite the cost. I mark out the size of base I need on the plastic and then put in the tile cutter and in a second I have a new base.
After cutting to size I draw an outline of the ship's position and label's position on the base. Then I coat the top with flexpaste, except for the areas outlined. Next,I press my finger tip into the flexpaste to create waves. Once dried I paint it an ocean color and then highlight the wave crests with white. After this I spray it with gloss coat to make it look like water.
All that is left is to mount the ship and attach the label.

But I have seen people use all kinds of materials including wood, card stock, metal, plastic and so forth.
Chris
All I can tell you is there does not seem to be a standard. From what I've seen, everyone does it there own special way. I put a lot of thought into this when I was first building my fleets, and decided I needed to base my ships using materials that are readily available in brick 'n mortar stores. That ruled out using metal bases because the sizes needed for ships either are not made or are not sold in stores. I've found that if the railroad and sci-fi people don't need it, a store won't carry it. I don't like ordering basing material off the internet because I haven't found it in the exact sizes I'm looking for.
What I have settled on is using sheet styrene plastic and flexpaste, both used by railroaders and architects, insuring that it will be readily available even after the last hobby and war gaming shops close their doors. I bought a floor tile cutter from Home Depot and it has been a purchase that I have never regreted, despite the cost. I mark out the size of base I need on the plastic and then put in the tile cutter and in a second I have a new base.
After cutting to size I draw an outline of the ship's position and label's position on the base. Then I coat the top with flexpaste, except for the areas outlined. Next,I press my finger tip into the flexpaste to create waves. Once dried I paint it an ocean color and then highlight the wave crests with white. After this I spray it with gloss coat to make it look like water.
All that is left is to mount the ship and attach the label.

But I have seen people use all kinds of materials including wood, card stock, metal, plastic and so forth.
Chris
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My Ship bases
Base is covered with Vallejo Water Gel. I work in the bow wakes and waves after placing the ship on the base. I have already mixed a dark sea blue into the gel. Once dry, the waves are dry brushed in flat white to pick out the detail. I then apply a coat of Vallejo gloss varnish mixed with a drop of Vallejo transparent blue in a 20 - 1 ratio (the higher is the gloss varnish). Here are some of my results:



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Hope this helps,
Bill Moreno
Hope this helps,
Bill Moreno
"I was worse scared than I was at Shiloh" - Sam Watkins
Perryville, KY - October 8, 1862
Perryville, KY - October 8, 1862