creating a display base

Corvus

New member
I sometimes see miniatures that are still on their bases, but put into a slot in a display base.

Any ideas how I can create one? Which material is thick enough to form such a base?
 
S

SoulFire_pt

Guest
hum...

I would say that the materials used for terain building are perfect here. As such, for a really sturdy base you can use MDF, or, if you are planning on a small base, corrugated cardboard might sufice.

Another idea would be to use a larger base (like using GW\'s 50mm bases).

Then, just place the model on the larger base and trace the contour of the smaller base, leaving that space \"open\" while building the scenic base.


(wondering how many times I wrote \"base\" above... ;)

Cheers,
 

Chrispy

Active member
Okay, I think I know what you want. You\'ll need some balsa wood or something small and sturdy and some posterboard (foam in between 2 layers of heavy paper). Mark your base size or simply trace around them where you want them on the posterboard and cut it out with a NEW xacto knife. It\'s important to use a new one or the cut will be rough. Then just glue the wood under the posterboard and seal the ends of the foam with white glue, or the primer will eat it. Sometimes the posterboard and base aren\'t the exact heigth, so you need to add a bit of thin balsa under them. Also remember to match the colors and scenery witht the grass.

All that remains is to base the posterboard to your imagination! My Cyanhur (5779 and base 5802) is a good example of this in action. Hope this helps!
 

finn17

New member
Always a nice effect...

Basically all you need to do is create a hole in the basing material the same diameter as the miniature base you plan to use. (God that sounds obvious!)

Dealing with your last question first, thin plywood is a good material as is thick plasticard. You can however, recess material however thin it is simply by creating a \'well\' beneath an appropriately sized hole.

There are a number of ways to make the hole. Your local hardware store will sell wood \'holecutters\'. Basically these are like saw blades that have been bent into a circle and mounted onto a mandrel that will fit into a hand or power drill. I think 25mm or 1\" is the size for standard round bases. These are the same drills that you would use to drill a hole to take a key barrel on your front door?

Alternatively, your local car accessory shop will also sell metal \'hole drills\'. These are basicallly a triangular drill that creates an ever-widening hole depending upon how deep you go. People buy these to drill holes in their car\'s bodywork in order to mount radio aerials etc. These are ideally suited to plasticard etc.

If you want a square hole, you will need to drill a pilot hole and use a fret saw. This threadalso links in slightly with:
http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=1645

Hope this hepls, or helps even:bouncy:
 

Malfecto

New member
All your base are belong to soulfire.

I don\'t know what the Belgian equivalent is, but here in the States, we have a store called Hobby Lobby and they have a wide selection of bases for this purpose in their wood crafting section. Perhaps you have a wood crafts store nearby that may carry the same?
 

finn17

New member
Sounds cool..

Originally posted by Malfecto
All your base are belong to soulfire.

I don\'t know what the Belgian equivalent is, but here in the States, we have a store called Hobby Lobby and they have a wide selection of bases for this purpose in their wood crafting section. Perhaps you have a wood crafts store nearby that may carry the same?

Could you post a link?
 

Malfecto

New member
I don\'t think Hobby Lobby is online... let me look...

Ah yes they do... they are kind of like this:

Bases

But they have others very similiar to what you see on CMoN and some even have recesses on them.

Like this but with a recess cut in it.

You would really have to go to one to see it all, but I am sure you could call them and ask about the bases. I am sure that they would do mail order.
 

Corvus

New member
I think the other thread is about those wooden bases to put your minis on...

Anyway, Chrispy put up an example of what I meant. I\'m not really planning on building a lot of scenery on it, just a rectangular piece with the same basing material as my minis.
 

finn17

New member
Milliput?

Sounds like you might need to use something like \'milliput\'. It\'s a bit like GS but considerably coarser and not as dear. It comes packaged as two \'sausages\' that you mix together in equal quantities. You then mould it to shape, then in your case create a rectangular impression in the top. Takes about an hour to start to cure and in about 24 it\'s as hard as a rock.
There is also another product which is called \'Fimo\' where I live. It\'s a brightly coloured modelling material that you shape and re-shape if necessary, It is finally cured in a warm oven and also sets very solid. In addition to the brightly coloured variety they do big blocks of plain, cream coloured stuff that works out much cheaper.
 

Corvus

New member
Yeps, I know what Milliput is (I own a set of these \"saucages\" :D), but I think it\'s a bit too expensive to create those big bases.

I\'m want to make a rectangular base to put 3 minis or so on it.

I\'m thinking about some kind of insulation foam, covered by a layer of cardboard to allow the basing material to stick on and create holes for the bases...
 

finn17

New member
Check these guys out...

I don\'t know how much you pay for milliput over there but these guys sell it very cheap. Have a look. Can\'t imagine you would need more than one pack to base three minis on and it might prove cheaper in the long run?

http://www.proopsbrothers.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Home___DIY_8.html
 

Corvus

New member
The standard milliput is a bit cheaper (0.30 eurocents), but the fine milliput is about 3 euros cheaper there...

Maybe I should look for Milliput in a do-it-yourself-store instead of a hobby store.
 

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
Styro or wood?

Corvus, you haven\'t said what you are making the base out of. Styro shouldn\'t be a problem to carve the square out of, so i am assuming wood or similar.

Make the base in layers. The top layer equal in thickness to the base thickness. Cut holes where you want the bases to be then finish the holes with a saw: Sabre, Jig, Coping.

The coping saw will be the most cost effective way to go if you don\'t own the other power tools.

133524_2.jpg


release the saw blade, poke it through the hole, re-attach it to the saw and cut away.

If you want to make it from one piece of wood, you are looking for for a forestner bit (think expensive) or router bit or dremil bits.

104-600.jpg


followed up with a set of good chisels to make the corners square, or fine dremil tools to make the corners almost square.
 
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