need advise for basing

[spazzy]

I am relatively new to basing. For the first time I have created a base, rather than simply sticking the little tab at the bottom of the mini in the slot of the base provided and calling it good. My question is this, what is the best way to attach a mini to a base? I gather that glue works fine for the minis with flat bottoms, but how do you work with the ones that have the tabs?

Any helpful suggestions would be great!

 

[generulpoleaxe]

you can either glue the flock on the base and then paint it while the miniature is still attached to the base or,

you can cut the tab off, drill a hole into one of the minis feet and temporarily attach it to a cork whilst you paint it, then after you have done your base, drill a hole in it and then glue the miniature in place with the pin giving an extra strong join.

i hope that made sense.

 

[MathewBaich]

what I normally do with my WM stuff is to stick a piece of masking tape on the base, cut off the excess and then make a small cut across the tape over the slot about the size of the tab.

 

[spazzy]

What are my chances of cutting off a foot if I\'m cutting off the tab? Also, when drilling into the foot, will the metal around the hole I\'m makeing warp or expand at all?

 

[demonherald]

It\'s all about been careful.It\'s possible to cut your finger off while chopping a carrot if your not careful. In most cases clippers used carefully will remove the tab.
As For drilling just make sure you use a drill bit that leaves you room either side and drill carefully.Generally drill in the heel which will allow you to go deeper into the leg and give you a stronger pin.
I usually fill the bottom of the base with some kind of modelling putty or Thin cork to provide a stronger join.
Alternatively make the pin slightly longer and bend in an L shape gluing this to the base,
Hope that helps good luck

 

[vincegamer]

Originally posted by demonherald
I usually fill the bottom of the base with some kind of modelling putty or Thin cork to provide a stronger join.

I fill the base and up through the slot with spackle. It adds weight, and you can stuff the tab into it and scrape off the excess for a smooth base.

 

[generulpoleaxe]

with softer metals like the mix used by rackham don\'t cut the tab off in one go.

trim it down so it becomes a thin sliver if metal first.
this will stop the ankles bending and possibly snapping. (it has taken a lot of pinned ankles to realize this!)

once the tab is removed gently file the feet to make them smooth.

for pinning ankles, wrists etc use a pin vice. it offers much more control than a dremmel.

 

[Modderrhu]

Liquid epoxy is really good for sticking tabs into bases. It fills the gaps too; once it is beginning to set nicely, the excess is easily sliced off, or smoothed down.

In general, if I remove the tab from a mini, I\'ll leave reasonably sized pieces of the tab attached to the feet. These bits then get firmly glued into the base with said liquid epoxy. Much easier than cutting the entire tab off, only to have to drill the feet to take a pin.

 

[airhead]

Originally posted by spazzy
What are my chances of cutting off a foot if I\'m cutting off the tab? Also, when drilling into the foot, will the metal around the hole I\'m makeing warp or expand at all?

Use a pin vice (hand drill) and a very small drill bit. I like a #62 bit and a paper clip or a #76 bit and a staple.

 

[generulpoleaxe]

staples are to small.

you want to use the largest pin you can get away with.

for wrist/hands i use the 10mm scale old glory pikes.

anything else i use super sized paper clips.

and don\'t use standard clippers, they are rubbish. get some xuron (or something spelt like that) clippers. they are desighned for cutting model railway track and will last an eternity.
heresy sells them.

http://www.heresyminiatures.com/

 

[No Such Agency]

Originally posted by Modderrhu
In general, if I remove the tab from a mini, I\'ll leave reasonably sized pieces of the tab attached to the feet. These bits then get firmly glued into the base with said liquid epoxy. Much easier than cutting the entire tab off, only to have to drill the feet to take a pin.

You can file/cut each piece of tab to become a round \"pin\" itself. Then just drill the base with a 1/16 bit or whatever fits. Care must be exercised when clipping the tab between the feet with wire cutters, so that when you cut it it doesn\'t spread the feet a bit. I tend to snip it off in bits to avoid this.

 

[faulkns]

Originally posted by generulpoleaxe
staples are to small.

you want to use the largest pin you can get away with.

for wrist/hands i use the 10mm scale old glory pikes.

anything else i use super sized paper clips.

and don\'t use standard clippers, they are rubbish. get some xuron (or something spelt like that) clippers. they are desighned for cutting model railway track and will last an eternity.
heresy sells them.

http://www.heresyminiatures.com/

Agreed get some decent clippers. I invested in a set of Draper clippers and long nosed pliers from Hobbycraft. Bit more pricey but quality counts.

You can get all gauges of wire there too

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/War-Paint

http://www.coolminiornot.com/artist/faulkns

 

[funnymouth]

Originally posted by No Such Agency

Originally posted by Modderrhu
In general, if I remove the tab from a mini, I\'ll leave reasonably sized pieces of the tab attached to the feet. These bits then get firmly glued into the base with said liquid epoxy. Much easier than cutting the entire tab off, only to have to drill the feet to take a pin.

You can file/cut each piece of tab to become a round \"pin\" itself. Then just drill the base with a 1/16 bit or whatever fits. Care must be exercised when clipping the tab between the feet with wire cutters, so that when you cut it it doesn\'t spread the feet a bit. I tend to snip it off in bits to avoid this.

i tend to combine these methods with some of the above./ if all you have is slottaas, tape the slotta and build the base up with whatever you have, leaving holes for the tab-pins. i like to build it just high enough that the bottom of the pins can still fit in the base (in the original slotta, or a drilled out area). i find that modifying the existing tabs, rather than pinning can save a good amount of time, and is much easier on thin ankled models.

 

[silasvb]

If you are painting a display model on a large or spectacular base it is definately worth pinning as explained above.
i have descovered that if you use the paper clips with a plastic coating you can use two different sized pins for the price of one by stripping away the plastic coating on one or both sides. - this is perfect when you are pinning a small part such as a hand or a foot to a large piece.
paper clips are also awsome because they are so cheep. 9 i paid £1 ($2) a year ago for a pot and have not yet run out.

On another note for small models with simple bases I would advise you glue the model onto its pad and coat it with sand before you spray the mini as it is much faster and easier to paint a sprayed and flocked base than just a flocked one.

 

[spazzy]

Thanks for all the helpful ideas, folks. I\'m learning that as a general rule, I suck at bases. But, that\'s why I\'m here asking questions, no worries. At least I can say that the extra practice is helping. lol.

 

[funnymouth]

hey spazim sure if you put some time in to them you7 will find that they can be a fun and rewarding aspect of the hobby and they can make or break a mini. once you get the basics of pinning and building the structure try a few different varieties, such as snow, water , jungle, rock etc.

remember that household finds are great for basing. wood chips and corck chunks make excellent rocks, herbs amke great debris etc. most importantly, have fun!

see you around the forums, its good to have a new name!

 

[Bastetcat]

Actual pins (i.e. sewing pins) are better than paper clips, since they are tempered steel. Despite the smaller gauge, they are quite a bit more rigid, and I find the smaller size works nicely.

 

[james sequeira]

When i started been more creative with bases i found some slate outside.And took a hammer to it.Now i have a huge box of different shapes that i can use.

 

[faulkns]

Totally agree check out your garden first.

Hey spazzy, if you\'re nervous about doing bases, why noy post your first attempt on the forums here and get some feedback. Either that or start a WIP! Most of us don\'t bite

It is fun trying new bases. I\'ve just got into it over the last few months.