I am not a fan of basing old toy soldiers personally. Others do and what they achieve are terrific results. Each to their own. I will probably change my mind by next week! Anyway I am currently basing-
My hand was rather forced by the fact the Army Star Spangled figures have narrow bases and have a tendency to fall over especially on the felt gridded cloths I use. I persevered for a bit but the domino effect as they fell made what is a hobby too unrelaxing for me. So for this 1930 collection I have gone for basing. Most infantry are on 2.5cm square individual bases, dismounted cavalry on round in pairs and machine guns on circular ones too. Some Maple Leaf Country militia are in threes on circles just for something different as well as command stands. All in all I am getting to like the look better. I do have some early ww2 figures ( again issues of stability) on multiple bases but I think that I may rebase as single figures on Mdf ones. The jury is currently out. All this did make me think that we are utterly spoilt as gamers with the sheer multitude of basing available commercially. Terrific cottage industries needing our support. I am glad that my days of wonky cut card are over.
Top marks for the Meghan Trainor reference. Curiously / coincidentally I was watching this YouTube video and my favourite the Better When I'm Dancing she wrote for the recent Peanuts movie song and its lovely behind the scenes video this morning, having heard Meghan on a podcast yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI have based the plastic 54mm Mixtecs and Spaniards on MDF 2p bases from Warbases due to a Lockdown shortage of tuppenny coins. I have some concerns that they don't have the heft or weight that the 2ps do for plastic figures and may be slidy for the more ornate Mixtecs with top heavy plumes. Sandpapering the underside or even a circle of sandpaper under the bases might help. I don't like fixed multiple base figures much so bought a trial six slot 2p movement tray. Time and gaming will tell.
As you say we are living in a golden age of bases though why some basing companies don't sell metal washer 2p and 1p metal blanks I don't know. I find covering the washer hole if the figure base doesn't do the job a little dull and tedious.
I bought some washers earlier in lockdown through Amazon as the 2p supplies ran out. I do have a wee horde of 1 p coins thought. I feel plastics need metal heft to stabilise them. I am really interested to see how your sanding works and what you make of movement trays...
DeleteLet me know if you need 2p's as I have a fair stock of them.
DeleteThanks Jim, will do.
DeleteSorry what I meant to say was top marks for avoiding the obvious overused All About The Bass / Base song reference ... Ace of Base is going a little further back ....
ReplyDeleteBehind the scenes https://youtu.be/ePifL5RUhbo
And
The original video https://youtu.be/pkCyfBibIbI
Anyway - It's what Army Star Spangled Banner is fighting for ...
if you've not seen the Peanuts Movie it's well worth it, done in the style of the recent Asterix Mansions of The Gods movie ...
I forgot you are a younger chap than me but you got there in the end, well done. I will enjoy the videos later...
ReplyDeleteThe figures look great on their new bases - what is the image they are standing on?
ReplyDeleteThanks, it is a book about the Tres Riche Heures of the Duc de Berry. I got it when I did a Medieval manuscript opening learning course at the university of Edinburgh. It was the first ldid post retirement and it was fascinating. Currently doing one ( by Zoom) on Renaissance art in Venice.
DeleteAll my house rules allow any base size to be utilised (as long as its clear who are skirmishing). For my Empire and USA 54mm armies, I'm using 30mm square, with occasionally a 40mm depth for those figures needing it. These larger bases work well with plastic toy soldiers, and it speeds up movements.
ReplyDeleteMichael
The bases I am using are 30mm which work well with my figures. I find you need metal on plastic ones to give them clout.
DeleteA good decision to go for the MDF Bases Alan.Looking good and they'l be more stable with usage on the felt.
ReplyDeleteVery true. It’s just not relaxing them falling over whenever you move near the table.
DeleteThe traditionalist in me approves of singles but a bigger part of me finds them a bloody nuisance, leaping off shelves, hiding after being tagged by the ump as "casualties" so I claim Joe Morschauser's example to point out that 60 years is quite enough to make multi-toy soldier bases traditional as well!
ReplyDeleteThe first part of your comment is so true and the second part a compelling case. So true.
DeleteI keep dithering about bases (a few decades on - ha ha). With minis based on washers, plastic bases (square/rectangular and round), and even a few multi-figures I started to stick on wooden bases. I do think multi-figure bases can work well for battles, although it does mean you can't remove single figures. But it's the kind of thing that can speed up game play, so the trade-off might be worth it for that. Of course, there is also the movement tray option, but I haven't done that much myself (just some old ones I stuck magnets to long ago).
ReplyDeleteI have some movement trays, some individuals and some multi base stuff. At times I enjoy the scenic aspect of multi bases with 28s. Sticking on grass tufts and stones can be fun as I did with my renaissance Irish. With bigger figures I like a simpler look personally. I enjoy seeing what other folk do and learn from it.
ReplyDeleteStick War Legacy MOD APK is a game in which you need to formulate a strategy to gather and build up its strong army to catch the best number of regions. The game comprises of animated cartoon men a lot like army officers. Gather resources, train your military and weapons, and prepare to battle!
ReplyDeletehttps://apkmodule.com/stick-war-legacy-mod-apk/