From: Thomas Barclay <Thomas.Barclay@s...>
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 02:41:15 -0500
Subject: ISO metal bases
Geohex made some lovely lead bases.... anyone still making them? (For the FT ships). I like them because they have the clockfaces on them. I toss out the white metal shaft.... (or more correctly, it goes into my "one day to become a miniature if I ever get around to casting" supply)... drill through the base and emplace (using epoxy) square brass tubing. I also emplace the same tubing (a short length) into the bottom of the ship. There is a smaller snug fitting chunk of square tube used to join the two (glue it into the ship, usually). This way, one can remove the ship for ease of transport (great for those FSE and ESU biggies that have large wedge shapes!). It also means you can get by with fewer bases. And you can mix and match heights to allow closer formations. Having said that, I'm still short of the number of baseplates I need. Some of them came with those repulsive black plastic easy-break stands. Anyone know if it is still possible to get these bases anywhere? Or maybe we can convince one of our resident (hint hint) miniature manufacturers to make a medium sized round white metal base with twelve clock pips (like KR's old ones) except cast it with a standard square cavity in the center to prefit the brass tubing! That would be the best.... it would remove the complaints about the white metal uprights and the brass tubing can be had easily at most decent hobby stores. And the flexibility this basing system gives (in terms of transport and storage) is rather profound. Tomb.