Starship Bases, A Heretic Speaks

Bases I use the standard flying bases (1" AF) but with a few modifications. I
cut 1" sections of 5/32" brass tubing (a small cheap tube cutter is the
best way, it leaves a smooth end and is MUCH easier to use than a saw) and
epoxy these into the standard hex base. These are then spray painted

black and firing arcs and other details added to taste. I glue a piece of
piano wire into the hole in the base of the
miniature, this makes them easy to hold and store - a piece of wood with

holes drilled in it. They will turn easily on the stand but the firing arcs
etc. are marked on the stand. For the bigger miniatures I intend to

glue the base onto a larger hex cut from platicard or mounting board. If
necessary the original hole can be filled with epoxy putty (Milliput by
choice). This is also useful fixing 'accidents', more than once I have drilled
all the way through a miniature. The hardest part is cutting the piano wire, I
have to use bolt cutters which leaves both ends of the 'stalk' in a rather
dangerous condition but I use a miniature drill with a grinding wheel to
flatten and smooth one end of each, the other (sharp) end is the one that goes
into the miniature. The best way to hold the wires for this is in a pin vice
which is in turn held in a bench vice. A useful tip from a modelling magazine
is to take a piece of a connector strip (for electricians) and strip of the
plastic to reveal the brass. This is attached to a piece of dowel with a nail
in one end for the connector to grip, the other end of the connector can hold
the miniatures 'stalk'.
        A variation (suggested by re-reading GDW's old 1889 rules) is to
cut
varying lengths of brass for different altitudes (Very Low 1/4",  Low
1/2" and so on). However the taller bases would require larger bases to
prevent 'accidental conversions' (The one good line from the film Millennium).
The end result roughly doubles the cost of the base (10p to 20p) but is much
more secure and has the dubious advantage of making your fleet and bases
incompatible with anyone else's.

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