Re: (GZG) Figure base

[agoodall@xxxxxxx]

Robin wrote:

> I have just placed my order for some GZG 15mm SG figures.  I would like some
> advice on the best basing method -  I was thinking along the lines of a
> washer or coin (uk sterling please).  Has anyone a good standard to follow
> for 15mm?

I have some original NAC and ESU 15mm figures, and some new Phalon 15mm figures. I also have WW2 15mm figures and a lot of old Traveller 15mm figures. 

I mounted the WW2 figures, which are by Essex, I believe, on small washers. The washers are pretty tiny at 1/2 an inch across. I'll have to measure them. I did this, as opposed to pennies, so that they would stick to magnets. One thing I found was that the bases are so small and sheet magnets are sufficiently weak, that the figures don't stick very well. I'm not sure it's worth going with the washers for this reason alone.

The Phalon 15mm figures already come on bases, and these bases are exactly the same size as the washers I used on the WW2 figures. This means that there's no reason to go with 1/2" washers, as it adds extra height to the figure without doing much for its stability (the bases already make them reasonably stable).

So, I could mount them on larger bases. That's what I did with the Traveller figures. I am hesitant to do that because the larger bases mean that the figures are pushed further apart. One advantage of 15mm figures is that with 1/2" bases you can use metric measurements if pressed for space and still have things work out, more or less, the same as if you used inch measurements and 25mm figures.

I plan not to mount the Phalons on any bases, just using what they came with, unless they seem to be inordinately top heavy.

I wouldn't go much bigger than 3/4" for a base width in 15mm. One of the advantages of 15mm figures, even if using 1" measurement as per the SG2 rulebook, is that you can clump figures closer together. If you go beyond 3/4", you start to have the figures spread out as much as with 25mm figures. In that case, you might as well use 25mm figures as they are easier to see.

Let me sum up: you want a base between 1/2" and 3/4" in width; the figures won't fit on a base smaller than that, and you lose the advantage of 15mm figures with bases larger than that. You want to mount them on washers if you are concerned about keeping them on a surface with magnets, but be aware that you need a powerful magnet for it to work well. Other than that, use whatever small piece of British currency might fit the bill, if indeed the figures need a base at all.

Let us know how you do. I'd like to put this up on my web site at some point.

--
Allan Goodall              agoodall@att.net
http://www.hyperbear.com   agoodall@hyperbear.com