Re: Re: fighter bases

> From: David Griffin <carbon_dragon@yahoo.com>
> Date: 2001/06/06 Wed AM 10:19:21 EDT
> > I have my own technique for making fighter bases, so
> > I haven't looked at these.
> > 
> What is it?

Mine is a modification of Dean Gundberg's. (Thanks, Dean!)

Materials:

fender washers
wooden disks (from Michael's or other hobby stores)
cigar box nails

Dean showed me his bases at GenCon last year. He glues a wooden disk to
a fender washer, and then glues earring posts to the disk. The fighters
are mounted on the post.

I came up with my variation when I saw how much they wanted for earring
posts! I use cigar nails instead. These are small nails with reasonably
flat heads. I thought of gluing them on the top of the disk, but I
thought they looked too bulky. Instead, I came up with another idea.

I drill three small holes in the wooden disk, in a "v" pattern, just big
enough for the shaft of the nail. I then use a larger drill bit to
"counter sink" the hole on the bottom of the disk. I push the nail
through the hole. The nail head lies flush with the bottom of the disk. 

Once all three nails are in place, I glue the disk (and the nails) to
the fender washer using Goop. I clamp them with wooden clothes pegs. 

When dry, I seal the "seam" between the disk and the washer with white
glue. I lay a pair of pliers on top of the disk and snip off the end of
the nails. Each nail ends up the same height, with a small point on the
end. I superglue the fighters to the nails.

The whole process is fairly quick, and the result is great. The nails
don't bend (being steel) and they won't pop off the stand since they are
sandwiched between the wood disk and the washer. The washer is big
enough to hold two small dice for markers.

Allan Goodall	  awg@sympatico.ca