[Miniature Gaming] base question

[Araquael]

Hi all.

Here's an odd question:

Games Workshop uses these little plastic slotta-bases. They come in different sizes. Other companies use whatever can be moulded onto the figure, or the same idea as Games Workshop.

But here's what I want to know - does anyone make the same sort of thing without the 5mm "rise" on them? You know the extra height the plastic bases add to the model.

What I'd love to see are plastic (or other) bases that lay flat on the "ground." I have a GW LOTR Balrog and Troll Chieftain and they are based on such a flat, flush to the "ground" base.

Now I could use washers for infantry models. But that leaves me with the question of what to do about Cavalry models. I don't think you can get washers that big!

(All poxily explained, I'm sorry. It's hot and I'm allergy pilled out of my face and my vocab has reduced itself to nil)

Anyone know if such things exist? Or am I being weird and random?

[Broken]

I don't know if such bases exist.

For cavalry and such, you could simply cut a piece of plasticard to the correct proportions. Use a ruler and an exactoknife, and you should get precise cuts.

It would, probably, even be cheaper.

[hoo flung pooh]

Yes, there is a company that makes metalic slug bases with next to no rise, both in MM and inches. I'll dig up the company name, they also work great with Magnetic sheets for storage and/or movement trays.

[AegonTheUnready]

Are these what you're looking for ?

http://www.renaissanceink.net/index.php?body=support/sheetmetal.html

thin 24 gauge steel bases

[Participant-Observer]

Anyone know if such things exist?

Litko Aerosystems do Ultra ThinPlywood Bases (http://www.litkoaero.com/GMBXXXt.php) as well as more standard "thick" bases. One of my fantasy games of choice is Armies of Arcana -- this has a "non-standard" basing system (i.e. different sizes from GW). While regular troops are on 1" square bases, monsters' bases are 2"x2" and 3"x3". Finding these sizes of pre-cut bases was impossible for me, until someone suggested Litko.

Not only do Litko have a large selection (including some spiffy Size Enlargement Bases (http://www.litkoaero.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=LAI&Category_Code=SEB)), but they claim that they'll cut any custom base you want (http://www.litkoaero.com/custom_size_bases.php). Litko bases are laser-cut and come with right angles (beyond my plasticard cutting abilitites even with cutting board, steel ruler, and ultra sharp knife).

Or am I being weird and random?

Not at all. There are actually good reasons to have thin bases. There are two good articles on scale in Combat Zone Chronicles (http://www.combatzonechronicles.net/cozo5/scale.htm) and from Major General Tremorden Rederring's Colonial-era Wargames Page (http://www.zeitcom.com/majgen/39howst.html#strucphil) (two of my fave minis sites).

[ecs05norway]

Reaper Miniatures makes a 1"-square base (and a couple of other shapes) that are basically the "lip" around the base rising to the same height as the GW bases, but inside it's hollow with just a flat bottom. Sort of like this:

/|_____|\

[SuperFigs]

Wargames, Inc. produces a nice line of square and rectangular metal bases:

http://www.wargamesinc.biz/other/bases.html

[javelin98]

All sorts of bases here:

http://tindictator.com/tindic.html