SYW first of many.

[Westmarcher]

F you're only doing 6 per base go with 25mm or even 20mm. Personally I put 8 on a 25mm base to get the close order files look of the period.

I second DP. IMO 30mm square bases are for 6 x 18mm (marching) figures and so, far too large for close order 10mm figures (it has to be close order for the SYW).
You also said you were considering 5 bases per unit so, at 6 figures per base that is 30 per unit. I recommend 4 bases per unit. Why? Because as well as representing line and march column, you can also neatly represent attack column and square (granted the last 2 were not common in the SYW but they were used).
And if you plan to paint roughly 30 figures per unit, you may as well base them 8 per base to get that special SYW look. 4 bases is also useful for Maurice, Might & Reason, Field of Battle and King of the Battlefield - 5 bases with these rule systems gives you a redundant base (although, to be fair, you can suit yourself with most rule systems and go outside the author's preferred unit sizes) (also, theoretically, 4 bases are 20% quicker to move than 5 !). I use all of these rules and Black Powder for SYW.

As for Horse, 3 fit nicely on 1 inch (25mm) square bases. Mine are based thus (with some odd Hussar bases with 2 figs only.) and so are DPs (I think). And to provide additional 'conformity' my artillery is also based on 1 inch wide bases (but 1.5 inch deep). Choose wisely. My advice is based on the experience of getting it wrong (IMO anyway) after 2 re-basings before I got the look, adaptability and efficiency I was looking for. Good luck.

[ali657]

Cheers Mollinary, seperate grenadier bases it is then. Potentially a converged unit could have different facing colours then?

[ali657]

Thank you Westmarcher, I am leaning towards 25mm square bases. I have no idea about rules, so my 30 figure unit idea was based on the Pendraken pack size and having 5 bases so the command would in the middle. But if 4 bases is the norm that's ok.  I might try Maurice but I have no idea why, but I would like to start on the right foot  and not have to rebase later.
          Cheers Al.

[mollinary]

Cheers Mollinary, seperate grenadier bases it is then. Potentially a converged unit could have different facing colours then?

Yes, a converged grenadier battalion would have a number of different facing colours, reflecting the parent units whose grenadiers it included.  I think I could find these out, unless any other forum members have it more conveniently to hand? I believe the first British contingent sent to Euorpe had a Grenadier battalion called Maxwell, after its commander?

Mollinary

[ali657]

Hi Mollinary, had a quick Google and came up with this from TMP. Maxwell's made up of 12th 20th 23rd 25th 37th and 51st. Welshs made up of 5th 8th 11th 24th 33rd and 50th. This is quite addictive. Cheers Al.

[paulr]

Hi Mollinary, had a quick Google and came up with this from TMP. Maxwell's made up of 12th 20th 23rd 25th 37th and 51st. Welshs made up of 5th 8th 11th 24th 33rd and 50th. This is quite addictive. Cheers Al.

And so it begins... 

[paulr]

... so my 30 figure unit idea was based on the Pendraken pack size ...but I would like to start on the right foot  and not have to rebase later.

If you are doing multiple units it often works out, also if you speak nicely to Leon they will do part packs

You definitely want to avoid rebasing 

[Leman]

First picture is 4x25mm square bases with three cavalry per base.

Second picture shows Austrian infantry. the two units in march column to the right are based three per base, the furthest right being combined grenadiers and showing the different facing colours. The two units to the left are based with 8 per base. Actually the red facings unit has the two end bases with 7 figures. the end figure in each back rank of the two flanks is placed slightly apart from the other two figures to represent a NCO.

[Leman]

On checking that the grenadiers and friend are 6 per base and the red facings unit is 8 on each base, but I have used the 7 figure wheeze to use a complete Pendraken pack before now.

[Techno]

Rather splendid, once again, DP.
Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Nice work DP

[ali657]

Very nice DP, doubt I will ever have similar set up. Those cavalry look like they could be painted up as Luckner Hussars, but I think I have enough to be going on with.
     Cheers Al.