Single troop figures for skirmishes

[Vanvlak]

After testing the waters with a couple of tanks I went ahead and ordered more stuff for my small scale VBCW project: more tanks, some transports, and troops. And I'll probably order more for a different force.
Although I can probably get away with small troops of models on a single base, I a considereing basing the troops on individual bases. I can see three options:
1) Use the models' own round base - nice and easy, but a bit small, which does allow them to walk into a tight spot, but also makes them prone to tumbling and damage.
2) Use a larger base (small coins or discs) - more stable of course, and obviously the base is required in addition to the model. Will make the individual soldier a bit wider (and thus geetting onto e.g. narrow walkways will be less easy, although definitely safer for the model. Also allows for miniature vignettes.
3) As per (2) but using a transparent base. Which has its appeal. Or not...

For games with units a regular multi-model base can obviously be used, but for skirmish actions single bases seem nice, if fiddly.

Any recommendations?

[fred.]

I think you will find the cast on bases to be too small - but it does vary a bit by range and pose.

I based single figures on small metal washers - probably 12mm. This gave very good stability as the washer was big and heavy.

I'm not sure clear bases would work with with 10mm as the figures have quite large cast on bases and if you cut these off you would have almost no area to glue on. But it might be worth a go with a few figures. It looks very good on 28mm

[ronan]

Hello

I use washers for my skirmish games.
The figures can stand up and won't fell.

for example : http://2d6.fr/?p=3755


I use some clear bases for motocycles. They're fragile ...

[Subedai]

I would go down the single figure route if they are exclusively for skirmish games.

Small metal washers or small, circular MDF bases would also seem to be the way forward.

Agree totally with fred. about transparent bases.

[petercooman]

Here are some examples of my miniatures based on 1 eurocent pieces:

british paratroops :   http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,11335.msg150808.html#msg150808

zombie/police:  http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,13701.0.html

[Vanvlak]

Thanks guys. The washer trade seems to be doing good business 
Very nice stuff, incidentally, apart from the base issue: the zombies look fun; the cork buildings are something I had not thought of; and I'd never realised red berets provide so muchcontrast on this scale.
I've used small bases and perspex bases previously - in the latter case I did not detach the models from their own small metal bases, but retained this and glued it to the perspex, the latter serving only to provide stability. But I'm now tending towards washer-style stuff.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

10mm square card works best. ROUND IS WRONG !!!!

IanS

[fred.]

Don't listen toIan (this is both specific and general advice)

Card is very bad for bSing, it's not the 1980s any more.
Card squares are worse as the corners will just bend.

Round bases tend to feel better for skirmish games - square when you want to rank troops up

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

I'm going to be very rude - and interrupt Fred whilst he is making a mistake. Try fitting round bases to store them. Card is cheap and easy to use.

ianS

[toxicpixie]

I find 1p HMRC standard washers are cheap an easy, and when all put together store fine - doubly so if you use a "screw organiser" or other cheap divided box

[Bodvoc]

15mm round mdf bases from Pendraken are cheaper than washers and work really well.

[toxicpixie]

There's very little that's cheaper than Treasury Standard copper washers in either the 1p or larger 2p size

[fred.]

Treasury washers are great for larger scales, and are unbelievably cheap! But I find them rather big for single 10s.

I'll check the size of the washers I used, they were only a couple of quid for 100 from eBay.

[toxicpixie]

Ive even used treasury washers for six mm single based skirmish - you do need to go "a bit scenic" with them in six or ten MM.

[petercooman]

1 cent pieces are smaller and come 100 to a euro