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Hello all! I recently got a Barracuda, and I was wondering how to properly mount it onto a base. I've seen quite a few that used a metal rod, and this seems like the most convenient and sturdy way to do it. I was just wondering where to get this rod? Coat hangers are definitely too thin, and I can't think off the top of my head of an easy way to get it.

I would use clear rods from dragonforge dot com, sturdy and clear, it also come with a piece that it will slot in so you don't have to drill.

Seconding the dragon forge rods (or similar ones from elsewhere), but don't use that ugly socket bit. Just rest the model on the top of the rod and put a brass pin though the joint to hold it in place. If you balance it near the model's center of gravity it's not going anywhere, and the pin hole is barely noticeable.

Acrylic rod would be the way to go. Secret Weapon Miniatures sells flight bases with rods, and the hole already drilled into the base for you. They also sell a widget to plug the rod into on the model, but it doesn't necessarily match up with every model style.

I just mounted a Tigershark onto a Dragonforge acrylic rod base and it worked great, I drilled a 1/2" hole into the seeker missile bay and it's great. I may change down the road to a 3/4" though as the 1/2" is slightly wobbly. But it's definitely not going anywhere!


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Also, to drill a flat circular hole into the base and model, I recommend using a forstner drill bit

I like the idea of the clear plastic rod, but I don't see anywhere on the Barracuda that I could really fit a 1/2" hole or the little widget thing that comes with it that is central to the weight of the model. There's a hole where a rod is supposed to go, but it wouldn't be able to be expanded to 1/2", which is why I was looking for metal because I believe it's a better solution for this.

I've never been a fan of clear acrylic rods. You can get brass rods from a lot of hobby shops. The general hobby store near me (that doesn't sell any wargaming stuff, mostly just plastic plane and car kits and remote control planes and cars) sells brass rods and tubes. They also sell carbon fibre ones if you want to go unnecessarily fancy, lol. I think they also had some steel and aluminium tube, but I honestly can't remember, they definitely have brass and carbon fibre.

If you want to avoid wasting time, ring ahead and check.

You can also contact a metal supplier, but they might get annoyed you want so little of it, lol. A place near me specialises in small steel orders (they aren't a big factory, just a warehouse that has lots of random sizes of metal tube, rod, hollow section, etc, and they have contacts to get more if you want it). I've once bought a length of 1/4" steel tube (I think 0.9mm wall thickness) off them, I bought several metres off them for a few bucks, can't remember the exact price but it was cheap enough that I didn't care (though that wasn't for models, it was to support something for a car I was working on, it will be strong enough to hold a model though, I was using it to hold up about 100kg axially loaded).

Piano wire is stupidly strong & stiff but is a bugger to cut.

Mild steel welding rod is cheap if you can find it. Have been using 3/32" and 1/8" diameters for magnetized flying bases for BFG. Big DIY stores like Home Depot often have various sizes of steel rod.

timd wrote:
Mild steel welding rod is cheap if you can find it. Have been using 3/32" and 1/8" diameters for magnetized flying bases for BFG. Big DIY stores like Home Depot often have various sizes of steel rod.

Awesome! I think that's exactly what I'm looking for. How do you cut it?

I have used acrylic rods (1/2") in my barracudas just fine.

Of course, I did not like the seeker bay, and mounted it in there, so if you want to keep it, that would not work.

For the barracudas (and all my flyers I mount on acrylic rod) I use a piece of pvc pipe that has a 1/2" internal diameter and mount it into the model. This provides a VERY sturdy socket for the rod, as opposed to directly against resin.

I have many models mounted this way, including barracudas, a tigershark and am finishing up my orca now.

the barracudas are on standard gw bases, but the bigger models are on custom bases made from 2.5lb plate weights.

This method even works wit bigger models and bigger rods (I did a thunderhawk last year, on a 1" rod mounted into a 5lb weight).

If you want metal rods, try a hardware store - you cut it with a hacksaw or (better) a dremel tool.

Best of luck!

 Tarnag wrote:

timd wrote:
Mild steel welding rod is cheap if you can find it. Have been using 3/32" and 1/8" diameters for magnetized flying bases for BFG. Big DIY stores like Home Depot often have various sizes of steel rod.

Awesome! I think that's exactly what I'm looking for. How do you cut it?

Cheapest is a hacksaw. If you want to splurge, get a $15 grinder at Harbor Freight, put the rod in a vise and chop away (with eye protection of course).

I don't know why no one suggested this yet but just go to lowes or home depot or really any hardware store. They all have a section to buy steel rods of different diameters. You'll pay $3 for a rod about four feet long. You can even buy threaded rod. They also sell angle iron and plate steel of small sizes in the same little area. Just go there and ask where they have their steel rod.

Tydil wrote:
I don't know why no one suggested this yet but just go to lowes or home depot or really any hardware store. They all have a section to buy steel rods of different diameters. You'll pay $3 for a rod about four feet long. You can even buy threaded rod. They also sell angle iron and plate steel of small sizes in the same little area. Just go there and ask where they have their steel rod.

timd wrote:
Big DIY stores like Home Depot often have various sizes of steel rod.

 Tarnag wrote:
I like the idea of the clear plastic rod, but I don't see anywhere on the Barracuda that I could really fit a 1/2" hole or the little widget thing that comes with it that is central to the weight of the model. There's a hole where a rod is supposed to go, but it wouldn't be able to be expanded to 1/2", which is why I was looking for metal because I believe it's a better solution for this.

Don't drill a 1/2" hole, you'll just ruin the model. Pin the model to the rod like this. It's a bit less stable, but as long as you don't have any careless kids around it should be fine.