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Hi all,

I'm considering starting a Daemon army for use in both WHFB and 40K. I've got some old Daemon models from the Hordes of Chaos days. I would be making custom trays for the 25mm round bases so I can use them in WHFB and have a pretty good idea how I am going to go about doing it, thats not the issue. The issue is that some models use 60mm round bases for 40K and 50mm square for WHFB and iirc bike bases are larger then square 25x50mm bases (I'm at work and can't compare). I was thinking about trying to magnetize the bases and models. I don't have any experience with magnets. How hard would it be to magnetize things like Bloodcrushers, Greater Daemons and Seekers? Also, what kind and size of magnets would be best?

Thanks in advance for the help,
Infreak

You might want to base them on square bases instead of round, I'm not entirely sure how important base shape is in 40K but if you want things to rank up properly in fantasy I think they would work better on square.

that said I think that most of the things on the larger bases in a daemons army don't really need to be ranked up and in the same way that I don't think it would make much difference using square in 40k I don't think too many people will harp on you for using round bases on individual characters in Fantasy.

Fell free to prove me wrong of course.

Well like I said, I am going to make custom movement trays. They're going to have 25mm circular holes so I can rank them up easily.

I suppose what it comes down to is how large the smallest magnets I can buy are. If they're too large to be able to be fit into the heels or other parts which would touch the base then the whole idea sorta goes out the window. Again, this is really more for the larger models in the DoC range.

The best solution I've seen so far is to get the regular 40k Infantry Round Bases and regular WFB square bases and stuff a strong-ish rare-earth magnet on the underside of the base. Then glue smallish round metal washers to the feet of the models. The magnet should be strong enough to hold the models onto the base as well as being available for magnetized trays and such for WFB.

Hmm, thats not a bad idea. Anyone know how the small they can get? So far the smallest I've seen are 5mm spheres.

Hmm.... Something you could do, and I don't know quite how well this would work is to glue the feet dow to something that would increase the size of the area you have to work with and fit on both bases, some plasticard with greenstuff to help it blend into the basing and magnets underneath would allow them to fit or if you could even manage to fit your model onto the next base size down then magnatize that onto different bases for fantasy and 40K.

GW didnt directly say you're not allowed to mount 40k models on square bases (and indeed by the rules you are allowed). However it's severely frowned upon here in official GW stores. Fantasy models, however, are explicitly stated to require certain bases.

I've done the measurements and the Large Chariot bases are exactly 5 by 2 models large (that is, 5 25mm square bases by 2 25mm square bases). adding some scenic terrain should allow you to get some easy and effective trays, as well as give you an excuse for a fantastic base. As for greater daemons, you should mount them on the square bases and magnetize them to the round ones, as the square ones are a good deal smaller than the roundies.

Infreak wrote:Hmm, thats not a bad idea. Anyone know how the small they can get? So far the smallest I've seen are 5mm spheres.

Discs seem the smaller more affordable option. 1mm x 1mm is available, but I'm assuming using 2mm x 2mm might be easier. Just bought these and these and i'm waiting on them to arrive.

Magnets in the feet and bases sound like a fine idea. You'll be ready for anything, even new editions / rulesets.

I'm apparently the world's #1 fascist when it comes to square bases in 40K, even though I've made it quite clear that if you're playing both systems, I'd consider square bases perfectly okay.

Having said that, magnets are lots of fun, so here's the way I would go:

Figure out the largest diameter of brass tube that the feet will accomodate, and let that in to the model leaving an extension of approximately the depth of the base. Stack appropriately sized disc magnets within the tube - the more the merrier.

Epoxy ring magnets with an internal diameter that matches the external diameter of the tubing to the underside of the base (drill matching holes in the base first).

Here's an appalling picture to illustrate the point.



The benefit here is that the model is held up by the mechanical fit of the tube into the ring, the magnets just secure the base from falling off when you move.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
P.S., Whatever else you do, don't let anyone bully you into buying a second set of models for the other game. Let GW frown all they like...

You know that is a pretty good idea. Is that something you've done before Bloodquest?

Infreak wrote:You know that is a pretty good idea. Is that something you've done before Bloodquest?

Not for 40K, funnily enough, but used to make use of a similar mechanism on radio control models.

The trick is getting a snug, but not TIGHT, fit between the brass tube and the ring magnet.

By the way, if you can't find a suitable size ring magnet, you could use the next size up of brass tube and glue a circle of small block magnets around it. If you do take an approach like this, make sure both brass tubes have been filed smooth - the last thing you need is for them to bind and one or other gets torn loose.

Final, final, word of warning: get the whole thing assembled while the epoxy on the base magnets still has some play in it to ensure everything is aligned properly.

I hop this all makes sense!

It does make sense and thanks.