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I guess I can summarise this as why do allot of people base their vehicles?

I have recently picked up the Kampfgrupe Normandy book and noticed that all of the 20mm/1/76 vehicles shown were based.

It makes sense for chariots or towed limbers but tanks etc would IMHO look better sitting directly on the table?

Obviously personal preference is one thing but is there a reason or a benefit to this?

More protection to the vehicle is the best practical reason that I can come up with.

Do you do it, do you like/dislike it, what do you think Dakka?

Height. If the average man is teetering on a 3 inch or more (scale) high disc of vegetation, then he is three inches higher than he should be when stood next to his Half-track. I know that BF try to compensate for this by making fat tracks, but other companies do not.

Basically, if you base your vehicle, it becomes a better reflection of how big the buggers actually are compared to the average man.

I base mine for several reasons;

1 - Protection. I use lots of resin and metal models and the base protects running gear and wheels. It also gives ham fisted players a way to pick things up.

2 - Storage & travel. The bases go together when in their storage trays so the actual models never touch. Thus I dont suffer damage.

3 - Vignettes. Bases allow me to theme vehicles.

4 - I like it!

I don't base vehicles in FoW primarily because the vehicles already cost enough as is without also having to buy a bunch of extra stands for them. Sure vignette stands are neat for vehicles too, but generally I'm too lazy to make vignettes for my usual table top forces. Display pieces, yes, but it is hard to keep vignettes from damage when they are being moved around the board all the time.

Ultimately as the answers here show it does all come down to personal preference, really.

Skriker

I've always based small vehicles in FoW. Jeeps, trucks, half tracks etc. I now base all my vehicles including tanks.

Yeah that's what made me ask the question.

The only vehicles in my who collection that have bases are the moulded on ones on the FoW jeeps and lorries i have.

I used to base my vehicles because I put magnets on the bottom of the base for transportation/storage but now that I have moved to foam trays for transport I am continuing to base my vehicles because I like the look.