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Figured I would toss this out there...how would you guys go about weighting a base so it's not so light or top heavy? and has a clean finish to it?

Try to use pennies. If they don't work, try using lead shot and a lot of wood glue.

Paint the inside of the base with PVA and pour in lead shot ballast.

When the glue has dried, tap out the excess shot.

Fill the base with Plastic Padding Chemical Metal. It cures in 5-10 minutes. Chemical Metal is a two-part putty for car body repair.

Finally, rub the bottom on a sheet of sandpaper to get rid of any roughness.

http://www.leadshotballast.co.uk/
http://www.loctite.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/henkel_uke/hs.xsl/fullproductlist-plastic-padding-4997.htm?iname=Plastic+Padding+Chemical+Metal&countryCode=uke&BU=industrial&parentredDotUID=productfinder&redDotUID=1000000JB9360645

You can also buy lead sheet from various suppliers. I got mine from United Nuclear, but they seem to have sold out. Sometimes gun stores will have small lead sheets so you can clamp a gun in a vice without marring it.

In any case, once you've got your lead sheet, you trim it to fit and glue it into the bottom of your base.

You then wash your hands very, very thoroughly.

I'll look into the balast and the lead sheets.....anyone know where to get tungsten discs?

Just use nickels.

I heard washers would do the trick.

WillyBRags wrote:anyone know where to get tungsten discs?

I get mine from Maximum Velocity

Fishing weights will work also and are readily available.

I use washers. They have two sizes of washers that fit perfectly on small and medium bases.

Stick a penny underneath.

Fishing weights are plastic coated split shot and are more expensive than lead shot ballast.

Shot can be poured into the crevices and pin hole locators under a base. It doesn't require any cutting.

I work with wheels and tires so I use wheel weights lol

For the non-slotta bases, I glue in a US nickel. It fits perfectly.

can you imagine there is no diving equipment places around here any more? sucks...the pennys and washers are a good idea too...

a UK 2pence coin, it fits perfectly around the base and creates a little ridge around the edge of the base.

A uk 1p coin fits inside the bases. All my models have these in.

For non-slottas I'll use either a US penny or a nickel.

For slottas, or imbalanced metal or metal/plastic figures I use old-style fishing weights (uncovered lead). I squeeze them to the right thickness with a huge adjustable wrench (you can use a hammer if you don't have a pair) and glue a few to the bottom.

Lead is dangerous and I would never use any kind on something I touch often or kids can get. I have used nickels washers and quarters. On bases that do not have the hollowed out bottom they raise the model slightly is the only drawback.

Then use shotgun shot. Rarely is it actually lead anymore, steel is quite common, as are alloys that carry the same density of lead. And, when using shot to weight bases, one should use not only enough glue to secure the shot, but more to completely cover it, preventing it from falling out.

Once lead is painted and sealed it's of no danger to anyone. It's not a dangerous material if a few simple precautions are taken.

The exception is if you have kids who are going to actually chew on your miniatures.

basic handling of lead occasionally isn't gonna hurt. If you want to take a precaution, paint the lead. No more contact. Now, just don't eat it....

I use body washers specifically for my miniatures. They've got a wider diameter and are considerably thinner in comparison to traditional washers, but still do the trick quite well for weight.

Nids player, I know all about it...

Nickels and pennies; easy to find, easy to use.

fenrir1997 wrote:basic handling of lead occasionally isn't gonna hurt. If you want to take a precaution, paint the lead. No more contact. Now, just don't eat it....

Well that takes all the fun out of it!

Seriously though, I've been trying to think of cheap/easy ways to do slotted basses and am about to just start super glueing pebbles in haha