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This is an easy thing for individual figures (especially Slotta-based miniatures).

But what about larger, multi-figure stands or based?

I have a system I have been using, but it is pretty labor intensive (as opposed to materially intensive, which would lead to more $$$ for the materials).

I was wondering if others have any systems for flush mounting miniatures with traditional cast-on bases?

MB

It might just be because it's early morning and I'm still working on my first coffee... but I'm really not sure what you're asking.

Do you have an example pic?

If your referring to a gap between a minis feet and its terrain base... a bit of putty, or even gel superglue around the pins can fill that nicely.

Are you referring to recessed bases and getting the base of the model flush with the top edge of the base?

I am talking about, typically you have this miniature cast standing on top of a base (rather than the slotta-bases GW or a few other companies use):


And if you glue that base to a larger base, such as when basing ancients for a game that uses element basing (such as DBA, HotT, FoG, FoW, etc., where more than one miniature is on a base), then you have what look like little men all standing upon conveniently arranged pitcher's mounds.

In order to get them to look like they are standing on flat ground, the base needs to be recessed a bit, such as Battlefront do with their infantry bases for Flames of War, or that GW do for Epic Scale bases, which have that little hole into which you stick the base of the 6mm miniature.

But when dealing with other 15mm or 28mm figures, they don't have bases made, typically, for games like DBA, HotT, DBMM, Fields of Glory, etc. where the figures have a recessed base that can be used to flush-mount the miniatures.

And, no... I am not talking about a gap between their feet and the base. That is trivial to deal with (just put a layer of putty down, wait a few minutes, and then push the feet into it to create a hollow that is perfectly molded to the feet). But miniatures with bases cast on don't have this problem unless you spent several hours cutting them off their bases and then filing down their feet.

MB

Oh man that sounds like a pain.

Seems like the option of least resistance is to glue em down then fill in the spaces in between with GS or MP though that would make them look much taller.

You could cut or punch out circles out of the individual small guys (for like troop guys) to a specific diameter with something like this


Then drill a hole of the same size on a plastic base then glue em in flush (securing the back with epoxy putty of some kind)

If you can't find recessed bases you have to build up the base and then put the "casting base" (not sure what to call it) into the build up to get it level. There are lots of methods for doing this, personally I use plaster very carefully (so Get the build up and the texture done at the same time) without getting it on my models. Since plaster as a longer dry time any mess is easy to clean.

Recessed bases are easier depending on the game type, but essentially you have to raise the height of the base with some kind of putty, plaster or other mixture and then sit the base in it.

I will find an example...

http://www.wwpd.net/2010/05/fow-basing-tutorial.html



That one is pretty basic to do I think and will work for most situations. But ultimately however you do it you simply must raise the height of your base with your miniatures on it still.

OK....

Now that I have seen the recommendations, let me tell you what I have been doing:

I get the Litko 80mm x 30mm, or 80mm x 40mm 3mm thick bases as the foundation for the miniatures for 28mm figures.

Or the tin 40mm x 15mm / 40mm x 20mm bases for 15mm ancients. or I use 30mm x 30mm for 15mm Sci-Fi Fire Team bases made of the same material

And then I cut sheet styrene to the same size.

For the 15mm miniatures, it is a piece of cake. I have a hole punch that is 10mm in diameter that I simply punch a hole in the styrene (which is about 1.5mm thick - roughly the thickness of most Corvus Belli, Xyston, Mirliton, or Essex miniatures bases, for ancients, that is - the Sci-Fi stuff isn't so different that it makes a difference) where I need them, and then insert the figures, and do the terrain detailing.


Where it gets bitchy is for 28mm figures that are not GW LotR miniatures (which I just cut off the slotta-base, and drill holes in their freaking feet for rods, making basing a snap), such as older Ral Partha, or newer Thunderbolt Mountain miniatures.

There... they have bases that are oval, and using a punch on the Styrene warps it, making it freaking difficult to glue down to the wooden Litko bases (although that they are wood gives the plastic a much stronger bond than the Tin Metal-Plastic bond for the 15mm miniatures).

So, I have to get out my scriber, and dig a freaking trench in the outline of the miniature bases, and then clean up the hole a bit, glue the styrene to the wooden base, and then glue in the miniatures, and add terrain detailing.

In the case of 15mm FoW miniatures. I cannot recall who it is, but they make a FoW sized based with a recess in the middle in which to glue the miniatures, so that filling in the recess gives one a level surface, even with the bases.

Because of this, I am REALLY thinking of ditching the bases on the miniatures I am working on, and just sculpting them with rods coming out of their feet, which players can then just drill holes in the base of their choice to mount the miniatures (making scenic bases easier to use).

MB

Hang on perhaps its a better idea to just take pictures of what you are talking about.

because im lost now :(