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2016/05/24 10:44:05
Subject: Using MDF Bases for standard Warhammer Army and preventing warping
I have been thinking about how to base my army beacause i do not like the unlipped round bases that are supplied with GW miniatures.
Originally i would have prefered sipped plastic bases but since there is a myriad of different sized out there now it seems pretty much impossible to find a supplier that will stock all needed types
and i couldnt locate anyowhere offering custom sized yet.
My second choice is just plain old disks and for that MDF seems to be a popular choice.
It also has the benefit of pretty much any size being available whenever you need them.
I am however cocnerned about bases warping either from applying basing materials or after a while by absorbing moisture.
Do any of you have experience with MDF bases and know how to prevent warping?
2016/05/24 11:00:53
Subject: Re:Using MDF Bases for standard Warhammer Army and preventing warping
I recently rebased a bunch of juggernauts onto fairly large MDF ovals, and haven't noticed any warping, at least not from the PVA used to attach sand, the sand itself, or a coat of primer. I haven't painted the bases yet or sealed them, so those steps might yet have adverse effects, but I'm not overly concerned.
I do, however, have some concerns for my KOW bases, which are larger rectangular MDF bases that I'll be sculpting onto and possibly baking (Sculpey ). Some folks have suggested sealing them various ways before working on them, but I think the oven is going to mess with many of those suggestions ...
TL;DR: Have some limited experience with MDF round bases, and no issues thus far, at least with PVA, basing or primer. Things are starting to get humid here though, so we'll see.
To prevent the warping of MDF bases, apply a couple of thin coats of watered down white glue (about the consistency of thinned paint). Place them in front of a fan immediately after applying each layer so that they dry as quickly as possible. Then use CA glue to attach a metal washer to the top and put it back in front of a fan until dry. This will not only give the MDF some additional structural integrity, but will also add weight to make the mini more stable. You can then hide the washers with putty and other basing materials depending upon your design.
I've never seen warping on troop-sized bases or smaller (assuming 1/8" MDF) just using the white glue. It's only been observed on the larger bases (rough 40k equivalent of bike/flier bases) and the washers completely fixed the problem.
As an example, here are the custom MDF flier bases for my PHR army for Dropzone Commander.
“I do not know anything about Art with a capital A. What I do know about is my art. Because it concerns me. I do not speak for others. So I do not speak for things which profess to speak for others. My art, however, speaks for me. It lights my way.”
— Mark Z. Danielewski
2016/05/25 00:38:21
Subject: Using MDF Bases for standard Warhammer Army and preventing warping
Thus, the way I limit warpage is to paint and seal the backside and edges of the bases. I had a slew of 45mm hexes and 60x40mm rectangles for a 10mm Mechwarrior rebasing project. They were all sprayed black on the bottoms and edges and matte varnished as well. It's been a few years and they've been living on a porch through chicago's extreme winters and summers and I've not seen any warpage.
Doing the edges is important too because MDF can get a bit fuzzy on the edges if not properly sealed. Don't think that the burned edge is enough protection on it's own.
Warning: Brief expulsion of pseudo-techno-babble that I lack the qualifications to spew and presence of mind to thoroughly think through incoming:
Spoiler:
MDFis prone to warping. There are two independent factors, though, that can cause that warping.
One is moisture being absorbed into the wood fibers, which causes swelling thereof. If that swelling is uneven, warping will occur. Sealing all of the exposed surfaces can help prevent this.
The second is the addition of water-based adhesives/topcoats, like PVA or spackle/polyfilla. They set/cure by water evaporation, which leaves only the adhesive/finish material behind. Water, however, isn't a particularly strong solvent, so a lot of it is needed to give those materials the proper consistency. That lost volume means that the material shrinks significantly as it dries. Grip + shrink = warped base. Some counter this by also applying a shrinking adhesive to the bottom of bases (hoping that the warping in both directions cancels out), while others clamp the ever-living out of the piece's edges, so shrinkage can't wreak its usual havoc, thanks to the clamps' mechanical advantage.
In either case, for basing individual miniatures, math/physics is on your side. For every bit of force applied, in this case, it's spread across the entire surface of the base. The comparative physical resistance of a given material depends largely on its thickness (1/8" MDF is far less stiff than 1/2"). Even if a coat of watery PVA would warp a 5"x5" base of 1/8" MDF, 1" round bases of the same material have a lot more thickness, compared to their surface area. Same thickness, less than 13% of the surface area. That's a lot less force pulling at the same physical resistance to flexation.
TLDR: You'll be fine if you seal the edges and don't soak them in a PVA/water bath.
The Dreadnote wrote:But the Emperor already has a shrine, in the form of your local Games Workshop. You honour him by sacrificing your money to the plastic effigies of his warriors. In time, your devotion will be rewarded with the gift of having even more effigies to worship.
2016/05/25 18:17:52
Subject: Re:Using MDF Bases for standard Warhammer Army and preventing warping
I'm not sure that warping will be an issue, as MDF is basically fine particles compacted and drenched in glue so I would think they will be Okay? I use a lot of grout with them and it contains a lot of water,my bases are flat as far as I can tell.
2016/05/25 23:22:51
Subject: Using MDF Bases for standard Warhammer Army and preventing warping
). Some folks have suggested sealing them various ways before working on them, but I think the oven is going to mess with many of those suggestions ...
out of the piece's edges, so shrinkage can't wreak its usual havoc, thanks to the clamps' mechanical advantage.
