Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi Dakkanites,

A couple of quick questions if I may. I am planning on putting my new Tau army on clear bases but need some advice and tips.

Question 1: Where can I purchase mass clear 28mm bases? Would it be cheaper and easier to get them cut locally or buy them online? By mass I mean 150+ 28mm plus a fair few 40mm and even a couple of larger ones (Riptide Formation).

Question 2: Will using clear bases have me marked down for painting and modelling at tournaments? I just feel that clear bases will allow my Tau to look better in any environment rather than making them stand out on opposite terrain.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I have seen clear bases where they have colored etched designs so it looked like they were units in an RTS which were selected.

Paint judges are all snobs who have different ideas on what is 'correct' for appearance. I would expect you will not get high marks for the base part of scoring as I can see many judges will see it as significantly less effort than true detailed terrain with integrated display bases as often armies appearance are judged on display trays. Not saying it is right or wrong, but I would expect to get medium to low marks for 'base details' if you did all clear bases.

Just accept it and move on with your life. I have run up against judges who dislike how I paint my orks and I get lower scores than I expect. It happens. Sometimes you get someone who loves your stuff and you get higher than expected.

 Phrixus wrote:
Question 1: Where can I purchase mass clear 28mm bases? Would it be cheaper and easier to get them cut locally or buy them online? By mass I mean 150+ 28mm plus a fair few 40mm and even a couple of larger ones (Riptide Formation).

There are quite a few websites out there offering clear acrylic bases in various sizes. I've personally used Litko in the past for bases for War at Sea minis and for plywood bases. Good, fast service, if not always the cheapest around.

Otherwise, for simple geometric shapes, you could try a local trophy shop. Many of them these days do custom laser cutting, and it may work out cheaper than having them shipped from elsewhere.

Question 2: Will using clear bases have me marked down for painting and modelling at tournaments? I just feel that clear bases will allow my Tau to look better in any environment rather than making them stand out on opposite terrain.

It would depend on the tournie and the judges on the day. Most tournies that include paint scores do count the modelling of the base towards the score, so unless the judges agree that the clear bases add a lot to the models aesthetically, yes, they may bring your overall score down a little.


One way to maybe help that a little would be to add engraved detail to the bases... unit markings, or an army symbol or suchlike.

Your bases will get points, but not full points.

You have to satisfy a few criteria...

Multi - level
Multi - texture
Multi - media

stepped rocks with static grass tufts painted to match display board will get you full points in ANY tournament setting. clear bases will not.

Thanks for the swift replies friends.

It's a pain having to actually paint them, static grass and rubble is all well and good but what happens when you come upon an urban environment. It looks out of place. That is what I was trying to avoid, but considering I could potentially lose points over it I may as well suck it up and just do it properly.

Thanks for all the input!

No points would be taken off if the display base is lit by LED's glowing through your stands! They would be like Tau of Tron!

Now back to your question:

Here:
http://www.litko.net/categories/Miniature-Bases-%26-Bottoms/Clear-Acrylic-Bases/

WOW looked with all kinds of searches and could find little else.
I know I had seen more around.
You could always get them lasercut from a sheet.

Also, unless your clear bases are paper thin, they're going to look pretty bad in every environment instead of just most. Unless your Firewarriors have learnt to fly that is. They also will cause difficulties in measurement with having to find the exact edge of a clear base.

Chrysis wrote:
They also will cause difficulties in measurement with having to find the exact edge of a clear base.

They're clear, not invisible...

fenris games ( http://www.fenrisgames.com/ )

they do laser cut 2mm acrylic bases. 50 x 25mm clear are about 7 british pounds. they do 40mm 60mm and the 120mm oval for riptides. I have ordered resin and acrylic bases from them and had no issues.

 insaniak wrote:

Chrysis wrote:
They also will cause difficulties in measurement with having to find the exact edge of a clear base.

They're clear, not invisible...

I didn't say impossible. I said cause difficulties. And if he wants them to "blend in" he's going to want them as transparent, and thus hard to see, as possible.

It doesn't matter what you use, clear bases are not hard to see. Finding the edge is not a drama.

Here is an article and a thread on TMP that might be of use:

http://quirkworthy.com/2013/02/26/clea-base-technology/

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=299650

I like the idea of clear bases and would love to try it myself sometime.

The standard infantry base for 40k is 25mm not 28mm. That is the scale.

Just didn't want you to buy a bunch of bases you couldn't use.

I honestly think you should do clear resin casting as at that volume it could possibly be cheaper, either by taking a mold of regular bases or maybe putting some rubble or whatever on them and then cast that.

rubbishinrubbishout has some tutorials on youtube about it (he also colours his clear ones sometimes).