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I have some metal figures with slot-base tabs attached to the feet. But I'm experimenting with cork bases, and for obvious reasons, I think the tab attached to the feet will have to be removed in order to attach the figure to the base.

What's the best way to remove the metal tab?

I use my snips and clip them off, the I use a file to get the feet flat

Also, wrong forum. This should go in "painting and modeling"

Clip off the tab, drill a couple of holes in the bottom of the model and CA some paper clips. Drill through the cork and base and bend the paper clips on the bottom of the base, then snip off.

If you dont want to pin them, id suggest either building a scenic base around the slot tab and disguising it, or if you are removing the tab, use sand around where the feet join with superglue. This strengthens the bond kinda like a cement

With careful clipping of the tab, you can actually use the tab itself to make the pins for mounting. I have done this numerous times and it has proven to be a durable method.

I had to do this recently and used a good pair of nail clippers. That metal is surprisingly soft.

commissarbob wrote:
With careful clipping of the tab, you can actually use the tab itself to make the pins for mounting. I have done this numerous times and it has proven to be a durable method.

Yeah I do this a lot. Cut the middle of the tab away, but leave the bits under the feet for mounting.

I do this all the time. Just as others have said, it's super easy to clip the metal tab away from the feet. After that, file them down smooth and drill a few holes for pinning the model to the cork.

Remember that cork is pretty soft, so make the pins long enough that they actually go through the plastic base. If you want to go an extra step further than just gluing, I'd secure the pin through the base with a bit of 2 part epoxy.

Also, don't use a ton of cork. If you do you will make the metal model top heavy and it will be prone to tipping over and chipping your paint job. You could glue a washer to the underside of the base to help, but I think it's easier just to use less cork.

I also like to use Pine Bark chunks as rock. They are just as easy to drill and pin as the cork is and look fantastic painted up. Sometimes it's a little difficult to get a hold of, but I've found Ebay is the best way to get what you want quick.

Good luck!

End nippers or diagonal cutters and a file are my method, as well, followed by pinning.

@StormBringer - I've never had any trouble finding pine bark nuggets, since they're reasonably popular as decorative mulch. Any landscaper, home improvement store, garden center (even the ones attached to a Walmart) is liable to stock them. I can see finding small quantities being a bit tricky, though - if the sack I got was filled with sand, instead, I'd scarcely be able to lift it!

I bought a bag of bark nuggets from Home Depot for $5. I actually got tired of it taking up space in my garage so I just took a handful of nuggets out and tossed the bag in the garbage.

I checked everywhere around town: Lowes, Home Deopt, Walmart, Target, etc and the local Lawn and Garden Centers, but they either said they were out or didn't know what anything other than regular mulch was... Anyway, I usually have such luck haha. It was the beginning of the Lawn and Garden season, so perhaps it was a bad time to go looking for it.