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Anyone have a recommendation on where to buy #1 lead shot? Saw someone use this to weigh down bases and I was going to try it.

For my hormogaunts I used fishing weights. You can get a bag for cheap and because they are 'perforated' you can split them easily and mix in with your basing dirt etc.

Fishing weights, or coins are quite popular. Or, use a better base.

Yeah agree on the base also, when I finally got my assault marines on 32mm it made a huge different.

Don'[t ignore washers. Most DIY stores sell bags of washers that will fit either inside a plastic base, or replace them. I usualy glue one on the bottom of my bases, it fits the outside dimensions perfectly, and adds a millimeter to the height. Any assault marines etc are miserable without it. Here is an example from my Space Leopards. I went with a larger base so I could model more. Should be before and after on this page.
http://edwardmystcreations.weebly.com/space-leopards-assault-marines.html

Hope it helps. I believe the washers ran in the 17 cents american range, but it was a few years ago.

I don't particularly like using coins or washers, since they fill in or cover the cupped underside, which helps with stability. An unmodified base might 'bite in' and stand on a slope that a nickel or washer would slide right down.

Instead, I try to use minimal, if any, weight on the underside and incorporate as much as I can into the basing. A small rock or a little lead under a bush, properly positioned, is often enough to shift the center of gravity close to where it should be, for stability.


[edit:] Almost forgot - many sporting goods stores will carry reloading supplies, including lead shot. Wheel weights are often free, if you can find a mechanic who balances tires and doesn't mind you digging through his trash. Fishing sinkers were an old standby, but all I've seen recently are steel or tin. I think lead is being phased out, at least in the stores I frequent. Still viable weights, of course, but I see no sense in buying dedicated weights when I can just cut off an equivalent chunk of steel sheet or round stock that I already have laying around.

Cut offs/metal sprue or small change (lets face it - it is ether counterweight or coinshot. You are never going to use it) make good weights for the base.
Alternatively magnetise all your bases, and then magnetise the game table.

Hammer out some fishing weights (hopefully on an anvil or other steel surface rather than your kitchen counter )

otherwise since you are in America, drop by a gun shop. pick up some shot gun rounds with bird shot in it or im sure some reloader supplies have them. and or walmart since they have both fishing weights and possibly shot gun shells.

Pennies are ideal for weighing down bases of small models.

I use coins basically but only on very top heavy models Ie stormboys and the like

 oadie wrote:

[edit:] Almost forgot - many sporting goods stores will carry reloading supplies, including lead shot. Wheel weights are often free, if you can find a mechanic who balances tires and doesn't mind you digging through his trash. Fishing sinkers were an old standby, but all I've seen recently are steel or tin. I think lead is being phased out, at least in the stores I frequent. Still viable weights, of course, but I see no sense in buying dedicated weights when I can just cut off an equivalent chunk of steel sheet or round stock that I already have laying around.

Yep, this is the route I want to go. Seems like the most efficient and easy. I have been researching and found the ideal size is #1 lead shot (not buckshot, there is a size difference). Now if I could only find a good place to buy them online.....

 amrogers3 wrote:
Now if I could only find a good place to buy them online.....

There are any number of sites, but bear in mind that specific state laws might affect you. Age restrictions, state-wide bans on certain types of weapons/weapon-related items, shipping restrictions, etc. might make it difficult (at best), to get what you want. If you were forced to find your little round bits of lead through, say, a scientific distributor, you might end up paying triple... and only being able to order through a research institute (been there, although for different items). I wish you were local to me - there's a Gander Mountain going out of business that's a 10 minute drive from my place and probably still has reloading supplies for 30-50% off.

I am in the coin camp. I have used pennies and nickels on the underside of many bases. They fit flush and are cheaper than buying weights or washers.

They only issue with the small square bases using a penny is you need to shave off the edges to make square so it fits. I used my grinding wheel to make short work of it.

 MDSW wrote:
They only issue with the small square bases using a penny is you need to shave off the edges to make square so it fits. I used my grinding wheel to make short work of it.

Sir Isaac Newton is rolling in his grave.