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Hey Everyone

I figured out my credentials for this website and am back......again....for yet another return to war gaming! I got myself a new 3D printer and I started printing war gaming stuff, and I unearthed all my old minis that i have from the late 80s and 90s. I have 1000s of "old hammer" models I dug up from my parent's and friend's basements while visiting home over the holidays. Also, sorta laughed and maybe a tiny bit cried when I found out the kids are calling all my stuff I own "old hammer," now

So, I see there are some standard base sizes in use, but like there are no standards on what bases should be used? I see these listed on GW's website, but zero indication of what size models use what

25mm
32mm
40mm
50mm
60mm

So, I have over 1000 old hammer minis, and they aren't all assembled anymore. Some are in pieces, and pieces are missing. However, I also found a giant box of bits that I had apparently stashed away last time I was in this hobby. Going through it, I see probably 100+ 25mm bases which I planned on using.

Well, I got myself a copy of the 9th edition rules (I think 5th or 6th was last time I played, and started with rogue trader and 2nd Ed so I have tons of old models) and I see some models are coming with different sized bases now. GW has no official content on what base goes to what model type. So, should I re-base everything to 32mm? Keep the 25mm?

What about Necromunda? Same problem I think. I have older models for Necromunda and want to play again, but the bases are different than what is shipped with the new minis. I don't plan on buying new minis considering how expensive they are, but I could re-base them with 32mm bases I suppose if that were required.

LOLSOB at my fantasy armies though, those are all on square bases and I found out WHFB is defunct now and it is all this new Age of Sigmar thingy which I honestly do not know much about, but I do see they are round bases and skirmish type units now. I am not even sure what to do with them. I have Lizardmen and Ogres and some other models that don't quite make up a complete army. Lizardmen and Ogres are definitely complete though

Help an OG gamer, get back into the game.

WHFB might be coming back soon....

Necromunda I'm not sure about....

EDITED to remove incorrect information

Welcome back to the hobby.

If you look up what unit you're looking to base, Wahapedia will tell you what base size the current GW offering is on.

ok thanks y'all, so is 32mm just the new standard base size?

 Crom wrote:
ok thanks y'all, so is 32mm just the new standard base size?

Nope.

It depends on the faction. And units within the faction.
Most Marines are 32mm now. Terminators and some characters are 40. Some are other sizes.
Many 'normal humans' and eldar are still 25. But some of them aren't. Some are 28. Others can be 32.

It varies. But most kits on the GW site will actually list the current base sizes, so if you want to find out you can look them up. But there isn't really a standard anymore.

Voss wrote:

 Crom wrote:
ok thanks y'all, so is 32mm just the new standard base size?

Nope.

It depends on the faction. And units within the faction.
Most Marines are 32mm now. Terminators and some characters are 40. Some are other sizes.
Many 'normal humans' and eldar are still 25. But some of them aren't. Some are 28. Others can be 32.

It varies. But most kits on the GW site will actually list the current base sizes, so if you want to find out you can look them up. But there isn't really a standard anymore.

So was GW thinking at all when they made these decisions? haha okay thanks I will just go look up base sizes for everything and just do it manually when I am building it out.

Now to go through many boxes of minis that I shipped from back home over the holidays and try to inventory what I got

Thanks everyone!

 Crom wrote:


So was GW thinking at all when they made these decisions? haha okay thanks I will just go look up base sizes for everything and just do it manually when I am building it out.

Now to go through many boxes of minis that I shipped from back home over the holidays and try to inventory what I got

Thanks everyone!

There is usually a method to the madness.

Tactical marines are 32mm. Power Armor hero, 40mm
Gravis armor marine 40, Gravis Armor hero 50mm.
Devastator Marines 32mm. Cherub token model, 25mm maybe even 20mm.

Breton wrote:

 Crom wrote:


So was GW thinking at all when they made these decisions? haha okay thanks I will just go look up base sizes for everything and just do it manually when I am building it out.

Now to go through many boxes of minis that I shipped from back home over the holidays and try to inventory what I got

Thanks everyone!

There is usually a method to the madness.

Tactical marines are 32mm. Power Armor hero, 40mm
Gravis armor marine 40, Gravis Armor hero 50mm.
Devastator Marines 32mm. Cherub token model, 25mm maybe even 20mm.

oh wow is this in a document anywhere? Also not every boxed set has the bases listed on GW's site I just checked a few boxes, most did, but some did not. lol and I can either 3D print some or just buy cheap off brand ones off of Amazon, but I just need to know what size I am just gonna order an extra 32mm bag and 40mm bag since I have what seems to be like 100 of so 25mm from back in the day in my box of bits


Thanks again, this is very helpful and I appreciate it

 Crom wrote:


oh wow is this in a document anywhere? Also not every boxed set has the bases listed on GW's site I just checked a few boxes, most did, but some did not. lol and I can either 3D print some or just buy cheap off brand ones off of Amazon, but I just need to know what size I am just gonna order an extra 32mm bag and 40mm bag since I have what seems to be like 100 of so 25mm from back in the day in my box of bits


Thanks again, this is very helpful and I appreciate it

Not officially. As someone mentioned it's on Wahapedia. I can't seem to find it on their sheets now, but I do remember seeing it in the past.

Breton wrote:

 Crom wrote:


oh wow is this in a document anywhere? Also not every boxed set has the bases listed on GW's site I just checked a few boxes, most did, but some did not. lol and I can either 3D print some or just buy cheap off brand ones off of Amazon, but I just need to know what size I am just gonna order an extra 32mm bag and 40mm bag since I have what seems to be like 100 of so 25mm from back in the day in my box of bits


Thanks again, this is very helpful and I appreciate it

Not officially. As someone mentioned it's on Wahapedia. I can't seem to find it on their sheets now, but I do remember seeing it in the past.

Ok great, I just found some cheap bags of 32mm and 40mm bases off of amazon, they were cheap enough it is more convenient than for me to print some. As I go through my boxes of old hammer stuff over the next couple weeks/months and organize it I will start to look at rebasing what needs to be rebased.

like my old 2nd Ed terminators are still on 25mm bases lol

Personally I've still got many of my models on 28mm, and that's partially for aesthetics (the bigger bases increase the "separation" of the model from the table, which I dislike), but also for storage reasons. I've invested in some Table War cases, and each model tray can fit a lot more models if they're on smaller bases. I wouldn't be able to pack my models so tightly with larger bases.

I've never had anyone complain about my traditional 28mm bases, although I will 3dPrint base extensions that I can magnetize on in a snap should it be necessary for tournaments or whatever.



Congrats on finding on those old models though! That sounds super fun. I've been slowly painting an Eldar army using mostly 90's era metal models, and it's been great.

 Insectum7 wrote:
Personally I've still got many of my models on 28mm, and that's partially for aesthetics (the bigger bases increase the "separation" of the model from the table, which I dislike), but also for storage reasons. I've invested in some Table War cases, and each model tray can fit a lot more models if they're on smaller bases. I wouldn't be able to pack my models so tightly with larger bases.

I've never had anyone complain about my traditional 28mm bases, although I will 3dPrint base extensions that I can magnetize on in a snap should it be necessary for tournaments or whatever.

ok great and good to know! Thanks for the input and this makes sense. I have a 3D printer so if I ever play tournaments, which I doubt, I can print base extensions. 3D printing got me back into it. I have already printed custom shoulders for my space wolves, custom weapon bits for my Orks, and missing pieces of older models!

Congrats on finding on those old models though! That sounds super fun. I've been slowly painting an Eldar army using mostly 90's era metal models, and it's been great

I mean GW games have always been relatively expensive. I have lots of metal and old school plastics. I think my buddies and I bought like 4-5 copies of old Space Hulk to split the termies and the genes, and I have a tyranid army so I would pay my part of the box and take sthe genes out. I told my parents and my buddy who all had some of my stuff to never ever throw them out or sell them, and they listened!

However, I could not find my old hammer tanks, which is sad. I had an old land raider and predator tank and a few rhino variants. Oh well, I can 3D print the old school models if I wanted for nostalgia reasons

I hear you on the 3d printing front. I've got a whole bunch of old metal Eldar Guardians, but only a limited number of the old arm and weapon sprues to go with them. I'm going to rely on the printer for full restoration purposes.

I recommend checking GW's website for the specific units you have. Product descriptions will have the current base size listed.

There are also some small companies that offer 'base extenders' or 'base adapters' that go around the current base to increase its size. For example increase a 25mm base to a 32mm base.

 Platuan4th wrote:
If you look up what unit you're looking to base, Wahapedia will tell you what base size the current GW offering is on.

Or you can use where that dumpsterfire gets its info:

The GW webstore.

If the webstore even says what the right base size is.

I've got a couple of units (eg Tyranid Warriors) for which no official size is given, and new kits seem to come with different sizes at random.

The idea of requiring any particular base size for a game that doesn't specify base sizes in the rules and only might do so on the webstore is ridiculous on the face of it.

Tyranid Warriors seem to vary on what bases they're on. I'm sticking with 40mm for them, even if some I've bought have 50mm.

 Kanluwen wrote:
The GW webstore.

You got a link to the pat of the GW webstore that shows base sizes?

Tyranid Warriors moving to 50mm is pretty silly. I'm fairly convinced they're just doing it to make the model look bigger so the prices feel slightly more justified.

 Insectum7 wrote:
Personally I've still got many of my models on 28mm, and that's partially for aesthetics (the bigger bases increase the "separation" of the model from the table, which I dislike), but also for storage reasons. I've invested in some Table War cases, and each model tray can fit a lot more models if they're on smaller bases. I wouldn't be able to pack my models so tightly with larger bases.

I've never had anyone complain about my traditional 28mm bases, although I will 3dPrint base extensions that I can magnetize on in a snap should it be necessary for tournaments or whatever.



Congrats on finding on those old models though! That sounds super fun. I've been slowly painting an Eldar army using mostly 90's era metal models, and it's been great.

Just to be clear, are you saying 28mm bases or 25mm bases? 25mm is the traditional slotta base size.

^Whatever the traditional slotta size is.

 Insectum7 wrote:
^Whatever the traditional slotta size is.

I see. That would be 25mm which conveniently is almost exactly one inch . I also stuck with 25mm.

There's only a few instances where I'm considering rebasing and that's for figures with jump packs or terminators where the size of the figure makes a 25mm base more likely to tip

fyi i think GW says you can use whatever base originally supplied.

however, back in glorious michigan, the big tournament there requires they be current size

in that case 32mm for marines, this can be fixed easily with expansions such as these:
https://protechgames.co.uk/products/base-convertor-25mm-to-32mm-gw-sityle

edit:
i think this is current base sizes updated for 2023 (even though 2015, he updates it regularly)
https://en-blastedhorizons.blogspot.com/2015/07/guide-to-40k-bases.html?utm_source=spikeybits&utm_medium=all,%20video,%20site,%20FB,%20IG&utm_campaign=From%20SpikeyBits

 Eilif wrote:

 Insectum7 wrote:
^Whatever the traditional slotta size is.

I see. That would be 25mm which conveniently is almost exactly one inch . I also stuck with 25mm. It's what they came with and is legal (not that it matters to me) for all my old figures.

There's only a few instances where I'm considering rebasing and that's for figures with jump packs or terminators where the size of the figure makes a 25mm base more likely to tip

+1

For Terminators I've gone for 40mm on most of my models except for my loyalist RT era collection. On those I've kept them on 25mm so they fit on the placement squares of ye olde Space Hulk and Advanced Space Crusade .

 catbarf wrote:
If the webstore even says what the right base size is.

I've got a couple of units (eg Tyranid Warriors) for which no official size is given, and new kits seem to come with different sizes at random.

The idea of requiring any particular base size for a game that doesn't specify base sizes in the rules and only might do so on the webstore is ridiculous on the face of it.

Try telling that to Reddit and see how far you get.

It's utterly frustrating that people seem to think there are base size restrictions in 40k (beyond a simple "don't take the piss") for some nebulous "balance reasons", when there are numerous examples, even within units such as Skitarii and GSC Acolytes that conclusively prove otherwise.

 Kanluwen wrote:

Or you can use where that dumpsterfire gets its info:

The GW webstore.

man, i hate when people reply to your posts, because then i gotta click "show this post" and see the gak takes you have.

Wahapedia presents the info much better, you don't need to scroll and start guessing which base size goes with which unit.


But yeah @OP, just pick whatever base your models fit nicely on, no one is gonna complain if youre not using the exact GW-approved base size (which isnt even a thing, if it was, GW would release a document like with AoS)

Ignore message above, where I gave incorrect information. See message below.

 Eilif wrote:
I'm not sure that's entirely correct. AFAIK, the only OFFICIAL GW statement is that models can be based on the bases the models were originally sold on.

Not saying it makes any sense and tourney organizers are allowed to make whatever rules they like, but if you're wanting to be safe, the two safest options for basing are the base the model was sold on or the base the unit is correctly sold with.

which comes back to common sense, use bases that your models fit nicely on, none of that "captain on a knight base" or "demon prince on a 25mm base"

There are no rules or statements from GW relating to base sizes in the current edition.

What do exist are various competing conventions, invented standards for tournaments, preferences and memories. People tend to project their preference as fact in these threads.

Going to go out on a limb here and suggest that we may all be wrong'ish, at least practically speaking. I just looked up the Adepticon tourney rules, which are used for many other tournaments (especially in the USA) and it reads:
"Models MUST use the current factory provided base sizes"

My earlier advice about the "bases models were provided on" is out-of-date and I've edited myself above. Sorry about that.

I don't do tourneys and couldn't care less, but if OP is thinking about doing tourneys, and is rebasing, then the wisest choice of action would be to put their models on the size of base the model or unit is currently provided with. Again, nothing wrong with going with "whatever looks right" or "common sense" but if there's a chance you might want to tourney then why not save yourself any potential trouble and go with current sizes which will be acceptable to everyone.

 Eilif wrote:
Going to go out on a limb here and suggest that we may all be wrong'ish, at least practically speaking. I just looked up the Adepticon tourney rules, which are used for many other tournaments (especially in the USA) and it reads:
"Models MUST use the current factory provided base sizes"

{shrugs} The House Rules for Adepticon have no bearing on how I play.

But yes, if you find yourself tourney bound? Check the rules for each before you go.