Recent content by Fat Dragon Tom

Total cost per base is around $1. I used gloss black Krylon paint. The stickers peel off of this easily if you ever need to remove them, so these bases can be reused for other games as well.

One change to these finished one vs. the prototype image I posted earlier this week is I added a small collar at the bottom of the main rod out of the same diameter tube I used at the top. This helps keep the rod perfectly vertical when gluing to the MDF base.

Here is the finished base with sticker applied:

Here are the first two flight stands I've made (just need to paint them black and attach one of the stickers I made. The base is 2mm MDF, the main post is 1/8" diameter aluminum rod, while the smaller 1cm long 'collar' is 5/32" interior diameter rod (exterior diameter isn't important.)

I just got the magnets and tried making my first stand. I'm happy to say it works perfect, and the rare-earth magnets are strong enough to hold up the metal miniatures. I'm making more stands later this week, and will photograph the process step-by-step. Here are the magnets I'm using...

Thanks everyone! I'll post pics of the stands as I construct them.

My son and I got hooked on ACTA at Origins a few weeks ago (thanks Bill Stec!) I've decided to try and make my own magnetic flight stands out of laser cut MDF board, brass tubing and rare earth magnets. I've got all of the supplies on order or already purchased, so I've proceeded with designing...

Check your local scrapbooking store, they have tons of cutting dies in all sorts of shapes, I've used them on 110lb cardstock without any issues (my wife has a lot of these.)

My son and I played in Bill's games at Origins and had a wonderful time. I've played Star Fleet Battles and Federation Commander off and on for years, but this was my first time playing ACTA:SF and loved it. I bought the rulebook and quite a few 2500 minis to continue upgrading my 2400 fleets...