Basing and other questions...

[BFalcon]

Hi - read in another thread about the various basing options...

I've dug out a 2nd-hand load of Navwar 1:3000 WWII ships I picked up a while back - half the USN and ISN ships are unpainted, just undercoated, so that's fine... but I need to rebase them all - I was thinking of basing them on plasticard and using the vallejo gel (been meaning to do that for years, but never got around to it).

What plasticard thickness works best? I'm not too keen on the clear bases idea, but has anyone thought of OHP transparency or is it too thin?

Lastly, what width do the bases need to be? Does it make a difference?

For what it's worth, I'm planning to put the ship name and class info on a label just behind the stern of each ship, so plan to extend the bases around 1.5cm (1/2") behind each ship.

On a similar note, how about aircraft? Do you recommend using 1:3000 aircraft models or another scale (eg 1:300) to represent the difference in altitude (and hence perspective)? Do you suggest basing individually or in squadrons, if using 1:3000?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Spectrar Ghost]

I'm using 1:6000, but 1mm/.040" card should do you good. Due to scale, can't really say about the width, except mine are 10mm wide. Ruleswise it's inconsequential, though.

 

[BFalcon]

Thanks Ghost

I was looking at 0.5mm, but I was concerned that would be just too thin - the thinking was that it would show up less against the table, but I guess the base will do that anyhow...

It was mainly the rules requirements I was concerned with - I guess now, the main limitation is the label I need for the information and the ship's own beam.

 

[Spectrar Ghost]

.5mm will be too flexible. I'd worry about it peeling off the models or getting permenant bends if handled roughly.

 

[BFalcon]

Yeah, that was my concern too... particularly on the cap ships.

 

[Spectrar Ghost]

Here's a 1:6000 ship on the 1mm card. It's really not bad, and will be even less noticable in 1:3000.

 

[BFalcon]

Thanks for that shot - it's good to see other people's ideas and models.

I'm going with a standard pair of sizes, except the largest ships where I'll just go with what looks good.

I'm planning to use the labels I've done side-on for the destroyers and landscape (when viewed from astern) for cruisers and above. That way I can get the size I need for the information, without going too OTT on size. I'll see how it goes - I've not cut any plasticard yet, been doing other things (like spending last night compiling a sheet of every US Navy destroyer that saw action in WWII... (ugh).