Designing an improved base

[mangozac]

Hi guys,

Well after discovering the ridiculous price GW are charging for flying stands these days I decided that I would make my own. I will use my lathe to turn up a 25mm disc for the base and use some 2mm diameter brass rod for the stem. I figured it would be handy to incorporate some bearing marks into the base but what do you think:
- Bearing marks protruding or depressed?
- Bearing marks for each fire arc, plus 12 o'clock, 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock?

Anything else that might be nice to include? I was thinking it might be cool to do a variant with tiny asteroids and such embedded into the base?

I do remember that a guy by the name of russ_c over on Port Maw was doing a project like this, but the port is gone so I can't access it...

I'll update as the project advances!

[fracas]

Protruding marks at 12, 1:30, 4:30, 7:30 and 10:30

[horizon]

Hi Mangozac,
I will pm you the email adress of Russ. As matter of fact I have a few of his bases.  They have marks to show the arcs. Plus some have a place to add a small dice on the base.

[mangozac]

Ahh Horizon you are the man in the know

What are your thoughts about the small dice tray? It's too small for a SO dice right? What do you use it for?

I've attached a picture of the proposed design:

[Comrade-K-Rad]

Looks good man!  I was going to dispute the fact that they charged too much at GW, but I just checked before I spoke and wow!  A dollar apiece! Insane.  Good thing I bought a pack of 15-20 before they did this.  The firearcs are a great idea.  Very useful indeed.

[horizon]

A dollar per base??? Whoa...

Nice design. Russ casted them in very clear white (and very crisp I must say). He did make the stem hole like the official bases. But I see merit (improved stability) regarding your addition to the hole.

The bearing marks are the same, except you have the prow one, which is pretty neat.

The dice tray, haven't used it yet. It is too small for the special order dice. For BFG it has lesser use then for some other space games out there.

[mangozac]

I was going to dispute the fact that they charged too much at GW, but I just checked before I spoke and wow!  A dollar apiece! Insane.

Yep even more ridiculous is that they're $1.40 a piece here in Oz now (which with current exchange rates equals pretty much exactly US$1.40). I had a rant about it last night on my blog. It's not so much the $1.40 price as it is the fact that they used to cost 40 cents each that I have a problem with. Plus the fact that GW will be producing them for like 1 cent each. So I figure if these cost me even $2.00 for a superior product I'll go for it.

Russ casted them in very clear white (and very crisp I must say). He did make the stem hole like the official bases. But I see merit (improved stability) regarding your addition to the hole.

Yeah I'm still deciding about the "boss" supporting the stem. I might do some experiments tonight and see if I really feel if it's necessary. These can be cast in black resin, which will be much more appropriate

The dice tray, haven't used it yet. It is too small for the special order dice. For BFG it has lesser use then for some other space games out there.

Yeah I thought so. I won't bother with one, but I can't help but feel that this base needs something else to make it stand out. Not sure what though...

[Comrade-K-Rad]

Yeah I thought so. I won't bother with one, but I can't help but feel that this base needs something else to make it stand out. Not sure what though...

Since you mention it, you could include an embossed name plate so that the ships name has a defined space to be painted on?

[horizon]

Yeah I thought so. I won't bother with one, but I can't help but feel that this base needs something else to make it stand out. Not sure what though...

Some cool airbrush on it (see GothiComp entries for example).

Dunno what else to be honest. Race specific Symbols? Name tags (place holders?)

ah Comrade also says the name. However, some names are short, easy, some are loooooooong.

[mangozac]

ah Comrade also says the name. However, some names are short, easy, some are loooooooong.

Exactly, plus I don't like names on things like escorts.

Hopefully these will be made for sale through a friend of mine, so airbrushing like those cool Gothicomp entries won't be an option!

[canucks fan]

I'm pretty sure the Russ_c design tray was for SO counters (not dice) he designed.  I believe they would notch in the base.  I received some from him, but haven't had a chance to look at them yet.  I'll see if I can post a pic or two soon.
CF
 

[Zelnik]

Mangozac, you elegant Broforce bastard.

More power to you!

[Lex]

Altough stricly speaking I just dabble in BFG, I would still like to make a suggestion.........

Can you make a small ring on the stem, that would allow you to slip over a piece  with 4-8 ?? (I guess)  radial arms. That way the stands would also fuction to hold things like fighters on CAP, blast markers, or maybe even be usefull to use the entire thing for ordnance formations ?

[RCgothic]

Direction of travel + fire arcs the only points that are needed.

[horizon]

An extra ring for ordnance is slick idea.