Neyuttad Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 Ok, I don't like empty hollow bases. Especially when the mini is in metal and the center of gravity is very high. I was planning to fill it up with 5-minute set epoxy putty and add a nicked or a penny(or two) in it. What do you guys think? is using epoxy a good way, should I use something else? Please advice. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastman Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 You might try the plumber's 2 part epoxy putty they sell in hardware stores. There is one brand (I think it is called Liquid Steel or something similar) that can be machined once it has cured (drilled and tapped for bolts, etc) which I seem to remember was pretty dense compared to the liquid epoxy cements. I was a long time ago when I used this stuff for some equipment repairs, but it should still be available in the finer tool and hardware stores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars Porsenna Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 If you check out the automotive sections theres a type of epoxy putty that's steel impregnated. Pretty weighty IIRC. Personally, I just use epoxy when I have to (the same stuff I use for gluing figures together). Cheap, works well, and I can embed metal BBs should I need the weight (though recently I found a gun shop near my house, so I might try them to get lead shot). Damon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggeye Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 Plumbers Epoxy is Perfect. I've recently switched all my bases to fender washers (box of 100 1" washers is about $4.99 +tax). Adds weight with a nice low profile and perfectly round so they work beutifully for D&D (no facing anymore). If I don't care how tall the base gets I'll mix up a little bit of plumbers epoxy (Loctite is the brand I use - comes as a 2 part white/blue compound) put it on the washer and press the mini on top. Then mold what squishes out the sides over the top of the mini base and smooth it over the sides of the washer. Try to work fast it starts to set up pretty quickly. Keep your fingers/tools wet to prevent sticking. Once it is pretty firm leave it alone for a day (2 hours is plenty but I prefer 24 hours) so its fully cured. At this point its rock hard and can be dremeled/filed/sanded/xacto-whitled (be supercareful with an xacto knife) into a more semetrical/smooth shape. If I want a lower profile base I'll grind/file down the broccoli base so only a small portion of the broccoli base is left and repeat the above process. For the lowest possible profile, grind/file the mini's base down all the way to the bottoms of the mini's feet and pin drill up into the heels of the mini. Now mold the epoxy over the washer to the height you want. While the epoxy is still a little pliable just press the mini's feet onto your newly formed base just hard enough to leave foot imprints. Not only will this leave foot impressions but will also leave a slight dimple impression where the epoxy tried to go up into the foot holes you drilled. Bingo - your holes are now perfectly marked for pin drilling the base portion. Now let the base cure for a day so its rock hard. Then drill your holes into the base. Cut pins (I use Paper clips) to the proper length - test the fit - and secure with CA). Works just as well with slota base minis. Just file down the slota tab to the height you want and mold the epoxy over the tab. But be sure to hold the mini in its proper standing postion (ie. not leaning too much to one side) and keep pressure on the epoxy around the tab for a good 10 minutes. Then take your hands off and walk away. No matter how strong your impulse is to wiggle the mini to see if its firmly secured -DO NOT WIGGLE IT. Wait 24 hours before handling an epoxy secured slotta tab mini. If its not rock hard you will loosen the mini and no amount of hand pressure will be able to reform the epoxy enough to fix the wiggle. But if the mini wiggles anyway dont sweat it too much. A quick shot of super glue (zap-a-gap/hot-stuff/any CA) should stiffen the mini right up. If the epoxy happens to separate from the washer for some unseen reason, CA will bond them back together lickety-split. Hope this helps. (edited for clarity) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BunnyPuncher Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 Lead Tape and a bit o da green to cover it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodnik Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 A good and cheap solution is to use pennies. You can do 100 bases for a 1.00. Glue the penny in the bottom, cover with flex paste (not necessary, but it is more pleasing than a penny). This is what I do, anyway. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerridwyn1st Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 I mount my minis on Reaper metal bases and fill in with green stuff. Gives them nice weight so they don't tip over, they look good, and would be compatable with the Warlord system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neyuttad Posted April 23, 2004 Author Share Posted April 23, 2004 Woah, I didn't know reaper has metal bases. I'll have to check it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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