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Author Topic: Good, Thin 8" x 8" or 10" x 10" Basing Material?  (Read 864 times)

Offline Mako

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  • Posts: 779
Good, Thin 8" x 8" or 10" x 10" Basing Material?
« on: July 09, 2020, 03:53:20 PM »
I've run across the 12" x 12" floor tiles at the local home improvement stores, but are there any smaller footprints of pre-cut, square, or hexagonal tiles available for basing?

I'd rather not have to cut my own, in order to save time, and to not have to worry that they are completely square, or hexed.

The 12" ones are a little large for my needs, but I guess could be pressed into service if absolutely needed.

8" x 8" seems like it would be ideal, and 10" x 10" would be okay too.  Not sure if 6" x 6" would work, since that might be a bit small, but I guess it could work for some applications for 15mm scale minis.

I'm thinking the smaller footprints would be preferable for making sectional bases for modular buildings, and other structures, than the larger 12" squared one, so am looking for inexpensive, pre-cut, alternatives.  Styrene plastic would work too, but is pretty expensive in some cases, unless I go the sign route, and cut those up myself.

Some rectangular sections might also work too, I guess.

Pre-cut acrylic, vinyl, or other heavy, thin material seems to be the way to go.

Thoughts?
« Last Edit: July 09, 2020, 03:55:56 PM by Mako »

Offline Eric the Shed

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 4200
    • The Shed Wars Experience
Re: Good, Thin 8" x 8" or 10" x 10" Basing Material?
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2020, 02:46:39 PM »
check ebay for hexes -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10pcs-MDF-Wooden-Disk-Hexagon-Shape-Wood-Base-Hex-Crafts-Wall-Decor-90x78mm/153512013780?hash=item23be076fd4:g:tnoAAOSwQHBc9NdF

contact any of the major mdf players and see if they will do custom squares for you eg warbases, sarissa etc

Offline Ray Rivers

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Re: Good, Thin 8" x 8" or 10" x 10" Basing Material?
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2020, 06:38:18 PM »
Check out Pendraken. They have both and also offer custom sizes:

https://pendraken.co.uk/mdf-bases-and-basing/

Offline FifteensAway

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 4607
Re: Good, Thin 8" x 8" or 10" x 10" Basing Material?
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2020, 04:24:56 AM »
Too large and too thin and you risk warping with most materials, even plastic.  If you use wood you could laminate pieces cross grained but that is called plywood.  There is hobby plywood you can buy but you would need to cut to size but even plywood can warp though thicker plywood is less prone and if well stored can stay flat for a very long time.

Not sure of your intent but I am thinking to create "modules" of several buildings for my Old West towns to speed setting up time and to allow more "natural" scenery.  I expect I will use 1/2" thick plywood (which is usually a tad thinner than 1/2").  I figure to round off the outer edges but keep most ends and the interiors straight.  That way I can lay a purpose built road module in the middle and the modules to either side.  Probably build separate end pieces, now that I think about it, so I don't restrict any module to only being an end piece and these end pieces can also blend into the base terrain including the road.  This will also allow side roads to connect in though in ground wheel marks might get a bit tricky to match to the main road.  I also plan to have my towns be on varying levels rather than the almost universal dead flat of most Old West towns.

As to cutting plywood: one, you can buy smaller sheets at a bit of a premium, 2x2 and 2x4 instead of 4x8 sheets.  You can also have big box stores do some of the cutting.  And if you have, or have access to, a table saw, they cut quickly and can be sized precisely by using a fence.

Hope that helps some.  (Helped me sort a few ideas in my head!)

Offline Fitz

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    • The Website of Fitz
Re: Good, Thin 8" x 8" or 10" x 10" Basing Material?
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2020, 08:49:49 AM »
The laminate used to surface kitchen benches and the like (the best known brand name here in NZ is Formica) works well for this sort of thing, being flat, strong and stable. The under-side is relatively rough and takes paint and glue well, and it is easily cut to size by scoring and snapping.

Offline Ray Rivers

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 5911
Re: Good, Thin 8" x 8" or 10" x 10" Basing Material?
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2020, 04:30:22 PM »
Another alternative is aluminum sheeting. It is normally pretty thin, so you need to glue it to mounting board or pre-cut mdf. You just glue the base to the aluminum sheeting and then cut it out. Might need a little sanding though.

I do this all the time for large bases, and it doesn't warp. Base thickness is a bit less than 3mm.

Here is a picture of what it looks like (base is 5 inches long):


Offline Mako

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 779
Re: Good, Thin 8" x 8" or 10" x 10" Basing Material?
« Reply #6 on: July 13, 2020, 06:11:19 AM »
Thanks for the suggestions.

I might just have to go with the linoleum floor tiles, but may also try the formica countertop stuff.

Found that Home Depot apparently sells 5" x 7" tiles as samples, very inexpensively, so may check those out.  Looks like they may only be about 1.5mms thick which sounds perfect.

I'll have to see if I can get multiple samples, and/or if I can buy just a small section, say 3' x 3', or 4' x 4', or so.

 

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