20mm Basing

[abhorsen950]

Back into the hobby with a crash!
Got giddy on evilbay and suddenly ended up with around 400 1/72 plastics heading for my door. Some of which arrived today! Mostly Napoleonic, some ancient Greeks, Conquistors and Incas alongside.

Now, looking at the quality of some of the plastics (beggars can't be choosers) and more importantly the size, detailed painting may not be on the cards, quick and rough for a general idea more likely. 

However, I do actually want to dip my toe into gaming again, actually use the miniatures I enjoy so much so any recommendations for basing 20mm figures for big battles (napoleonics) and also skirmishes (Ancienct Greeks, Conquisitors and Incas).

Actually hoping to begin sharing some of my miniatures to, especially the napoleonics got a british army in the process of being built and also a french to match.

Look forward to hearing from you,
Kind regards,
Steve

[Cubs]

With 20mm/1:72 'regulars' I tend to give them a 15mm frontage, for 'irregulars' 20mm, with a 20mm depth.

If you're going the big battalion way without individual casualty removal then something like a 2x2 or 4x2 stand of models seems sensible - so 4 or 8 models total with a 30mm or 60mm total frontage (assuming regulars).

I always paint them glued to temporary card bases with woodglue, then peel them off when done and put them on their permanent base.

For base materials, plasticard, forex, mdf or the like would be fine, either homemade or bought online. I make my own, but then I have a nearly inexhaustible supply of forex.

If you want to base any individuals on round bases, I've found that 1/2 new pennies (still available cheap in big bags online) are the ideal size.

[leadboy]

Could you point me in the direction of the website(s) where you get the 1/2 pennies ? I've got quite a few 20mm to base up individually, and this might be the answer ! I've looked on google and found a bag on ebay, but (as ever) it doesn't look very economical....

[Cubs]

I get them from eBay too. You have to trawl through some very optimistic sellers, but I usually get a bag that works out at about 2p per coin. It doesn't always go that the bigger bags are better value, so sometimes you're buying small batches here or there, so obviously you need to factor in postage costs.

[Cubs]

Get in quick, this one is a steal and has 8hrs to go!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/425-British-UK-Half-Pennies-dated-1971-1982-/171268427257?pt=UK_Coins_OtherBritish_RL&hash=item27e064cdf9

[Cubs]

If you can't get any 1/2p's at a decent price, drop me a PM with how many you need because I've got a decent stockpile, probably a lot more than I need. I'll let you have them for what I paid plus postage.

[comet5]

I base all my 20mm on one pence coins with cavalry on either two one pence coins aligned or one two pence coin.

[abhorsen950]

Thanks guys, the use of coins is ideal!

[leadboy]

Thanks Cubs and all - just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing a source ! Ebay searching over time it is !

[Cubs]

I've just come back from a trip to France and realised the 1 Euro-cent coin is about the same size as an old 1/2p coin, so if you can source those at anything like cost you'll be getting them cheaper again.

[carlos13th]

This any good?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ENGLISH-A-ROLL-OF-50-UNC-1971-1-2p-COINS-/400683266130

I use 1p coins for my 28mm's but they would probably be ok for 20mm as well.

[Cubs]

Well, with postage costs included, at the moment the guy is selling 50 coins for about £3, which is 6p a coin ... much more than I ever pay.

I guess it's down to what you want and how much you're willing to spend.

I should have tried to find a bank in France and bought a couple of bags of Euro Cents, because I've only got a handful.

[carlos13th]

Try the local post office cubs. Their exchange rate is usually favourable, not sure if they do such small amounts though.

[Cubs]

Try the local post office cubs. Their exchange rate is usually favourable, not sure if they do such small amounts though.

This is the thing. I think that a Bureau de Change will only deal in notes and not bother about piddling denominations, but unless I ask I guess I won't really know.