Plastic Versus MDF Bases

[Klingsor]

In general I use thin round plastic and laser cut MDF bases pretty interchangeably apart from preferring the former for plastic figures as they are easy to glue down but which do the list mind prefer and why?

What set me wondering was the purchase of a Nanotyrannus from North Star which has me wondering whether I would be better off using a plastic or MDF base and whether I should use superglue or epoxy to secure it to the base; my gut reaction is to go with epoxy as it is a relatively heavy and tall miniature and with an MDF base as it has a rougher surface to give the glue a better grip. For smaller man sized metal miniatures I usually just use superglue assisted by some epoxy putty or wood filler to blend in the integral base of the miniature.

Is warping ever an issue? I have never had warping as an issue with MDF bases as they all get a good coat of varnish on either side to seal them but have seen it with a couple of plastic bases to which plastic walls left over from the Renedra arab house were glued but I have attributed that to an excess of glue.

[Mindenbrush]

In the past for 25mm artillery team bases I have used 2mmMDF with 3 or 4 100mm long spears from Foundry glued down before applying the scenic material.

Now I have some thin galvanised steel bases that I can glue to the bottom of 2mm MDF to stop it warping and act as a magnetic base.

You could also use fender washers glued to the material of choice to stop it warping/

[Hu Rhu]

I started to use plastic bases but found they often fell over, especially with plastic figures, or wouldn't grip on a sloped surface.  Now I use exclusively coins (2p or 1p) to mount single foot figures, MDF for horse or crew figures and multiples.  If I want to group single figures for movement I use the appropriate sabot bases, usually by Warbases.

The coins give heft, especially to plastic figures and they are literally the cheapest way to mount figures (and that includes washers).