How do we stop unbalanced models falling over!?

[Stealthman]

Hi all! i was toying with my winged vamp lord the other day, trying to figure out a way to make the silly jerk stand up on my table which is actually pretty flat, seeing as its just a battlemat glued to MDF boards.

even vlad will tip easily if he is on a slight slope and i was wondering, how do you guys keep them everstanding in battle?

magnets?
counter weights?
balancing them on a blast template?

let me hear it

 

[Sanai]

Most people put counterweights inside the slotta base, or place basing bits on the base.
I have done the second option on my skeleton standard bearer (I used one of the plastic tombstones in the kit on the base to counterbalance the standard) so now he never falls over.
For metal models, you will need to put (usually metal) counterweights inside/underneath the base itself to shift the centre of gravity lower and stop the mini from tipping.

 

[Vladimir the bloody]

I use coins. Put them under the base with some blue-tac, its perfect.

 

[hairyjeff]

This is a bit difficult to explain, but it works, so I'll have a try. It's for those really annoying command group models that always tip forward.
first, glue a rank of three normal troops with scrap weights in the bases-fragments of old metal or, as suggested earlier, small coins. Glue these together on a very thin ,flat plastic strip. Then weight each command model individually. Now, glue each one to strip which is double base size, and extends back behind the model. The three command models will now be counter balanced by the three combined r&f models which stand on the strip behind them. Yes, it is fiddley, but it is a godsend in big games when you don't have to re-set your models every 3 minutes. Good luck. jeff

 

[Mannerheim27]

I magnetize all of my models so they stick to their bases. I currently have 80 marauders scaling my refrigerator at the moment. If they're not magnetized, I usually will add some sort of counter-weight in the form of a coin or a of some sort to either go within the base or under the base.

Jake

 

[Stealthman]

I magnetize all of my models so they stick to their bases. I currently have 80 marauders scaling my refrigerator at the moment. If they're not magnetized, I usually will add some sort of counter-weight in the form of a coin or a of some sort to either go within the base or under the base.

Jake

so do u glue bits of metal on the bases of the models, with a flat frdge magnet-esque magnet on the movement trays or visa versa?

 

[Stealthman]

I use coins. Put them under the base with some blue-tac, its perfect.

thats a really good idea! i can screw that blast template off! its coin time!

 

[Normal]

I usually try to pose the model the best way so I can avoid balancing it. But once and a while it´s impossible, and a lot of options above are suited. But for a metal model I have, with a large wing pointing far away from the base, I needed a large ball of lead, one of those fishing weights (about 20 - 25 grams of pure lead). This amount does not fit under the base, so I smashed it with a hammer (lead is maleable enough for this) and sculpted a 'rock' around it with GS and solved my problem.

 

[maddipper]

if i have a model that just won't standup i take a lead fishing weight and flatten it with a hammer cut it to fit under the base & glue it with super glue. my orc boss on wyvern was very difficult to keep from falling over so i flattened the lead weight & cut it. i glued it to the back of the top of the base & painted the base gray to look like rocks. this coveredd up the weights too and made them look it was parrt of the base.:konrad:

 

[Swissdictator]

I get metal bases from wargamesaccessories. You have to be sure to get the metric ones though. Usually this is enough to counterbalance, but I also use magnetic sheeting. Between the two it really helps, with the exception of some of the more obnoxious larger metal models. For $5.00 US you get 36 20x20 or 25x25 if memory serves.

Also, unless they have to be front rank troops, if you can use them on a unit filler it helps as the larger base will make them less unbalanced.

 

[Darkthroner]

I cut some metal rests of my old miniatures and put it under the base. Other method I use is to put a small fishing plumb ball.

 

[SotF]

Another thing that often works is BBs (Namely the old, metal ones) if you can find them. I have a jar of them that's lasted a while.

One tactic with them is to cut out the bits inside the base that are meant to keep the top flat due to weight and then add a layer of BBs to it. They seem to be the exact, right size to fill it while giving that same support and some added weight.

Then if you don't like the look, take some of the model filling putty that's meant for the more scale perfect models and fill the base and level it.

 

[Sanai]

How do we stop unbalanced models falling over!?

I didn't know that Teclis and the Skulltaker had falling over problems.

 

[fadetoblack]

Depending where you are you could get in trouble for using coins as that is considered defacing the currency but I highly doubt you would get in trouble.

 

[untitled_musketeer]

Ok I second either weighting it or magnetising it. Magnetising is better for ranked minis though as you magntise the movement tray. For characters I'd go with weighting it. The winged Vamp is a bit of a pain to be honest. I got round mine by building a nice display plinth for it that holds him pretty steady but for the table you want something a litle more substantial. A favourite of mine a little lead fishing weights. As Darkthroner says, the ones your after are the little line weights. These look like little 'split' spheres that grip onto the line. Metal ball bearings and model ballast for aircraft and boats also works really well. All these are just small enough to fit underneath. Alternatively, if you can get hold of it, lead sheet works a treat. Anything metal underneath should help but the heavier the metal the better.

*Whilst I use lead, don't forget it is toxic and can cause posioning. As a general rule, the heavier metals get the nastier they seem to become.*