Movement trays / regimental bases

[Theerteen]

I hope this won't be a ever and always repeated theme, but how do you build movement trays? I imply that not all of you use the original GW bases or buy their bases, so I'm on a point where I need thoses big carriers. I played with the thought to use a cd case, which has almost the right size for 5 20mm units...But I don't have an idea yet for something else if this won't work. The paperboard I used in the past bended due to the glue... I have tried the forum's search, but didn't find something referred to regimantal bases. It would be great to get a few suggestions and tips

Greez,
TT

/edit Maybe I didn't find anything because I used the wrong word for "regimental"

 

[Johnny-Crass]

RE: Regiment bases

Do you mean Movement Trays?o.o

 

[Tawg]

RE: Regiment bases

Well, I'm not entirely sure what you mean (As with Johnny) but my offering will remain the same:

Try generic Polystyrene Sheets. They come in varying thicknesses, and if you use a ruler you should be able to draw out a template for your needs, and cut the sheets to size.

Then you could make regimental bases (The 20mm X 100mm bases used to represent 5 models in the back of units), with the added benefit of being able to make them what ever size pleases you, or shape.

Polystyrene also works well as movement trays, if that's what you're looking for, but you'll have to make sure to use enough to support the unit being lifted, so either it'll take more than one layer, or using a bit of metal (Which would help if you plan to magnetize the unit).

It's fairly common hobby supply, so if you do a google search you should find a few places that sell it off hand, probably one that doesn't charge international shipping to you (Not sure where you're at).

Hope that helps.

 

[Raven Torrid]

RE: Regiment bases

I use metal as I'm magnetizing my army.

Got a local tinsmith (if that's the correct name, not sure how they're called in English) to cut me some rain gutter metal into appropriate dimensions (adding 5 mm on each side as well, for edges). Then I glued 5 mm wide balsa sticks on the edges & used a file and sandpaper for smooth edges. After that comes sand and paint.


Some WIP shots:

 

[Theerteen]

RE: Regiment bases

I think movement trays is right I turned out of the bed much too early this morning, I thought the word "regiment" means the same in english as in german

This polystyrene and the metal thing sound good, I'll have a look in a store the next days. It's about time my poor zombies, skellies and all the rest get some appropriate basements. Seems that it's time to get some magnets and stuff...
Thanks for the tips!

 

[Constant Drachenfels]

I build mine using the modular movement tray kits by GW. It's probably the most expensive way to do it, but I find the investment is not that bad.

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

I use plastic card myself and them add scenery to give them a extra dimension, some have allot, some only a little but all are different.
I'll stick examples of how I build mine below:

Double think strips of plastic card for the edges after measuring out the size of the tray for the bases. (Double thick gives weapons some clearance from the unit in front.
Rub it over with sand paper so PVA glue can grip onto something when sanded and flocked later.
Pin any scenery into place, fill gaps, sand, paint, Flock.

Hope this helps mate.

 

[Mioum]

I also use plasticard for all my trays. I use a 0.030" (0.8mm) tick sheet for the base, then add some 0.125" (3.2mm) square rod for the edge. Then to make it sturdier, inside I add a 0.020" (0.5mm) thick sheet. And for anything that I magnetize (mostly infantry), I also add Gale Force 9 rubber steel sheet on top.

 

[Noobafrass]

I know you asked about making them, but I have to say, the GW ones are solid. Pre-measured and (imo) a fair price. For the work I used to do making my own trays, it's well worth the money I think.

To answer your question though, I used to use balsa wood for the tray itself and then for edges either more balsa wood or, more economically, sprue bits

 

[Zephyr]

@DDM, thanks for inspiration! I'm currently building a large movement tray and it looked kind of meh. Added scenery will do the trick.

 

[Theerteen]

Very cool, thanks for the tips.
I think I'll try to make the cd case thing, with inspiration from you. If I'll find time (and maybe some money, meh) I will go for the magnetizing stuff, it's about time to go for this with a rising number of units

I think I will start my skellie movement tray with a simple wooden fence, to represent the cemetary for the freshly raisen ones

 

[hairyjeff]

I know I'm a cheapskate, but think on this. Metal work/engineering companies get steel stock delivered with very thin steel sheeting as a protective sheath. Make enquiries- some of them let you take the stuff to get rid of it. Cut to size( with fold up and over edges), paint/decorate- PRESTO -instant magnetically usable movement trays .

 

[Theerteen]

I had to google "cheapskate" I think I will combine the metal plate with some of the decoration ideas...so it's cheap and cool

 

[Ravenstein]

When I magnetise movement trays I use metal from the bottom of confectionery tins - Roses, Celebrations etc. They are either free or cost pennies from a local charity shop: they get given heaps of empty large tins from OAPS lol
It is thin enough sheet metal to cut with heavy scissors exactly to size.
Then it's £7.50 for 100 neodym 5mmx2mm rare earth magnets off ebay, jobs a good 'un.

 

[Sokar]

If you wanna do em on the super-cheap, or need to get a few trays in short order, I've been making my movement trays out of cheap matte-board. You can find this stuff at just about any art/hobby shop, it's basically just extra-thick poster-board card stock. Usually just comes in black and white. Illustration board works fine too, if you happen to know any art-students who have some scraps lying around at home. It's pretty much the same stuff for tray-building purposes, just more expensive.

As with any paper product, you run a risk of warping if you get too much water in it, so I'd recommend basing it with a nice cheap smooth craft paint you don't really have to add water to, and/or giving it a quick coat of spray-seal or thin acrylic medium beforehand.

As for the rims, I just use long pieces of sprue. Just cut and file protrusions off and you can lay down any length you like. A little green stuff or gap filler easily hides any space between the ends of pieces that are bothering you. Just about any wood/paper glue will bond them adequately pre-painting if you lay a heavy book or two on the whole thing on a flat surface when you get the pieces down to let it dry. Super-glues work just fine too of course either mixed in or on their own, and in either case, a bit of acrylic medium with the glue and painted on top of the whole thing once it's together will help seal it all together.

When building your own, just measure carefully and give the space the models will be sitting in an extra millimeter and a half or so. The paint on the tray and on the bases of the models are gonna fill a little bit of that space, after all, and your models will actually be less likely to jitter out of the tray when moving about the battlefield if they've got a tiny allowance for shifting and vibration.

 

[Theerteen]

Ok I'd never thought there are so many ways to build this stuff

I tried the cd casket thing, the size is perfect for 5 cavalry models. You have to remove the round things on the inside, and model up the hole that may result from that.. but except that, it's a quick and easy way. I didn't paint them yet, but will so in the next days..

 

[Melle]

RE: Regiment bases

I use metal as I'm magnetizing my army.

Got a local tinsmith (if that's the correct name, not sure how they're called in English) to cut me some rain gutter metal into appropriate dimensions (adding 5 mm on each side as well, for edges). Then I glued 5 mm wide balsa sticks on the edges & used a file and sandpaper for smooth edges. After that comes sand and paint.


Some WIP shots:

This.
superb, my cousins is a 'tinman', wich
helped a lot, but the cost would have been minor anyway. you can buy the metal in any diy, (called wind sheets, or rain cover or something like that) like bauhaus for about 10 €, will be enough for tray a whole army and some.
once you magnetized one, you never go back again

 

[count kill alot]

well i use GW muvment tray´s my self cos its easy and have imprints of the 25x25mm this way you can just count the amount you need then cut, but you can realy use anything that has a flat surface here are a few (plasticards, wooden plates, even cardboards but then id sugest you glu metal plate for durabilety and for magnetising.).
Hope it helps and good luck.

 

[Shadespyre]

I've made them from thick card, plasticard, scrap metal sheet, thin MDF, all sorts.

If you have trouble with card trays warping, do not used water based glues (like PVA) on them and avoid excessive water based paints. I use superglue, no problems.

For rdging, DIY stores often sell lengths of right angle edging trim. In the UK the plastic ones cast about £1 per metre!

 

[Theerteen]

I bought a pack of the gw trays last week, indeed they have a good price relationship. Especially for hordes, very good. I shun the magnetizing part a little bit, it seems to be a big piece of work and I have so much other stuff unfinished :/

 

[Velmates]

I use magnets. And I love them.

When you are looking for a cheap way to a) get movement trays, b) hold the models in place during a game and c) carry them to your local gaming store, these little magnets are gold.

I use little cylindrical neodymium magnets with a diameter of 2mm and a height of 2mm (so they fit exactly under a infantery base; when I magnetise a cavalery model I use cuboid ones that are narrower but longer so they fit in the rutted base). These magnets are perfectly strong - not too weak so the model can't falls off the tray and not too strong so you won't damage it when you remove it from the tray. Such a magnet comes in at 0.12 Cents a piece.

As a tray I use 0.5mm thick sheet iron. I bought trays for both my vampire and high elf army yesterday - for 0.33 Cents total (plus 15 Euro for the cutting, but still^^)

I built a shelf of some thicker sheet metal that I put in a large bag to transport the trays with the models on them. I sinply put a slightly stronger magnet between the tray and the "board" of the shelf and everything holds perfectly in place.
This shelf will hold my entire 2500pts army with still room for more. The models will be carried around without touching anything so there will be no wear on the models. And, most important: I dont't have to put them individually into a hole in a styrofoam tray. This saves that much time!

EDIT: To get a lightweight "shelf" for transport, build it out of aluminium or plastic and attach a metal-foil that can be magnetised.

I paid about 60 Euro for the magnets, the trays, the metal-laquer and the shelf (plus parts) altogether.

Since you said you are from Germany, I can highly recommend the following page to order your magnets. Cheapest price (the magnetic sheets or what they are called are much much cheaper than from any tabletop supply-store... Magnetfolien in German) and very fast delivery. I ordered on Monday and got them on Friday (living in Vienna; Germany will be faster even)...

http://www.supermagnete.de/

I hope I gave some ideas! But I highly recommend those magnets. Better than anything I have ever tried. Since I use them, I really enjoy each game even more. The packing at home and at the store as well as the set-up at the beginning of the game is so much faster and less complicated. I don't know how I could ever play without them!

 

[Theerteen]

Oh this is nice, will give it a try definitly. Thanks for the page, I ordered a pack 3mm round magnets from Hongkong, they arrived yesterday. So I can now start thinking about magnetizing the bases