Different Bases for the Same Mini?

[Volgon]

Heya folks. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience or suggestions of how it would be possible to have a mini "transferable" between bases. Essentially, I'm looking for ways to be able to play a specific mini on a 32/40mm base for certain games, but on a 60mm "mini-diorama" for display purposes or in other games. I've thought of three different ideas, but I'm curious if there are other/easier options than what I'm thinking.

1. Magnetize the feet of the mini and both bases. Then I could just separate them and drop the mini onto whatever base is required. I have never magnetized so I am unsure of the strength of magnets and whether magnetizing to the bases would involve knocking the mini off the base during gameplay when moving and such.
2. Pin holes in the base with paper clip pins in the feet of the mini. Kind of an evolution of slotted bases I guess? Seems rough on the mini though.
3. Base adapters, or cutting a 32/40mm hole in the larger base and using it as kind of a tray/plate where I can drop the mini connected to the smaller base into the hole. I'm thinking a smaller scale of what you usually see in squad dioramas. That being said I have never come across enclosed bases I guess is the best way to describe it, so that the smaller base has a "floor" to sit on top of. I have also never actually looked for something like this so maybe they exist. Also base adapters probably wouldn't really work with my idea since the ones I've seen, the hole where you drop the other base is centered, whereas that idea doesn't really work with the idea I have in my head for the larger base.

 

Any other suggestions would be great, thanks all!

Edited July 22, 2023 by Volgon

[Grotsmasha]

One 2mm or 3mm magnet in each foot will be plenty strong enough to hold the model to a base if you choose this route. I actually went with magnets AND base in base for my Umbral-6,

 

[Bung]

I have seen gaming bases inserted into display bases / Dioramas mostly for Skirmish Games but could work for a single miniature.

Something like this

https://handfulofdice.com/2022/12/05/creating-a-warhammer-underworlds-display-base/

 

[Volgon]

Thanks for the replies!

 

@Grotsmasha That is perfect, pretty much exactly what I was thinking. Are magnetized minis "wobbly" at all on the bases? Or is the bond quite firm? And what is that white material underneath the larger base? Is it just glued to the underside of the base to act as the "floor"?

 

@Bung Cheers for the link, it hadn't yet occurred to me to use cork or another material to elevate the minis and use the plastic base as the floor that the smaller base would sit on.

[Grotsmasha]

5 hours ago, Volgon said:

Thanks for the replies!

 

@Grotsmasha That is perfect, pretty much exactly what I was thinking. Are magnetized minis "wobbly" at all on the bases? Or is the bond quite firm? And what is that white material underneath the larger base? Is it just glued to the underside of the base to act as the "floor"?

 

Very stable, I can shake the whole assembly and the model wont fall from either place. The white "floor" is a piece of plasticard glued to the bottom of the larger base and then trimmed to size once set. If I'd been smarter, I'd have used the black plasticard I have.....

[Cactus]

I can tell you from experience that option 2 will be a nightmare for gaming. Every time you pick up the model the base will fall off.