Laser cut MDF bases vs. Plastic bases

[phn104]

This is more of a question post rather than me showing my modelling work but I didn't know where else to ask this.

Basically I've been using the Rendra bases I got with ImmortalMiniatures boxes and some more that I got off their website and now with the new Persian minis I got to fight my Greeks and Macs I will need some more bases (again).

The thing is I saw MDF bases dirt cheap and I was just wondering if anyone has used them or should I avoid them?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Here is the army I was building (did some greenstuffing where the arms are attached to fill the gaps)



Painting still a work in progress...

[pbeccas]

All I have ever used are MDF bases from Litko. Never had any problem at all. Two thumbs up from me.

[stecal]

Unless flooding is a problem for your army storage mdf is as good as plastic. (I know from experience with card board bases stored in the basement.)

[grant]

I'm a big fan of the Renedra plastics, just easier to find for me and therefore it's what I often use.

All my Naps are on Victrix though.

[Stuart]

MDF all the way, I found a company 20 mins away who do 25 mdf bases for £1!!!

[Alan Charlesworth]

A couple of practical points in favour of MDF bases.

You can get them with magnetic material already bonded to the base. Very good for storage and transportation. I store all my armies vertically in box files with a label on the spine. Takes up very little space and I can pull one out like a book and store them on bookshelves.

You can get MDF cut to any size. With plastic you are stuck with the popular sizes.

Paint soaks into the edges of MDF bases so they don't get chipped or scratched because the paint isn't just on the surface. With plastic the converse.

[Cubster]

Yeah, I've used MDF happily in the past and would do so again.

[Darkwing Duck]

Wish i had used mdf give a bit extra weight to the bases especially with plastic figures so they dont slide off hills as easily as plastic bases. Still I am happy with plastic bases because they came with the figures and I didnt have to pay extra. Still my personalities are on mdf cant really tell on the table.

[Alan Charlesworth]

Magnetic MDF bases and Plastic bases will slide on hills. I have a simple solution for this which I use on my Magnetic MDF bases which is to spray them with Matt varnish. That creates suffucient friction to stop any sliding. I assume the same solution would work with Plastic bases too.

[phn104]

Thanks for the quick responses guys. It is decided then- I will go with MDF bases from now on.

@stecal I am sorry to hear about your basement flood- I figured water and wood may not be a good combination but I am planning on keeping my bases dry (fingers crossed).

@Stuart Yep, I'm on £1,50 for 30 MDF bases so about the same.

@Alan Charlesworth Nice idea with the magnetic storage! It is definitely something I will use down the road when my collection of figs grows bigger. So in those boxfiles do you glue a magnetic sheet on the inside or do you use something else?

@Darkwing Duck I don't really play any games as of yet so figures sliding from hills are not really a concern though I plan to buy a HailCeasar rulebook at some point (maybe buy the Romans vs Celts starter pack which has the Rulebook, give the Romans to my little brother and keep the book with Celts) and give gaming a go.