MDF or Plywood?

[Snowman]

Has anyone experience from both MDF bases (such as those sold by Foundry or 4ground) and plywood (such as the ones sold by Litko)? If so - which ones do you prefer? Any major drawbacks with either type?

[Phil]

I've used both - had no dramas with either.

Phil

[Colonel White]

I have probably used all types of bases. My current favourites are the Renedra plastic but wooden bases are just as good . The only bases I am not keen on is the old traditional coin being used as a base. I always find that the paint on the edges tends to rub off revealing a shiny copper colour.

Going back to the plastic, the main advantage I have found is that with polycement they casn be stuck together to form larger bases for artillery pieces for example.

[grant]

I second the Renedra. I wish they would do some more sizes. I will also make my own out of plasticard.

[Klingsor]

I must admit I prefer MDF but I think this is a carry over from using it and plywood for making my own larger sized bases.

I bought round bases from Fenris made from laser cut plywood and they are great, they worked well for trees. The next ones I bought were MDF by Warbases and they were great as well. Some were thicker and were less nice but this was my own fault for ordering the thicker bases (just to see). I would use either very happily.

I always give both a coat a varnish on either side and the edges before use just to prevent them from getting excitable. I do not know if it is necessary but it reassures me.

[mackers]

Have used plastic, mdf and plywood. Plastic my preference.

Regards

Jim.

[Invisible officer]

For 28mm I use massive wood for decades, 5 mm pine. Cheap and sturdy. And easy to buy. But my 20 x 20 mm single base system is a little old fashioned. And no tufts.

For modern warfare I use thinner wood these days. But thin wood or MDF may warp if you use wet materials for sculpting the surface.
Plastic, a question of personal preference. I dislike the feeling but it surely has some advantages.

What I would not buy are bases from a maker's system. The moment he stops offering them.......

[Parus Ater]

I'm of the school of thought that an excellent painted figure on a poor base looks okay but decent basing will promote an okay figure to looking excellent. For the amount of time basing takes it's a bit lazy not to. There's about ten minutes work for a block of sixteen in basing with sand, a three colour drybrush and some static grass. For me that's the minimum requirement.

[Snowman]

Where do you get additional 40x40 Rendera bases? There are only two in each box, and buying the entire sprues (with the 20x20 bases etc. on them) will make the bases very pricey. And the Victrix bases have radiused corners so they won't match.

[Big Al]

Funnily enough, Warlord have just annoinced that they are stocking Renedra 40x40mm bases in this week's newsletter. You have signed up to it, haven't you?

http://store.warlordgames.com/40mm-squa ... 8298-p.asp