odd question - but I need some help (1 Viewer)

[45thdiv]

I collect Jenkins FIW sets. I also play skirmish games with them. Recently one of my friends asked if we could play a more traditional game with them.

I have smaller figures in 28mm that I have painted and mounted on stands for ease of movement.

Any thoughts on how I might mount the Jenkins figures on stands that will not harm the paint on the figures?

Some thoughts I had were:

Rubber cement - though would it hold well enough for 4 figures to be on a base and not have them fall off when the base is moved?

Elmers white school glue (I think also pva?) - it dissolves in water, but then I don't want to ruin the labels on the bottom of the figures by dipping them in water to remove from the stands.

Poster tack - this is the stuff that you can put posters on the wall without using push pins. But I wonder again on it's ability to hold the figures to the stand while moving.

Thanks in advance for any ideas that you might think of. I'd like to do mass battles without having to move one figure at a time, but on the other hand I don't want to ruin my collection just for a game.

Matthew

 

[jazzeum]

Matthew,

Have you thought of tacky wax? That won't damage the figure at all.

 

[DMNamiot]

Brad has it totally nailed this stuff works great

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Brad has it totally nailed this stuff works great

I have thought about living in Hawaii and having earthquakes...will this tacky wax prevent tip overs? If so where do you buy "tacky wax"?

 

[Peter Reuss]

I have thought about living in Hawaii and having earthquakes...will this tacky wax prevent tip overs? If so where do you buy "tacky wax"?

Yes it will...

Enter shameless plug here

You can buy it at Treefrog

 

[45thdiv]

I don't know where to by tacky wax in the USA. Can it hold the weight of 4 figures on a stand? If someone picks up the stand by a figure, will he pop off and the stand then drops to the table causing damage to the other figures? It's one of the issues I am having. The need to hold 4 figures to a stand and yet not damage the figure's paint.

I'll hunt around for tacky wax and see where is might be sold.

Thanks for the input so far. I still would appreciate more thoughts.

Matthew

 

[thebritfarmer]

Yes it will...

Enter shameless plug here

You can buy it at Treefrog

I don't know where to by tacky wax in the USA. Can it hold the weight of 4 figures on a stand? If someone picks up the stand by a figure, will he pop off and the stand then drops to the table causing damage to the other figures? It's one of the issues I am having. The need to hold 4 figures to a stand and yet not damage the figure's paint.

I'll hunt around for tacky wax and see where is might be sold.

Thanks for the input so far. I still would appreciate more thoughts.

Matthew

See above post

I don't know the strength of it though in being able to pick up the weight of 4 figures.

 

[45thdiv]

thanks - Peter was posting as I was typing. I'll check it out.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I don't know where to by tacky wax in the USA. Can it hold the weight of 4 figures on a stand? If someone picks up the stand by a figure, will he pop off and the stand then drops to the table causing damage to the other figures? It's one of the issues I am having. The need to hold 4 figures to a stand and yet not damage the figure's paint.

I'll hunt around for tacky wax and see where is might be sold.

Thanks for the input so far. I still would appreciate more thoughts.

Matthew

Tacky wax isn't glue. It is meant to be removable. It is meant to help slightly unstable figures stay in position. If you put 4 Jenkins figures on a base and then lift it by one of the figures, you will eventually have an accident and probably sooner than later.

If you want to make sets of figures for war gaming, put the figures on a plastic base, fix with in place with tacky wax. Then put thin strips of plastic over the figure bases and glue those strips to the plastic base. Even then, don't lift it by one figure - use both hands and lift by 2 figures

Terry

 

[Deitz]

I picked some up at Treefrog's room at the OTSN this year and put it to goodwork.

How long does is it last?

 

[45thdiv]

Thanks Terry,

While I am obviously pretty careful with my figures, last weekend for a test run of the game, other were not. It does prove that Jenkins figures are very well made and sealed well. At least 12 were knocked over during the game which lead me to pursue some means of fixing them to a base without ruining the paint.

Your idea about using a piece of plastic between the figures on the base is an idea. I would not need to use the wax for that. I also plan on making the base out of hard board so that there is more of the base to grab.

I know it's my own risk if I want to use these as game pieces, but it is what I purchased them for. So I need to find that happy medium.

Thanks.

Matthew

 

[mikemiller1955]

Matthew,

Have you thought of tacky wax? That won't damage the figure at all.

Brad's right...this is all you need...super secure and no damage...

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Thanks Terry,

While I am obviously pretty careful with my figures, last weekend for a test run of the game, other were not. It does prove that Jenkins figures are very well made and sealed well. At least 12 were knocked over during the game which lead me to pursue some means of fixing them to a base without ruining the paint.

Your idea about using a piece of plastic between the figures on the base is an idea. I would not need to use the wax for that. I also plan on making the base out of hard board so that there is more of the base to grab.

I know it's my own risk if I want to use these as game pieces, but it is what I purchased them for. So I need to find that happy medium.

Thanks.

Matthew

The tacky wax on the base helps because it is difficult to get the plastic strips across the bases very tight. And instead of a board as a base, try a tray with small sides so you can do the lifting from the base.

Terry

 

[maddadicus]

I have some 280 plus figures mounted, 6 to a wood board...I use rubber cement and when I pick up the figures, I lift by the corner soldiers. If the soldier bottoms are painted, you might lose the paint. Since most of my figures are not main line mfg., loosing the painted bottoms are not an issue for me..Most are merely gray or black primer coat anyway..Michael

 

[thebritfarmer]

Thanks Terry,

While I am obviously pretty careful with my figures, last weekend for a test run of the game, other were not. It does prove that Jenkins figures are very well made and sealed well. At least 12 were knocked over during the game which lead me to pursue some means of fixing them to a base without ruining the paint.

Your idea about using a piece of plastic between the figures on the base is an idea. I would not need to use the wax for that. I also plan on making the base out of hard board so that there is more of the base to grab.

I know it's my own risk if I want to use these as game pieces, but it is what I purchased them for. So I need to find that happy medium.

Thanks.

Matthew

How about using pegboard and then using thread to wrap through the holes and over the bases of the figures. If that makes sense.

 

[maddadicus]

How about using pegboard and then using thread to wrap through the holes and over the bases of the figures. If that makes sense.

Not very pretty, but very effective..I once made a cut out sleeve for a horse grouping with holes that went over the figures ,but effectively held down the bases/stands, when taped to the borders of a bottom stand...Michael

 

[45thdiv]

Thanks everyone for all of the ideas. Lots to think about. All the ideas have lead me to think of other ways to keep the figures on the stand - and yet some ideas lead to trying to come up with a way to also have the stand look nice for the game.

Michael, you must be gaming with yours too. What rules are you using?

We are thinking of All The King's Men (ATKM) Or perhaps "Black Powder"

Matthew

 

[PJDeluhery]

The best solutions are Tacky Wax and Blu-tack (a.k.a poster putty). Both hold very well and will not harm paint. In the miniature painter world, Blu-tak is used to hold figures in transport, and I've never heard of a mis-hap.

Some time ago there was a supplier that provided clear plastic strips on which you could mount your figures w/ Tacky Wax. I never bought it, but if I were going in that direction, that's what I'd do.

 

[maddadicus]

Thanks everyone for all of the ideas. Lots to think about. All the ideas have lead me to think of other ways to keep the figures on the stand - and yet some ideas lead to trying to come up with a way to also have the stand look nice for the game.

Michael, you must be gaming with yours too. What rules are you using?

We are thinking of All The King's Men (ATKM) Or perhaps "Black Powder"

Matthew

I am a gamer wannabee. For years, I have mounted my toy soldiers as if I would use them for gaming. I have cavalry, infantry and artillery on various colored wood bases denoting corp. or other unit type markings. I even have a ACW homemade 20 mm ironclad fleet ready for future action. But without the time or serious historical gamers locally to me, my entire collection just sits there, static...I have seen ATKM played. Looks easy and enjoyable. Michael

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Yes it will...

Enter shameless plug here

You can buy it at Treefrog

So which is the preffered...or easier for you to answer...what is the best seller? Also has this stuff been in use for long periods (many many years) and proven to keep the bottom labels all good? Seems like if they were saturated for long periods it would have an eating away effect of the bottom printing.