Tuesday, January 20, 2015

ACW Basing options

Wow 21st of Jan and I have made 6 post already - I'm really enjoying this burst of enthusiasm and activity. I'm deep into another Saxon unit and will have that finished tonight - I usually paint  50 figures in anyone go but I cut that back to 24 for this last two Saxons as I have other things to do. Once these two are complete I have two French Regiments to do which will take my grand total of French Infantry to 3 units (out of 25). Then its the French cavalry's turn to be re-based (and horses painted properly).

A brief interlude into ACW.

I have been looking at Regimental Fire and Fury recently and then at my current figures. Those that survived my original ACW armies were based matching Archduke Piccolos rule-set (Blue and Gray I think) on 35mm x 15m bases. Since most of the forces destruction I have purchased new figures but I have noticed that fitting the older style base is an issue. Airfix and Esci figures fit fine as they have smaller bases but other brands and the poses suit those bases. Some Italeri, Revell and IMEX however have larger bases or the poses often seem to be facing forward so the base is width wise instead of the old classic height wise (Firing figures like the red shirt rebel on the right hand base)). This results in only certain figures fitting together well on a base.

So a new plan is needed I think as I'm not happy with the way the bases work on the new figures.

The following picture is of 3 different basing option (using some unpainted figures).

Right is the original 35mmx15mm, middle is 35mmx30mm and left is the F&F 20mm recommended size 1 1/4 " x 1".

The newer options really only have 2 figures frontage that I think works well space size, but it simply blows away my current units. My units are all individual Regiments from the War (eg: 10th Alabama) so moving to a F&F basis of stands will take away that individual basis and also wreck havoc with my current organisation. I could aim for a default F&F unit size of say 6 or 10 stands but this then causes issues.

eg:  10th Alabama is 24 figures (8 ranks of 3) currently

Options - 

  • Do nothing and just trip the figure bases to fit (For F&F two older bases can combine into 1 FF base.
  • If I re-based for Fire and Fury - I could go for an average size of 6 stands (24 figures) to keep the individual feel and then have a load of generic stands to plug the gaps if larger units are needed or simply go for units of 10 and adjust\remove per ruleset used.
  • Bases ESCI\Italeri on the old bases (making figure combos fit) and then use the IMEX\Revell figures for FF bases for a small force.
It is something I shall have to ponder over as it seems like a lot of effort.




9 comments:

Rodger said...

If I were you I would go with your second option. But then I do like F&F.

Stryker said...

I would suggest that you stick with F&F but put only 3 figures per base. This will give you more stands for each of your existing units and will still look good!

Jacko said...

Thanks

I'm leaning that way to be honest Roger and Stryker. I have a lot of figures so thats not an issue, I just want to keep the the old unit names (Which I will).

Thanks

Archduke Piccolo said...

I called my rule set 'Bluebellies and Graybacks', which I don't think has been used by anyone else.

Archduke Piccolo said...

If you are still interested in my old style bases, I ought to mention that the 3-figure strips are 1/2-inch deep by 1-1/2-inch frontage (say 13mm x 38mm). You could crib an extra couple of mm to make them 15mm deep by 40mm frontage. The difference in frontage of a 24-figure unit in 2 ranks would be less than one third of an inch. Some figures are mounted in twos (1/2"x1") or individually (1/2"x1/2") for casualty removal.

My armies are still organised on my old 27-figure infantry units: CO brandishing a sword, flag bearer, and musician (mostly buglers), plus 24 other ranks. The units form line in two firing ranks plus a 'third' rank of officer figures.

The smaller base sizes (for the figure scale) makes for a slightly more compact unit. The Cavalry, by the way, ought to be on 3/4-inch (frontage) by 1-1/2-inch depth (per figure) [i.e. 19mmx38mm] but I really have fudged them to 20mmx40mm.

To make them fit my cardboard bases, I generally clip the cast on or supplied figure bases (with scissors or shears as the quickest method). This won't do with hard plastic though. Nor will 28mm figures fit well on such small bases.

Having said all that, although on balance I would prefer to remain with my present organization (my CSA Army has 23 infantry and 4 cavalry regiments, and 3 gun battalions (4 guns each), I am prepared (in a good cause) to look into alternatives...

My main concern with Fire and Fury, though, is that it seems to require a heck of a lot of cannon models...

Archduke Piccolo said...

I think I'll do a quick posting about this on my blog...

Jacko said...

Thanks for that Ion.

Mad Padre said...

Life is too short for rebasing is my stock answer to these sorts of issues.
Not terrible helpful, I know ....

Jacko said...

Yes, I'm sticking to what I have now. Of course buying another 300 figures the other did has not helped.

Cheers