I have been adding figures to my layout. I have a mixture of some new kline and lionel figures all the way to some older plasticville figures. The kline figures are nice because they have that clear plastic base so it blends in where ever you put them but alot of the others like lionel have a cement colored base and plasticville a green base. They looked really silly with a green base on sidewalks. I first cut the base off of one of the plasticville figures but found it alot more difficult to glue to the layout as you have to hold it still and while leaning over the table it is not fun, plus I sawed off half a foot in the process. I ended up painting the bases to match the ground and glued fine ground foam to match the ground in grass areas. What do you guys do with your figures, do you cut the bases? Is there an easy way to do this. Do you use a certain brand that don't have bases and are easier to set? Tell us your technique please.

I use figures that don't have bases, all my figures ar either Arttista or Preiser figures. A lot more variety to choose from and much higher quality in the detail. I use Super Glue if I am sure that I won't be moving the figure at some later date and a dab of Mini Hold mostly to hold the rest

Arttista figures almost exclusively and virtually none with a base.

Secure either with a dab of Goo/ACC or with a wire inserted into a drilled out leg/foot depending on where or onwhat they go on.

I use sticky dots from Hobby Lobby.they go on and come off real easy,and they hold.I just got done putting 100 people in my GGD B&O coaches,what a snap.And cheep too.BF

I'm not a big fan of visible bases on figures. I try to only buy figures that don't have bases, or I do some surgery and cut the base off if a figure I otherwise like happens to have a base. Bases are sure signs that what you're looking at is not real, or close to it.

stevin: I've done all of the things that you've already tried. As others have offered, getting figures without those ghastly bases is the best solution, but that's not the answer to your question is it?

I have had luck cutting off the bases but do it selectively. I then either glue on a piece of clear styrene or just use tacky stuff to hold it in place. If I think it ain't going to work for a particular figure I won't do it.

Even with the clear styrene I feel you have to attempt to hide it. Spraying it with Dullcote helps kill the sheen.

As with you, the ones with bases I've tried to use in a scene where I can camoflauge the base with ground foam or some other material.

I do think there's a solution for each figure that you find that you really want to use. The easy solution is to buy better figures. But then, as I ran into, what do you do with the 75 that you already own that have bases?!

Some here may think I have a connection with this company because of how much I push it, but I don't. I deal a lot with trainsformations. She has marvelous O figures and will custom make them for you.

Personally I always thought that Artista figures were undersized for 1:48 scale. I own some but I place them VERY selectively. They look great if clustered together - just don't place them with properly scaled figures.

Oh boy, I'm already picturing getting blasted on my Artista comment. I stand by it though even though I agree that they do make excellent pieces.

- walt

Sticky wax does the job just fine

The figures on my layout are mainly Arttista, with some Preiser and Scenic Accents, held in place with Mini-Hold wax. Also have some Lionel (the figures are very nice, so I can "live" with the bases).
On my modules, I use a lot of Life-Like figures (6 for $9.) The clear plastic base material blends-in pretty well, and provides for quick module set-up. I change the clothing color on some to avoid a "sameness". Joe

quote:

Originally posted by walt rapp:

Personally I always thought that Artista figures were undersized for 1:48 scale. I own some but I place them VERY selectively. They look great if clustered together - just don't place them with properly scaled figures.



- walt

Walt, I think you need to buy a 1:48 scaled ruler , although I must admit I've found a few Arttista figures that were undersized (and NOT marked "S"). I think if you take a scale ruler, you'll find some surprises... Life-Like woman at 6'3", MTH men at 5', Preiser men at just under 7', etc. This is why I'm ammused at all the "moaning" over 1:43 cars. Joe

Only in my Christmas garden do I use figures with bases. The grand kids love to play with them as you can imagine. They'll spend hours rearranging everything and giving them rides on the trains.

On the main layout I only use baseless figures from all manufactures and simply attach them with a small drop of clear tub caulking. It's easy to remove if I need to relocate anything. If I'm doing a scene that I really want to draw attention to I only use Artista figures.

At home I use all of them except the ones with bases. Preiser makes 1/50 and 1/43, and I like them because those German die makers are good at detailing the female figure. I just wish they would bring everything up that they make in HO. If they did that no one would touch them for variety.

When I have to use ones with bases on the Fire Dept. Display Layout I try to match the base to the color they are on, but you are right they don't look good to me. But then most of the people don't even notice them.

Gene Anstine

I've used mostly artistta or preiser figures without bases with Mini-hold. Probably have one or two with bases that I have just left alone. If they had a clear base I removed it.

I have over 800 people and they are all of the manufacturers spoken of above plus some others not named.

I ALWAYS cut off the base with my dremel, heat a straight pin with a candle sitting on my work bench, jam it into a leg, then cut off the excess pin with sharp nose pliers.

I then drill a hole in the layout where the figure is and put gorilla glue on the pin and feet and shove into the hole.

The way, after drying, you can still vacuum around the people without the tornado sucking them up.

I use Presier and Arttista mostly. I mix the Preiser 1/43 and 1/50 Presider with the Arttista depending on location near a building or car. I usually use use Woodland Scenic's tac product to attach the to the layout. On a few figures to make moving them easier, I glue a very small circle of clear semi-rigid plastic to the feet.

I'm with Gene above....I wish Preiser would expand their line in 1:43 and 1:50 to offer the breath of the line of HO figures. Presier seems to be adding one or two sets of 1:43 a year at a turtle's pace. Their HO line of figures is great.