I'm pondering adding bases to my kits so I'd like to run this one by you;

How important is a base in a kit? Does a building kit absolutely need to include a base before you'll considering buying it? Or is the extra cost and the limiting size of a precast base more of a negative than a positive?

Thanks for your input!

Randy Pepprock
Dioramas Plus
www.dioramasplus.com

Hey Randy,
I prefer adding buildings to my own bases. That way the whole setting is somewhat unique.
Cheers,
Charles

sometimes not eve a diorama, just a little bit of groundwork is really nice to complement a kit. for instance a really nicely white washed panzer might look a little odd sitting on a shelf next to a desert tiger. if u add a little base just large enough for the model, in this case just maybe some snow and mud, character is added to the otherwise fine kit. the simplest thing can do a lot.

My personal style is to add a building to my base, so I'd opt for no base. I like to go with custom 'funcky' shapes for bases. So if you do add them make them almost component based to use or not use.

I would say no. I've spent the last week putting together vac form buildings from Miniart and TM as well as Scratchbuilding other bits. Some of the Miniart pieces come with base and I feel they limit the modeler in how he places his models. I enjoy moving the buildings around before I decide on the final composition.

Perhaps include a strip of resin or plaster pavement to go with each building.

Maybe offer them both ways.

I would have to agree with Bret in that offer both types, with and without. This way you will be able to assess how popular it is both with and without, and you satisfy both camps.

A simple base might appeal to someone like me who a) has no experience with bases & b) very little tallent for it, too. That way the model can be displayed in some sort of a historical setting, and will make sense to family & friends who might view the "diorama".

Jim

For me the main thing a building kit needs is internal detail and basic 'furniture' - windows/doors/etc. this is why I bought a Miniart house a while ago (nice model but a nightmare build!).
The base is one of the easiest things to make from scratch and as has been said, it can feel quite limiting. Pat's got the best idea, add a few detailed elements such as a strip of pavement & road so the modeller has all the parts they need for a dio but the freedom to arrange it as they wish.
I really appreciate a manufacturer actually asking the modelling community for their input, I hope it helps.

Hi
I would rather have no base but have the extra's needed to furnish the building.
My bases are usually build around the size of vehicle & men I'm going to place on it & I dont like having to fit them into a standardised base area.
I agree with the add the window frames, doors , & maybe some extra pieces of flooring etc like the MIniart kits do.

No. Id prefer to decide my own base size/style/type/etc.

In saying that .... theres nothing wrong with designing a base or bases that "could" be suitable/recommended for each building, and let each modeller decide if thats what they want or not. Keith Magee was heading in this direction some years ago, with a modular design, where peices could be adpated and cross kited to suit. Having a few standard sections with cobblestones or cobblestones/footpaths or cobblestones/footpaths/house foundations would be handy, so the most suitable size or layout could be chosen to suit a particular project. Just my 2 euro sense!

Having a base with your kit is a superb offer!.

I like them but somewhat I toy around with them but I never use them

I havnt built a diroama yet but when I plan to do I will use my own base.

Let me clarify. By "base' I mean a precast rectangle of resin or plaster that already has detail cast into it.

Presently our building kits do not include a base, but do include a big bag of cast rubble and 1/35 bricks.

Including a base would increase the cost of a kit by maybe 30 %.

Randy Pepprock
www.dioramasplus.com

I would be much more willing to purchase one of your kits if it came with a base, because I don't have a lot of experience with dioramas and building bases. I would be willing to pay 30% more for the base.

i would like to see kits of buildings with an interier section included.... i think someone else higher up here mentioned this.....
i dont mean just a flat section of floor boards.... but a good 3D base, to show piles of rubble, abit of ferniture in it and of course timbers and roof tiles from above. so this could have a small section of base that would be places outside the building walls (below windows and doorways to carry on the design..... but not the ground/street or what ever after that.

just my thoughts. hope it helps
neil

Hi

As really mentioned by others I'd rather see more content for the inside of the buildings rather than a "base" as such. Such things as internal wall sections, staircases, and other architectural features.

Whilst I think the all in one style diorama such as marketed by Miniart of late is good I think most people prefer the flexibility and less chance of repetitive dioramas to other modellers when creating their own. I bet they sell more of the building kits than they do the diorama ones.

Alan

Hi,

Some of the modellers don't have time or art to make the base and normally buy bases that are able to be customised to make a unique piece.

So, as said before if you offer buildings/ruins with and without a base and the bases are modular you can give to each buyer what they need by a fair price - those who don't want a base have not to pay more and you don´t loose a costumer and those who like to have a base only have to pay a little more, instead of buying two sets that will be more expensive and you get a costumer.