I know it's not a killer but ships & especially squadrons are very light and easy to move accidentally.

Has anyone successfully cut lead into circles to stick onto the bottom of Squadrons? I was looking on eBay and sheets seem to be cheap enough and thin enough to buy and cut to size.

How about ships? There's plenty of room under the base, but not in the same way as you'd cut something to go under squadrons?

What would be best to put underneath to minimise slippage? Rubber of some sort?

Cheers!

Look in a home improvement store for steel washers to glue under the squadron bases for weight, that is what a lot of x-wing players do.

For the ships, not sure it's necessary. Haven't encounter enough slippage to worry about yet.

Yeah, I've hot glued some washers under the bases. 1/8" thick by 1" diameter works for me.

I coupled them with some thick and strong magnets in my fleet box to help them stand secure, even when the box gets knocked about a bit in my backpack on the bicycle. I'm really pleased with it.

I would strongly advise against using lead. Brain damage isn't fun.

Steel washers are relatively safer.

Second post because editing on a phone doesn't work.

A perhaps better way to stick the toys down is to file rare earth magnets to the bottom, and use a steel table. They won't move. Even a thin sheet of steel on a regular table would work.

Put a layer of magnetic paint on your playmat, then overcoat with pretty paint.G

I would avoid lead at all costs, given that steel is available and cheap. I've found that steel washers work great for squadrons, and they give the right amount of bottom-heaviness to them.

I genuinely appreciate the concern for my health but I’m fairly certain that lead poisoning via the skin is very hard to do without dealing in liquid organic leads and / or prolonged exposure. Given I’m not going to lick or barely touch the bases I think I’d be fine. Especially with a rubber adhesive something stuck to the bottom.

A perhaps better way to stick the toys down is to file rare earth magnets to the bottom, and use a steel table. They won't move. Even a thin sheet of steel on a regular table would work.

This is a great idea and if I could adjust my gaming surface to fit, I think I would do but sadly I’m stuck with the large printed mat and various tables (wood).

I would avoid lead at all costs, given that steel is available and cheap.

Lead still seems cheap enough and t has the benefit of being easily malleable & available in different thicknesses. For example I could easily cut a 3mm circle to match which would be twice the weight of any steel washer (Unless I was lucky enough to find a steel disc exactly the right width with no hole in it as steel and lead are close-isn in density).

On Facebook I had a suggestion which is to use UK 2p coins which are almost exactly the right size, cheap and readily available so I’m going to try those instead of the faff of lead and cutting anything.

I still need to find something to stick to that to create the most friction however, thinking of trying self adhesive rubber sheets….

Thanks all for the ideas and feedback!

I genuinely appreciate the concern for my health but I’m fairly certain that lead poisoning via the skin is very hard to do without dealing in liquid organic leads and / or prolonged exposure. Given I’m not going to lick or barely touch the bases I think I’d be fine. Especially with a rubber adhesive something stuck to the bottom.

A perhaps better way to stick the toys down is to file rare earth magnets to the bottom, and use a steel table. They won't move. Even a thin sheet of steel on a regular table would work.

This is a great idea and if I could adjust my gaming surface to fit, I think I would do but sadly I’m stuck with the large printed mat and various tables (wood).

I would avoid lead at all costs, given that steel is available and cheap.

Lead still seems cheap enough and t has the benefit of being easily malleable & available in different thicknesses. For example I could easily cut a 3mm circle to match which would be twice the weight of any steel washer (Unless I was lucky enough to find a steel disc exactly the right width with no hole in it as steel and lead are close-isn in density).

On Facebook I had a suggestion which is to use UK 2p coins which are almost exactly the right size, cheap and readily available so I’m going to try those instead of the faff of lead and cutting anything.

I still need to find something to stick to that to create the most friction however, thinking of trying self adhesive rubber sheets….

Thanks all for the ideas and feedback!

Lead would rub off on the tables. It is a very soft metal. Additionally, you may be playing in a gaming store. Gaming stores occasionally have kids in them. Kids put everything in their mouth.

Just use steel.

We use 1 inch washers. We place the ship on the washer, it keeps it in of place and you can lift the squadron to adjust hull points or Toggle the turn indicator.

We also lift the squadron and move the washer then place the squadron back on it,

Lead would rub off on the tables. It is a very soft metal. Additionally, you may be playing in a gaming store. Gaming stores occasionally have kids in them. Kids put everything in their mouth.

Just use steel.

It's really not a risk, and would be covered with rubber anyway. Believe me I know how many things kids put in their mouths having two constantly sick ones at home....

Believe me I know how many things kids put in their mouths having two constantly sick ones at home....

Are they constantly sick due to your strange fascination with using lead in place of safer materials?

Are they constantly sick due to your strange fascination with using lead in place of safer materials?

It's not dangerous! Certainly not in this context!

And they get sick because they are 2 & 4 and at nursery where everyone gets everything then sticks their fingers in a friends mouth....

Don't choke on that teenie-weenie X-Wing!

Lead is bad, rubber encapsulated lead will be fine!

Iron or steel washers excellent!

Like the magnet idea.

2p coins... Gadzooks! Defacing coin of the Realm!!!

I agree with you that there's no reason to fear using lead. Especially if you seal it afterwards with paint/lacquer/silicon/etc.

But cutting out circles seems like a lot of work. For my Warhammer stuff I used to buy bags of lead fishing weights. A couple of smacks with a hammer and they'd be flat enough to glue under a base. Armada bases are even deeper, and would likely require less flattening.

An even easier option is to use spherical lead shot. You'd drizzle superglue on the surface and then just pour the shot on, nudging it as necessary to get a single layer. Some ebayers even sell this stuff specifically targeted towards wargamers for this purpose.