I'm looking at magnetizing my fleet and was after a bit of advice

I've seen the ring magnets and BB setup and was wondering if there was a less unsightly way of magnetising them?

can you buy Split BB's (so have a flat bottom) that would sit nicely on top the stalks? i have heard mention of a Cap nut before but even that seems to be a touch unsightly.

I still want it to be "flexible" in that i want them to spin and tilt so twin magnets aren't really going to work.

If all else fails i will go the BB/Ring route as its tried and tested.

Edit: Just noticed i done goofed on the title! meant to read alternative to BB's

I've not come across a better way than countersunk rings and either bbs or cap nuts. You can make it a little less unsightly by sinking the magnet into the mini.

I don't think I've ever heard or seen anyone mention this before, but instead of a magnet, what about in place of the plastic rod that inserts into the bases & ships, what about a wire? I'm thinking like a plastic sleeved copper type wire, the kind used for electrical wiring on a light switch or outlet on your wall. You'd be able to bend your ship into whatever pose you want, in theory and they come in many different colors and guages. Not sure it would work for large/heavy ships.

Anyone an electrician out there that could give us some insight?

I don't think I've ever heard or seen anyone mention this before, but instead of a magnet, what about in place of the plastic rod that inserts into the bases & ships, what about a wire? I'm thinking like a plastic sleeved copper type wire, the kind used for electrical wiring on a light switch or outlet on your wall. You'd be able to bend your ship into whatever pose you want, in theory and they come in many different colors and guages. Not sure it would work for large/heavy ships.

Anyone an electrician out there that could give us some insight?

I've used brass rod for minis that don't fit well onto bases otherwise (Fang fighters with spinny mod) but you have to use a reasonably high gauge to make it still enough to stand up to the occasional bash. And you can't flex and re-flex much before metal fatigue kicks in and it snaps off.

I use square magnets. They're a little tricky to line up straight, but I like that I get sideways tilt without forwards, backwards or spinning.

@almagester: Excellent repaint! and way to think outside the box by using (essentially) a box.

Hi everyone

I don't know if this helps but here is how i've been magnetising my ships

Generally i use 2 types of magnets 3mm x 1mm for small base ships and 6mm x 2 mm for large base ships and Epic ships
i have just changed to 3mm x 3mm for small base ships as i find they provide more of a grip

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Steps

1. cut off the peg and inset it into the ship peg then sand both the ship and the stand peg flat (it also helps the glue to stick)
   
2. glue magnet to stand peg
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3. glue magnet to ship peg IMPORTANT (make sure they are the right way around for polarity)
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4. bit of black paint to cover the work up and you're done

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Hope this helps

FBJ

There was a description elsewhere of a player using small set screws and ball magnets. The set screw was inserted into the ship slightly counter sunk. The ball magnet, the diameter of the peg, was glued to the peg with the poles vertically. The magnet had been "roughed up" using sandpaper to give the glue more purchase and to make it less slippery.

Evidently it works well for small ships. K&J magnets has an 1/8" ball mag with a theoretical pull just under a half pound which shoulx work for any small ship.

I use square magnets. They're a little tricky to line up straight, but I like that I get sideways tilt without forwards, backwards or spinning.

This is pretty cool!

How hard was it to get the polarities lined up properly?

@NotBatman Lining the polarity wasn't so difficult. I held a long line of the magnets in order to simultaneously align the poles and maintain a straight(ish) line while the glue dried. I did the same thing on two of my T-70's and those were more difficult than the HWK for some reason; I ended up having to redo the magnets a couple times to get them straight.

bumpity bump

Or circumvent magnets completely with ook galvanized steel wire. Requires no modification of the ship or the base, is infinitely poseable and takes less than 5 minutes to set up per ship.