Naval wargaming is more visually exciting when miniature ships are used instead of counters. Traditionally miniatures have been in 1/1200 scale. More recently smaller scales have become increasingly popular, first 1/2400, then 1/3000 and 1/4800 and now 1/6000. The 1/6000 scale miniatures are appealing for a number of reasons: they are cheap, the ground scale can be identical to the miniature scale, a large fleet of warships doesn't look out of scale when in formation, and a large action can be fought without taking the game to a parking lot or gymnasium. The tiny size of these miniatures may be intimidating to someone who has not worked with them. The problems of small size can be turned to advantages with some clever preparation. Hallmark makes the best known line of 1/6000 scale ships. Large ships are cast with a separate base; smaller ones are cast as part of the base. Each base has a small, smooth tab on the stern end, lacking the water texture of the rest of the base. These bases can be difficult to pick up, they sit flush on the tabletop and it can be hard to get a fingernail under the edge. These ships are so small that conventional storage and transportation methods that work well with 1/1200 scale ships will not with 1/6000 ones. It is entirely possible for a half inch long miniature to be lost in a foam-lined box, or bounce around horribly in most containers. Even though the castings are quite detailed and careful examination will reveal the differences between destroyer classes rapid identification on the tabletop in the heat of battle can be difficult. All these features, which can be perceived as problems, can be corrected and most made into benefits with a few easily obtained materials, some simple tools and imagination. First, let’s look at the problem of picking up the tiny ships. If a spacer were glued to the bottom of each base there would be enough room to get fingernails underneath and lift the casting up. Plastic or cardboard could be used, but instead go to the local magnetic sign shop and purchase some of their thin magnetic sheet. They will usually be willing to part with scraps for a nominal sum. Using a sharp hobby knife, while wearing safety glasses, carefully cut the sheet into slivers just smaller than the base to which you will glue them. Make certain the sliver is wide enough for the ship to be upright when on the table, if it is too narrow the casting will tip over. I use super glue to attach them to the bottom of the bases. Not only will you be able to pick the minis up without endangering the paint job, you will one step closer to a secure method of storing and transporting your fleets. Since I like my ships to be visible and protected from dust and damage, both during storage and transport, I purchased a number of glass topped, heavy cardboard, insect collection boxes. These are available from mail-order houses and better general hobby shops in numerous sizes. I chose boxes about eleven inches by nine inches, and about half of an inch deep. This gave plenty of room for a fleet but still allows many boxes to be stored without much wasted space. These boxes have the added benefit of having tightly fitting lids, which keeps most of the dust out of them. To make the boxes good homes for the now magnetically based ships I went to the local hardware store and purchased the thinnest sheet of galvanized steel available. BT Back to The Naval Sitrep #21 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2001 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history and related articles are available at http://www.magweb.com