Here is my excessively over-illustrated guide to re-basing HeroClix for Tannhäuser. Luckily for us, both Dungeons & Dragons and Star Wars minis have bases that are the same as Tannhäuser.
Here are some minis just waiting to sacrifice their bases for the betterment of Tannhäuser-dom. These happen to be Star Wars Minis - all commons that can be cheaply purchased. I bought the Weequay Mercenary from Clone Strike (29 cents at
Gamingetcstore.com), Devaronian Bounty Hunter from Clone Strike (45 cents at
Gathering Ground), and Twi'lek Scoundrel from Rebel Storm (29 cents at
Gamingetcstore.com).
Strikezone also has good prices. With Star Wars Minis just be sure to stay away from the Alliance and Empire set as the bases are square. I bought 50 figures at one dealer to save on shipping.
Here are the simple steps to re-basing your Lobster Johnson (or other HeroClix).
1 - Get out the X-Acto knife or single edge razor blades. I am a big fan of the razor blades... But if you are a kid - get your parent to help. These blades are super-sharp and will cut you if you get a finger in the way.
2 - Lobster Johnson, like may Clix figures has circles under his feet that are molded with the figure. Put the figure on your cutting surface with the base at a right angle to the table. Put your blade between one of these circles and the base. Push down with your fingers clear of the blade and that foot will pop loose. Repeat for the other foot. You now have Lobster free of his base, but with circles under his feet.
3 - Stand Roger up on his feet and go around the outside of his shoes with your blade. The X-Acto works best here. When you are done Roger will look like he is wearing Herman Munster boots.
Put Roger on his side and slice half of the extra soles off his shoes. His feet will have a sliver of white plastic around them. That's OK for now. Set Roger to the side.
4 - Take your random human size D&D or Star Wars figure and carefully cut off the base. Remember you are more interested in the round black base than the figure. Try to make the base as flat as possible.
5 - Super-Glue Roger to the new base. I use Super-Glue gel. I like it best. Hold him down firmly while the glue dries. Try to line up Roger's feet with where the feet were on the D&D base.
6 - Paint the top of the base gloss black. While you are doing this you can paint the edges of Roger's shoes.
You will now have a figure that blends in great with the official Tannhäuser figures. You can repeat this process until you have a whole shoebox full of faux-Tannhäuser figures.
© 2009 W. Peter Miller
