New comers to Crossfire often ask how to base their figures. This is my approach for 15mm figures – see my musing section for how other people base. In general I went for 30mm square bases, rather than the official 32mm, as this is standard for other game systems. and is, well, tidier
Remember: A “base width” is a specific measurement in Crossfire, so your squads should be consistent.
Rifle and SMG squads
30mm x 30mm with 3 figures. I mix LMG teams on the same base with the Rifle (or SMG) equipped guys.
German Rifle Squad
Russian SMG Squad
Blue Division Rifle Squad
Russian SMG squads
Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)
30mm x 30mm with 2 figures and a tripod mounted HMG.
Republican HMG
German HMG
Moroccan HMG
Platoon Commander (PC)
15mm wide x 30mm deep with one figure.
Regulares Officer
Republican Officer
Company Commander (CC)
30mm x 30mm with 2 figures.
Communist CC
Regulares CC
Russian Naval
Battalion Commander (BC)
There can be confusion between a BC and ordinary squads as each have 3 figures on a 30mm x 30mm square base. To avoid that confusion I use three slightly different schemes:
- large stand (50mm x 50mm) with 3 figures plus a jeep
- large stand (50mm x 50mm) with 5 figures, and no jeep, but one of the figures has a flag
- normal stand (30mm x30mm) with 3 figures, but one of the figures has a flag
Russian BC
50x50mm; 4 figures + jeep
Russian Naval BC
50x50mm; 5 figures + flag
Regulares BC
30x30mm; 3 figures + flag
Other people have different strategies for distinguishing BCs, for example, using
- round bases
- normal stand with more figures. .
Forward Observer (FO)
With the standard basing some people find it difficult to distinguish PC and FO figures, as these are single figures on the same size base (15mm wide x 30mm deep with one figure). So I use a 20mm wide x 25mm deep base with one figure:
Republican FO
Heavy Artillery
Russian Naval FO
82mm Mortar
Spanish Civil War FO
75mm Field Gun
Same FO for French 75
Other people solve this problem with different methods.
- Clip the front corners of the FO stands (my original strategy)
- Put maps on all FO bases
- Use round bases
- Use a different number of figures (e.g. spotter + radio operator).
On-table Gun / Mortar
30mm wide x as deep as needed. For example:
| Weapon | Base Size | Crew |
|---|---|---|
| 37mm (e.g. Pak 35/36) or 45mm ATG | 30mm x 30mm | 3 |
| 50mm ATG (e.g. Pak38) | 30mm wide x 45mm deep | 4 |
And a few photos…
German/Spanish Infantry Gun Company
1 x 15.0cm and 3 x 7.5cm howitzers
German/Spanish Infantry Company with 15.0cm in foreground
Russian 82mm Mortars
Commissar
By default they are based the same as a PC (15mm wide x 30mm deep with one figure), but to distinguish them I put Commissars on a 20mm x 20mm base.
Republican Commissar
Same chap, different angle
Hi Steven, a treasure trove of information in these pages. What material did you use for your bases? On the “Steven’s Fallschirmjäger Battalion for Crossfire” page you mention that you use a RUB with a magnetic sheet in it and the bases stick to it.
I now base on 2mm thick MDF. I put steel paper or flex-o-metal sheet backing on that. This makes the base stick to my storage boxes which are lined with magnetic sheets.
Thanks Steven, 2mm mdf is weirdly hard to find in Australia. It doesn’t seem to be a building material and i haven’t had any luck finding it…
2mm MDF (or plywood) is a standard with the wargaming companies. I have purchased pre-cut bases from Litko, Warbases, and Tiny Tin Troops. They all do 2mm. (or 3mm if that is your thing.)
The one time I purchased my own 2mm MDF, to back home made hills, I had to buy it from an artist supplier. I think they use this as a backing board in framed paintings. I have a dim memory that I had to be buy several sheets to make it worthwhile.