Hero Bases Display Extenders | Convert Gaming Bases to Display Bases & Plinths
⚔️ HERO BASES – DISPLAY EXTENDERS
Rise. Ascend. Exalt. Dominate. Reign.
🎨 What Are Hero Bases?
Display extenders for wargaming miniatures that elevate your models from tabletop gaming to exhibition-level presentation. Your painted model stays on its standard gaming base – the Hero Base sits underneath, creating instant height and commanding presence.
The concept: One miniature, multiple display options. Use Step/Rise/Ascend for gaming, then swap to Exalt/Dominate/Reign when showcasing the same model in display cabinets or competitions. No permanent commitment. Total flexibility.
Compatible with: Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, Horus Heresy, The Old World, Kings of War, and any miniature wargame using standard bases.
👑 The Six Heroic Heights
First three heights (Step, Rise, Ascend) = gaming-friendly. Last three (Exalt, Dominate, Reign) = display and competition focus.
🎯 How Painters Actually Use Them
"I paint my Space Marine Captain on a standard 32mm base. For Golden Demon, I drop that 32mm onto a Reign (82mm) extender – instant exhibition plinth. After the competition, I remove it and the model goes back to gaming. Same miniature, two lives."
"My warlord needs to be visible in the chaos of 2000-point battles. Rise (15mm) gives exactly the right elevation without making the model tippy or unstable. Opponents can spot my commander instantly across the table."
"Three shelves in my Detolf. I use Step (9mm) for troops, Ascend (22mm) for characters, and Exalt (42mm) for centerpieces. Creates natural visual hierarchy. Each shelf tells a different story."
"I deliver client models on Dominate (62mm) plinths for portfolio photography. The shots look incredible, client is impressed, and they can remove the model for gaming. Premium touch that justifies higher rates."
📏 192 Different Sizes Available
Every combination of height and base shape/size. Whatever your miniature is mounted on, there's a Hero Base that fits:
⭕ Round Bases
Standard for infantry, heroes, characters, single models. Sizes from 25mm to 170mm diameter.
⬭ Oval Bases
Cavalry, bikes, monsters, elongated poses. Common: 60x35mm, 75x42mm, 90x52mm, 105x70mm, 120x92mm, 170x105mm.
◼️ Square Bases
Ranked units, Warhammer Fantasy, The Old World, Kings of War. Sizes from 20x20mm to 100x100mm.
▬ Rectangle Bases
Dioramas, multi-model displays, vignettes. Various dimensions for custom presentations.
Your miniature's existing base sits on top of the Hero Base. Check what size base your model has (usually printed on underside), then order the matching Hero Base in your preferred height.
🔧 Technical Specifications (Honest Truth)
We're transparent about what you're getting. No marketing fluff.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Print Technology | FDM 3D Printing (Fused Deposition Modeling) |
| Layer Height | 0.2mm – best quality achievable with FDM |
| Surface Finish | Visible layer lines (normal for FDM – not a defect) |
| Seam Line | Present on round/oval bases. Minimal on square/rectangle. |
| Bottom Surface | Smooth with removable supports |
| Magnet Space | 3mm gap underneath (covered by supports – remove for magnets) |
| Material | PLA filament (hobby-safe, accepts all primers and paints) |
You will see layer lines. This is the nature of FDM technology, not a manufacturing flaw. If you need injection-molded smooth surfaces, FDM isn't for you. However, 99% of miniature painters prime and texture their bases anyway – FDM surface actually helps paint adhesion and accepts basing materials beautifully.
🎨 Customization Paradise
Hero Bases are blank canvases. Layer lines disappear under primer and most painters add their own textures anyway.
🌿 Scenery & Basing Materials
- Tufts, static grass, and flock
- Cork or bark for rock formations
- Skulls, rubble, and battle debris
- Resin scenic elements and 3D-printed scatter
- Sand, gravel, and ballast
🖌️ Surface Treatment
- Prime & paint: Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter primers hide 80-90% of layer texture instantly
- Texture paste: Vallejo texture gels or GW technical paints. Apply with palette knife, let dry, done.
- Cork method: Break cork into chunks, glue down, prime grey/black, drybrush. Instant rocky terrain.
Painting (your choice)
- Match your army: Paint the Hero Base to match your miniature's existing base. Visual cohesion.
- Neutral display: Black or dark grey for photography. Doesn't distract from the miniature.
- Thematic storytelling: Lava for Salamanders, ice for Space Wolves, Nurgle rot for Death Guard.
⚖️ Hero Bases vs Traditional Display Plinths
| Feature | Traditional Plinth | Hero Bases |
|---|---|---|
| Price per piece | £15-35+ each | Significantly less ✅ |
| Size options | Limited stock sizes | 192 combinations ✅ |
| Permanent attachment? | Usually glued forever | Modular – swap anytime ✅ |
| Gaming compatible? | No – display only | Yes – OBS system ✅ |
| Customizable surface? | Often pre-finished | Fully customizable ✅ |
| Magnet option? | Rarely available | Built-in 3mm gap ✅ |
The verdict: Traditional plinths are beautiful but expensive and permanent. Hero Bases give you the same elevation and visual impact while keeping your options open. One miniature can be a gaming piece Monday and an exhibition centerpiece Saturday.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I actually game with these?
Absolutely. Lower heights (Step, Rise, Ascend) are designed for tabletop play. The wider footprint actually makes models more stable than standard bases. Higher levels (Exalt, Dominate, Reign) are better suited for display, though technically game-legal for casual play.
Will layer lines be visible after priming?
Slightly, but barely noticeable. One coat of hobby primer hides 80-90% of layer texture. For glass-smooth: prime → light sand with 220 grit → prime again. Takes 2 minutes total. Most painters don't bother – the texture helps paint adhesion.
Do I glue my miniature to the Hero Base?
No – that defeats the purpose. Your miniature stays on its standard gaming base. That base simply sits on top of the Hero Base. Want to game? Lift it off. Want to display? Put it back. Zero commitment. (You can glue permanently if making a dedicated display piece.)
What about the seam line on round bases?
Three solutions: (1) Rotate to the back where it's not visible. (2) Sand it smooth in 30 seconds with fine-grit paper. (3) Prime over it – becomes nearly invisible. Square and rectangle bases have minimal seam lines due to printing geometry.
Can I paint them to match my army theme?
That's the entire idea. Prime black for grimdark. Prime white for bright fantasy. Add Martian Red texture for AdMech. Nurgle's Rot for Death Guard. Valhallan Blizzard for Space Wolves. These are blank canvases for your creativity.
What if my base size isn't listed?
Contact us. We're actively expanding based on community feedback. If there's demand for a specific size, we'll add it. We're hobbyists serving hobbyists – your input shapes the product line.
Do these work with square bases for Warhammer Fantasy / The Old World?
Yes. We have square Hero Bases from 20x20mm up to 100x100mm. Perfect for ranked units, characters, and monsters in older Warhammer systems and Kings of War.
How do I know which size to order?
Check the underside of your miniature's current base – the size is usually printed there (e.g., "32mm"). Order the matching Hero Base size. Standard sizes: Space Marines = 32mm, Primaris = 40mm, Terminators = 40mm, Bikes = 75x42mm oval.
📦 What's Included
- One Hero Base Display Extender in your chosen size and height
- Smooth bottom surface with removable supports (flat by default)
- 3mm magnet gap underneath (optional use – supports remove easily with hobby knife)
- Part of the Open Basing System (OBS) – fully compatible with standard bases
Not included: Magnets (if you want them – any 3mm disc magnet works), miniature, gaming base, basing materials, paints. Hero Bases are unpainted blanks ready for your customization.
👑 Your Heroes Deserve Their Throne
Rise. Ascend. Exalt. Dominate. Reign.
🇬🇧 Why Hobby Heaven?
Hobbyists First, Sellers Second
We design products we actually use on our own painting desks and gaming tables. Every Hero Base started as a solution to our own display challenges. If it works for us, it'll work for you.
Honest Specifications
No marketing nonsense. We tell you about the layer lines because we respect your intelligence. You're a painter – you know how to work with materials. We give you the facts, you make informed decisions.
UK Based & Fast Dispatch
Designed, printed, and shipped from the UK. No waiting weeks for overseas shipping. Support local makers. We're part of the same hobby community you are.
Expanding System
192 sizes now. More coming. We listen to community feedback. Need a specific dimension? Let us know. We're building this together.
📋 Product Summary
Hero Bases Display Extenders are modular base elevation systems for Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, Horus Heresy, The Old World, and all miniature wargames. Available in six heights from 9mm to 82mm (Step, Rise, Ascend, Exalt, Dominate, Reign) and 192 different base sizes including round, oval, square, and rectangle formats.
Compatible with the Open Basing System (OBS), these FDM 3D-printed display extenders let you elevate miniatures from tabletop gaming to exhibition-level presentation without permanent commitment. Optional 3mm magnet space for transport-safe storage. Fully customizable blank canvas – accepts all primers, paints, texture pastes, and basing materials.
Perfect for painting competition plinths, display cabinets, photography, commission work, and tabletop gaming visibility. Works with all standard miniature bases from Games Workshop, Mantic, and other manufacturers.
UK designed and dispatched. Made by miniature painters for miniature painters.
⚙️ Mechanical Modifications
- Drill and pin miniatures for extra stability
- Add 3mm magnets for transport-safe storage
- Carve custom grooves and panel lines
- Integrate LED lighting for centerpieces
🏛️ Thematic Examples
- Martian Red Desert: Texture paste + Mephiston Red + weathering pigments (Adeptus Mechanicus)
- Nurgle Rot: Cracked texture + Nurgle's Rot technical paint + gloss varnish (Death Guard)
- Icy Tundra: White texture paste + Valhallan Blizzard + snow flock (Space Wolves)
- Gothic Ruins: Cork pieces + grey primer + black wash (Imperial armies)
- Lava Bases: Cracked texture + orange/yellow + gloss varnish + LED underglow
Three options – (1) Rotate to the back where it's hidden, (2) 30 seconds with fine-grit sandpaper removes it completely, (3) Prime over it and it becomes nearly invisible.
🧲 Hidden Magnet Space (Optional)
Every Hero Base has a 3mm gap underneath – perfect for standard disc magnets. By default, this space is covered with easy-remove supports.
🔧 Flat Bottom (Default)
Use as-is. Supports stay in place. Base sits flat on any surface – gaming table, cabinet shelf, display board.
🧲 Magnet-Ready
Remove supports with hobby knife. Insert 3mm disc magnet. Superglue it. Now your base sticks to metal trays for safe transport.
Why magnets? Transport safety. Your £200+ centerpiece won't slide around in the car on the way to tournaments. Magnetic foam trays keep everything locked in place.
Recommended: 3mm diameter x 1mm or 2mm thick neodymium disc magnets (available from most hobby suppliers).
🔗 OBS Compatible (Open Basing System)
Hero Bases work with any standard gaming base and the full OBS ecosystem.
✅ Works With:
- Hobby Heaven standard bases (round/oval/square)
- Games Workshop plastic bases
- Base converters and adapters
- Movement trays and magnetic trays
- Any manufacturer's bases in standard sizes
🎯 Perfect For:
- Warhammer 40,000
- Age of Sigmar
- Horus Heresy
- The Old World
- Kings of War
- Any miniature wargame using standard bases
The OBS advantage: Your miniature lives on a standard gaming base for tournament legality. When you want to display it, the entire gaming base (with model attached) lifts onto a Hero Base. Swap between battlefield and exhibition anytime.
🎯 Who Needs Hero Bases?
You need exhibition plinths for Golden Demon, Crystal Brush, or local painting competitions. Custom plinths cost £30-50+ each. Hero Bases give you professional presentation at a fraction of the cost.
Your heroes, warlords, and commanders get lost in the chaos of large battles. Elevating them makes command decisions easier and keeps the game flowing. Opponents appreciate it too.
Your Detolf or Kallax deserves better than flat shelves of models at the same height. Create visual hierarchy. Tell stories with elevation. Make every shelf interesting.
Deliver models on professional-level plinths. Portfolio photography looks 10x better with proper height. Clients are impressed. You justify higher rates.
You don't want permanent commitments. Same model, multiple presentation options. Gaming today, exhibition tomorrow, photography next week. Total flexibility.
📐 Choosing Your Height
| Your Goal | Recommended Heights |
|---|---|
| Gaming Tables | Step (9mm), Rise (15mm), Ascend (22mm) |
| Display Cabinets | Rise (15mm), Ascend (22mm), Exalt (42mm) |
| Painting Competitions | Exalt (42mm), Dominate (62mm), Reign (82mm) |
| Photography & Portfolio | Dominate (62mm), Reign (82mm) |
| Large Models / Centerpieces | Exalt (42mm) minimum – Dominate/Reign preferred |
🎨 Finishing Tips
Basic Preparation (5 minutes)
- Prime it: Any hobby primer works – Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter. One coat hides most layer lines.
- Sand it (optional): 30 seconds with 180-220 grit sandpaper smooths rough spots or seam lines.
- Fill it (optional): Vallejo Plastic Putty or Tamiya Basic Type fills layer gaps for glass-smooth finish.
Texturing (10-15 minutes)
- PVA + sand: Brush on PVA glue, dip in sand/ballast, let dry. Prime and paint. Classic technique.
- Texture paste: Vallejo texture
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