Welcome aboard.
That's a whole bunch of questions.
Itharus wrote:
So... what's the line to use for FedCom? I've noticed 2400 seems FAR more complete than 2500, but that the 2500 are also larger and more detailed. I plan on using the various mounted map panels that come with the FedCom boxed set. Those large hexes are what, 1"? 1.25"? I'd like bases that conform to, or are smaller than, those large hexes of the FedCom hex panels.
Yes, Starline 2400 is a more complete product line - it ought to be, it's had almost 30 years to build up to this point. Starline 2500 is less than 10 years old and is indeed produced at a larger scale that allows more detail (although newer Starline 2400 minis are inheriting the higher detail levels).
If you want to use minis on the FedCom/MegaHex map panels with no modifications, then Starline 2400 is your best direction. They were designed to work together. The map board hexes are indeed 1.25" across and the bases for Starline 2400 are hexes slightly less than that, so they fit nicely.
Itharus wrote:
I've seen some pictures that make the 2500 seem to come with round bases larger than the hexes - blech. Would smaller bases be sufficient for those models or are they too weak?
Starline 2500 do indeed come with larger, round bases. They were originally developed in conjunction with the A Call To Arms Star Fleet game, which is hexless and uses that size of base as part of the game mechanic.
The smaller Starline 2500 minis could function just fine on the smaller hex bases, the larger ones (cruisers, etc.) would be far too prone to tipping, without modifications to the base.
There are some people, myself included, who have "re-based" Starline 2500 minis onto the smaller hex-shaped bases for use in FedCom. They end up "top-heavy" but this is a an issue with some minis in various lines and can be overcome with weights in the stand base (even fender washers work). Some of the larger, heavier Starline 2400 minis can even benefit from some stand weighting.
Itharus wrote:
Overall... just general help for getting into the minis side of FedCom would be appreciated. I'd also love to know where to find some decals for the 2400 line - I saw a post on the ADB facebook page that had some 2500 series ones.
Information about decals available for the Starline minis is available here:
http://starfleetgames.com/miniatures.shtml
The company I operate with Tony Thomas, Tenneshington Decals, produces decals for Federation minis in the Starline 2500 range. We will be producing decals for other empires and for Starline 2400 minis in the future.
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