Loose Skimmer Base

One of my Raiders now has a really loose skimmer base and so falls backwards or forwards, rather than sitting horizontally (I've tried different skimmer bases, but the problem is with the Raider itself).

Anyway, does anyone know any tricks for 'tightening' skimmer bases, without gluing them?

Hard nail varnish over the ball (usually a few layers) always worked for me.

Not that the girlfriend appreciated the theft...

just as dagontree said, though for me just a few coats of black paint.

Have you tried to screw the ball while it's in the socket? At some positions, it's loose, but you turn it 90-180 degrees and it's suddenly firm.

This happened to me for a few Raiders and Talo - it stinks. Will try -ALL- of these

Thanks, guys, I'll give the paint/varnish a go.

MarcoAvrelis wrote:

Have you tried to screw the ball while it's in the socket? At some positions, it's loose, but you turn it 90-180 degrees and it's suddenly firm.

I have. It's worked for some of my Reavers, but not this particular Raider.

I just glue those.

You could use super glue instead of nail polish (just don't attach the base before it's dried). Alternatively, you could use a tiny clipping/shaving of plastic from a spare sprue with plastic glue to fill in the socket slightly (I do this when magnetising if I've drilled too deep).

Azdrubael wrote:

I just glue those.

Unfortunately, this isn't an option for me as I don't have enough space to transport them with the bases attached.

Erebus wrote:

You could use super glue instead of nail polish (just don't attach the base before it's dried).

If the paint doesn't work, I'll give that a go. Thanks.

Having the same problem at the moment s with Reavers so will try these ideas out!

Alternatively you could always magnitize the stands. Just cut the little ball end off and glue a magnet on top and another one in the Venom/raider socket.

Just remember to use some larger magnets. I used 3mm, while good on venoms, my Riders/Ravagers fall as easly as with the painted ball trick:/

You could glue the ball into the raider, then have the base free floating, drill the whole out in the center, so it can slip in and out, this is how I personally do mine.

skp wrote:

You could glue the ball into the raider, then have the base free floating, drill the whole out in the center, so it can slip in and out, this is how I personally do mine.

Had some really bad experiences with those kind of bases (old flying bases) ... they just don't work well with heavy models.

I can't remember how many time the bases of my old hellions broke, in the end the whole underside of the model was superglue I think

I don't know if this would work for you, but I drill a small hole into the ball and another into the model and glue a small piece of wire or nail in the ball to keep them from falling over. Still detachable but no falling over.

I just stick a little Blu-Tac into the socket on the Raider. The right amount will get a tight fit while still allowing the ball all the way in.

Black Death wrote:

I don't know if this would work for you, but I drill a small hole into the ball and another into the model and glue a small piece of wire or nail in the ball to keep them from falling over. Still detachable but no falling over.

That, sir, is pure genius!

I wonder, why I'd thought of that earlier, no need to magnetize all those skimmer bases, thanks for sharing!

You're very welcome.