what provides tex metafont mf.base file?

["Jeremy C. Reed" <reed%reedmedia.net@localhost>]

When I used \scriptsize I got an error:

kpathsea: Running mktextfm ecbx0800
mktextfm: Running mf-nowin -progname=mf \mode:=ljfour; mag:=1; 
nonstopmode; input ecbx0800
This is METAFONT, Version 2.718281 (Web2C 7.5.7)
I can't find the base file `mf.base'!
grep: ecbx0800.log: No such file or directory
mktextfm: `mf-nowin -progname=mf \mode:=ljfour; mag:=1; nonstopmode; 
input ecbx0800' failed to make ecbx0800.tfm.
kpathsea: Appending font creation commands to missfont.log.


The line added to missfont.log is:

mktextfm ecbx0800


So what creates or provides the mf.base file?

Maybe I am missing a package?

I see the wip/texlive-texmf-base provides my needed ecbx0800.mf  but I 
think I don't need that since it should be created as needed.