A guide to good looking bases

[Pertinax]

This thread is to let the people of Warseer show off in stages the methods of making the bases. For we all know that a figure isn't finished until the base is done too!

So if you have a way of basing figures, then please feel free to make a step by step guide to how you do it. Go on! You know you want to!

[Pertinax]

Basic sand and static grass bases:

This is a very easy type of base, and can be produced quickly and en-mass. Perfect for armies!

First off, what do you need? Well, for these bases, I have used the following materials.
PVA glue, tape, sand, a base, an old brush, paints, static grass, clump folliage.
I've used unsorted sand, since it gives a bit of variation in the base texture.

Starting off with setting up the work area, the most important thing you can do at this stage is to put down some news paper. The sand will get everywhere if you are not careful!

Here are the first stages:

1: Tape over any holes or gaps in the bases.
2: Paint a thick layer of PVA over the base.
3: Dip the base into the sand, or sprinkle to sand over the base. Let it dry. Shake off excess.
4: Add a small drop of glue to the surface.

5: Put a suitable stone on the PVA blob.
6: Add some PVA around the base of the stone.
7: Sprinkle sand over the stone, and merge the stone into the base, covering its lowest edges. Let everything dry, and shake off the excess.

[Melchor]

It's not really a step-by-step, but you get the idea.

I wanted to do something a little special for my Deathwing army, so I deceided to add some tiles to their bases to make it look like they were fighting in a ruined temple (or something ).

Anyway, all you need is some plasticard (I used 1mm thick plasticard for mine). Just cut some tiles and arrange them onto the base until you have something you like.
The tiles will be sticking out on all sides, but that isn't a problem as you can just cut them to fit after the glue has properly dried.

After it has dried, cut the tiles to fit and smoothen the edges. You can also add some cracks and other damage at this stage.

It should look something like this:


When that's done, put the model on the base and paint the model as usual.

Then, paint the tiles as you see fit. I used Codex Grey, Fortress Grey and Skull White to paint mine. Add some sand, static grass and what else you like to put on your bases and you're done!


The result.

[Pertinax]

Colour stages: it is important at this stage to make sure that the base is TOTALLY dry! If not, the sand will fall off.

8: Paint the base in a dark brown (Scorched brown here).
9: Drybrush the base with a lighter brown (Bestial brown here).
10: Drybrush again with a lighter brown (Vomit brown here).
11: Drybrush again with a lighter brown (Bleached bone here).

12: Drybrush patches with white.
13: Paint the edge of the base with black.
14: Add some blobs of PVA. Put them around the stone, and in some larger areas as well. Try to get some random coverage, not a regular pattern.
15: Dip/sprinkle static grass onto the base.
Now the base is pretty much done. At this stage, you have a perfectly good base that looks good on a larger regiment, or a single figure.
You can add some extra stuff to it as well now, such as some clump folliage (if you have some).

16 and 17: Add some small drops of PVA, and tear off some suitable sized chunks of the folliage. Stick them on.

Presto!

[chicodon]

i dont have any step by step guides but if anyone is looking at this thread could you post more urban bases please...

please delete if this post is inapropriate

[-Mysterious]

EDIT:Please go to the bottom of page 2 to view my guide for making stairs and a scenic base.

[Jonik]

On possible related notes, I don't suppose anyone knows how to get clump foliage in the UK?

And anyone got a guide to using lichen, I have a huge bag of the stuff and o idea how t use it...

[Ziljin]

nice base pertinax, but it looks like there isn't much room for the miniature on there.

Also is that sand clean? Did you buy that stuff, or just scoop it off the ground.

[Luke]

On possible related notes, I don't suppose anyone knows how to get clump foliage in the UK?

And anyone got a guide to using lichen, I have a huge bag of the stuff and o idea how t use it...

If you live anywhere in or around Leicester, try Dominoes Toys. Its reputed to be the biggest hobby store in europe and has a vast vast vast selection of modelling supplies including that clump foliage. It also offers just about every shade of static grass in the universe. Other than that i recomend checking out the local model railway and scalextric shops.

[Pertinax]

the sand isn't cleaned, but it does come from a clean source.

no there isn't much room for a figure there, it's only a test base to show what can be put there.

[MisterHeavy]

a good way to get the sand to never fall off is to paint (or rather dab) a layer of very watered down PVA glue over the top of the dried sand. This will seal the sand down, but won't obscure the detail.

Otherwise, you may find that some of the sand wears off with use, particularly around the edges.

[Anvils Hammer]

to make ruined industrial bases-

use milliput, wire mesh, sand, and random cut up GW gubbins-



you can then paint them in any number of ways,
here I have done some in urban scheme and others in a mud/trench theme with static grass glued on.

[evilbeetles]

Wow, every base that I have seen here has been very inspiring to me! Good work to all that have shown so far! I have been truly reinvigerated for my next project! Cheers, friends!

[A neutral shade of black.]

Quick question to Pertinax and Anvil's Hammer: how do you guys get the static grass to stand up? It's supposed to do that by itself on account of it being statoic, but I've never managed to make it stand up.

[Melchor]

I can answer that as well...
Just glue it in place, shake off the excess and gently blow over the base. It should make the grass stand upright.

[-Mysterious]

Well heres my two cents on making base’s.
I have read pertinax’s guide carefully and some of the others, and heres what I turned out with.

I have made two test bases.
One includes how to make stairs, the other a scenic base which includes razor wire.

Stairs:
This is a very simple base to make yet it is so effective,
You can do what ever combination you like with this.

To start of we need some pretty basic modelling tools:
1 hobby knife
1 piece of fine sand paper
Plastic glue
1 scatter dice with blue-tac
And the key parts 1 normal base and 1 slotta base.


Ok first thing we need to do is cut the slotta base in half.
Where the red line are that’s where you should cut.

Now you will have two pieces, which should look like this.

Then add some glue to one half of the base, and place it onto the normal base, as best you can.
(That’s a side view)

in this stage, you will see that the base has a little bit of ‘hang over’, this is where the slotta base does correctly fit, and some parts of it will hang over the sides.
Gently scrap it away with you hobby knife the use the sand paper to sand it down so you get a nice smooth surface.
Now you can leave the base like this or you can and another step.
If you do add another step this will limit you on the ‘space’ you have.

[-Mysterious]

Adding another step:

Ok, you should still have on remaining half of the slotta, cut this in half
(Cut with the red line)


Now again add some glue, and place it onto the ‘second level’ of the base,
Here you will see all three levels (I have marked them with a green line)

now again you will need to cut and sand.

You should also see that you have a very big hole in the base.
This is very easy to patch up.
Use some green stuff and carefully press it in.
Once it has dried use your sand paper and sand it down until nice and smooth.

Well hopefully you should have a very basic step design.
What you might like to do is add some pieces of plastic card to it, to design tiles.
If you can get some plastic card and you have some green stuff left over.
You could possibly press it onto the base, then using a sculpting tool or hobby knife cut away middle pieces to shape tile.

[-Mysterious]

Ok now lets make a scenic base:

Here are the tools & materials needed:


There’s some brass wire and little bits and pieces in there as well.

Ok well first step, grab a base and spread some pva glue on, then dip it into some stone flock like so:


Then leave it in there for a few seconds and bring it out and dust it off:
The result should be something like this


Now grab some brass wire, and wrap it around together. Like so:

[-Mysterious]

then wrap that around then end of a file or a small pencil. Like so:


Then file and cut what ever else you would like to go on your base.
I have chosen a chain sword:
Then super glue the razor wire and your chosing rubble onto the base:
Like so:



Now once that has dried give it nice undercoat of chaos black. Like so:

[-Mysterious]

once that has dried.
Give it a very thin dry brush of shadow grey.
Then another thin drybrush of codex grey
Then again another dry brush of shadow grey and another dry brush of codex grey

This is to get the colours even and nature.

Also at this point give you ‘rubble whatever base coat they need
One that has dried, add some pva glue randomly. Like so:


Then grab a pinch of static grass and spread it over.
Leave for about a minute. Then shake the remaining static grass off.
Then paint the reaming details onto your rubble.
I painted some rust on my razor wire and chainsword.
And inked them both: