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...

[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.

[Jonik]

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.

Damn, I'm down in the Luton area. And the only hobby stores I know of is Hobby craft.

Well I'll google Dominoes toys nd see if they deliver etc. Thanks

And anybody worked with lichen on bases before?

[prawnstar69]

Damn, I'm down in the Luton area. And the only hobby stores I know of is Hobby craft.

Well I'll google Dominoes toys nd see if they deliver etc. Thanks

And anybody worked with lichen on bases before?

I live in Leicester and I love Dominoes toys, some awesome stuff in there.

[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.

[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.

[binary]

well the bases I use for my Imperial guard army are simply freshly ground pepper and static grass superglued in random patches over a dark angels green base



just a thought.....

[cookiescrumble]

Nice thread! I'll post some piccies/tutorials on how my bases go when i get my urban basing kits to play with.

[dancingmonkey]

its alll ooking good chaps.
try www.brushthralls.com for some ideas for super display bases and other painting goodness.

[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.