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"Itinerent reveals his basing secrets!" Topic


15 Posts

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1,294 hits since 25 Aug 2009
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Comments or corrections?

christot25 Aug 2009 2:24 p.m. PST

Ok, so there aren't any real secrets here, just how to produce reasonable looking bases quickly, easily, without all the pain and fuss a lot of people seem to think you have to go through

itinerantwargamer.blogspot.com

Personal logo Bobgnar Supporting Member of TMP25 Aug 2009 2:45 p.m. PST

Thanks, I will try this, but not with so many big rocks.

Mithridates25 Aug 2009 3:59 p.m. PST

Chris

Eminently sensible approach. I do the same but dry brush a lighter shade of sand for the base edge – personal preference as you say. Don't mind kitty litter though I tend to crush the larger pieces.

I did experiment with Golden Pumice Gel which is effective but fiddily and expensive – will reserve this for generals and larger bases such as elephants. Sets like concrete even if you mix paint in with it.

One quibble. I like 4mm high bases – using card for some 30 years and it has yet to warp! That way I pick up the base not the figure.

Do you use magnetic bases by the way – having been giving this some thought and one neat option is to use paper 'steel' on the bottom of the base and magnetic sheets in the movement tray (some use baking trays to store their figures).

Cheers

Garry

christot25 Aug 2009 4:06 p.m. PST

No, never used Magnetic bases,but if one is doing a lot of transporting then they must be useful…..you can pick up something 1.5mm thick just as easily as something 4mm..;o)

Lentulus25 Aug 2009 4:45 p.m. PST

"you can pick up something 1.5mm thick"

Fingers vary.

Oh Bugger26 Aug 2009 2:29 a.m. PST

Thanks Christot you convinced me.

45thdiv26 Aug 2009 5:17 a.m. PST

Very nice Chris. I like the look, though I think I agree with Bob and his dog – I would not place as many (if any) larger rock bits for my bases. But that's just a personal choice.

One thing, I glue all of my figures to the base with the PVA glue. I started out where you re-based for the latest set of rules, so it made things simpler to soak in water and remove. I haven't re-based in 20 years but still put the figures on with PVA. I will give this a go with my Napoleonic figures since I have not based them yet.

Thanks for the ideas. Always enjoy your work.

Florida Tory26 Aug 2009 7:35 a.m. PST

Chris,

Thank you for such a clear, easy to follow, illustrated tutorial.

Rick

Derek H26 Aug 2009 4:08 p.m. PST

Nice bases, nice tutorial.

But, as you say, no secrets.

Chortle Fezian26 Aug 2009 11:06 p.m. PST

Fantastic looking base Chris. I like the little german tufts of grass. Reminds me of the tribbles.

On the following topic the figures seem to have been based in a totally different way. It also looks like you have used green paint for the grass. Is this a second tier basing method for cheaper figures?

christot27 Aug 2009 1:45 a.m. PST

No Neil, Just MUCH older, those guard figs were probably painted 8 or 9 years ago

Rob UK27 Aug 2009 11:36 a.m. PST

Very nice basing, those tufts are really effective

hussarbob1746.webs.com

huevans30 Aug 2009 8:05 p.m. PST

what colour of the little grass tufts do you use? Which looks the most "natural"?

Personal logo Der Alte Fritz Supporting Member of TMP07 Sep 2009 5:01 p.m. PST

First class work there. Thank you for the tutorial.

Dashetal08 Sep 2009 5:23 p.m. PST

For 28mm Age of Marlborough,my way is quick and fast. I use dark green poster board with magnetic business card matched to the bottom. After the figures are fixed in place and sprayed with Matte sealer. I paint Mississippi Mud over the base sides and top. Second coat thickly with Mississippi Mud in an oblique pattern leaving parts dry. Dip in a mixture of sand and fine gravel found alongside highways. Before it drys paint the dry areas and dip in a woodland grass. Spray Dull coat. No two alike. Anything that wears off or falls off leaves the Mississippi Mud showing.

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