"Do you base before you paint?" Topic

I have always painted before I based, but I bought several figures through ebay that were based but unprimed. Not wanting to rebase them I just primed them as they were. I'm going to try painting them without gluing them to a painting stick first and see how they turn out. Does anyone else do this?

Single figures, yes. Bases with multiple figures, no

Dave

I do this all the time. I add the small gravel and rocks mix to a steel washer base using Zap-A-Gap (which dries pretty much instantly when you use accelerator), then prime, then paint (drybrushing the appropriate ground colors), then add static grass. Fastest and easiest method I have come across.

I use to but have stopped. If only one ot two no problem, but getting all the bits is the trick if blocked by another figure. Try it and if isn't working for you remove it and try again.

On single figures, yes. Everything but flock, tufts, grass.

No! Paint on sticks first then base.

What PzGeneral said.

Paint then base, except for some guns and wagons which are a bit fragile and will handle better assembled on the final base.

I put the figures on the gaming base, prime, paint and then terrain.

I base then paint. That way there are small areas that dont need to be painted as they are blocked by another figure and cant be seen anyway. Get em on the table I say! They are primed black BTW….

Respectfully,
Gunny

Nope. I paint them first, then base. After they have been based, then I'll spray them with a gloss then a final Dull Coat. After that, flocking.

Mike

Sometimes….

Paint the base of the figure green

Paint the base green

Stick figures(s) to base.

Flock.

Simple.

Single figures, yes. Bases with multiple figures, no

Usually the same as PzGeneral, but sometimes like 138SquadronRAF. The thing is most of what I've painted within the last twenty years have been on slottabases so you have to base the figures first so you can glue them to a painting stick.. It isn't like when I played Napoleonics and could do the process described by 138SquadronRAF.

Right now I'm playing Malifaux, and most of their human-sized on slottabases. Just another thing to damn GW for …

No, never have. I base everything on craft sticks.

Individually based, then a slurry of ballast, sand, PVA glue and water before priming white.

Al | ravenfeastsmeadhall.blogspot.com

For single (skirmish) figs, I glue the fig to a washer. prime the whole thing and go from there. I have magnets glued to roofing nails and they hold the single figs while I paint.
On multiple figures to a base, I glue to roofing nails, paint then base.

Nope.

No.

1. Basing
2. Undercoating with Black Spray
3. Paint Figur
4. Dull Coat Spray
5. Painting the Base Green and flocking into the frech paint

Done

Glue to base, undercoat black then paint. I haven't won any prizes recently, but I am pretty happy with the results. 15s and 6mm though.

6mm

15mm

Usually.

Only slotta base style figures."Normal" figures I base on sticks first. I find it annoying to constantly pick up and put down individual figures,and would rather pick up several at once.

No.
I find that once based I can't get into the nooks and crannies with my brush accurately.

Yes all the time. I find if you cant get the brush in to something its not going to be seen either- light and vision tarvels in straight line. As I undercoat in black (or occaisionally brown) these missed bits just become shadows anyway.

All of my figures are based individually on washers. I attach the washer and whatever I am using to blend the integral base to the washer before painting.

I use the washer to hold the figure while painting. Occasionally this means I have to touch up the edge of the washer, but I find it preferable to attaching and then removing each figure from a handle.

I tend to base first and then paint, but as stated earlier I game with single figures and not multiple groups.

Tony

No, I always paint first and base later.

If I can, yes … it helps with creative staging …

But sometimes it is just too tricky.

Nope

No

As far as individual miniatures, to be based individually, pretty much always.

Minis to be multi-based, especially those cast in strips, pretty much never.

What PzGeneral said.

"Single figures, yes. Bases with multiple figures, no"

I always base before painting.
I magnetize my bases for storage in metal tool boxes. Magnetizing the figure base lets me put the figure on the metal top of a paint jar and hold it at convenient angles for painting.