"Light Coloured Bases - Tips?" Topic

I read an interesting post on TMP the other day about about making bases lighter to create contrast with darker figures (this was related to ACW Union figures, with their dark blue coats and caps).

So does anyone have any tips on making light coloured bases? I'm after light earth, rather than sand.

Paint is your answer.

Glue figure to base, texture with filler, sand and gravel, paint, ink, flock and static grass to taste.

You could also go with a lighter color of flock.

Here is how I do mine. If you want them lighter, use a lighter brown wash and maybe dry brush twice, once tannish brown, once with bone.

link

P.S. I think lighter bases also help the figs stand out on the table. Makes it easier to see them, harder to lose them.

Sand and rocks, base coat of burnt umber, 1st high light burnt sienna, 2nd high light beige. Then flock and flowers.

I agree with JimDuncanUK, paint is the answer. A simple base of sand of varying grains works for texture. Undercoat in dark brown. Base coat tan/middle brown and highlight with a khaki/light tan. Make sure to neaten up the sides or edging of the bases for a clean look. Use the midtone for this. Add foliage to suit the scheme.

Is there a specific look you're after Mr. Jones?

Something along these lines:

I always paint my bases lighter for all the periods I model as it sets off the figures and I think it looks more natural.

My take is that we are modelling the impression of a unit seen at some distance rather than modelling what we see at our feet and even dark earth appears much lighter when seen at a distance.

I use steel bases and therefore use Humbrol enamel paint. I only use two colours M94 and matt white. I mix these to get a range of tones.

I model ECW, Sudan, Peninsula war, Normandy and AWI using these two paints, the only difference between them being how light I make my lightest tone and how much static grass or tuffs I add. My terrain set-up overall is light natural colours. Even the ECW was mostly fought in the summer months when what passed for roads would have probably looked quite dusty.

The net result of this is that I can paint my figures in what I consider realistic colours rather than trying to make them 'pop' with over bright colours. I have wondered if the bright 'popping' style of painting has come about as wargames terrain is often quite dark or even too dark.

My colours for figures can be suitably drab or dark yet the figures generally stand out in a natural way against the light terrain and basing. When I finished my first AB WW2 figures I put them on my faux fur terrain mat and they just about disappeared. After all the effort I went to paint them that kind of made me laugh. However, a consistency of approach ie. natural and light has given me exactly what I wanted – a realistic outcome of camo working pretty well.

You should probably aim for bases that are no darker than a light earth shade (for temperate climates), then attach simulated grass and other vegetation sparsely enough that the base colour shows through. For arid climates the vegetation should be very sparse.

The road pictured above is effectively khaki drill. Personally I'd go for a warmer shade with a bit more orange/red in it. I think warmer shades better complement most uniform colours.

I've seen many photos of wargame armies that operated in temperate climates in which the lightness of the bases has been overdone to the extent that they appear to be fighting in a desert; IMO this is something that should be avoided.

Thanks for your input, chaps.

Match you table top colour or most people will just see a bunch of different coloured tiles sitting on the table, with figures stuck on top. If you are used to seeing this, then your brain will tune the appearance out.

I also black edge all my bases with a wide black sharpie. Helps them pop off the table too.