paints "four characterful figures that seem to come directly from a vintage vampire movie..."
You last saw this model back in 2008, when we published a workbench article about painting it.
Over the ensuing years, the original greenstuff-and-superglue assembly came loose as the model was handled. So it came to my workbench for re-cementing and some touch-up.
While it was on my workbench, I decided it would be a good idea to put the model on a base, to put less stress on the joints. The model was originally designed to be free-standing, although I've heard it is now sold with a base. As a free-standing model, it is most stable sitting on two of the 'arms', but this puts stress on the joints. By basing it, I could sit the model on its 'bottom', which would not stress the joints.
So I ordered a 100mm (4") circular wooden base (3mm thick) from LITKO, and a matching FlexSteel to slap on the bottom.
Meanwhile, I drilled into the model and added a wire pin that I could use for a secure attachment to the base. When the base arrived, I did a test-fit, and drilled a matching hole. The model would have two contact points with the base, for a secure fit.
The base was then primed, then spray-painted gloss black. When everything was dry, the model was fitted into place and glue applied.
And somehow I screwed it up! 
The model ended up off-center on the base. (How did that happen?)
Fortunately, the base is large enough to compensate.
One other problem: The FlexSteel is sticking fine on the edges, but the middle sometimes hangs loose. Might have to glue the bottom on.