Good Morning Jungle,
in the last tutorial vote you decided to go for some simple gaming bases instead of the pirate bust.
This article will show you an explanation on how you can build up gaming bases with the most simple stuff you can find on your workbench.
Why do a simple gaming base?
Well, the answer is simple. It depends on what you are heading for with your figure projects.
Lately I had a painting spree and wanted to paint more simple projects, fast ones, to enjoy painting, test some quicker painting techniques with the reward of finishing a figure in about five hours. So no plinth, just a gaming base and the base was not my main focus here. Following I will explain you my work on eleven bases.
Let's start with the first six. When I prepare such a group of figures I clean them up all together and make them ready for priming. Let's have a look:
As you can see in the photo above I prepared six completly different figures for my painting spree. One was even painted already, not finished but already painted during a painting class and I planned to finish her in this workflow. Every figure recieved her gaming base and a plinth to work on for preparation.
The first base was planned to be a simple asphalt base, so I used sanding paper to glue it on top. I used a pair of scissors to cut the edges after the glue was dry. Superglue was used.
On the next base I wanted to do a little more work and used the bases from some 1:72 Soldiers. They were glued to build up some volume and height to the base.
... and again some wall plaster pieces ...
Now it was time for some soil/earth to be placed. It helps to bring the different materials together, blending them together. I didn't do it to all of the bases but for example to the taller one and to the one of another Blood Bowl figure. There was just earth needed to create a quick groundwork for a dirty field where they play.
I did the same - only earth - to hide the plastic base of the Ron & Bones Fishman figure. Simple but effective, at least kind of - in this case I need a little more as shown on the photo:
Well, some minor detail to the asphalt base in form of a piece of metal and done with the first row of quick bases. Those are ready for priming.
Let's check for the next round of bases.
Another five figures you have seen lately here on the blog, painted.
From left to right:
A piece of cork from a wine bottle cork, I placed superglue in the opening of the base and used activator spray to let it dry with volume as I planned to paint lava there.
Next one was simple wall plaster again but this time bigger plates.
The little football goblin recieved treatment with only superglue and activator spray. I did use several layers here to create height again. Plan was to create a muddy ground of wet football field.
The blacksmith just recieved soil again.
For the MILF I just went with PVC glue first, plan was to create a sandy underground.
While the PVC glue was slowly drying I searched for material I can use as fine sand and I found - guess what - the stuff I use for snow and placed it on top of the PVC-glue while it dried. Simple, eh?
Figures were then placed on their working plinths to have a good handle on them while painting:
And priming was next. Simple and quick bases for ultimate fast painting joy. I guess there are many more options available when you look on your workbench, maybe even under it?
Some painted examples of these figures ...
What you got to take care of while doing such fast bases:
- Don't think to much about perfection, it's not needed with such a goal.
- Always have in mind that colour can make everything interesting
- Have a toothpick ready to quickly move pieces around on your bases while they are placed in glue
- Don't glue your fingers too much!
Remember, you can also use bases you buy ready for gaming or even spent more time and even more time on a gaming base - it's all about its purpose.
Hope you enjoyed the article!
So, do you now fear your fast gaming bases?
Let me know what you think?
Keep on happy painting!
Best Wishes
Roman
Posts
Can you tell me what sandpaper grid have you used for asphalt?
As far as I remember it was 200 or 400 ... but that depends on your personal taste ... if you want it rougher or finer you are the one to choose ...
Great tutorial. Using sandpaper for asphalt is a great tip. Using actual earth and soil is interesting, I've seen that on here before. Do you need to dry it first?
Always cool to see such things coming up here. Though am also always curious how you get that pastel like, ultra matte look to some of the bases.. like the one with the zombie girl for example.
Great Tutorial! I will def try those ideas. Concerning Earth ans soil I have the same question as Mr Saturday!
Greetz Schack
Thanks again for the tutorial. Creative and inspiring.... Have to get some sandpaper :-D
@ Mr. Saturday and Anonymous: Yes, the "real" earth/soil should be dry, if you'll fix it with superglue (superglue + wet earth= bad, bad fumes!).
Best regards,
Chris
I like the superglue base a lot, trhe texture looks amazing and different from anything else I know or have tried before! Do you have to put on the activator to make it look like this?
Cheers, Marc
great tutorial, thank you
Was looking forward to this, thanks Roman! I think the biggest and cheapest improvement to my bases was using soil out of the back garden...
Also, this ties in very nicely with a competition we're running on Facebook on the Portal page, do you mind if I share some more details on here?
@Mr. Saturday
Yes, dry it first ... check Chris B.'s answer :)
@MrLee
Mmh, I used some pigments on the base after painting it ...
@Schack
Also check Chris B.'s answer :)
@Chris B.
Big Banana to you - thanks for your answer!
@MarkK
Yes, you have to!
@Steinworks
You are welcome ... my pleasure :)
@Adam
I don't mind :)
BTW I always think of you when I see that sword in our studio ... one day, you know :)
Cheers Roman! One day indeed! If it helps make it more bearable, about 10 hours after winning that sword, I proposed and my now wife said yes, so you can attach some happy memories with it!
Everyone else, if you go to this link here:
https://www.facebook.com/portalmagazine
We're holding a competition to celebrate getting 1,000 likes. I've been fortunate enough to acquire a lot of basing stuff over the years, and if you go on the facebook page and find the photo of the massive root, share and like it. That gets you into a prize draw to win a selection of plinths and basing materials. The more likes we get, the bigger the prize pot. I may even get around to chucking some minis in too ;)
The second, and more fun part of the competition is to upload a picture of your best base on our page. So far we've got 1 entry with another on the way. Any mini you've ever done will do! Any questions, just message us on the Portal page above.
Cheers everyone! Thanks Roman as well for the amount of tutorials this year already!
Big Banana? Yeah, breakfast is saved :-D Thx.
Hi Roman,
I really like the skin color of the zombie girl, which color did you use for it?
@Adam
I am in :)
@Chris B.
No I mean big banana, so breakfeast, lunch and dinner is fine! Thank you!
@Anonymous
It was painted in my wet and wet technique that means mixing colours inside eachother on the figure. So it is hard to tell, but I rembember my basic tone was some Green Grey by Vallejo Model Colour ... hope it helps!
So "Big"? I'm flattered :-D
the wet in wet on the miniature you mentioned: is it more similar to your wet in wet technique you use for your bases or is it more like the color-transition you showed in the beginner class for the demonette claws?
Thank you, oh generous banana distributor
Well, it is the same technique I used on bases too, but it is truly more difficult. On a base the big puddle of creamy colour takes a long time to dry and you can work with it for that time amount, relaxed. On a small figure I do one area after other, for example a leg, but the puddle is very small and it dries horrible fast. You have to exactly know what you are doing, where you put your lights, what colours you use, how far you go with the contrast, etc. ... if you think too much the time you got for it will breck ya neck and it dries before you even did start ... I can only recommand learning by doing ... you managed to do on a base, now you will try here and you will fail, but learn from your own experience and then succeed ... hope this helps!
Years ago, I learned a trick on how to apply grip tape to a skateboard that could help with this -- score the edge before you cut it.
Here's a video explaining it: https://youtu.be/zjmLDFizLos?t=1m30s