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Recently I bought some metal models off a friend that were previously base coated but over time the base coat has been eroded to the point were only 66% of the surface area is covered. I know re-base coating will obscure details but I would like to have better coverage before actually painting. What would you guys suggest?

I strongly suggest Gesso, especially if you aren't going to strip the mini first. It's really all I prime with normally anyhow.

You should be able to find it in most art/craft stores that sells canvas for painting.

The beautiful thing about metal models is that you can use the most caustic strong stuff on the market. That being said a bath in simple green or purple power will work well. You can always go the nasty route like carb or brake cleaner but don't let it get near any plastic or in you

Use oven cleaner to strip the minis down to bare metal (I sometimes use a dental pick just to nudge out the deep crevices).

Then use Krylon Ultra-Flat Black Camoflage spraypaint - that crap finishes to a hardness unlike any I have ever see, on both metal and plastic ($4 at Wal-Mart for the can).

Paint to your hearts' content!

I'd second the Simple green.
Which is also Reuseable once strained through some paper towel.

if you want Ultra fast cleaning. Get some easy off oven cleaner and heavy duty mask and spray the model down till it is properly half submerged in the stuff (*warning Put it in a mason jar. Do not use a plastic tub)
sit for an hour or so and scrub with an old tooth brush.

if you want pics of what simple green can do, I have models fresh out of the tub

Definitely strip them. Anything from Simple Green (on the plastic- and people-safe side of things) to nail polish remover (will melt plastic) to brake fluid (nasty stuff, but it'll strip a metal mini in no time, I hear) will do the trick. The metal is pretty resilient, so it's just a matter of what's on hand, how much time you have, and what else you might want to strip in the future (if you need to buy something and aren't in a hurry, slower but plastic-safe products would be the better investment).

Once stripped, give it a good cleaning to remove all residue, then prime and paint as usual.