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I'm pretty sure that this subject was covered a gazillion times, but I don't care

Here is a step-by-step on making natural looking forest-themed scenic bases

I started with standard raised lip 30, 40 and 50mm bases. On 30 and 40mm bases I used green stuff to close up the slot.
Rough grain modeling sand (or medium ballast if you like) was added to the base to create the first rough texture.

Then I added some fine grain sand (playground sand box variety) to fill up the gaps and soften up the texture a bit. The idea is to simulate forest turf.

The areas without any texture are stream/puddle beds (at least they will be) and they will get a bit of texture later on

Next step was adding some real nature to the bases.

I used twigs from the garden, and some slate pieces from WH40k basing kit to simulate rocks

After adding trees and stone, the trick is to make it all look natural.

I just kept adding glue to the gaps around the objects, and each time sprinkled a generous ammount of sand on it.

On larger objects the procedure needs to be repeated quite a few times due to large gaps. Just be careful not to overdo with glue in a single layer

At the same time I added a thin layer of sand on the exposed areas that are designated stream/puddle beds.

Once it was all nice and dry it was time to start painting it all.

I started with a base coat of burnt umber shade (here I used my favorite Americana craft colors since I'm not rich enough to paint bases and scenery with GW or Vallejo colors ).

The base was literally drowned with paint since its very porous, and i want it to be as dirt-like as possible once its done.

Stream/puddle beds are not painted at this time since their base coat will be dark green.

The last little piece is just a test for my home made wash that will be used for these bases (still not rich enough to use actual Devlan Mud here). I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with how the home-made wash works




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This is the last post for today. More will follow tomorrow

Being an insomniac, having Fridays off and being a general nerd means that some more work was done on the bases

All that was painted got progressively highlighted using shades of brown toward bleached bone.

At a certain point I noticed that one of the rocks got covered with all the shades, and I really liked how it came out, so i just re-did all the rest of the rocks using same shades.

Colors used are:

Raw Umber - > Sable Brown -> Honey Brown -> Moon Yellow - > Bleached Bone
(first four colors are from the amazing Americana range )

To soften everything up, I added liberal amounts of my home-made dark brown wash.

I'm still amazed at how good this stuff works

After i finished up all the painting it was time to fit all figures to their bases. In some cases it went very smooth, and in some cases I had to use green stuff to make the pose more natural. Once the green stuff cures it will be painted, and masked off with static grass.

This is the part where I take a photo of each figure that was fitted to the base to eliminate future guess-work (I'm old and senile, and photo reference is always nice )

I also painted the stream/puddle beds green (GW dark angels green)

Nice job on the bases!

Would like to see what they look like using same technique and water effects. Ever consider it?

Water effects are coming

All of the green areas will be covered with Envirotex Lite

These bases are still WiP but now i have to wait for the green stuff to cure before i go on, and until then i can get myself busy polishing the actual figures that will go on the bases.

Let there be water!

Envirotex lite was mixed in standard 1:1 ratio, and carefuly poured in the green painted areas.

Some of it got on the lip of the base, but it doesnt matter since it will be sanded and painted over once everything is dry.

And the bases are done 95%. The lip of the base will be done once the models are on the base, and that will be the time to add some more grass to the mix. And having finished this part, i can focus on the models themselves

And yes, i could use a little feedback

Some more bases

And the last three

Here are some models to go with the bases

Here is the first model all finished (well, table-top quality finished)

And after I took the lightbox photos i noticed that the base ring wasnt painted, so that had to be fixed as well

Another warpwolf joins the pack

And here they are. Two feral warpwolves all painted, based and varnished. (the varnish is not 100% dry so they look a bit glossy in the photos)

All comments more than welcome

I just love the bases, they look very natural.

Started working on the stalker. Just want to get it over with and move on to more fun models

Just get the Stalker over with and move on to more fun models!?!? Please tell me that was laced with sarcasm. The Stalker is my favorite so far. And your bases look absolutely wonderful and natural. I really like them. *Looks at own bases and cries*

They are lookin very nice. Those bases are fantastic to be sure.

bunnygurl wrote:Just get the Stalker over with and move on to more fun models!?!? Please tell me that was laced with sarcasm. The Stalker is my favorite so far. And your bases look absolutely wonderful and natural. I really like them. *Looks at own bases and cries*

Fun models are the Satyrs Shadowhorn is all ready and primed, and the Gnarlhorn needs an acetone bath since i managed to spill a ton of super glue all over it's chain armor on the back (fortunately he is only pinned so no putty work will get ruined).

But then, I'm known to be sarcastic once in a while

Almost there

A few more touches and he will be ready for tabletop. (Just noticed that his rope belt is not painted, so I guess that will have to be done as well)

Wow, you're Fast! I really like the realistic look to the bases. Not so sure about the gold edge showing the front facing.

I also like that you're diverging from the standard and using different colors on the different warpwolves. The only one I don't like is the first, which is the more standard color scheme... a guy here has done his similar, and I can't help but think the spikes look like toothpicks stuck in the model from all sides :-/. Maybe give the spikes a wash so they don't stand out so much?

Other than that, loving it and you sure are prolific!

If you wouldn't mind letting me know what supplies you use for the vegetation, I would be really grateful, I love bases and I tend to put a lot of work into them and I always like to see new things.

Also as a note, if you haven't seen these before, it may interest you: http://www.skullcrafts.com/

Thanks in advance!

Nathan138 wrote:If you wouldn't mind letting me know what supplies you use for the vegetation, I would be really grateful, I love bases and I tend to put a lot of work into them and I always like to see new things.

Also as a note, if you haven't seen these before, it may interest you: http://www.skullcrafts.com/

Thanks in advance!

For the bases you have a tutorial on my blog

As for green stuff, the grass is swamp tuft from army painter, the green scattered leaves is dried coriander leaves (dreadful taste but awesome terrain) and one base has army painter poison ivy (dark green leaves).

As for skullcrafts, i will definitely give it a look


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RiTides wrote:Wow, you're Fast! I really like the realistic look to the bases. Not so sure about the gold edge showing the front facing.

I also like that you're diverging from the standard and using different colors on the different warpwolves. The only one I don't like is the first, which is the more standard color scheme... a guy here has done his similar, and I can't help but think the spikes look like toothpicks stuck in the model from all sides :-/. Maybe give the spikes a wash so they don't stand out so much?

Other than that, loving it and you sure are prolific!

The gold edge on the base is one of two uniform things this while army will have. That is the reason that all wolves are different color.

The way I see it, these are animals, each one should be unique. And then to tie them all together i use the gold/emerald armor, and the brown/gold base.

As for being prolific, i cant agree. I barely paint one model a week

Ah, I thought you where using the swamp tufts, just checking though. Thanks for the info, my friends and I are starting a blog together soon so have a look for it, I think you'll see some bases you haven't before

An all time favorite started taking shape

For now its very flat, and only base coated.

Tomorrow the shading fun starts

Ooooooooooooooh.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

He looks like he's gonna put one fist to each side of someones head and smash their skull in. Awesome!