Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi guys,

So I am seriously struggling with basing my orks. I've tried sandy bases, martian bases, lunar bases and others but still cant seem to get it right.
I've just changed them back to dark brown bases, and i think this looks the least bad of the lot. It's hard to get a good contrast going between model and base as there is a fair bit of contrast on the model already.
I'm also trying to limit the colour palette a little as well so dont want to add too much more colours on, but still it feels like it needs something.
I've got the blasted lands grass from GW which seems to blend in to much to the base... i might try with brighter grass. Or maybe add some mushrooms? Or stop reaching for perfection and move on? This is consuming me wayyyy too much.

I'm open to any and all suggestions here, thanks!

Ham

I have to say that the amount of work you put into your orks is alreayd impressive considering how many orks are needed for an army. So, no I don't think you're wasting your time here, a good base to finish it off will surely make this the prettiest army in your local area.
Now on to the problem at hand.
As far as I can see, the problem isn't the colour of the base. To take it to the next level you simply need more variety. So just put more stuff on the bases. You can put anything you like, depending on the feel you are going for. Orks attacking an imperial city? Put rubble, any leftover weapons you have on sprue, limbs that were blown off by an explosion. Orks defending their turf? Put mushrooms, orky bariers, signs with waaaaaagh writen on them that fell to the ground.

I'd say the base color is fine, I would suggest adding a light drybrush for some contrast.
Something like Tyrant Skull or Golgfag Brown.

If you have spare space marine bits, some helmets in a bright color like red work well too.

Putting in small stones here and there, or a small plant like a bush or shrub, maybe even gears or nuts that are stuck in the earth. Its best to stick these in before putting on your basing so they look buried a little and not just sitting on top.

It doesnt have to be much, just something to break the brown, even jut a wash and a highlight. Could also stipple in a dark green or grey to break the contrast of the brown.

I like you paint scheme btw mine is the opposite of yours mainly blue with yellow accessories... but mine I did more quantity over quality (I'm happy with it)

I based mine in white paint, PVA glue, and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate i think is what its called in other countries, used as a leveling agent in baked goods)
Mixed them up to form a thick paste and put it on the base, It makes really good easy snow, no yellowing and its been 6 years on a desk.

I think a great way to base Orks is to do the reverse base technique: model it so that the Ork model is flat on the base then layer a thin layer of dirt, sand, blood, etc. over the top of it. This then gives you the freedom to model a heroic Space Marine standing over the top of the filthy dead Xenos.

"The only good Ork is a dead Ork". Remember, the Emperor is watching.

( )

Remember mrhappyface the only way you dirty beekees can remove Da Boyz is by blowing up the planet

 Maddok_Death wrote:
Remember mrhappyface the only way you dirty beekees can remove Da Boyz is by blowing up the planet

Doesn't mean we can't use you fungi as a pretty base for our stoic warriors.

What`s wrong with the sandy bases?
They always fit an Ork army if you wanna stay classy and with brown you have the right base colour to highlight it up.

I always found Graveyard Earth / Steel legion drab to be a reasonable compromise between dessert and CoD bases.

Some small added details as said before should do the rest.

Thanks guys,

I decided to stick with the darker bases. I already tried the sandy bases - i dont have any photos, but the yellow of the armour and of sand just tended to blend in a bit.
So I've added some stones, some lighter flock and a red space marine helmet (i only have one so far.....cant seem to find that entire army of marines i painted...)
Anyway I'm super happy with the result. Thanks for the pointers guys!

Hey looks better now!
Good to see you're happy with the bases.

There ya go

only other thing I might add is you can also drybrush the tops a bit, keeping the overall darkness but showing the texture off some (or not, as you choose)

I just leave mine black. I think it looks weird when a figure it toting around it's own little circle of terrain that doesn't match the board it's on.

Also, I play orks, so I've got millions to work through. No time for fancy bases!