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Over the years one thing that's really bothered me about the way I paint is the conventional way of basing leaving me feeling like my minis are 'sinking' into the ground.

We all know the drill... we glue the model together, then slobber PVA all over the base, dip the base in sand and then if the model is really lucky, put another layer of thinned PVA over the sand to keep it in place and then we paint it.

But, now I've seen it I can't really un-see it. When you look closely, it looks like their feet are sinking into the ground because the base is 'based' around them.

Pic for example, some of by Sisters of Battle.

How do you guys base to get around this? Or am I just over thinking it!

If I'm just overthinking it, let me know in the poll??!!

Thanks all,
Mike

I switched to finer basing material to reduce this effect.

I just embrace it.

I snow base most of my armies. And not just slopping some slush around on rocks and tundra. Deep snow, with some tufts and rocks sticking out to liven it up. So it’s 100% OK for them to be sunk in a little.

My grass bases are thin flock over paint/glue, so don’t obscure the boots.

The few times I gravel base I do feel it looks a little odd. But not so much that I’m going to paint the model separate and set them on top.

I either cut thin slivers of sprue, and glue to the underside of the feet, or use a small blob of putty instead. That way, they stand a mm or two above the base, and you avoid the sinking look.

 Pariah Press wrote:
I switched to finer basing material to reduce this effect.

This seems like a remarkably simple solution that I feel should have occurred to me before...!

I just embrace it.

I snow base most of my armies. And not just slopping some slush around on rocks and tundra. Deep snow, with some tufts and rocks sticking out to liven it up. So it’s 100% OK for them to be sunk in a little.

My grass bases are thin flock over paint/glue, so don’t obscure the boots.

The few times I gravel base I do feel it looks a little odd. But not so much that I’m going to paint the model separate and set them on top.

Ahhh snow based army... I wish I had the courage! The thing that's always put me off snow basing despite the fact I think it's really cool is how it would look on different gaming tables. But, again, maybe I am over thinking it?

I either cut thin slivers of sprue, and glue to the underside of the feet, or use a small blob of putty instead. That way, they stand a mm or two above the base, and you avoid the sinking look.

This is actually a great idea! Thank you!

Don’t use PVA glue and sand; instead use any texture based paint such as Vallejo earth texture and apply with a sculpting tool, water down with distilled water a bit when necessary; when wet sprinkle fine sand and gravel on top; on slotted bases with holes, you can apply a small masking tape prior, any unwanted and unnatural pot holes you can apply a second layer on top once first layer is dry.

Or... Keep the mini off the base until after you've stuck the basing material on. You might need a little pin through the base and into the feet to get a good solid bond though.

Crispy78 wrote:
Or... Keep the mini off the base until after you've stuck the basing material on. You might need a little pin through the base and into the feet to get a good solid bond though.

This is exactly what I do. I use a cork from a liquor bottle with a bit of paperclip stuck in it as a painting handle. The paperclip goes into a hole in the mini's foot that I drill with my pin vise and a bit that is the same size. A tiny bit of superglue on either end of the pin keeps things together during painting. Then, you can clip the pin with a little sticking out, and drill a hole in the base for the pin to go through. To locate the mini perfectly on the base, I dip the little nub of the pin still sticking out from the mini's foot in blue paint (for good luck), then while looking straight down on the base touch the mini down onto it, leaving a tiny blue mark to locate the hole that I drill.

Lol, now who's overthinking things! I like the idea of a little sprue sliver under the foot, that seems like a much simpler solution and then you can angle the mini just the way you want and build your basing materials around it.

When making heavy textured bases I mount the model after finishing the base. I do make sure the 'feet touch the ground' and don't hoover over gravel.

For the rest, lightly based models I use a custom mix of sand and grit.
I put PVA where I want the fine sand to be, then pass it through the fine sand bucket.
Then I apply PVA where the courser sand needs to go and pass it through that bucket.
Final touch is some pva or CA to mount little details like rocks or branches.

I feel the depth the feet go in the ground make the model believable of not. For example, a Space Marine has more mass and can therefore rest a bit deeper than an unarmoured human.

But to me the worst is models hoovering over the basing material.

Oh, I'm far too fussed with the actual painting specifics to care that much about basing. Who cares if the model seems like its floating a bit, if the paint coats arent flawless in their thinness and the weathering doesnt look like its in scale with the rest of the model?