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So, a quick question. After a few games, I've finally decided to get my Brits painted. I've gotten pretty far, but now I've reached a new challenge - finishing the base. I need some tips/advice/tutorials on making a base look like it belongs in a nice, norther Europe setting.

I started by putting a layer of Drydex around the minis, so the bases weren't obvious. Then a lay of Black primer, a layer of GW Scorched Brow, a layer of Vallejo's Flat Earth, and then a Devlan Mud wash.

I picked up the Army Builder: Fantasy basing set, since that had 2 kinds of flock and some sand, if that helps.

Personally, I use pumice paste (basically sand + spackle mixed in one, but less likely to crack), then paint it scorched brown, drybrush flat earth, then use 2 types of flock (2mm size) and some small, 2-tone grass clumps from min-nature (german company). I also have some clumps with specks of colour that look good as flowers which I put on some bases to add a splash of interest. The main goal is to find textures that contrast with your model, but do not overpower it. The biggest mistake in my opinion is going too far and having an amazing base that you look at before you notice the detail on the models themselves.

Here's an example of one of mine:

I copy something similar, I use watered down PVA then I use Gale Force 9 Static Grass and flock. After I have done this and it is dry, i then use Army Painter Static Grass Tufts (£4.99 a pack) and glue small bits to the base... Like so simple and effective.


Not brilliant or golden demon winner, but certainly a nice effect on the table.

Not to hijack the thread, but I was about to post a similar question about basing for my Italians in North Africa. I was wandering if anyone could post a tutorial or advice for making North Africa bases, it would be much appreciated.

Here's one my based (still got a lot to paint/base )North African Aussie Command Teams.



Ok I admit it's not great but it is very quick and simple base to produce. I simply covered the base with a load of polyfilla/spackle/whatever you want to call it. Once that dried I painted it using Vallejo Dark Sand, followed by a wash of Devlan Mud and a final quick drybrish of more Dark Sand.

Close up it looks pretty ugly but I think it works well from a distance.

The best tutorial I've ever seen on that topic was from battlefront:
http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=53&art_id=1744

You know its funny, I am so used to GW that when I went on the BF/ Flames of War Website. I was blown away by the content, the articles, the little bits of advice. It reminded me more of White Dwarf back in the Mid-90's. It still amazes me that some of the best articles/ advice is on their own website. They have proved that significant effort put into a website is seldom wasted.

Indeed, they even have a regularly updated selection of free intelligence briefings (army lists) for unusual formations or those that they simply couldn't cram into one of the books.

Here's one of mine; it's one of my Italian Skoda 100/17 howitzers.
I used some spackle on the base, then painted it with Dark Sand. I later added some dead grass in various areas on the base (this is an older pic I had on-file).

Thanks for the tips, everyone. This'll be especially useful when I decide to take the fight to the desert!

ThirdUltra wrote:
Here's one of mine; it's one of my Italian Skoda 100/17 howitzers.
I used some spackle on the base, then painted it with Dark Sand. I later added some dead grass in various areas on the base (this is an older pic I had on-file).

I've been trying something similar with spackle, but it seemed like the paint came off too easily. Will putting on a few coats of paint prevent this?
Anyways, thanks for all the advice guys.

I guess it may depend on what spackle brand you use; letting it dry thoroughly though will usually prevent that.

I used some quick-dry stuff; I think I used some DAP or OneTime quick-dry.

I usually give it 24 hours to make sure, but I've had no problems with the paint comming off so far.

Try mixing the spackle with the paint you intend to use for the base. Doing that basically eliminates the need for a base coat and ensures that if the base chips you don't get a nasty looking white (or whatever colour the spackle is as standard) hole in the base.