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Ok, so I've been looking through previous posts to try and find suitable basing options, but nothing has really caught my eye. To be frank I'm a bit spoilt for choice. My aim is to base up a load of Salamanders, but although it looks epic, I'm not so keen on the 'Lava-ised' bases most people put on them as I can't see the Salamanders fighting on exclusively Lava worlds. So my current basing extends to a layer of GW's Astrogranite compund, Badab Black wash, and a drybrush over with Tyrant Skull drybrush compund a la this guy:



Kinda plain base huh?

So I'm looking for something a bit more dramatic, at least some rocks, possibly slate for a dynamic pose etc. Thing is I don't have a clue what the better basing kits are, and from what I gather it's not GW! So, any help regarding kits, including value for money + quantity would be much appreciated! Please bear in mind I'm UK based. Thanks.

Start by typing "basing tutorial" into google to get ideas. What you need to buy depends entirely upon what look you're going for. Basing is fun because you really can do anything from very basic to over the top.

For affordable supplies, your best bet is to check out a model railroad shop. You can get ballast in a wide variety of sizes (up to boulders) along with turf, flock, flowers, snow, tree stumps, etc. For materials specific to wargaming, check out http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com. They are USA based, but they also do business in Germany & the UK.

Secret Weapon has some nice basing options ( http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13&zenid=0855aca0e823f281addf861d7e379034, ) but i find the best stuff for bases are cheap things i can buy at a dollar or hardware store.

Corkboard is a godsend and works for concrete or rock, and comes in various thicknesses.

Pinebark (once dried) is a cheaper alternative for slate rock and gives really good rocky bases.

Also I haven't tried this yet but it does look amazing, you can base with coconuts http://www.denofimagination.com.pl/2012/11/basing-with-coconut.html

You can also use odds and ends however you like, i find the hardware store is great for picking up things that with a little imagination can make your bases pop a lot.

Thanks to both of you - I particularly liked the coconut!

Secret miniatures seems to have good bases, but again i'm stumped for choice - I reckon my best bet is to simply go for a combined bag and have a go. Now all I need to find out is how to paint granite... Cheers people!

Painting granite is really simple, i generally go with a 80:20 mix of black/white then drybush a grey over it, wash it with a black wash (or brown if you wanna go more dirty) then drybrush a 50:50 mix of grey/white on the extreme edges

Ah, thanks a lot erratyk, i'll try it out.