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I typically sand my bases before I prime, that way I can paint the base in any color.  This has worked well for Necrons, (I painted the base black, then highlighted in grey, drybrush white).

But lately, I have noticed most people don't do this.  It seems that most people like to sand after the model is painted.  I'd like to learn how to do it the best way - does anyone have any tips?

Thanks!

Mez

I varnish my model, let it dry. Then pick the fig up by the head to paint the base. Some watered white glue, then sprinkle liberally with sand/talus; after a few minutes, slop some more glue over and sprinkle tufts of static grass. I never paint the sand/talus, it doesn't seem necessary.

On the other hand, I always paint the bases because I think it looks better. More to the point, painted bases make miniature soldiers look more "real", if the term can be used to describe 1/35th scale 14 foot tall aliens. To answer you question, I always apply the basing material, then prime, then paint. Two reasons: first, the primer helps hold the sand on; and second, i prefer the base to have a single base colour. I find that a single base colour makes it easier to get exactly the colour I'd like. As well, if you use black primer, most colours just drybrush over the black and eliminate the need for a base coat.

Cheers

People like to sand (I assume you mean sprinkle sand, not sand as in flatten with
sandpaper) their bases after painting because it looks different than how a lot of
bases look after you paint them. With my FOW figs I did both. I did a base of
flock that I sprayed when I primed the model, so that the base would be textured,
then I superglued some regular green n' yellow flock in patches above that. I liked
it better than just one thing.

Oh, and I'm useless with static grass or else I would use that, too.

 malfred wrote:
People like to sand (I assume you mean sprinkle sand, not sand as in flatten with
sandpaper) their bases after painting because it looks different than how a lot of
bases look after you paint them. With my FOW figs I did both. I did a base of
flock that I sprayed when I primed the model, so that the base would be textured,
then I superglued some regular green n' yellow flock in patches above that. I liked
it better than just one thing.

Oh, and I'm useless with static grass or else I would use that, too.

After years of different techniques, I've found that applying basing sand before priming is best for me. It allows an extra adhesive for the sand, and allows you to paint it easier, since already primed.

Mez

+1 for glue the sand on, then prime with a rattle-can.

On top of the other benefits already mentioned, I find that it's much easier and quicker to get an even coverage; I miss bits when I try to paint the sand by hand later on. Also, I'm kinda clumsy so painting an entire base after the mini would inevitably mean touch-ups to anything near the base.

I definitely prefer to glue the sand on first and then prime. Helps the paint go easier onto the basing material and also helps hold the sand in place on the base.

I use natural sand and so far first painted the model, than applied glue on the base, dropped it in sand and just painted without priming at all. The paint stuck without problem.

Recently I also made some bases by basecoloring them Zandri Dust/Zamesi Desert, glueing the sand and just leave it be. The natural nix of graincolors looks better than what I could achieve with paint.

 Mezmaron wrote:
I typically sand my bases before I prime, that way I can paint the base in any color.  This has worked well for Necrons, (I painted the base black, then highlighted in grey, drybrush white).

But lately, I have noticed most people don't do this.  It seems that most people like to sand after the model is painted.  I'd like to learn how to do it the best way - does anyone have any tips?

Thanks!

Mez

I base them before priming, and paint the base first.
Its simply practical, I drybrush my bases and its sloppy. No point painting a model, then go back and trying to fix it even more than I have to.


Natural sand doesn't look right to me. It lacks the depth and shading of the rest of the model, and the natural colors don't match well.

I alway used to finish painting a model, then glue sand to the base, then paint it, purely because that was the order they did it in the old paint guides. But yeah, it makes a lot more sense to texture the base before priming, I reckon, and that's what I do nowadays.

I apply my basing material before priming, so the mini is attached to the base, and the basing material - everything is primed together. Arms or heads or shoulder pads may be left off if I'm doing it in pieces, but the bases are always done before priming/painting.

Everything is dipped together before flat-coating, so the basing material is held on by: glue + primer + dip.

I paint, then glue, sand, wash (allow to dry). Seal the model, and then dab glue and sprinkle static grass for a “wasteland” base.

Before. You should be painting your bases like the rest of the model really. Whether you do it seperately or not is personal choice.

I base my figures last, because

A: For years and years I just used a blended flock mixture, which obviously has to go on last.

B: I feel like when I am using sand, it glues down to the primer better than bare plastic or resin bases. So I sacrifice the paint coverage of a primer for better adhesion, and just paint over the sand like any other part of the model.

I do the prime the model first. Then I apply the sand and paint the base. Then I paint the model. Saves time on errors if you drybrush you sand.

My two cents,

CB

 Captain Brown wrote:
I do the prime the model first. Then I apply the sand and paint the base. Then I paint the model. Saves time on errors if you drybrush you sand.

My two cents,

CB

Or you could...

1. Apply the sand
2. Prime the model
3. Paint the base
4. Paint the model

That still saves time on errors if you drybrush the base.

My process for base texturing is usually done after assembly (or at least the feet / legs) but before priming.

PVA, sand/cat litter, dry, PVA & water to seal, dry.

Pretty unusual for me to do basework after painting, but on some things it does happen.

tend to sand first, or filler more generally in my case and then prime.

reasoning tends to be in order to use the primer to help seal the filler or finalise the fixing of the sand, also I hate brush painting sand and filler.

indeed tend to airbrush the base top first unless the whole model is base coated a suitable colour

whee using a textured base material of some sort I tend to also prime the base first a suitable colour

note difference between priming the top of the base and the sides, the sides get some primer on but are where I'm holding it so they tend to get sanded lightly to remove the filler to avoid fingerprints and brush primed later

I bought a rubble basing kit about the time that contrast came out and have used the same technique since.

1. Superglue patches of grit, sometimes some resin skulls, building parts etc.
2. Superglue rough sand in most places.
3. Superglue fine sand all over.
4. Prime in shark grey
5. Blacktemplar contrast

Looks good, is easy to do and doesn't take too long. Plus its solid as the primer and superglue set from both sides and keep it locked in place.

Sand before priming. I tend to do my three base colours, completely finish the base, and then at least it looks ok on the table top if I want to play with them whilst finishing up the rest of the details.

I always sand before priming. Saves time later on and the primer helps add another layer of sealant to the basing materials.

Having tried every combination I can say the best choices are to base first then prime. Doing it the other way can just lead to glue and rocks stuck to the model you just painted and then potentially messing up your paint job on the mini as you try to paint the rocks.

The other alternative that I have been doing much more of recently is to do the model and the base separately. Then glue the mini to the base.