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So tomorrow I'm getting my first set of basing materials from The Army Painter (far cheaper than GW, but that goes without saying) and before I start I want to know: Do I first glue the model to the base, then add the basing materials (in my case, sand, rocks, and some tuft) around the model? Or do I fully complete the base first, and glue the model on top of the materials? I would prefer to do the latter, is it even possible, even with super glue?

it depends on what your using. With sand you want to glue the model to the base first, then apply the sand. paint the model and the sand, and then apply the turf last.

Gluing a model to sand is just asking for it all to fall off. usually you will only applt the model last if you are attaching to something, like a large rock, or some cork.

I use sand, and I fully complete the base before gluing the model on. I havent had any problems with models falling off, but I havent played with them much. Wiggling some of my Necrons feels like I'd break the plastic before they come off the base.

First I glue on any large rocks with superglue, then spread unthinned pva (Elmer's Glue All) and apply sand to that. Once that dries, I apply a coat of thinned pva, let it dry again, then prime and paint.
Once that is done, I rough up the bottom of the feet with 220 grit sandpaper, and glue the model to the base with Aleene's Tacky Glue. I use just enough so that it starts to seep out from under the feet, and clean up any that does seep out with a toothpick. One downside is there is a slight gap between the bottom of the foot and the sand, but using enough glue helps a lot.

Personally I fully complete a base before putting the model on - this way there's no areas where you can see the bare base or catch paint/glue/flock on the model's legs/feet/crotch.

To stop the model coming apart from the base I add a couple of pins to the feet (paperclips are great for this), drill two holes in the base once it's completed, glue the pins and feet, feed the pins through the base, and then bend them (+glue) into place. Might not be as stable as gluing the model directly to the base first but I haven't had an issue with it yet.

I put the basing material on AFTER I glue the mini on the base. I have some done the other way around (bought off a guy) and some of them have had the base material separate from the base a the mini comes along with it. YMMV.

For me, a lot depends on how I'm priming a model.

For mass production - especially termagants - I undercoat the model in white or bone; apply sand etc to the base, and undercoat in black. Paint the slot piece of the termagant black, then glue once I've more or less finished the model (it's easier to paint the underneath, claws etc, when the model's not based). Saves loads of time.

For Orks, which I undercoat yellow, I apply send etc to the base before undercoating base and model together - the bases end up a red sand colour, so the yellow primer looks fine.

For bigger models, I finish base and model separately, and pin the model to the base.

I usually spray paint my bases, stick the model on (probably painted) and finish the base last with sand and stuff.

There isn't a best way. It depends what suits you.

Just a quick update: My modeling materials arrive today. As a test I took one of my very first models (BA Scout that I never glued to his base). I fully glued and covered the base with sand. Then I glued the model on top of the sand with Super Glue. So far, its great! The model feels firm and secure, just as much as if I glued it to the model directly.

I guess with smaller models like SM Scouts, Tacticals and maybe Terminators, I'll fully base first then glue the models on top. For bigger models like MCs, I'll probably do a test first on a spare base.

I like to use sand that has a coarser grain. I feel it has more character than just plain sand (my apologies to all the plain sand enthusiasts out there). To avoid that sunken look, glue a thin piece of plasticard to the model's feet. I did it with my Termies and it makes a difference.

I've done it both ways. I usually base after gluing the model if I'm doing a lot of them (and I want to play with them in the meantime). If it's just a few models, I'll put a pin in the base, glue my sand/gravel mixture on, then paint it. I've found the pin gives the model that extra bit of security but tbh I've never tried just gluing it to the base.

For me it depends on what the base is going to look like.

1) If it's standing on a hard surface like rock or flooring I'll often do the base first and stick the miniature on afterwards.

2) If he's in sand or mud (Perhaps snow or swamp) then I glue the model on and then apply the basing. I feel a sandy surface looks better if the feet are sunk down a bit. It's going to look strange if an Ork Nob or a guy in power armour is moving across sand or snow like Legolas going over the Misty Mountains.

For me, if it's a standard base for my army the model always gets glued down with Testor's Polystyrene Cement first. Then I add gravel, then I spray prime. The primer helps hold the basing material down and using polystyrene cement means I never have to worry about the model popping off the base.

It all depends on what you're doing with the base IMHO. If you need to do a lot of work on the base I usually wait. However both ways work for me unless it's hard to paint/weather/ texture the base with the model on it.