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So I'm sitting working on my CSM Heldrake model with my Tau drones(the two from the Fire Warrior box) screaming "paint us". Then it quickly occurred to me how best to do the bases/flying stands.

Do I add basing materials to the bottom to make it stand out or leave it clear to blend in?

Even after making that choice, is it best to leave the stand clear or paint em black? I'v saw it done both ways and it looks pretty good regardless.

Just trying to get some ideas. I'll most likely end up with basing them and leaving the stems black.

I usually add basing materials to my flying stands (drones, speeders, etc.).

I leave the stems clear.


(for battlefleet gothic I paint the base black, and the stems).

I leave the whole flying base clear. The less basing, the better! I've got too many models - so if I can get away without basing, it's a win.

I leave mine clear as well, just looks better in my opinion

I paint them matte black. I hate the look of the clear ones. It seems the point of the clear ones is "hey looks it's flying!", but the clear ones reflect/distort more light than something that's painted, so they look more fake.

Matte black is the best for just blending in to the background.

Then I just base the bottom the same as the rest of the army.

I leave my clear ones clear. But I base my dakka jets.

they should be clear. but any base for a flyer/FMC should have a least a mini diorama.

For my flyers / FMC's all of them I use a 1/2" acrylic rod for a big flight stand (the exact same height as the gw stand) and the bases are indeed treated as a "mini-diorama".

I love doing it this way, as its a chance to get creative and basically do a small terrain piece. I do them in a similar theme with the remainder of their army (i.e. my tau are desert theme, so my tau flyer bases are desert...etc.).

for drones (or any other small 30mm bases) I can see how some people might just leave them clear.