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Hey there,
I came to thinking the other day, to save a bit of money and make the base of my models look good, how about using left-over sprue?
Before I try it and mess it all up, I was hoping that I could receive some advice on how to go about it to make it look good. Also, I am sure I'm not the first to think of this so if you have done this, could you be so kind as to post some of your sprue basing on your miniatures.
Thanks in advance!

This is the squad here by the way, as you can see I am not very experienced, hence my apprehension. http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/613440.page

Sprue is an easy material to use for basing. I use it to make rsj and beams/poles sticking out of rubble. Just whack your cork/stones and sand on your base and stick chunks of sprue at odd angle, cover the joins with more sand. Voila. Paint em rusty and youre done. Ive seen people melt sprue also, and whittle it into points to make icicles etc. Il post some of my bases to show you

Here

Slightly off topic but if I am correct is that Night Lord currently in a painting competition in York? He looks amazing!

I will admit... I tend to not like the idea of using GW sprues for basing or terrain because of their distinctive shape. Whenever I see terrain made from sprues all I see if those damned trapezoidal shapes, soft edges on the obtuse angles and sharp edges on the acute edges. Sprues from other companies are often round and so they are fine, but GW ones are just so damned distinctive.

But if you're trying to save money it's not a bad way to go.

Personally I tend to favour just buying plasticard tube/rod/rectangular section. But no doubt that ends up costing more than using the sprues you already had.

Ashtastic wrote:
Slightly off topic but if I am correct is that Night Lord currently in a painting competition in York? He looks amazing!

he is! haha thats cool that youve seen him in there. are you from york?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
also if you look to the back of that cabinet you'll see the space hulk diorama from the top too. been in there about a year ha

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
I will admit... I tend to not like the idea of using GW sprues for basing or terrain because of their distinctive shape.

Ditto. That hasn't stopped me from using the stuff, I just don't use it as-is. Ground up chunks (I just attacked some lengths with end nippers at random angles, keeping the pieces small enough that the source is never obvious) work well as nondescript rubble. A few passes with an aggressive file to knock down the protruding corners gives you useable square/rectangular styrene stock. And hey, if I ever need a stack of gold bars (or any metal ingots, really), I'll be set!

I do agree, though, that the round sprue more common is scale model kits is preferable to the trapezoidal profile GW's have.

Onthe other hand, I have several Imperial Sector buildings made up as ruins. I used the sprue material with great succes by sticking it under the floor parts. The sprues make great beams there, looking quite capable of holding up a floor if it is not shot to pieces. I don't think round sprue material would look good there.

 queen_annes_revenge wrote:

Ashtastic wrote:
Slightly off topic but if I am correct is that Night Lord currently in a painting competition in York? He looks amazing!

he is! haha thats cool that youve seen him in there. are you from york?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
also if you look to the back of that cabinet you'll see the space hulk diorama from the top too. been in there about a year ha

I live nearby haha, I entered the Plas-pistol Skaven into the same comp

Thanks guys for your help, those miniatures are really very good. So, to paint the ruins, I could probably use Leadbelcher or MournFang Brown, the paints I already have, to accomplish this look, along with a wash with Nuln Oil? Also guessing I'd need sand or something to go on the base, with the sprue otherwise it would look bad.

I have used an electric coffee/spice grinder to grind down sprue to make basing gravel in the past. Works quite well, but takes a while to do...

Like your idea. Go ahead!

yeah, stones, dirt sand and general debris is all good for basing. buy some cheap cork coasters/placemats and rip them up too.

Cheers guys! Like your ideas, will get to work on it when I can.

Oh also if you are actually willing to put effort into it you can carve out some nice wood pieces for basing and the always impressive sprue folliage edit: from terragenesis iirc.