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Howdie peeps,

I have always pinned my models to their bases by heating a needle, stabbing it into a foot, snipping the needle to size with nail cutters and then green stuffing between the feet and the base aswell as the under side of the base to properly secure the pin.

It takes a long time to prep my squads, especially considering the curing time for greenstuff.

Was wondering how others do it in the hopes of finding a method that secures the model long term, just as well if not better.

Plastic model on plastic base? Just use plastic glue, the model won't come off easily at all, no need to pin it. I use Revell with the metal applicator, before Revell I used Testors plastic glue with the metal applicator.

Resin model, I use either superglue if I'm not worried about strength or epoxy glue (5 min araldite) if I am.

Metal model, epoxy glue and if I'm worried about it breaking, I'll drill in to the foot and pin it. Though frankly I don't paint many metal models these days.

I guess the reason I've been pinning everything is because of the way I prep my bases too.

I spread pva on the base, sprinkle sand on and then drill a hole in the spot the pin goes once the pva has dried.
Because of this I avoid using plastic glue as the point of contact is between the plastic and sand grains, not the actual base.

Moving forward I think I may have to start applying pva/sand after gluing the model to the base.

You can try blutacking the model in place (avoiding any blutac squeezing out the side) and glue the sand to the base, then remove the model to paint the base and glue the model back on later, that way you're gluing the model to the base's plastic and the model will look like it's pressing in to the sand rather than hovering over it.

Sometimes I actually superglue the model to the base while painting the model, apply sand to the base, snap the model off and paint the base, then glue the model back down. The risk there is sometimes the superglue doesn't want to snap off

I usually (plastic) glue my models onto the base before I add the sand, that way I don't have to pin them and that saves me some time, I think. If I use cork or bark, I drill a hole right through it and pin with sculpting wire and super glue

Sounds like you have a really complicated method. Heating up a needle and stabbing it though the foot? Plus green-stuff! Needles are really expensive compared to paperclips and much harder to cut as well.

I'd say get yourself a pin vice with a variety of different sized drill bits and a box of paper clips. Drill, superglue the paperclip in, drill the base, superglue, done.

Mostly I glue my model down to the base and just get on with it. If i want to put thick basing down and you dont want the model to be sinking into it i glue small pieces of plastic card under each foot as a spacer, you can cut them roughly then shape them once there in place, the more you stick on the deeper you can make the base and you still get that super strong plastic glue weld.
I only pin and super glue if im using cork or the model is metal.

i like to paint my bases without the model getting in the way, since base painting is pretty sloppy...
my models always have a pin in the foot, so once the model, and the base, are painted, i just use super glue to glue the pin into the base...

i've never had a model break off of the base, but if i do feel it needs a bit more security, a drop of super glue over the pin on the underside does the trick...

cheers
jah