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So I have finally decided to start basing my mini's and have run into a bit of a problem because I cant seem to find the right materials that I am looking for and was wondering if anyone has any ideas. I am basing my marines and necrons to give you an idea as to the base sizes. I have looked on several websites but cant seem to find any of what I am looking for

I am looking for a dark grey base(I have the new GW base texture paints but is there an alternative?), not too picky about the texture but I would also like to use some good size chunks of slate also dark grey, I am not opposed to making it as I have seen someone else was looking into this but dont know where to get the right putty. Finally I am looking for some reddish orange crystals to randomly place on some of the bases. I like the look of the ones Gale Force 9 used to have but they dont seem to be selling them anymore. I was kinda hoping to have my wraiths wrapped around the crystals if they were big enough also I need the weight so they will stop falling over.


If anyone has any suggestions or better ideas for a basing scheme I would very much like to hear them, to give you a better idea as to the color scheme of my models for justification my marines white scars with the blue/grey alternating world eaters theme and the same with some red for my necrons.


Thank you in advance.

For the crystals, it's very easy to cut the outer frame of your leftover sprue into rectangle pieces, and then trim an end down to look like the jagged points of crystals, then gluing them to the base and painting them whatever color you want, or using the new gemstone colors from GW, although I haven't tested those specifically. I know GW used to sell a basing kit that was centered around Necrons, and it had a load of actual Necron crystals for use on the base (they might still sell it; a couple of my FLGS locations have some). Alternatively, any stone that looks like slate is perfect, because honestly, if you just add a stone to the base, then it won't look right. Yes, the rock is naturally colored, but for it to match and flow with the model, your base really needs to be painted as well. Throw some grays and blacks on the stone, drybrush with lighter grays and maybe some light drybrushing of bone, and you'll have any slate-shaped stone looking just like miniature-quality slate. Personally, to fill in the blanks between basing decorations, or for just plain bases, I mix some small basing rocks (about the size of fine sand) with baking soda, coat the desired portion of the base in super glue, and dunk it. Got this method from Uncle Atom on Tabletop Minions (Youtube). It'll dry within like 30 seconds, so no wait time on base drying, just DO NOT get it on the rim. Basecoat it, then drybrush with a highlight color and boom: you've got ash or sand to-scale with bits of larger rock strewn about, rather than even super fine sand, which, when under a Guardsman, looks like large gravel.

Another hint: For slate, you can go to a home improvement store (idk where you live so: Lowe's, Home Depot, TruValue, etc.) or even some craft stores (Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc.) and they will either have decorative slate pieces (craft stores) or slate tiles for kitchen floors and the like. These tiles can be put in a bag, assaulted with a sturdy hammer, and viola! You have a bag full of broken slate pieces for your bases! If you don't have any of those stores, try finding a terracotta flower pot, preferably a rectangle one to avoid curves, but if you want small pieces, it shouldn't be a problem. Find one of the smaller ones that are used for small cacti and whatnot, take a hammer to it, and once broken, it can be painted to look just like broken slate.

These are just things I've found to be pretty useful concerning slate and general basing materials. If I can find a picture, I've got a squad of Deathwing Knights with the slate-tile-with-a-hammer method bases that I'll post up. The slate hasn't been painted, but the idea is there.

Just a quick note: What you think of as slate (for basing), isn't. It's actually shale - real slate (like used for roofing and floor tiles) is MUCH harder and less 'crumbly'.

Look in garden centres, or public flower pots for pieces. I lifted a couple of pieces from the sidewalk (they'd come from a nearby garden) and smashed 'em up.

Found that out years ago when I had a piece of real slate fall into my hands. It was much harder to break and really did a number on my drill bits when I was trying to pin something into it.

Cork can be used for slate, some (It's better as a rock). You might also be able to use bark, which will give you a lighter weight and a more workable surface (for pinning etc).

Sprues as mentioned for crystals - that's how I did my necrons.


Also, there's several crystal types either resin or 3D printed available on ebay you can get your hands on - I have used http://www.ebay.com/usr/horizoncreation3d?_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2754 and he's very good/quick as well.

Also, I believe Armorcast makes some in various sizes.