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So, I stumbled upon a YouTube video from Luke's Aps where he is talking about "easy basing." Seems he makes and sells some "ready made" basing mixes through Geek Gaming dot com. They seem to be mixes of sand, gravel, static grass, and probably some other stuff. (I didn't include a link, because I don't want anyone to think I am advertising this stuff or anything.)

Given that I have literally hundred of fantasy minis I need to eventually get based (not to mention 40k things), this seems like a decent to get something reasonable looking in a short amount of time. Given that my actual hobby time is extremely limited, the premixed nature of these things really appeals to me. While they are a bit pricey, I'd buy them for the sheer convenience factor, but being in the US, not the UK, the shipping alone is vastly more than even the product is. I just can't justify that to my wallet (let alone my wife).

I know a go-to suggestion is to just go outside and get basing materials, but since I live in what is nearly a swamp and mud isn't really what I am after for most things. And I'd rather just buy stuff than spend valuable time hunting down rocks. I do have some of the Vallejo Earth textures and those are good for when I want a texture and am going to paint it, but they aren't really a dip and go solution. I also have rollers from Green Stuff World, which are fantastic, but again, they are great for when I want that effect, but I like how those mixes have a "naturalistic" look without painting.

I tried looking up stuff by Woodland Scenics, to try to make my own versions of those ones on Geek Gaming and I ended up more confused than when I started. Do I want a mix of pumice and basalt? What kind of grass should I get? I know it depend on what sort of "terrain" I am looking to simulate, but I don't even know where to begin, there just seem to be too many options. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Iv given this some though too as im going to be basing literally thousands of skaven sooner or later.

Another option besides lukes stuff or valljeo would be warlord games basing render.

its basically glue water and sand mix together already in fine medium and coarse. i haven't had issue with it chipping yet.

but then this is the kinda stuff that shouldnt be too hard to do your self if you want something custom.

so far my thoughts is to use a tube of 100% acrylic caulking as the medium, mix in various sand and a lot of brown black paint, blended up mulch for texture and some static grass to get a really muddy look. paint up some junk spears shields and other fantasy bits, glue em down to the base first so it looks like its sticking out of the mud, then go ham with it.

That way I dont need to do double work


Swamp or not you could always get your hands on playground sand or construction sand for fairly cheap. just need to sift it to size.

 Desubot wrote:
Iv given this some though too as im going to be basing literally thousands of skaven sooner or later.

Oh, man, you just made me think of the boxes and boxes of Skaven I have laying around and now I realize that the hundreds I was thinking about are nothing compared to that. But for Skaven, I think a mud look is pretty fitting, so I feel I could "get away" with Vallejo texture on them, for the most part.

 Desubot wrote:
Another option besides lukes stuff or valljeo would be warlord games basing render.

its basically glue water and sand mix together already in fine medium and coarse. i haven't had issue with it chipping yet.

but then this is the kinda stuff that shouldnt be too hard to do your self if you want something custom.

so far my thoughts is to use a tube of 100% acrylic caulking as the medium, mix in various sand and a lot of brown black paint, blended up mulch for texture and some static grass to get a really muddy look. paint up some junk spears shields and other fantasy bits, glue em down to the base first so it looks like its sticking out of the mud, then go ham with it.

That way I dont need to do double work

Well, my "problem" actually runs even deeper. I have a ton of the old Gale Force 9 magnetic square bases that my Fantasy stuff is on. They are extremely slick on the top sides, so nothing really sticks to it except super glue. So, my intent is to actually use CA to stick the basing material on them. If that works. If not, go with a thin spread layer of CA on the base, which, after dried gives a surface for PVA or acrylic, like you suggest, to stick to and then the basing material. You can see in Luke's video here he just throws a layer of glue down then "breads" the base with the mix. I'm all about that level of simplicity,

He does use a latex based glue, which I wonder if it would stick to those bases. I'd have to try it. So, static grass, sand, some more "medium" texture rock, and maybe a dash of bigger ones? What do you mean when you say mulch? Is there "mulch" flock? I think I need to just take a deeper dive on Woodland's Scenics' site...

hmmmmm hows about this for simple,

those magnetic square are probably the vinyl type fridge magnets so stuff wont really stick super well to it.

id say take a few and line them up on some parchment on a throw away sheet pan

Spray some adhesive like 3m 90 contact cement.

sift some sand over it all (with coarse sand added in for rocks) then shake off some of the excess.

then you can spray bottle some iso alcohol and then hit the whole thing with thinned down pva (its the luke town son style of gluing sand down. the iso "wets" the surface so the thinned down white glue penetrates for a better hold.)

let dry > peel off, fix the edges with some sanding sticks if need be > put it back on a sheet pan > spray prime it dark brown > dry brush light brown > add flock or static tufts.

if it works on one you could probably hundreds or thousands in like a day or two with drying time.

 Desubot wrote:
hmmmmm hows about this for simple,

those magnetic square are probably the vinyl type fridge magnets so stuff wont really stick super well to it.

id say take a few and line them up on some parchment on a throw away sheet pan

Spray some adhesive like 3m 90 contact cement.

sift some sand over it all (with coarse sand added in for rocks) then shake off some of the excess.

then you can spray bottle some iso alcohol and then hit the whole thing with thinned down pva (its the luke town son style of gluing sand down. the iso "wets" the surface so the thinned down white glue penetrates for a better hold.)

let dry > peel off, fix the edges with some sanding sticks if need be > put it back on a sheet pan > spray prime it dark brown > dry brush light brown > add flock or static tufts.

if it works on one you could probably hundreds or thousands in like a day or two with drying time.

That's probably a pretty good idea. When i really get things rolling, I might try that out, especially for the Skaven, when it's their turn.

In the mean time, I think I am going to try getting my hands on some stuff and try out more individualized swamp bases for my Dark Elves. Those are my babies. I ordered some AK Interactive stuff already to try out. I have my eye on some of the Vallejo Thick Mud as well. It will be my first real foray into "realistic" basing. I've only attempted stuff with my green stuff rollers so far for my Necrons.

Consider something like a simple mix of Woodland Scenics ballast (tiny gravel) for your bases. Just get three different scales and mix them up. You'd spent about $30 on all the material you'd ever need (they come in large containers).

I would never...ever consider paying someone to mix that for me. That's obnoxious.



Apply with woodglue to the base before you prime, then give it a quick paintjob when you're done. I do this with most of my minis, and you can see in my how-to below:

http://myminiaturemischief.blogspot.com/2016/06/step-by-step-spiders.html

It's a couple steps in. Super stupid simple.

 Elbows wrote:
Apply with woodglue to the base before you prime, then give it a quick paintjob when you're done. I do this with most of my minis, and you can see in my how-to below:

http://myminiaturemischief.blogspot.com/2016/06/step-by-step-spiders.html

It's a couple steps in. Super stupid simple.

Yeah, I think this is the way I am going to go for now and skip the static grass, relying on tufts when and where appropriate.

I used roofing slate for all my bases, found someone on craigslist selling it for cheap ($1 per tile for irregular pieces, like 1' x1' size) and broke it up with a hammer, got an absolute ton of it and I use it on all my bases now, Just PVA glue and put on some big pieces, then put on the little pieces with a big spoon, and you get awesome results. I've painted it to simulate martian terrain, or just kept it as the dark slate and added a bit of static grass and flock and it looks great. Super easy and cheap.

 Tarnag wrote:
I used roofing slate for all my bases, found someone on craigslist selling it for cheap ($1 per tile for irregular pieces, like 1' x1' size) and broke it up with a hammer, got an absolute ton of it and I use it on all my bases now, Just PVA glue and put on some big pieces, then put on the little pieces with a big spoon, and you get awesome results. I've painted it to simulate martian terrain, or just kept it as the dark slate and added a bit of static grass and flock and it looks great. Super easy and cheap.

That looks pretty good. Going to keep my eyes pealed for something like that.

Sand, tree bark, (makes good large rocks if you break it down.) Small bits of gravel, stones etc. All available for free outside with a little wandering. Cork boards are another must have. Foliage you need to invest in. Plenty of modeling companies make nice plants and grass tufts etc. I bought a 'meadow' basing set from Oliver spaeth on Instagram but he doesn't make them anymore I don't believe.

Since you have some rollers you could also get some air dry clay and cling film and make some ruins bases by rolling out some clay thin with the roller, let it dry then smash them into small bits and gluing them strategically.

queen_annes_revenge wrote:Sand, tree bark, (makes good large rocks if you break it down.) Small bits of gravel, stones etc. All available for free outside with a little wandering. Cork boards are another must have. Foliage you need to invest in. Plenty of modeling companies make nice plants and grass tufts etc. I bought a 'meadow' basing set from Oliver spaeth on Instagram but he doesn't make them anymore I don't believe.

Yeah, I have plans to get to cork next time I am at the store. And scouting out for some bark in the mean time. Do you varnish it before using?

Desubot wrote:Since you have some rollers you could also get some air dry clay and cling film and make some ruins bases by rolling out some clay thin with the roller, let it dry then smash them into small bits and gluing them strategically.

I found the air dry clay annoying and sticky to work with. My plan is to actually pick up some super sculpty and a cheap-o toaster oven and put it out in my shop. Then do exactly what you describe with it. I'm not too keen on baking the clay in the house. I know it's not the most dangerous thing, but just rather unappealing if not maybe unsafe.

EDIT: I just reread what you said and I never thought of using a film to roll it. I'm going to try that out actually, thanks.

You could varnish bark, but I just paint it then varnish. Make sure its dry bark not wet stuff on dead logs.

go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy a 50lb bag of concrete aggregate and never need basing material again? i have about 60 lbs of dry grout aggregate and it is perfect for basing and i could never possibly use it all in a lifetime.

 queen_annes_revenge wrote:
You could varnish bark, but I just paint it then varnish. Make sure its dry bark not wet stuff on dead logs.

Yeah, I'd let it dry out a long while before ever using it. I've never really messed with varnish, so just making sure I had the right idea that it should be varnished at some point.

 Deathklaat wrote:
go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy a 50lb bag of concrete aggregate and never need basing material again? i have about 60 lbs of dry grout aggregate and it is perfect for basing and i could never possibly use it all in a lifetime.

I don't know why I didn't think of that, I've literally had to clean up busted bags of gravel mix concrete before. I'll have to scope out when I get a chance, both Home Depot and Lowe's websites are a joke, because I don't want actual concrete, right?

no you just want the stone mixture that is used to strengthen the concrete or grout. the mixture i have has a few different coarseness and colors

I would just wither go to a home improvement/gardening store and get some playground sand in a fine grit and mix in something a bit larger. I'm fortunate enough to live near a beach so I just sift out the sand and add some Woodland Scenics gravel.

Pet shops sell fine sand for either birdcages or lizard terrariums.

Bird sand is about two quid for a kilo, and often has broken shell through it for the birdies, so it has some organic variation, imho it's absolutely ideal.

Lizard sand is a little more expensive, but it usually has a slightly bigger crystalline grain - kind of volcanic looking, next to a mini - and comes in a variety of colours.