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I've been neglecting to color the trim on my bases. But I started to this past weekend. I started with GWs version, graveyard earth. I kinda felt like I was copying them though. It looks nice but I wanna try a different color. What's a good color to use on the base trim?

I always paint them matt black so that they dont detract from the model itself. A bit unexciting when they are black to begin with, but the matt finish (Vallejo matt) makes it look a bit nicer in my opinion.

I always use black myself with a gloss finish.
The alternative is to match the edge with the main base colour and that of you games table so it all sorts of blends together.

For WW2/FoW I go with earthy tones, Greys for Moderns/Zombies and Black/plastic for my 40k guard. It all depends on the models paint job and theme. So for my grubby Necromunda gang I went for something a bit more pizzoww!

I saw a guys base with a reddish brown base and it was pretty nice looking

GOBLIN GREEN 4 LIFE

I used to use calthan brown on my orks, now i have to find a substitute in the new paint series.

I use codex grey for my space wolves with snowy bases.

I use XV-88 over black primer for the trim on my BA bases. Makes for a nice color without being too distracting. XV-88 is still a color right? Hasn't been renamed and reformulated into some else? <_<

I usually just go for a darker tone of whatever colour I used on the base itself.

If I did a brown base with green static grass, I'll paint the base trim dark brown.

If I did a grey base with snow or grass, I'll paint the base trim dark grey.

If I did the base with dark grey or dark brown, I'll paint the trim black.

I don't like adding additional tones to my models on the base that might detract from the model or disrupt the balance of colours on the model. So a safe bet is just use a darker tone of whatever you used on the base itself to stop the base trim drawing excess attention, but still making sure it looks neat and well considered.

Plus, a darker tone tends to emphasize the things which are slightly lighter tone, giving the model a bit more contrast without actually changing anything on the model itself.

 Badablack wrote:
GOBLIN GREEN 4 LIFE

^ I came into this thread to say this, seems I need to be quicker.

retro-humor aside, I'd probably go black.

Black, with a spot of colour on the back to denote squads.

Black, because it goes well with everything, and does not grab attention.

Depends on the game system and army.

For my Tau I go with "Mournfang Brown".


My Ariadna (Infinity) have "Deathforest Green" as base color, but the front arc (180°) is painted white with the blue and red Ariadna army logo to mark the front and a blue and a red line at each end of the white arc. View arcs are important in Infinity.


My ALEPH will go with with a gradient from dark purple to magenta instead. Army symbol on the front as well.


My Godslayer minis have a trim in "Burnt Umber", usually their name on the front and - if part of a unit - their number or other marking (L for leader, M for musician) on the back side of the base trim. This is necessary/usefull because hitpoints in Godslayer are tracked by figure and they usually have a few each.



Usually I finish the trim with one or two layers of gloss varnish.

Mine vary. My Tyranids and Dark Eldar are Graveyard Earth, because of the brown bases they're on. My Grey Knights are a pale blue (possibly Fenrisian Grey, not sure without one on hand) because they're on snow.

My Deadzone stuff is grey, because urban. Not sure how I'll do my Eldar, or the copy of Dreadball which should be coming tomorrow (but then I think Dreadball bases are clear anyway...)

Another use for base edging is for horde armies such as Orks, Guard and 'nids to denote which squad a particular model is a part of. Functional rather than aesthetic, but might be an idea and could be used for any army.

I'd use black but it looks like it hasn't been painted sometimes.

Plus black is a slimming colour.

I paint my rims black as well.
Do what I did and just try a bunch of colours, until you find one you like. I didn't find one, so went back to black.