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Hell everyone.

I am working on new project/army and need to make some scenic bases that look as if on the planet Mars.

Basically, sandy rocky bases, that are...well red.
(yes, I know recent color adjusted pictures may show mars less red than we thought....I am going for a more 'traditional' mars look - what ever that is...).

So, other than using sand and rocks, and mixing in some paint....was curious is anyone had and experiences in this or suggestions?

I was thinking of a bit of burnt umber, or some rust/dried blood colors mixed into sand. Any thoughts?

(the basing will be added AFTER the minis have been painted - the minis are metallics with some green or blue highlights).

thanks in advance....

I would use some black lava or pummice paste with some crackle medium done over that (after it dries) in some patches. A few sparse rocks and a sprinkle of ballast would work wonders.

I would build up from dark red (Vallejo Hull Red) to medium shade red (nothing bright, maybe Vallejo Dark Vemillion or Carmine) and use rust pigments to give it the bright pop and dust look.

Head to an office supply store like Staples or Office Max and buy bulletin / cork board sheets. I got a pack of 6x6" squares for a few bucks. You can rip it in pieces and glue on top of your bases and it makes a nice looking rocky surface when painted.

For the mars colors, head to Home Depot and buy a can of Krylon or Rustoleum red primer. It's more brown than red though. Use that as your spray base coat, and then lightly drybrush light tans and/or oranges. Should give you a nice red-rock effect

 Necros wrote:
Head to an office supply store like Staples or Office Max and buy bulletin / cork board sheets. I got a pack of 6x6" squares for a few bucks. You can rip it in pieces and glue on top of your bases and it makes a nice looking rocky surface when painted.

For the mars colors, head to Home Depot and buy a can of Krylon or Rustoleum red primer. It's more brown than red though. Use that as your spray base coat, and then lightly drybrush light tans and/or oranges. Should give you a nice red-rock effect

So cork is a huge pet peeve of mine. It seems like nowadays people are using it gracelessly, just gluing down chunks without ballast, rock, sand, and other useful details. In other words, yes, cork is useful. However, you must work with it to not have the illusion utterly ruined.

I am pro-Krylon, btw. I use it for a lot of basing (black primer). Stuff is great. If you do go color primer, I find you might lose depth if you don't work it up from a still suitably dark color. Otherwise, you might have to wash it to get the depth back, which isn't a bad thing, per se.

So I recently started to look online for basing techniques and found a guy named eons of battle. He makes great easy to follow basic basing tutorials with real innovative ideas. Great for new and more experienced painters. I like to use his base idea and just add a bunch of other stuff to it for more depth. Any ways check out this totorial http://youtu.be/mg_l5OOX8J0

Just want to note I have no affiliation with them and I'm just trying to give some good old advice.

Cheers.

Look at rover pictures to get a good idea of what kinda terrain you need.

Id say use bark nuggets in small sized chunks. to get it looking craggy

Then make smooth areas with that crackle stuff inbetween.

And then add many MANY servo skull type things all over. since this be 40k mars

Thanks for the responses folks.

A lot of good ideas (I have been looking at real mars pics - and from some research there, discovered that mars is not quite as red as we had thought...).

I already have quite a bit of experience in the physical aspects (cork, rocks, sand, ballast, etc.) but more input is always good!
(the eons of battle guys produce nice quick videos with some great tips in them)

My biggest challenge has been trying to find a decent color combo and process, especially since a lot of the models are already attached to the bases.

thanks for all the input so far!!!

GW Martian Ironearth is surprisingly a lot of fun to use for that cracked earth look. Just make sure to undercoat first.

MIG Pigments do a great weathering powder called Martian Dust, which I use on top of GW's Martian Ironearth. So far i'm happy with the results. Throw in some rocks (which I dry brush lightly with a little silver to give it a slightly metallic rock look) and a little metal/debris and it's really very effective.

Make The rocks a very dark brown or even black. and put the crackle red paint or even rust pigment powder in between.

Lots of nice contrasts and detail for not soo much work.

Also There is also


If i remember it might be a little bit lighter or orangeeer but it is muuuch cheaper than buying 20 pots of gw stuff.

How much does that cost? I am a fan of the Viva Crackle medium, personally. It works like a charm, just tough to find. 200ml is like $8 though, but if that stuff is cheaper I will give it a go on the off chance I need to re-base my whole Ogre army for 9th.

Like 5 bucks off home depot

I have some viva stuff my self but i cant find anything that isnt glittery.

 Desubot wrote:
Like 5 bucks off home depot

I have some viva stuff my self but i cant find anything that isnt glittery.

They make a White Crackle. That is what I used. But that Martha Stewart stuff is cheaper, oddly. Plus, I paint over it, so glitter wouldn't be an issue either way.

There is this method here, utilizing Citadel technical paint Martian Ironearth.

There is also this method here, using some small rocks and sand.

Well I came here to advise that you go with the second tutorial listed above. That tut shows that you can make the super red Martian bases that you remember with plenty of detail and, in my opinion, they look pretty realistic, despite what that commenter said (look at pictures of red Mars and you'll see the bluish black slate rocks all over too). Also none of that silly, second-tier cork.

Plus I have it on good authority that the author of said tutorial is a kind and caring person, hilarious, intelligent, and willing to help you out if you have any questions on what he described.