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I remember the old GW painting guides, paint it green, put some PVA glue on, dunk it in a bin of flock and tap the excess off.

Nobody does this anymore.

Nope, I always hated the look of flock. Before static grass came along, I went the 'sand painted green' route, instead.

I remember when flock was a thing for military miniatures back when I was a kid in the '60s and '70s from the Napoleonic war figs, to larger scale world war II figures (that were about 4 inches tall). I think that it was also used, to a somewhat limited extent, for model railroads and dioramas for slot-car circuits .

I also remember in the '70s buying that green construction paper with green-painted sawdust glued to it for simulated "grass effects". I laugh at the quaintness of that.
Eventually the sawdust slowly shedded off the paper and generally made a mess of things the longer it stayed put.

I think for wargaming the flock was used up to the 3rd ed. 40k; being eventually replaced by sandy gravel, and that synthetic grass-looking stuff, and of course the myriad sculpted scenic bases.

Yep i have most of my 5th ed army based in a rock/brush basing....then i discovered micro art studios and secret weapons miniatures scenic bases and i never looked back.

Sure do. I'm glad those days are over, it never did look good and that stuff was shedding everywhere!

There are better options now, and I've seen a lot worse... and yes, I have flock on many but not all of my older bases.

Many of my old bases were flocked. Quite a bit of it was turned into stones when electrostatic grass came along. Black undercoat, grey dry brush over.

Since I've started re painting a bit during lockdown for my birthday my wife and kids got me some stuff like new brushes, new holders and a nice new packet of flocking. I don't have the heart to tell them. Looks like I'm back to flocking.

My Tau are flocked.

 jdouglas wrote:

I think for wargaming the flock was used up to the 3rd ed. 40k; being eventually replaced by sandy gravel, and that synthetic grass-looking stuff, and of course the myriad sculpted scenic bases.

Some people did indeed stick with flock, but the painting guides released by GW through second edition all used sand.

 jdouglas wrote:
I think for wargaming the flock was used up to the 3rd ed. 40k

About when I discovered the hobby, and flock was falling by the wayside. I didn't hate it in mini photos, but when push came to shove, I rathered my own minis didn't look like they were wandering across the planet Pooltable IV.

My second army has flocked bases. Relax, it's retro!

I do all my bases with sand and static grass. It’s become such an alien concept with newer gamers it’s quite funny.

Luetin09 on YouTube had people asking him what on Earth he was doing when basing some minis on a stream once, it’s now that much of a foreign concept to people in the GW ecosystem.

I still flock.

My snow bases (Ultras, Deathwatch, Nids) is a little more involved then the old system, but is still flock based.

My meadow bases (Eldar, Undead) hew pretty close to the Old Way. I use black rims, not goblin green, but the green does serve still as the under layer.

My bag of green flock still dates from the ‘80s.

I think imma start using "flock" instead of that "feth" yall trendy dakkanauts are using in your lingo

flock yes

 Grimtuff wrote:
I do all my bases with sand and static grass. It’s become such an alien concept with newer gamers it’s quite funny.

Luetin09 on YouTube had people asking him what on Earth he was doing when basing some minis on a stream once, it’s now that much of a foreign concept to people in the GW ecosystem.

What do they use now? It still looks like sand and grass.

Kayback wrote:

 Grimtuff wrote:
I do all my bases with sand and static grass. It’s become such an alien concept with newer gamers it’s quite funny.

Luetin09 on YouTube had people asking him what on Earth he was doing when basing some minis on a stream once, it’s now that much of a foreign concept to people in the GW ecosystem.

What do they use now? It still looks like sand and grass.

I think the official GW recommendation is either using one of their sculpted bases, or smearing one of their technical baseing paints on to get the cracked mud/etc look.

 Nevelon wrote:

Kayback wrote:

 Grimtuff wrote:
I do all my bases with sand and static grass. It’s become such an alien concept with newer gamers it’s quite funny.

Luetin09 on YouTube had people asking him what on Earth he was doing when basing some minis on a stream once, it’s now that much of a foreign concept to people in the GW ecosystem.

What do they use now? It still looks like sand and grass.

I think the official GW recommendation is either using one of their sculpted bases, or smearing one of their technical baseing paints on to get the cracked mud/etc look.

Ah I didn't think to check a painting guide I was just going on the GW product shots.

Thanks!

When I started it was tea leaves (took paint better than sand and slightly less likely to fall off over time)

I use a bit of flock for some schemes now though (but dipping the whole base, far too messy, superglue and sprinkle for a faster, neater result, and painting the under the area first makes it look better too)

Everything has to start somewhere and then the evolution comes.

"flock" per say has no place in todays marked of static grass, different pastes and resin enviromental parts.

 FrozenDwarf wrote:
Everything has to start somewhere and then the evolution comes.

"flock" per say has no place in todays marked of static grass, different pastes and resin enviromental parts.

You can take my bird sand, slate and static grass from my cold, dead hands.

Hate those “basing” paints.

Hate those “basing” paints.

Me too. I never bothered with flock, but I still have my bag of sand from the 80's

Gettin a snow base with flock and glue is cheep and easy. You can step it up with water effects for a more slushy look. A lifetime supply will cost you like $15 bucks, maybe $20 if you spring for the extra options.

GW charges how much for white paint mixed with a little sand? In a tiny pot...

I'm pretty sure tons of people still use flock. I do. Static grass looks terrible on 15mm and smaller miniatures.

 infinite_array wrote:
I'm pretty sure tons of people still use flock. I do. Static grass looks terrible on 15mm and smaller miniatures.

are you talking 28mm scale grass on 6-15mmm? if so i agree. thats why there is static grass for that small scale too.

 Phobos wrote:
I remember the old GW painting guides, paint it green, put some PVA glue on, dunk it in a bin of flock and tap the excess off.

Nobody does this anymore.

Just did some for Bolt Action last night. Which is quite a change for me as most of my armies have (painted) black bases.

My beastmen and tyranids are flocked. If I ever go back to them, I'll keep doing it.

I moved to sand for other armies, and I'm trying out the texture 'paint' stuff on an army. Underwhelmed, will likely stick to sand in the future.

I just looked at my RTB-01 Beakies to confirm that they (30yrs ago) had been flocked & what (little)remains on the bases is indeed "flock".

Yes. Still use it.
I use flock, static grass, sand, rock, cork, sculpted bases, etc - all tools in the inventory. Wich tools depends upon the look/effect i want.

I have snow flock I mix with PVA. You can see it on the Wolf Lord's base.

I've never been one for flock myself, but there's something to be said for those old photos in White Dwarf and army codices where the green flock and Goblin Green base rims blend perfectly into the green flock of the table. Minis today tend to use their bases more as another element of theming the army, rather than to match a presumed board style.

So in that regard, odd as it might sound, I think the modern counterpart to flocked bases is clear (transparent) bases.