http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/8.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net
http://imgur.com/oQq45Wy

This is my first attempt at grass and sand. I have no idea what I'm doing so i was just winging it here. any help, tips or tricks would be most appreciated.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6039678.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6039678.page GMT Tip: the easiest base to do is snow: paint the top of the base white, mix snow flock with white glue and a little bit of white paint, then scoup it on (the thicker it is, the less it runs). After that, sprinkle a bit more snow over top and vola: instant snow drifts. The best part is you can do it after gluing the model to the base, so they are wading through it all. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6039751.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6039751.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6039778.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6039778.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6039787.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6039787.page GMT Generates a lot more responses (and faster) than links. May require hosting them in the Dakka gallery, though, as some sites don't take kindly to hot-linking from forums.

As for the base, it's very clean, which is good. Sometimes, extending the basing over the lip can be a characterful effect, but globs of sand and splotches of paint all over the rim usually just scream "lazy," destroying any efforts put into the top.

It is, however, a bit flat and bland. Your layer of sand is so even that it looks unnatural - with the black coloration, it could very easily be mistaken for an attempt (and a reasonably good one) at coarse asphalt, in which case grass poking out of the otherwise pristine surface makes little sense. Small height variations (just smush the stuff around a little, while the glue is still wet - may take two layers, with very fine grit, to have enough depth to introduce variation) will give a far more natural effect. For sand, a consistent texture makes sense, so surface undulations are needed to give it character.

For soil, varying the grit a little works just as well. Small additions of larger grains - coarser sand, fine gravel, cork chips, kitty litter, etc. - to your grit mix will do wonders, in terms of naturalism. It's pretty rare to find perfectly flat, level ground without at least a few small rocks or dirt clods breaking up the surface. Even if it's not impossible, it is a bit boring, visually.

You can really go nuts with your basing, putting as much effort into it as the model it supports, but that's neither common nor necessarily advisable. From where you are, now, a touch more variation is all that's really needed to get you into a comfortable position. Luckily, it won't take much more effort per base (depending on how you go about it, of course) to get it. That said, it's always worth considering the terrain you want to represent, first. For the sake of fluff, sometimes very flat and simple basing is the obvious choice. It won't have the same impact (or score as many points with the judges, most likely), but any basing is better than none and it's your army to treat as you will.

[edit:] Multiple ninjas, basing theme unveiled. I would focus, then, on slight surface variation and color. A simple pass or two of drybrushing will, as that person suggested, up the contrast and let the texture really stand out. For surface variation, think about the terrain a bit more - what exactly do you want? Ash fallen over normal ground? Black sand desert (amidst dunes? mesas?)? That will tell you whether to add rocks, ripples, etc.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6039827.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6039827.page GMT
http://imgur.com/O2nWf2S]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6039894.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6039894.page GMT barely catch the highest, sharpest edges. It's an exaggerated effect, but really makes the texture pop.

You may even want to try it on some pure black sand, without the heavier coverage of the dark grey midtone - it should give a sense of darker, more reflective material (coarse, black sand) instead of shifting everything from black to grey (dark gravel or volcanic clinkers). The coverage of your drybrushing pass(es) has as much to do with the perceived effect as the shade used. A black wash at the end can also help dial the colors back down if you ever think you've gone too far. Just something you may want to play around with.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6041380.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/551593/6041380.page GMT