<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "Basing technique?"]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/8.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net Basing technique?


I have some PVA glue, regular sand (from a beach) and also some GW “basing material” which I have in a circular tub, I bought it about 15 years ago and I can only best describe as like really large grade sand.



Anyway…. I was thinking, if I mix the sand, basing stuff and PVA glue all together, and mix it all in together, then put that on top the base?



I could then paint it.



I thought about covering the base in just PVA, then dipping that into a dry mix but.. I figure if I do that, some of the top of the sand may come loose, and end up in paint brushes or contaminating the paint in the pots etc.



Or is there just an easier way of doing it?



I am not removing the bases though.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10193951.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10193951.page GMT Basing technique? Both ways are fine, although I have never mixed the sand with the glue. In 35 years I haven't found a need for anything besides put the glue down and dunk in the grit.

Lay a dark wash down once dry before painting, and it will seal the sand down for you. Dry brush your colours on top and it's done.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10193958.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10193958.page GMT Basing technique?
I'd be extra thorough when washing the brushes off though, just to be safe.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10193961.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10193961.page GMT Basing technique?
I wouldn’t mix the beach sand with Geedubs basing material,
It will act like a sieve and you’ll only get the beach sand on the bases.

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10194097.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10194097.page GMT Basing technique?
Nowadays I've moved on to texture paints for my base - specifically AK Interactive Diorama series. I use the Light Earth and the Light and Dry Crackle effects to create an arid earth sort of base. I do find the colours with those specific products a little lighter than I'd prefer so once it's dried I give it a watered down wash of vallejo sepia wash, and it's pretty much done. Stick some dry grass and scrub tufts on and it's finished. Much quicker and less clatty than using sand.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10194546.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10194546.page GMT Basing technique?

You can add a bit of brown ink to the top layer of watered down glue and it'll stain the sand a darker brown at the same time, ready for drybrushjing. Saves a step.

I don’t paint my gravel,


Heathen. Unpainted sand looks dreadful, it should always be painted/washed/drybrushed etc]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10194640.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10194640.page GMT Re:Basing technique?
Put down the glue (make sure to have a decent tool or used brush on hand to massage it around the base as needed)...dunk into your mix of gravel/sand/ballast. Pull it out, shake it off, tap it down with a finger - run a finger around the edge of the base to grab any loose bits that'll catch and snag. Then either seal it with watered down glue, or if you dip --- that's all you need.

PS: I will agree that unpainted sand gravel stands out quite a bit - noticeably so on most miniatures. Certain flock and pre-coloured ballast (the type you get from Woodland Scenics) is often okay though. Woodland Scenics offers ballast in numerous sizes which is nice - makes it easy to get a good mixture with the right ratio.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10194674.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10194674.page GMT Re:Basing technique? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10194716.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10194716.page GMT Basing technique? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10194816.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10194816.page GMT Re:Basing technique?
The stuff I got from GW is modelling gravel, and comes in a tub like the below:



Its not actually as larger gauge as I remember but it is certainly bigger than sand.

I did think about painting my bases with a browny/yellow desert colour, then putting tufts of vegetation (a little like you would see out in Nevada or New Mexico) but...

I am probably just going to go boring and black wash, and then greys to drybrush.

EDIT: Actually sratch that, I probably will try and paint it arid/desert coloured, I just ordered some autmn coloured 2mm tufts that look a little like the bushes/scrub you see in arid areas.

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195070.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195070.page GMT Re:Basing technique?
As for coarse sand, I use aquarium sand, found in a pet shop. It's the only way I found to buy small quantities (hardware stores only sell >10kg bags…).]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195102.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195102.page GMT Basing technique? GW stuff). Clean up the edge with your finger and give it ample time to dry (a few hours). When dry, I use my "dusting-off-brush" to flick off excess sand and loose grains.

Now you have the choice. If you ABSOLUTELY want to make sure nothing comes off, you can apply a thin layer of watered down PVA glue and let that dry. However, I find a layer of basecoat paint is more than enough to seal in the grains.

Then paint to your hearts content. Drybrush or stippling techniques work very well here.

Just my two cents, have fun painting! ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195127.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195127.page GMT Basing technique?
 Inquisitor Lord Bane wrote:
Base it, then water down the PVA until its milk-like in texture, then apply that on top. It will dry clear, seal the base, and you should be able to paint over it.

I'd be extra thorough when washing the brushes off though, just to be safe.


That's how I do most of my bases.

You don't even had to paint it for desert terrain.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195128.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195128.page GMT Basing technique? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195139.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195139.page GMT Basing technique?
*: It's actually 'wet water' - just water with a dash of soap to break the surface tension. Incredibly useful stuff to have to hand I keep it in a squeezy bottle. The reduced tension causes the thinned glue to get under and between the grains - this preserves the texture and massively improves durability, especially on the cat litter where the glue MUST be soaked in to the lumps in order to harden them before painting.

I've recently been rebasing Plaguebearers using my new conversion rings, and for that a slurry was needed to fill the gap between the held base and the conversion ring. That was a mix of sand, PVA and brown paint. Consistency of a thick milkshake or slightly melty ice cream.
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195141.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195141.page GMT Basing technique? Slap on bird cage sand.
Leave it to dry and brush any loose bits off.
Prime it to help seal the sand on.
Then paint.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195961.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10195961.page GMT Basing technique?
What I do is mix PVA with water (so it is milky but not too thin) and put it on the base, sprinkle sand over the top and then drip more on with a clapped out brush.

I then wait for it to dry before I paint it with an Enamel based paint(ancient Humbrol tins), this seals the sand and PVA and avoids contaminating my good brushes. I put washes of GW water based paints over the top, becasue they mix nicer.


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The Enamel paint acts as a primer, sealer and waterproofer which soaks into the dry ground. Its super easy.


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Obviously you super glue bigger rocks and pieces of debris before this process because no amount of PVA is going to hold it down..


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To clarify this is oil based humbrol enamel.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10198730.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/765509/10198730.page GMT