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Help Need help making bases

Discussion in 'Painting and Converting' started by TomTom, Aug 30, 2017.

  1. TomTom
    Jungle Swarm

    TomTom New Member

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    Hey!
    I have just painted some Lizardmen/Seraphon models and would therefore like to ask, if anyone knows a simple way to make some great, crispy looking bases as I usually unintentionally end up making my bases look rather dull... I have got some GW Stirland Mud, some grass, som rocks and some grass tufts (Citadel Middenland Tufts and Army Painter Woodland Tufts) to work with.
    Sorry, if it is a stupid question.
     
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  2. pendrake
    Skink Priest

    pendrake Well-Known Member

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    You could probably use a good liquid **superglue and some fine sand** maybe painters masking tape as additional ingredients.

    Is Stirland Mudd a paint color?
    (never mind - I looked it up - textured paint)


    **please do not purchase these from GW and enrich them unnecessarily.
     
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  3. pendrake
    Skink Priest

    pendrake Well-Known Member

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    Can you snap a picture of an unfinished base? (...like a before picture?)

    That would answer several questions, like: "ovals and circles OR square corners?"
     
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  4. Ritual
    Skar-Veteran

    Ritual Well-Known Member

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  5. Aginor
    Slann

    Aginor Fifth Spawning Staff Member

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    My simplest tip for bases:
    PVA glue (wood glue), thin it a bit with water, put it onto the base using a small brush, then throw some sand on it. Wait 3-6 hours, then paint it in brown or so.
    From there you can easily make it dirt, woodland, snow or even volcanic, just by painting it differently and drybrushing with a nice highlight color and applying some flock.
     
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  6. TomTom
    Jungle Swarm

    TomTom New Member

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    I'm using some small square bases.
    I sadly don't have any sand (I'm sorry that I bought the texture paint...). How much does sand cost? My budget is a bit tight atm.
     
  7. TomTom
    Jungle Swarm

    TomTom New Member

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  8. TomTom
    Jungle Swarm

    TomTom New Member

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    Thanks for the help! May I ask what your favourite sceme is?
     
  9. n810
    Slann

    n810 First Spawning

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    possibly free depending on where you live,
    of a few dollars from a pet store.
     
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  10. Aginor
    Slann

    Aginor Fifth Spawning Staff Member

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    I just use regular sand from my kid's sandbox. Or get it from the beach or something. So yeah, basically free.

    I do dirt bases mostly, and then spice them up with grass. You can see it in most of my models in my painting blog.
     
  11. pendrake
    Skink Priest

    pendrake Well-Known Member

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    My sand was free.
    Salvaged from the edge of a car park next to the curb after a rainstorm. Silt is awesome.

    The finer the better. But like @n810 said, depends on where you are.
     
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  12. pendrake
    Skink Priest

    pendrake Well-Known Member

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    Since you have it may as well use it. Have you got some spare bases to practice on?

    If not, check your recycle bin for materials that some practice bases could be made from. It's always good to test and experiment.
     
  13. Aginor
    Slann

    Aginor Fifth Spawning Staff Member

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    That texture paint isn't bad at all, don't worry.
    I just think it is too expensive to do many bases with it. Use it for your heros or so. :)
     
  14. TomTom
    Jungle Swarm

    TomTom New Member

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    Lovely! I did not think of using actual sand from the beaches, but perhaps I'll go grab some, so I can try it out.
    Your painting blog? Is that on this forum or where can I find it - sorry, I'm new to this site? Would love to see your models! Edit: Never mind, just noticed the link to your blog.

    Which colours would you recommend using on the Stirland mud? I've tried with some Steel Legion Drab and Karak Stone and then with some grass, but I'm really sure if it fits my Seraphon models.
     
  15. TomTom
    Jungle Swarm

    TomTom New Member

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    I think I'll go grab some sand at some point. My main problem is just figuring out which colours to use to make the base fit my models.
     
  16. n810
    Slann

    n810 First Spawning

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    Well is there a specific environment you want your army from ?
     
  17. Aginor
    Slann

    Aginor Fifth Spawning Staff Member

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    There are several good approaches to that choice.
    One is just as @n810 suggested: pick an environment that makes sense from an aesthetical or fluff perspective.
    The other one is colors. My Saurus and Skinks have the classic blue paint scheme and my colors are pretty bright. So yo contrast that I chose a rather neutral ground: brown with a bit of grey, and green grass. If your models are brownish or grayish or very dark you might want to pick a lush jungle with bright greens, or a snow base with blue and white to contrast them well.
     
  18. n810
    Slann

    n810 First Spawning

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    Sounds like you where going for rocky soil with grass tufts.
    I would start with a bit of glue and then drop in few rocks and then douse the remaining glue with sand.

    it's good to have a nice wide container for your sand and other flock. after it's all dry, remove it from the sand and brush off the excess.
    at this point I like to prime my models just to seal in all the basing, but if you already painted your models, don't worry about it.

    Ok now, paint your sand a dark soil color, and your stones a dark stone color if you want grey for your stones mix in a tiny bit of blue.
    wait for this to dry, and don't miss any spots, you may have to go back an paint spots you missed.
    no go back a dry brush on a lighter soil color with the side of your brush, be sure to leave some of the dark soil in the recesses. and do a lighter stone color as well, probably only do the tops this time.
    you can use an old brush with no paint on it and maybe a tiny bit damp to help blend in the lighter stone. ok one last time do a highlight for your soil and your stone, at this point you can add a layer of green to represent moss or very short grass, I recommend a dark layer and a highlight.

    Ok now all the painting is done, now you can use your grass tufts, just put some drops of super glue on you base where you want grass, might be a good idea to cover up some bits that may not have turned out so great or maybe they just look a bit dull. also you might want some tweezers to help you place your grass. (the same basic principle works if you are using flock as well)

    Ok last step, go back and paint the sides of your base and cover up all the mess you made.
    trust me it will look way better, even if you just paint it black again, other popular colors are brown or green.
     
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2017
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  19. pendrake
    Skink Priest

    pendrake Well-Known Member

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    I use Reaper Master Series Black Ink to restore plastic bases to the original black finish.

    -OR-

    Painters masking tape (the blue stuff from 3M) works to seal out the mess of basing. Apply it before any glue or anything. Peel away when done.
     
  20. TomTom
    Jungle Swarm

    TomTom New Member

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    Thank you everyone for helping me! When I get home tomorrow I'll try to make some new test bases. I'll post some pics, so you can see them and tell me what to improve on.

    Edit: I tried taking some pictures, but the lighting was really poor, so I didnt really bother posting them, as they were horrible...
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2017
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