How I prepare a base

[Vonthoma]

To give texture to the bases I use modeling paste. Then with an (old) toothbrush I give texture

[Vonthoma]

[Steve J]

Nicely done .

[fred.]

Those are very nice, WWI Turks?

[Adamwest]

Nice guide, I think I'll give that a go, how did you do the barbed wire?

[Vonthoma]

Nice guide, I think I'll give that a go, how did you do the barbed wire?

Simple
Sewing thread

[Vonthoma]

Those are very nice, WWI Turks?

Yes Turks for Gallipoli

[toxicpixie]

Do you paint the Mini's on the base, or press them in, then take them off and stick 'em back later when they're done?

[John Cook]

Very nice.  Have you tried using a mortar mix, the sort used for laying bricks.  I have a bag left over from when I had an extension built several years ago.  Glue the figures to the base and allow to dry,  Then paint the base with PVA glue, dip it in the mortar and let it dry.  The result is a textured earth coloured base, that hides the bases of the figures, and which you can further landscape as you like with static grass etc.  It saves all the hassle of using paste and then texturing it. 

[Vonthoma]

Do you paint the Mini's on the base, or press them in, then take them off and stick 'em back later when they're done?

It depends on the base. In this case paint on the same base in others I use supports and paste later

[Vonthoma]

Very nice.  Have you tried using a mortar mix, the sort used for laying bricks.  I have a bag left over from when I had an extension built several years ago.  Glue the figures to the base and allow to dry,  Then paint the base with PVA glue, dip it in the mortar and let it dry.  The result is a textured earth coloured base, that hides the bases of the figures, and which you can further landscape as you like with static grass etc.  It saves all the hassle of using paste and then texturing it. 

Mortar mix. Interesting
I will try it

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

I do similar - use cheap filler to bury the figure bases with larger scale, and sand then flock.

[Westmarcher]

Simple
Sewing thread

I wonder if the wire that is wrapped around some wine bottles (particularly Spanish wine) is also something you could use. Being stiffer, you could wrap it around a cocktail stick or pencil, to get that coil effect (mind you, that would probably be more relevant for later wars and not WW1?).

Nice work, by the way. 

[fsn]

Florists wire.

[Macsen Wledig]

nice tips thanks