Need help with basing

[Tyzor]

Hello,

Today my pendraken high elf army for warmaster arrived with the postmen. I recently only paint 28mm figures and a Carthaginian army in 15mm for warmaster ancients. The Carthaginians still are on naked bases, which is not that nice looking. The reason for the naked bases is, that I painted the little miniatures not glued to the base. For the painting side, this was the right decision. For the basing side, I do not know how I should manage this. My 28mm Miniatures are based before painting, so that the basingmaterial (sand or stuff) is primed with the miniature and than drybrushed (because I use black primer, this works very well). So my question is, has anyone a good advise how to base the little cuties nicely?

Cheers,
Tyzor

[Zippee]

Once painted and varnished / finished. Glue the figures to your base - use glue of your choice, some use superglue, some use white glue, I often use copydex. Whatever works for you.

Next (Once properly dry = overnight)  paint the base with a thinned down solution of white PVA, this should be thin enough to flow over bases but not rise above boots and to hold by surface tension from dribbling off the edge of bases. Place base in shallow container (cheap plastic take-away trays work well - clean ones!) scatter fine sand material over them and leave to dry thoroughly. This can be expensive modelling sand or cheaper builders or play sand - I use a mixture that has developed over time.

Next when properly dry, shake of excess, scrape edges of base with back of a blade to remove any sand that has dribbled down the side. Some people will now paint, wash and drybrush the sand mix - I just leave it sand coloured. Now paint on patches or swathes or blobs of your watered down PVA and then sprinkle on static grass/ flock of your choice and leave to dry again before shaking off excess.

I usually leave it there but you can now add clump foliage, grass tufts, flowers or other extras as you see fit. I'd recommend a trawl through the painting competition entries to show what can be done.

My basing can be seen below at my FLICKR site (link in sig)

[Hertsblue]

I think it depends largely on what spacing you have on the base. If you're doing moderns or similar, where the figures are a fair distance apart, then fix them on the base immediately. If, however, they are close-order horse and musket then paint them on some sort of baton and then glue them to the base when they're complete. Close order troops are always going to be tricky, but Zippee's method is as good as any.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I use Zippees method, plus the optional ink paint and highlight stage.

[Fenton]

I use Zippee's method as well, though I do put a thin PVA wash over the top of the sand once its dry just to seal it in, I find the wash works better as well

I am going to change and try Vallejo's pumice as I have heard good things about it