Basing WW2 Germans

[peterdong]

I am relatively new to wargaming, and although i have tried various techniques for basing infantry, I have found none that suit me very well. Does anyone have easy, yet effective methods for basing painted infantry? 

Thanks, Peter

[fred.]

As well as the tried and tested sand, I have started using ronseal wood filler to do the earth part of the basing, it comes in assorted shades of brown, I quite like the darker ones, and is a pre-mixed paste. You can slap a layer of this on the base, then push the figures in, and it will then dry and hold the figures in place.  It does take a little while to dry so you have to be careful not to knock figures off while it is setting. But once it is set it is solid.



These Germans are done with sand

[snafu]

Basing on leons available bases.

i personaaly then apply with an old small brush watery tile grout around bases of figures to avaoid the lip height on the figure base.
Once dry apply a watery layer of PVA to the whole base and sprinkle on sand, with an add of budgie grit for rougher terrain. Shake of excess and allow to dry thoroughly.
Paint brown and then dry brush adding ochre or beige/ white to suit.

finally add flock using PVA and static grass. ( two coats ) and Presto !  

Of course take into account your rules for base sizes and number of figs....

[NTM]

I've tried many different methods over the years, flock, sand, filler, textured paste etc etc with varying levevels of success, Only recently have I found a method which gives maximum impact for minimal effort.

i) Attach painted figs to base
ii) Paint base brown (I use DecoArt Cinnamon Brown)
iii) Apply patches of ballast (Woodland Scenics Medium Dark Brown)
iv) Apply static grass to rest of base (Noch Spring Green)

That's it, simple but effective, I've just picked up some Talus to provide some variation too.

[peterdong]

Thanks for all your help and support, especially the pictures.
I will have time to get around to trying them all. 

Peter

[Dave Fairlamb]

Hello Peter
I reckon the secret to good bases is all in the dry-brushing. This is an EASY painting technique that if you do not yet use I would recommend for all bases!

PVA glue sand onto base (I tend to use dry sand from the builders merchants)

1 Paint the base the desired colour your army will be fighting in (brown=normal/sand=desert/grey=urban)

2 Find a lighter shade of the base colour (add some white/cream to the original colour in if you need to)

3 Use loo/kitchen roll to absorb the excess paint of the brush so it is relatively dry. Then quickly sweep the brush back and fourth onto darker coloured base (dry-brushing)

4 Result, gives the ground a nice texture and makes it look like real soil/sand/rubble.

After that you can add all of the fake grass you like because the bits of ground that show through will look more realistic.

[Hertsblue]

Hello Peter
I reckon the secret to good bases is all in the dry-brushing. This is an EASY painting technique that if you do not yet use I would recommend for all bases!

PVA glue sand onto base (I tend to use dry sand from the builders merchants)

1 Paint the base the desired colour your army will be fighting in (brown=normal/sand=desert/grey=urban)

2 Find a lighter shade of the base colour (add some white/cream to the original colour in if you need to)

3 Use loo/kitchen roll to absorb the excess paint of the brush so it is relatively dry. Then quickly sweep the brush back and fourth onto darker coloured base (dry-brushing)

4 Result, gives the ground a nice texture and makes it look like real soil/sand/rubble.

After that you can add all of the fake grass you like because the bits of ground that show through will look more realistic.

I second all that and would only add that another dry-brush with white or light grey really makes the texture stand out.

[peterdong]

Thanks to everyone for their help!

Here is a link to my second attempt to (first failed  ) base WW2 infantry.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75127128@N04/sets/72157629048738029/

Please remember... I am only 14 years old.

[fred.]

The bases look good.

I'd suggest a brown wash on the tanks and figures to bring out some of the detail, and increase the contrast.  And then a very light dry brush of a pale sand shade to bring out the highlights