Thursday, June 19, 2014

Basing my Bases

Hi Guys, visitors and followers ask me how I do my basing? Here is my first attempt of a "step by step" basing process. One thing though before I go on, I don't like the idea of using 4-5 layers of prime shading colors and 2-3 dry brushing colors schemes on bases in my opinion its just a waste of time and unnecessary, unless working on Dioramas yeah sure go right ahead and use multicolored shades/tones etc. but not on little bases like DBA! :o) anyway I hope my amateurish article helps.... I prefer to use just 2 colors, one for priming and one for dry brushing the plywood bases.


Buff Fine Ballast.


Acrylic Paints.


Epirot Units/Elements before flocking.


I brush white glue on the bases first, place the stand in a small container/box of Fine Buff Ballast, and perform swirling actions to cover the whole base while the glue is still wet. Putting the stands aside for 24 hours before moving on to the next phase.


I use Acrylic Raw Sienna to paint and cover the whole Buff Ballast bases.


After priming the Fine Ballast bases, I put aside the stands for 2-3 hours or even wait until the next day for the bases to be completely bone dry. mind you, Brown Fine Ballast would be better to use saves time painting the primer/under coat.



 I use Ivory to dry brush over the Raw Sienna
After completing the priming and dry brushing I use Scenic Express Turf Grass



I use tweezers to pick up and position the Turf Grass on the bases. To secure the Turf Grass on the bases I use white glue.



Some of the finished Epirot DBA elements....
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17 comments:

  1. Christopher(aka Axebreaker)June 19, 2014 at 12:20 PM

    Nice basing tutorial!

    Christopher

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  2. MontyJune 19, 2014 at 3:21 PM

    Great tutorial, thanks for posting this up!

    We're quite similar in our basing technique in 15mm. I agree with you about 2 color highlights in 15mm. You can do more but the payoff is very slight compared to the effort.

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    Replies
    1. Phil CJune 20, 2014 at 3:55 AM

      Thanks Monty, :o) I'm not to sure about being a great tutorial ;o) but I know what you mean and I appreciate your kind words. its a start for me to do more step by step and how to make articles. (One day I will post how to make your own Turf Grass..but only if you promise not to laugh! :o)

      I concur, any 2 color highlights is the way to go for 15mm figures for DBA, Fields of Glory, Flames of War and Impetves bases, its simple and quick. The other thing I do is, using white or gray paint little dots here and there on the base to suggest rocks/stones.

      Delete
  3. Sun of YorkJune 19, 2014 at 6:32 PM

    Excellent. You've done a great job at hiding the figure's base (one of pet peeves) and your double painting of the base and dry brush looks most effective. I generally only single coat as I use a much denser flocking technique (lush fields I call it).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phil CJune 20, 2014 at 4:18 AM

      Thanks Mate appreciate your kind words. This is going read weird, I don't why I enjoy and like brushing the white glue to cover around the infantry feet and horse's hoofs! :o)
      perhaps trying to be to absolute and complete?... anyway.. I know what you mean regarding to "lush fields" did that during the late 70's early 80's with my 25mm Napoleonic's :o) The 2 colour high lights works and I like what I am doing with it.

      cheers!

      Delete
  4. marcoJune 20, 2014 at 12:44 AM

    thanks
    simple with great effect

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    Replies
    1. Phil CJune 20, 2014 at 3:21 AM

      Thank you Marco..all the best to you sir!

      cheers,

      Delete
  5. Phil CJune 20, 2014 at 3:20 AM

    Thank you Sir! :o)

    cheers,

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJune 21, 2014 at 8:26 AM

    Well done , Simple but effective and only two colors.
    I like how the minis stand out on the base.

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    Replies
    1. Phil CJune 22, 2014 at 8:11 PM

      Thanks Joe, yeah any two colors will do the trick or job, or even one base color i.e. dark green as the primer and by adding a touch of yellow,not white, to your Dark green you will get a lighter shade of dark green and this will be used as your dry brushing. ...I agree with you, the lighter colors will always make the figures pop out of their bases because the figures have their own colors.

      cheers,

      Delete
  7. DeanMJune 21, 2014 at 6:42 PM

    Nice tutorial, Phil. I've been using Ceramcoat Burnt Umber as a base and dry-brushing Americana Desert Sand for most of my stuff. Best, Dean

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    Replies
    1. Phil CJune 22, 2014 at 8:17 PM

      Thanks Dean, yeah I have used those colors you mention which are great. I even tried a flesh color as primer over the base(sand) and dry brush over it with light ivory (adding white) which looks good to me *grinning*

      cheers,

      Delete
  8. Jason MeyersJune 23, 2014 at 2:04 AM

    Thanks, always interesting how others do their basing. Especially those that do such a quality job of it. Makes all the difference in the world.

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  9. Phil CJune 23, 2014 at 9:05 PM

    Thanks Jason, I appreciate your kind words and visit. I have been wargaming/collecting miniatures since late 70's and during those years I always learn-discover something new regarding to painting and basing figures.

    cheers,

    ReplyDelete
  10. ChasseurOctober 23, 2014 at 6:32 PM

    Ah interesting, just been browsing through your site looking at all these lovely miniatures, and this basing method is very similar to what I use for my ancients figures too. Except I do as you suggest and just use the brown ballast with single drybrush. Anyway keep up the great work!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Phil COctober 24, 2014 at 1:11 AM

    Thanks Mark, appreciate your visit and kind words... I agree with you, brown ballast is the way to go on the bases first and dry brush over the brown ballast with one lighter shade of colour..

    love your 28mm Perry Napoleonic figures/units, you put in a lot of work with awesome results!

    cheers,

    ReplyDelete

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