Looking for urban basing ideas

[Flightless]

Title says a lot, really. I\'ve been through many iterations, but i haven\'t found an urban basing style that suits me yet.
Tiles/slabs either take too long to do, or look unrealistic, or both.
Sand, well, looks like sand.
I went as far as making bricks from appropriately sized plastic rod, then cutting them at angles and pushing them into putty to create a surface of fallen brickwork.
And variations on these.
I\'m kind of at my wit\'s end. I need to find some method that is simple enough for my whole army, is fairly innocuous and doesn\'t distract from the figures, can have a bit of variety in it for the larger bases, and yet looks good.
My lack of ideas is holding up an army somewhat, as the majority are constructed but not yet on bases
Any ideas?
Examples welcome.
Thanks

(Just a random idea, does anyone know how slate looks on bases? That is, the fine sort that GW used to sell for a short time after Cities of Death came out. I would imagine it doesn\'t look much better than sand, and in any case i have no idea where to get it from any longer, but you never know)

Edit: I\'d better mention; i\'m fairly set on fairly dark grey bases, rather than metallics, or bits of tanks/enemies &c.

 

[Roger Bunting]

Ok, first up, here\'s a link to Antenociti\'s Workshop

That has some rubble for basing and they also sell pre-made bases so you can get an idea of the things you can do.

 

[COG]

i myself have used the city of death building spures and can say they work wonders. for 25 bucks (you can order them by the sprue for 10 bucks) you get tiles, walls, and arcane decorations (street lamps, ladders and doors)
i have used them twice painted and 6 or 7 just getting a mini ready for paint.
i haven\'t used the slate yet though.
good luck
:beer:

 

[freakinacage]

a great way to make concrete is to use big gap filler - it has a slightly aerated texture that works nicely. you could score it to make slabs etc and then crack it/battle damage it if you want when it\'s dry. than add a little flora and you are good to go

 

[Roger Bunting]

Don\'t go mistakingly buying Daler Rowney texture paste, though, It\'s just polyfilla repackaged.