to base or not to not base?

[graymouser17]

I would like to know should i make my own bases or use re-fab bases can anyone tell me please?

 

[MAXXxxx]

it depends what you want.
Sometimes it's really good to get pre-made bases. You might like the style or they might take too long to make yourself.
And other times it's better to go with a self-made base. You can be as creative here as you'd want to be.

ohh and a 3rd option: keeping everything really simple, so selfmade base with only some sand and static grass (best for larger armies, like for 40k/WHFB/WotR).

 

[Bailey03]

As MAXXxxx said, it really depends on what your project is. For me I tend to do figures for display so making my own bases is the way to go. You can certainly get much more creative that way. But, if you're doing a bunch of gaming figures then making each base can be time consuming if you're doing something complex. Some of the pre-made stuff can give your figures a little more visual interest and cut down on your workload (though at an additional cost for the bases). If you're doing a lot of figures that can get expensive. In which case you can go back to making bases but just keep it very simple (sand, snow effects, static grass, etc).

They key thing is that you should do something with your bases. What that is depends on what you want and how you're going to use them.

 

[Einion]

Only person who can answer this is you dude. Every aspect comes down to the individual - aesthetics; budget; time you're willing to commit to each one; and last but by no means least, purpose (gaming or display).

Einion

 

[graymouser17]

so if did two wood elf lords -one male and the other being female how should possible help with the bases because should i do desert scenery or forest floor and if do the forest floor how should the dead leaves there and how should i do it

 

[Bailey03]

For two figures it would not be difficult to make your own base. You could use something as simple as static grass and call it a day. If it were me I'd do a base that looked like dirt and then add a variety of forest extras. Here's how I'd do it...

To make a base that looks like dirt you can use sand (at that small scale it looks like rocks and gives the base texture). You can pick some up at the beach or, if you don't live near one, at a pet store. Most pet stores will sell bags of bird cage sand or sand for fish tanks. You're looking for something with a variety of sizes and textures. It shouldn't be too expensive. Take your base and lightly cover it in white glue. I use a cheap brush for this and then rinse it out before the glue dries. Then just sprinkle the sand on the base. Once the glue is dry, shake off the extra sand and paint it brown. There's your basic dirt base.

Okay, now to give it a forest feel. A gaming base is a little small to put a tree on... so that won't work. But a lot of stuff falls onto the forest floor. Find some small twigs and branches from outside. You can break them up into smaller pieces and put them on your base as fallen trees or branches. I saw a post from Brovatar on basing with coconut. If you can pick one up at the market the little hairs and stuff on the outside are great for forest debris (http://www.denofimagination.com.pl/2012/11/basing-with-coconut.html). You can paint it if you want or, since it's already brown, leave it as is. Just depends on how much work you want and what sort of final look you desire.

For the finishing touches I'd put some dead leaves here and there. I've got a couple bags of these from http://www.hudsonandallen.com/scenery.html (there are other dealers who sell similar stuff). Since you're only use a few at a time one bag will last you for ages. If you really want you can make your own (I think they are just dried and dyed flower petals from small flowers)... but I just use the store bought stuff.

This is just one approach. I'm sure others will give you different suggestions. You might also want to check out MassiveVoodoo. They have a lot of basing related tutorials.

 

[yxalitis]

For two figures it would not be difficult to make your own base. You could use something as simple as static grass and call it a day. If it were me I'd do a base that looked like dirt and then add a variety of forest extras. Here's how I'd do it...

To make a base that looks like dirt you can use sand (at that small scale it looks like rocks and gives the base texture). You can pick some up at the beach or, if you don't live near one, at a pet store. Most pet stores will sell bags of bird cage sand or sand for fish tanks. You're looking for something with a variety of sizes and textures. It shouldn't be too expensive. Take your base and lightly cover it in white glue. I use a cheap brush for this and then rinse it out before the glue dries. Then just sprinkle the sand on the base. Once the glue is dry, shake off the extra sand and paint it brown. There's your basic dirt base.

Okay, now to give it a forest feel. A gaming base is a little small to put a tree on... so that won't work. But a lot of stuff falls onto the forest floor. Find some small twigs and branches from outside. You can break them up into smaller pieces and put them on your base as fallen trees or branches. I saw a post from Brovatar on basing with coconut. If you can pick one up at the market the little hairs and stuff on the outside are great for forest debris (http://www.denofimagination.com.pl/2012/11/basing-with-coconut.html). You can paint it if you want or, since it's already brown, leave it as is. Just depends on how much work you want and what sort of final look you desire.

For the finishing touches I'd put some dead leaves here and there. I've got a couple bags of these from http://www.hudsonandallen.com/scenery.html (there are other dealers who sell similar stuff). Since you're only use a few at a time one bag will last you for ages. If you really want you can make your own (I think they are just dried and dyed flower petals from small flowers)... but I just use the store bought stuff.

This is just one approach. I'm sure others will give you different suggestions. You might also want to check out MassiveVoodoo. They have a lot of basing related tutorials.

Coconuts!

Are you CRAZY!!

It's a well known fact that coconuts degrade over the years, and ferment in between the inner and outer layer of the skin.
In a couple of years the pressure builds up and BANG!...there goes your precious mini, and half the adjacent shelving!

Oh, OK, I'm just kidding...

 

[Flow]

As many have said - it really is up to you. I'd say everything involved is "do what makes you happy".

Personally, I'm having fun exploring bases. It's almost as interesting a subject as the miniatures themselves. I'm pretty new to the scene, but from the start I've found I really don't like those "common" black plastic circles that are sold with miniatures; I'm enjoying trying to find solutions that are a little more custom.

For the finishing touches I'd put some dead leaves here and there. I've got a couple bags of these from http://www.hudsonandallen.com/scenery.html (there are other dealers who sell similar stuff). Since you're only use a few at a time one bag will last you for ages.

This link (and subsequent reading about their products) just earned them 20 more bucks! I look forward to seeing just how leafy a product it is.

 

[QuietiManes]

To make a base that looks like dirt you can use sand (at that small scale it looks like rocks and gives the base texture). You can pick some up at the beach or, if you don't live near one, at a pet store. Most pet stores will sell bags of bird cage sand or sand for fish tanks. You're looking for something with a variety of sizes and textures. It shouldn't be too expensive. Take your base and lightly cover it in white glue. I use a cheap brush for this and then rinse it out before the glue dries. Then just sprinkle the sand on the base. Once the glue is dry, shake off the extra sand and paint it brown. There's your basic dirt base.

For variety, Chinchilla bath sand is a neat choice at the pet store. It has a wide variety of grain sizes in the single box/bag, majority is finer than sandbox sand from the home improvement store...and it's a grey'ish colour.

 

[Einion]

Just to mention for those that don't know better yet, just about everything that Hudson & Allen 'make' can be sourced elsewhere, often in larger quantities for less $$$. You can save money especially if you go the homemade route which is particularly easy for sand/soil/clay/mud/dirt/muck, but also quite feasible for asphalt, hay, forest litter, slush & snow and basic leaves.

Einion

 

[Flow]

Another sand option: if you've a Michael's Arts and Crafts store nearby, they sell bags of sand as well. A (roughly) one pound bag only cost me a few bucks.

 

[Flow]

Just to mention for those that don't know better yet, just about everything that Hudson & Allen 'make' can be sourced elsewhere, often in larger quantities for less $$$.

YAR - live and learn. I hadn't seen anything like that forest litter before and admit I became enchanted. I (mostly) get sand/soil/clay, but how might one make good looking forest litter at home?

Edit: I searched around a bit and apparently the answer is birch seeds! Apparently it can make pretty nice leaves.

 

[Einion]

...how might one make good looking forest litter at home?

Edit: I searched around a bit and apparently the answer is birch seeds! Apparently it can make pretty nice leaves.

That and and any number of other bits of dried vegetable matter - various seed casings or catkins, wood shavings & sawdust (hardwood preferably), dried herbs, tea leaves, chopped/minced coconut fibre... the list is close to endless. For detail on top of that use a selection of homemade leaves of the right colour and bingo, forest floor, at next to no cost.

Einion