Basing Recipes

Preparation

Base edges: I always paint the edges of my bases before applying any groundwork as it gives a far neater finish. I usually use the first colour given in the recipe, although for my North American, temperate scheme I quite like black edges.

Groundwork:This comprises two layers of sand and PVA (white or wood glue). The first layer is fine sand; mainly to texture around and across the figure bases. The second is a layer of coarse sand to hide the figure bases. This basic groundwork doesn't need to be painted, just highlighted (see Temperate #2).

For a more "rocky" appearance, sprinkle on patches of fine railway modelling ballast before the second layer of sand. At the same time, add one or two small pieces of aquarium gravel if there's space.

Notes

Painting sand:The first colour is diluted so it wicks into the sand by capillary action. The aim is not to completely cover the natural colour of the sand. This also speeds the process and avoids painting around the feet of the figures. After this the bases are left to dry overnight. Rushing this steps can ruin the dry brushing steps.

Ground cover: It's all about height! To make it interesting I use materials that give different heights. The shortest is fine foam scatter, followed by static grass, then 4 mm and 6 mm tufts.

Recipes

Arid / Desert

• Desert Sand (CDA506 Coat d'Arms), diluted paint
• Iraqi Sand (70.819 Vallejo), dry brush
• Pale Flesh (71 Miniature Paints), very light dry brush
• Static grass (Autumn Grass, 171622 Faller), applied sparingly ¹
• Various tufts (Muddy Dead 6 mm Mini & Yellow Brown 4 mm Mini), optional for desert

Temperate #1 (NW Europe)

• Tan Earth (70.874, Vallejo Model Colour), diluted paint
• Iraqi Sand (70.976 Vallejo Model Colour), dry brush
• Pale Flesh (71 Miniature Paints), dry brush
• White, very light dry brush
• Fine spring foam scatter, applied sparingly ¹, ²
• White flowers, half a clump
• 6 mm Spring tufts, limited to 4-5 per base

Temperate #2 (NW Europe)

• Earth Brown (Miniature Paints 82), base edges
• Leave sand unpainted
• Oatmeal ³ (Crafter's Acrylic DCA 138), dry brush
• Pale Flesh (71 Miniature Paints), dry brush
• Fine spring foam scatter, applied sparingly ¹, ²
• White flowers, half a clump
• 6 mm Spring tufts, limited to 4-5 per base

Temperate #3 (North America)

• Tan Earth (70.874, Vallejo Model Colour), diluted paint
• Iraqi Sand (70.976 Vallejo Model Colour), dry brush
• Pale Flesh (71 Miniature Paints), dry brush
• White, very light dry brush
• White flowers, half a clump
• 6 mm Spring tufts, limited to 4-5 per base

Footnotes

1. Just between the feet of the models. ↩
2. Made by grinding standard clump foliage in a domestic coffee grinder. ↩
3. Any taupe colour will do. ↩