Basing technique for miniatures with cast on bases...

[Darkoath]

Greetings!

I am looking for a new basing technique for figures that have cast on bases.  Currently I glue my figures to either a metal fender washer or a
plastic slotta base and then use an automotive body putty to "hide" the metal cast base and "blend" it into the slotta base or the fender washer.

I no longer have access (due to moving) to the automotive body putty I was using.  Also it took some time to cure and if it was too thick would sometimes crack...  however on the plus side it was rock hard and could even be sanded.

What is everyone else using for basing miniatures?  I am hoping to get suggestions of something that is readily available.

Thank you!

[Malamute]

Metal washer for me then I use Polyfilla. Its now available in a tube and cures in 30mins. Then a thin coat of PVA, some small rocks and sand then paint and flock.

[Zoogla]

Hey Darkoath!

I blend the miniature's base to the coin/washer base, using a cheap, air hardening model clay you'll find in any hardware store (go to the hobby section).
The stuff lasts forever (if kept moist - in a plastic bag) and is pretty fast drying when applied to the base. If you have problems finding something, write me a PM, I'll send some over!

Best regards
Z.

[Torradas]

I tend to go for the 30mm plastic "new" bases (the ones with the recess in the center). When filled with sand these will hide most "cast on" bases. Em4 sells them cheap in packs of 10 (1£/10 bases).

[matakishi]

My basing technique:

http://www.matakishi.com/basingsomalis.htm

[Uncle Mike]

I use Green Stuff, the cheeper (and basically the same) Plumbers Putty and a super product called Aves Epoxy Sculpt. The Aves is a two part putty, but unlike most other putties it can be easily smoothed and worked with a bit of water. Also, totally natural and non-toxic, if that matters to you.

[MuleSkinner]

I use Milliput on 2p pieces (Queens head face down, Gawd bless 'er), lightly press small stones into it sprinkle with flock , sand etc.

[JollyBob]

Milliput, generally. Or whatever car body filler you can get hold of locally. It's much the same thing.

[Ironworker]

I use elmers wood putty.  It's tricky to use but it dries in a few hours and you can sculpt into really nicely as it starts to cure if your so inclined.  I apply it with a pallet knife and water.  Now that I've got the hang of it I can do a large number of minis much more quickly than using epoxy putty.

[Captain Blood]

25mm repair washer (shiny side down).

Stick the figure on with Araldite or similar 2 part epoxy glue that sets rock hard. To build up the ground around the figure's cast-on base (and to conceal the washer) I use a cunning proprietary mix - basically coarse sand, mixed with earthy colour emulsion, and a generous squirt of PVA of any denomination. You can make this mixture to virtually any consistency you like. You paint in on with an old brush. It dries within a few hours with a nice granular surface, and sets jolly hard. Generally I sprinkle on a bit of model railway grit here and there and push one or two larger lumps of aquarium gravel into the mixture while it's still wet. These stick because of the pva in the mix. But to make sure, once dry I seal the whole lot with a thick coat of dark earth base colour acrylic. Then highlight and titivate from there.

You can buy a large bag of builders sand, a cheap pot of brown emulsion, and a gallon of cheap hobby PVA, all for a few measly quid (in the UK at any rate). I conservatively estimate this would enable you to make enough basing compound to texture the bases of several thousand 28mm figures  :mrgreen:

(You can also mix it up in any quantity in advance - it'll last forever in a sealed pot. I make up a jam jar full every few months...)

So don't waste your money on Basetex, Brushscape and similar products. Just make your own at an infintesimal fraction of the price. You can get a better consistency. It costs virtually nothing per figure. You can pick your own colour. And it's absurdly easy to slap it on and then prod it around to get it looking just how you want it.

I used to use Milliput many years ago, and it was a complete fiddly fag.

The sand / paint / pva concotion is soooooooooooooooooooo ludicrously easy, and gives fabulous results every time.  Try it - I promise you'll be converted. :wink:

[Jules]

1p or 2p with the queens head up - blame my mum!

And ten wash the bash with pva and dip in a sand ballast and grit mix.  I will reapply if the base is still discernible.

Very quick and easy..

[Darkoath]

Wow alot of good tips... I will have to try these and see what I like best.  The technique Captain Blood describes is almost the exact technique I use to finish my slotta based figures... I didn't think it would work to conceal a base integral to the figure, but I will also try it for that...

Thanks for the responses...  I'll post some pictures when I find the one I like best!

[Lowtardog]

Same as other guys, a nix of sand, grit etc and I use wood glue   I normaly base them before painting too as I hate basing and have known figures painted and finsihed sit around for almost a year before I can bring myself to base and paint it

[audrey]

I have been basing my stuff on plastic bases. For figures like Foundry that have the base cast on, I use a pair of wire snips and snip the base off except for what is close to the feet. Then I either use a dremel with a cutting disc and cut off the base piece under the feet or a jewelers saw. I put a pin in one foot and superglue it to the base. With this method I don't end up with the raised hump in the middle of the base. Plus there is no need to use and putty.

Here is an example of a Foundry figure rebased.

[JollyBob]

Or you could do that, yeah.