Pulp Alley - How to do Clear Bases

[Wolf Girl]

What you'll need-
A sheet of plastic (backs of miniature cases work nicely)
A good pair of scissors
A fine tip Sharpie
A toe nail clipper
2 sizes of files (big and small)
Something to trace the size base you want (we usually use pennies but for this were using a penny sized washer)
Super glue
At least one paint brush
A bottle of dull coat varnish
Whatever miniature you're wanting to base


Note: You want your miniature to be completely painted (and dull coated if you do that) before basing. First, you're going to want to pick out the plastic you're going to use.


Firmly press your washer against the plastic and trace in sharpie.



Carefully cut out the circles with your scissors. It's better to give yourself too much room than to cut inside the sharpie line.



Next, you want to file down any weird bumps on the base or anywhere sharpie is still visible.



Now that the plastic is done, you want to use the toe nail clippers to clip off the miniatures base. (This is so much easier with slotted bases)




Next, file down the bottom of the miniature for a flat surface.


Now all the clipping and filing has probably chipped your miniature around the feet. Go ahead and touch that up before you glue.


Now we can glue the mini to the base. Be sure not to use too much super glue or it'll fog up the base.



Position your miniature on the base and hold it there until it stands on its own.



Optionally, you can put a layer of varnish on each side of the base. If you do this, make sure not to leave any brush strokes.


All done!

[Rhydderch]

Thanks for the tutorial. I switched to homemade clear bases myself a couple of years ago, and still have an interest in how others make their own. If I may make a suggestion, you may want to invest in a craft punch. I use these to make my bases. I have a tutorial here:

http://teumessa.blogspot.com/2012/01/tutorial-clear-bases.html

You don't really need to read the wall of text though:




My punches are from EK Success. You can purchase the punches in various shapes and sizes, but I find the smaller ones work best. If you need a larger circle, there is too much plastic for the punch to go through all at once, and your technique will be better. For the base material, I use UltraPro Top Loader card sleeves, but the punches do work on the sheet plastic used in miniature blister packs. I like to use a craft knife to cut apart the sleeves, but scissors will also work - and will probably be faster too!

Here are some pictures of my figures on the clear bases:

[Prof. Dinglebat. Phd.]

Totally awesome and thank you, thank you, thank you.  ...." Be sure not to use too much super glue or it'll fog up the base."... is something that I wouldn't have been aware of along with applying varnish to the bases and being careful not to leave brush strokes. Always good (and better) to learn from others that have mastered the process. 

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Thanks Wolf Girl and Rhydderch. Very useful information.

[d phipps]

... My punches are from EK Success. You can purchase the punches in various shapes and sizes, but I find the smaller ones work best. If you need a larger circle, there is too much plastic for the punch to go through all at once, and your technique will be better. For the base material, I use UltraPro Top Loader card sleeves, but the punches do work on the sheet plastic used in miniature blister packs. I like to use a craft knife to cut apart the sleeves, but scissors will also work - and will probably be faster too!

Awesome, THANKS for the tips, Rhydderch! Mila can cut those circle out really fast but a craft punch is a great idea.




THANKS

[Wolf Girl]

A BIG thanks to Rhydderch for his tips. We have a craft-punch now (.75") and have tried the Ultra Pro Toploader semi rigid plastic, and both work great. 

[Malebolgia]

I'm just a lazy git and ordered these a while ago:
http://fenrisgames.com/shop#!/~/category/id=8776532&offset=0&sort=nameAsc

But I must say I really like how thin those bases of yours are. Really nice.

And MY KINGDOM! for a good glue that doesn't fog on the clear acryllic...

[Gun bunny]

i am going to give it a shot . thanks 

[mikedemana]

Hmmm....wish I'd read this BEFORE I started my Pulp project! Sigh. Oh well...next project maybe I'll go with clear bases....

Great stuff, and nice step by step instructions...!

Mike Demana

[Traveler Man]

Thanks to Mila and Rhydderch for the tips.  Craft punches look ideal for my purposes.

[Chris Abbey]

Sally 4th have just added some clear bases to their range. Currently a choice of 17.
These are made from 2mm crystal clear acrylic. We found gluing with super-glue worked well, and that a light spray with matt varnish could be used to remove the shine.



Bases are on Sally 4th at : http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Clear-Terra-Bases
and we have a gallery of clear bases in action at : http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Clear-Terra-Bases/Clear-Basing-Gallery

[thebinmann]

I can see the appeal og clear bases, and these are very well made, but I can't shake my old school desire for nicely based minis.

That said the ability to use the mini on any terrain without think how the hell is there a garden growing at that girl's feet in the middle of a stone temple is really appealing! It's a tricky one....

But great job!

[Chris Abbey]

I know what you mean, as I have based thousands of miniatures the old fashioned way.
It has just been the last two or three weeks since we have been making and photographing Terra-Blocks where the gaming surface is mainly wood or stone that I've though the only thing that spoils the look of the game is that beautiful diorama base with all its shrubbery in the middle of the building.

These miniatures bases are nice...

... but they just don't match the terrain like these!

 

[FramFramson]

I like to use old-style bases just because sometimes I build up the base a little or undercut it just a bit if I need to subtly alter the height of a miniature.

[Wolf Girl]

I like to use old-style bases just because sometimes I build up the base a little or undercut it just a bit if I need to subtly alter the height of a miniature.

That's funny. Dad used to do the same thing. 

I'll be the first to admit I really like clear bases (blame Anpu), but I also know they aren't for everyone. Even Dad has been hesitant about letting me chop the bases off his Egyptian-themed figures. 

I think Chris's example says it all, but to each his own.