Cookie preferences
In the world of role-playing miniatures, bases play a decisive role, as they help to contextualize the character they hold, and, when decorated in accordance with the game board, they help to create an immersive environment throughout the game. That's why it's important to create a suitable base for your figures, and we're going to help you, not only to achieve a good result but also to make the best base for modeling. Let us guide you to learn how to base models like a true professional quickly and easily.
To begin with, you must choose from the dozens of different bases available. The bases have an important function because they help to delimit the space occupied by the miniatures on the board. In addition, they allow for really powerful and dynamic designs that would not be stable without them. You can use small, medium, and large miniature bases, in wood, plastic, round, square, rectangular, oval, opaque, transparent, pedestals, etc.
Many beginners choose to place their miniatures on undecorated bases because of the double challenge of properly painting the figure and decorating the base on which it stands with different specific materials, wasting the opportunity to create a joint atmosphere. However, as soon as the artist discovers the potential of a good base, decorating it becomes an option. Decorating model bases to reflect the environments and battlefields we have imagined for our miniatures turns them into unique pieces that make it easier to tell the story we have created in our heads for them. It is, in essence, an environmental narrative form crafted by ourselves.
Basic elements to start decorating model bases
For those who still don't know how to base models, they should know that it can be as simple or as complicated as they want it to be. This is due to the enormous range of possibilities offered by the ornamentation of a base, which can range from painting the base and sticking self-adhesive pieces of grass on it, to creating structures with different elements just for the base, on which the character will stand. Taking all of the above into account, the basic elements to start decorating bases for your miniatures will be: paints and brushes, specific decorative materials for bases and glue.
To choose the right ingredients, it is essential to be clear about the idea you want to capture in your bases. So, go to the Green Stuff World website and choose the materials that best suit your objectives.
Paints and brushes
The paints and brushes needed to paint miniature bases will depend on how you want to decorate your base. Generally, textured materials are used for the base, on which different paints can be used. You can choose paints in classic shades or create effects such as with fluorescent paint, which is used to create specific details, or textured paints to achieve a realistic ground. On our website, we have all these options available:
• Acrylic paints
• Military paints
• Acrylic inks
• Dipping inks
• Model Paint sets
• Opaque colors
• Dry brush paint
• Metallic paints
• Chameleon paints
• Chrome paints
• Fluorescent paints
• Effect paints
• Crackle paint
• Airbrush paint
• Dye for resins
As for brushes, you will need one for painting with normal paints and another old one for applying glue where necessary. You can use more depending on the rest of the base design. A technique widely used in these cases is dry brushing, as it provides lighting by creating reflections that are not very detailed but are quick and effective for a convincing finish. For this technique, there are specific paints that help to achieve the desired result.
Decorative materials
There is a wide variety of materials for customizing bases, so depending on the environment you want to recreate, you will have to use some or others. A practical option is to purchase a scenery set if you are going to create several bases with a specific theme. This way, you will have in one pack the paints and decorative elements (tufts, the miniature leaves, the resin bits for decoration, paper plants, textures, the transparent epoxy resin, the dye for resins, etc.). Another option is to buy only the materials you need on each occasion, buying them separately. In the category of basing materials, you will find a large number of products that are very useful for the vast majority of your bases. In urban bases you can also include rubble and rocks of different sizes and shapes.
Bases
As we have already explained, there are many types of modeling bases to choose from so that you have at your disposal the one that best suits your project.
Glue
Glue is an essential product that you will use on several occasions while making your miniature base. Depending on the type of bond, one adhesive or another will be required. It is common to have common glues for modeling such as plastic glue or even instant glue. But to decorate model bases you will need a third one: PVA glue. Although in this sector it is known by this technical name, in reality, it is the white glue that children use to make their crafts and, although it may seem that its bond is not strong enough, it is very resistant when it dries completely, although it does not reach the level of instant glue.
The advantage of PVA glue is its drying time. Because it takes longer to dry, it can be applied evenly, and its flexibility when dry helps to keep the base materials in place, even when the miniature is being handled or transported. It also gives you enough time to place all the elements you want correctly and calmly. It is also easy to find, although it is always advisable to look for a container with a fine nozzle that allows it to be applied accurately, or to do it with a brush. The best option is always to buy it in a specialist shop.
How to base models easily
If you want to have all the bases of your miniatures decorated and don't want to invest too much time in it, we give you two ways to do it with which you will achieve really incredible results and for which you won't need a lot of products.
Decorating the base is an essential step, because no matter how well painted a miniature is, the fact that it is on an undecorated base creates the impression that it is unfinished, that the painting process is not finished. Decorating model bases can be a more important, more complicated, more laborious, and, sometimes, more complex process than painting the miniature itself. However, many times, it is not necessary to create anything very showy or complicated, and a decoration that fulfills a minimal function is enough. In these cases, we can apply techniques, procedure,s and products that allow us to decorate bases easily.
To the question “how to base models easily?” there are as many answers as there are designs you are capable of creating. When we talk about decorating a large number of bases, as for example in the case of a game in which a large number of miniatures are used, it is especially useful and practical to decorate them in a simple way and with a less artistic and less elaborate finish than if it were a piece that we want to present to a painting competition.
Let's analyze two examples of how to base models easily and quickly.
Example 1: how to base models with sand
For the first example we are going to use a minimum of materials, in this case, it is basically modeling sand. A very basic way to easily decorate the bases of your miniatures. It is “the classic that never goes out of fashion”, which consists of applying PVA glue on the base and sticking sand on the surface.
Utensils and paints
• PVA glue
• Pigment
• Paintbrushes
How to base models with sand step by step
Firstly, apply a moderate amount of PVA glue to the surface of the base, taking care not to stain the miniature to avoid spoiling the paint job. In this step, we can choose to cover the entire surface of the base or not. If you choose not to cover the whole surface, bear in mind that these reserved areas will not be covered by sand and will require your attention later. 
Next, before the glue dries, sprinkle modeling sand over the area where you have previously applied the adhesive.
In this example, we have used colored sand, but it would be just as good to use normal sand and paint it later. In any case, before the next step, we must let the glue dry completely. For many people, this would be a sufficient finish, but for this example, we are going to spend a little more time in order to improve the finish. Decorating a base easily does not necessarily mean doing the minimum, dedicating just a little more time is usually worth the base itself.
Once dry, we can apply a little paint in some areas to give a little variety to the colors and the overall appearance of the base, especially in the edge areas. In this example we have used powdered pigment instead of paint, as it provides an earthy and dusty look that quickly and easily improves the appearance of the base decoration. In case the entire surface of the base has not been completely filled with sand, this step would help us to complete the areas without sand.
Finally, to finish explaining how to base models easily, we can resort to one element: self-adhesive tufts. These tufts of grass, in all their varieties, are a very easy element to use to finish dressing the base and give a nice touch to most decorations.
This is where I would finish this easy base decoration and, as you can see, it is a convenient and quick way to decorate your game miniatures, such as, for example, an army for a wargame made up of more than one hundred miniatures.
Example 2: how to base models with texture paint
The second example of how to decorate model bases for miniatures easily is a little more advanced in some aspects, in case you want to give it a different touch, but it doesn't require great skills either.
Specifically, we are going to use texture paint. There are many different pastes prepared to imitate different consistencies, such as earth, asphalt, cement, mud, etc. It is another quick and easy way to decorate bases, as we only have to apply the paste and let it dry to achieve a base with very apparent texture and color.
Utensils and paints
• Tufts of grass
How to base models with sand step by step
For this ornamentation, we have chosen a texture paint that imitates earth in a light color. To apply it, spread it over the entire surface of the base, avoiding touching the miniature to, once again, avoid ruining the paint.
Once the paste is completely dry, we can apply a touch of paint in a lighter color using the dry brush technique. With the brush, with very little paint, we gently rub the surface to highlight the earthy texture. For this, we have used a dry brush and a dry brush paint, especially suitable for this technique, which facilitates its use, but you can also use normal brushes and paints, which will provide a different finish.
Something optional, but recommended, is the use of any type of wash in certain areas to give depth and a variety of tones to the earth. For this, in this case, we have used a couple of wash inks. You can also use very diluted model paint and, depending on the desired result, you can use one color or several.
Finally, the use of tufts, although also optional, is recommended to complete the decoration of the base, as mentioned above.
So far the second example of how to base models easily. More techniques can be applied, a multitude of additional elements, other textures, other plants, etc. can be added. With this we can achieve better and more spectacular finishes, although we must bear in mind that this can involve more time and work.
In any case, these are two examples, but you can find many tutorials with different techniques and ways of creating your bases, explained step by step in our blog so that you can become a true professional.
