Starter Bases

11/24/2024

Matt Antone

A model's base is far more than just a practical necessity - it's the foundation that helps tell the miniature's story. In wargaming, a well-executed base sets the scene and provides crucial context for where your warriors are fighting, whether they're trudging through muddy trenches, defending ancient ruins, or stalking through alien landscapes. Beyond its aesthetic value, basing helps ground your miniatures in their fictional environment and can tie an entire army together visually. A thoughtfully based miniature can convey movement, atmosphere, and narrative - perhaps showing footprints in the snow, battle damage on urban rubble, or indigenous alien flora. This attention to the base transforms a simple gaming piece into a small diorama, enhancing both the gaming experience and the overall presentation of your army.

These are my most basic bases. I use them for armies, but this recipe is used on all my bases.

Materials You'll Need

Base(s)
1/4 Inch Cork Sheet
Instant Glue - Cyanoacrylate
Hobby Gravel

Tools You'll Need

Hobby knife

Paints You'll Need

Some paints may be used in multiple steps. If you don't have these paints, feel free to use an approximate color.

AK Terrains Asphalt
Badger Stynylrez Black Primer
ProAcryl Khaki
ProAcryl Mohagany
Proacryl Green Brown

Instructions

1. Add Cork to the base.

If you're doing a bunch of bases, this can certainly be done with more than one at a time. You're gonna need a sheet of 1/4 inch cork.

Glue the base to the cork top down with a medium crazy glue and let them set for about 5 mins.
Once the base is set, cut it out of the sheet of cork. You want to leave some cork around the outside edge of the base giving something for to grab in the next step.
Tear away the excess cork in small chunks leaving a rough edge.
Test fit your model on the base and then you can tear more away from cork to make it look more like rugged terrain.

2. Add Texture

AK Terrains Asphault
- AK Terrains Asphalt

Apply a thick coat with some of the texture paint. While the paint is still wet apply some of the gravel in the spots your mini doesn't attach to. Press the gravel into the paint and wait to dry. The added texture needs to be completely dry before moving on.