Monday 17 September 2012

How to base figures the Reject way!



Not trying to make you suck eggs at all and I'm sure some of you gamers out there already base this way or do something very similar, so this post is mainly directed at the newbie gamers and painters.

I've been complimented a number of times on the basing of my figures, so here's a simple "How to base, Reject style".
It was actually Postie who came up with this idea several years ago, after he bought some painted figures, liked the basing and tried to work out how it was done, so after several failed attempts he came up with this way. 
Take your base and if its like this MDF one from Warbases, score with a sharpe knife, to help bond.
Kinda obvious, but glue the figure to the base. I always use Superglue.
Pick out a few small stones, I found these at work and picked up a handful, but you can buy 
these from Model shops, or use the ones I'll tell you about later in the post.
Then randomly glue a few stones down again using Superglue.
Then with a 50/50 water to PVA glue paint the base, being careful not to paint over the stones.
Then a quick dip in the special mixture, which is sieved Sharpe sand, give the base a quick 
tap to knock off any loose sand, and with your fingers wipe the side of the base to
 clean off any remaining sand or glue.
Just for ease sake I put a handful of stones back in this small container I keep at work
And wait to dry, roughly 2 hours or more.

Paint the whole base with Earth Brown from Miniature paints, I usually water
the paint down slightly. But  paint it on neat for the edging.
Then paint the larger stones any shade of grey.
After that has dried, drybrush white over the base, I usually vary the weight of the
stroke to create a little randomness.
Lastly, paint on some dots of PVA glue and sprinkle on some static grass.
All finished!



66 comments:

  1. Great article Ray, the base looks great when finished. No wonder your armies look so good.

    Cheers Sander

    ReplyDelete
  2. A nice tutorial, thanks for sharing, Ray!

    I think it's quite impressive, how much difference one or two bigger stones make on the bases.

    Thomas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, they just add that little thing that's missing.....sometimes!

      Delete
  3. Who the feck is complimenting you, it must be people who've never met you and as for the post.....Yawn!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please don't hurt me, but I've complimented him on his bases.

      Delete
    2. Bloody nice innit!!! would you like to explain the the masses that you now base like this as well, you big girls blouse!!!!

      Delete
    3. Shut up grammar boy who wears little girls blouses!!!!!!!

      Delete
    4. Ray. You don't really wear girls blouses, right?

      Well, even if you do, this was still a good post and I still like the grass. It's always looks so neat.

      Well done.

      Delete
  4. Clear and concise, well done that man.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's really helpful Ray. There's no such thing as too many tips and ideas when it comes to basing. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice tutorial. Do you get any problems with the base depth creating a metal "Step" around the base of the figure. I use wall filler to eliminate this but now wondering if I can skip that phase! Cheers Mate see you Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I usually glue the grass partially on the figure base, that takes your eye off of the lip of the base, IMHO.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the reply. I shall stick to wall filler for now. (Bought a new pack on Saturday, can't waste it!)

      Delete
  8. Nice How to Ray, and your bases are very cool.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice step by step. This is how I do most of my basing too. I shouldn't be surprised I do things like a 'reject', wouldn't be the first time I've been accused of something like that ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would surprise me if there are more Rejects out there......

      Delete
  10. Basing is a big weakness for me and I really needed this tutorial Ray. Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No probs Anne, hopefully this will give you a few ideas!!

      Delete
  11. A very useful and informative post, Ray.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nice tutorial Ray. An even cheaper source of basing material is sand from beaches, picked up on day trips or holidays. I've even heard of people bringing back sand from holidays in the area where the army they are about to build is from - nothing like some local authenticity ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Dad's mate got arrested taking stones from a beach, so I wouldn't try that one!

      Delete
  13. Looks good, and a nice step-by-step. Unfortunately, I have too many 15mm ancients armies done in the 'cover in PVA and dip in greenish flock' style to change now. Still, might be just the excuse I need, to expand into a new period!

    ReplyDelete
  14. A very nice tutorial. But is it the Reject Way or the Highway, because I do it differently? Do I get kicked out of the Rejects for having my own strange technique, because BigLee does it with Wood Filler.

    Having said that, I like your use of Sharp Sand...I may rush out and buy some.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nicely done that man, thanks for posting. As the advert say's:-
    " Wickes, its got our name on it" :-)

    Jason.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great tutorial, Ray. I must remember the hatching of the base - for some reason I keep for getting to do that. It's a great tip.

    ReplyDelete
  17. very nice tutorial, thanks. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great tutorial thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great tutorial Ray, and as always I'm very envious of your photos.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Any particular static grass you use Ray?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't remember the name, I'll let you know later.

      Delete
    2. The static flock is by Heki Grass fibre No 3350 Light green here's a link if you want to buy some.
      http://www.westminster-miniatures.com/products.php?cat=456

      Delete
    3. Thanks Ray, and for your reply below. Looks like I can get some good deals on static grass at http://www.sceneryexpress.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HK3360 for some reason they say 2mm and they don't have the 3350. But now I have something to work with.

      Delete
  21. Good tutorial Ray.
    Have you ever had problems with the bases warping ? (I suspect not, using mdf)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, no problems. I think the bases are too small to notice any warping.

      Delete
  22. Although it is covering a basic process, I think it is helpful/ useful to see your method. Your bases are quite nice. I second firemonkeyboy, what static grass are you using? I've never used it and am wondering if I should just cave and buy GW or sacks of model railroad stuff and make my own blend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sean, glad you found it helpful, I'll have to let you know about the static grass, but one bit of advice, if you do buy some, buy it in bulk. It packet does last a long time, but it can be a right pain running out and trying to remember what make it was and where you bought it from! Trust me, I know!!

      Delete
  23. I was wondering. They always look similar, but they also ALWAYS work. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I do my basing a similar way, but instead of glue...tile silicon..well cheap and the sand I get from the local playground
    Cheers
    paul

    ReplyDelete
  25. A very interesting and complex process, Ray. Thank you a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Very good post, Ray. The small stones do look great.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great and helpful tutorial. Thanks.
    Regards
    Bruno

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm wishing I had started that way instead of flocking it up!

    I guess I can change over with future armies

    Ian

    ReplyDelete
  29. Nice tutorial and very helpful to those starting out. I really should do some tutorials sometime and give back a bit more like you Ray. Call me Lazy!

    Christopher

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a great idea, Ray. Great, now I'm going to start to want painting these things!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I do it a bit different, with wood filler, but the result is almost the same. Only thing is I do the sand in the woodfiller, so that when it is dry you have some nice texture.

    Very nice tutorial Ray!

    Greetings
    Peter
    http://peterscave.blogspot.be/

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thats a great way f basing there much easier than mine

    ReplyDelete
  33. Exellent work, i use a simulare way to do my bases :)

    regards

    Hobbyworker.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thank you Ray. I have to try those sharp sand myself.

    VS

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thanks for the tutorial Ray!! Great basing.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Im loathe basing, and with thousands of figures based with white glue and flock, I'm not changing unless I started a new period. Having said that, however,this method looks quite quick and easy, and gives very nice results! Thanks,Ray!

    Peter

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks for the tutorial. Basing is one the things I've always sucked at.

    Simon

    ReplyDelete