You can spend hours painting a miniature, but if it's standing on a bare grey base, it never quite looks finished. Basing is the fastest way to make a model look complete, and it's one of the easiest parts of the hobby to get good at.
Three Ways to Base
| Method | Time | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Texture paint | Fastest | Clean, consistent ground for a whole army |
| Sand and gravel | Medium | More natural and varied |
| Full scenic | Slowest | Rocks, debris and plants for character models and display |
All three finish the same way: drybrush, add some greenery, paint the rim.
Method 1: Texture Paint
Citadel Technical texture paints like Astrogranite and Stirland Mud have grit already mixed in. Spread a layer on with an old brush or a spatula, let it dry, and you've got textured ground.
This is the method we'd recommend for a first army. It's quick, tidy, and every base comes out the same.
Method 2: Sand and Gravel
- Paint PVA glue over the base, keeping it off the model's feet.
- Dip the base into sand, such as All Game Terrain Natural Blend Sand, and tap off the excess.
- Press in a few larger stones or boulders for variety.
- Once dry, seal it with watered-down PVA so it doesn't crumble.
- Prime or basecoat it, then carry on below.
Method 3: Scenic Bases
For a character or display model, go further. Add cork or slate for rocks, small bits of debris, a broken pillar, or a scrap of Evergreen styrene cut into planks or rubble. Our styrene guide has more ideas.
Painting the Ground
- Basecoat the ground a dark brown or grey.
- Shade with a brown wash to darken the recesses.
- Drybrush with a lighter colour, then lighter again. A small dry brush and Citadel Dry paints are made for this.
Drybrushing is what makes the texture pop, and it's very hard to get wrong. If you've never done it before, a base is the perfect place to practise.
Greenery
A couple of tufts make a base look alive.
- Gamers Grass tufts are self-adhesive. Peel off with tweezers, press on, done. They come in different heights and colours, from tiny tufts for small bases up to XL for big models, plus flowers and swamp and alien options.
- Army Painter Tufts work the same way.
- Static grass covers bigger areas. Paint on PVA and use a static grass shaker so the fibres stand upright.
Less is usually more. Two or three tufts look natural. A fully grassed base can hide the model.
Paint the Rim
The last step, and the one that makes the biggest difference: paint the edge of the base a solid colour. Black is the classic choice, and dark brown works well too. A crisp rim frames the model and makes it look finished on the table.
Match Your Army and Your Table
Pick one basing style and use it across your whole army so it looks like a single force. For bonus points, match it to your terrain. Our guide to printing and painting terrain uses the same materials.
Everything here is in our Terrain & Basing range, or drop into the shop at 22 Castlemaine Street, Kirwan, and we'll show you how quick it is.