Tutorial: A lazy painter’s method to winter urban bases
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...
I’m a lazy painter, so historically I’ve always seen bases as just something that has to be done as quickly as possible to get something ‘battle-ready’. However, over time, I’ve developed a basing scheme that not only is pretty easy to do, but I think also looks great (along with some other benefits).
I’ll take you through the process in a second (it’s ludicrously simple), but first let’s consider why basing your miniatures is a good thing to do.
So….why base?
The base is part of your model
This is the only negative point I’ll make, but it’s really obvious when a model is unbased. It just looks a little bit naked. You might be the greatest painter in the world, but if the base is bare plastic, or even just primed or the bare minimum (remember Goblin Green paint and grass from the 90s?!?), then it can really takeaway from some cracking artistry, and that’s a shame.
Basing can be a crucial part of your minis story and history
When a mini is painted, it can easily tell a little story - a diorama of a single soldier/alien/mutant. A classic example of this is having a base that contains something representing a common opponent - eg a helmet in their chosen colours.
With my army, having snow gives me fond memories as I painted a lot of my minis in Lithuania during the winter.
But remember, none of this has to be complicated. I’m lazy, so my basing certainly is easy!
It can complement your colour scheme
This really depends on what colours you use, and the end result you’re looking for. As a base is part of the mini, how you base and what colours you chose should be considered within the context of the mini overall.
For example, if your minis are quite blue (let’s say they are Ultramarines), then picking a blue base as the colour scheme might look a bit bland. Personally, I always like a bit of contrast, or ensuring the base complements the miniature without taking away too much attention from it.
It can tie your forces together
Units in an army are not always traditionally wearing the same uniform or colours. And, of course, they are your minis! You can do as you wish. With my Astra Militarum, for example, I also have a unit of Navy Breachers that have a very different uniform…but they are part of the same army.
Having a consistent basing method can help tie these units together visually. And it can go further - I also have some Adeptus Mechanicus units, and they all have the same base style, meaning if they ally together it really fits in. And…if they end up fighting each other, it’s not so bad either!
My basing method - simple winter urban
As I mentioned earlier, I’m lazy. But - I think it’s important to base for the reasons above. So here’s my method, which I think looks great considering the limited effort, it complements my minis, and ties them all together.
The paints I use:
Astrogranite Debris
Black Templar
Wraithbone
Abaddon Black
Valhallan Blizzard
Here’s the process:
Apply the Astrogranite Debris with some form of tool (note, not a brush, unless you really fancy ruining it). Another tip is to bear in mind this bit might be messy, so expect to repaint your minis boots/hooves/tentacles…or just plan a bit in advance and not finish those bit yet. I find this takes a bit to dry so leave it a while.
Here's how it looks after applying the Astrogranite Debris, and here's the tool I use. I don't know what it's called (it came in a Ted Baker Men's Grooming kit...don't tell my wife!) Next, paint over the Astrogranite Debris with Black Templar. Make sure you’re liberal enough that you cover every nook and cranny as the Astrogranite Debris will be quite bumpy. Don’t apply too much though! There’s no need to drown it.
Once this is dry, dry brush Wraithbone. This should really pick out the bumps and details created by the Astrogranite Debris. I’ve personally found I’m a bit too conservative on this step, as there’s a lot of detail to dry brush over - so it might take a couple of times to get it looks how you want.
After the dry brush, the base should still look pretty dark, and this is where I tidy everything up, applying Abaddon Black, to the rim of the base to make it solid black. As I prime my models with Wraithbone Spray, this normally takes a couple of thin coa- … who am I kidding, I just did one thick coat.
Finally, I use Valhallan Blizzard, which is one of my favourite paints! It’s brilliant. I apply it using the same tool as Astrogranite Debris (remember to clean the tool though). This texture paint is interesting, as it dries looking amazingly close to actual snow, and thin layers dry a bit translucent, almost like slushy snow that’s starting to melt. I normally apply one or two bits on each base, and flatten the areas slightly like how real snow settles.
And that’s my method! And also, now my Imperial Navy Breachers are officially ‘battle-ready’. Huzzah!