Basing
Create a realistic ground surface on your model's base using texture paints, sand, or flock.
The base is the ground your model stands on, and finishing it is what turns a painted figure into a finished piece — a plain black disc under a beautiful mini reads as unfinished, while even simple texture and a tuft of grass roots the model in a world. We build a base in the same order as the model itself: texture first, then a basecoat, a shade to settle it, a drybrush to raise it, and details last. A tidy rim, painted in one clean dark colour, is the frame around the whole picture.
Best For
Recommended Paint Types
Step-by-Step
Spread texture over the whole base top, up to but not under the model's feet — PVA glue dipped in sand, or texture paint laid on thick with an old brush — keeping clear of the model's feet.
Let it dry fully (texture paints want 1–2 hours), then basecoat the texture with an earth tone (brown for soil, grey for stone) at milk.
Wash the whole surface with a dark earth shade and let it settle into every crevice, 10–15 minutes to dry.
Drybrush a lighter tone across the texture with a flat drybrush so every pebble and ridge catches light.
Glue on the life — static grass tufts, small rocks, a fallen leaf — sparingly, in the low spots where debris would gather.
Paint the rim in one clean pass of a dark colour, wiping any slips off the edge while wet.
If It Goes Wrong
If texture crept over the model's feet or the rim, slice it away with a hobby knife once fully dry and touch up with the rim colour; a bald patch in the texture just takes a second dab of texture paint — it blends invisibly once painted.
Variations
Texture paints carry their own colour, so the base needs only a heavy application, a long dry, and a drybrush — three steps become two with nothing lost at tabletop distance.
Pro Tips
Black base rims look clean and professional. Some prefer matching the basing material.
Superglue small rocks or cork pieces before texturing for added dimension.
Static grass tufts are the easiest way to make bases look alive.
Keep your army's bases consistent — same color scheme and materials across all models.
PVA glue mixed with paint makes a great one-step textured base coat.
Common Mistakes
Skipping basing entirely — even a simple base makes a huge difference.
Using too many different materials — keep it simple and cohesive.
Not painting the base rim — unpainted rims look unfinished.
Applying texture to areas where the model's feet sit — leave those spots clean.