Why Basing Matters
Basing your miniature isn’t just one of the final steps of painting your model. It’s about telling a story, enhancing the mini’s overall aesthetics, and helping to convey its background and environment.
Whether you’re aiming for something simple or a base with lots of intricate details, the use of basing materials is a significant component in establishing the desired narrative. The materials you use can thus have a large impact on the overall look and “feel” of the mini – and with just a few alterations, you can take the same mini from a lush forest floor to a futuristic war-torn battlefield.
You might be thinking, “Nice try, that’s just marketing talk.”
So, we decided to conduct a little experiment: Can we make the same miniature look vastly different by altering only the Tufts and other basing materials on its base?
During the next 12 months, we’ll show you the same Orc Warrior (the model from the Warpaints Fanatic Most Wanted Paint Set) on 12 different bases and demonstrate to you how, with just a few tweaks, you can easily forge new and thematic narratives with your basing.
Adding Life to Your MIniature Base with Meadow Flowers Tufts
What is Meadow Flowers Tufts?
To kick this party off, we’ll use the Meadow Flowers Tufts and place the Orc Warrior in a lush, flowery meadow.
The Meadow Flowers Tufts are pre-made clusters of static grass and flowers that resemble - you guessed it - meadow flowers. They come in three different sizes (12 large, 35 medium, and 30 small), making them versatile for different scales and settings.
You can use the Meadow Flowers Tufts on many different miniatures and settings. They are great for depicting realistic, natural landscapes in historical wargames; creating lush, enchanted forests or vibrant meadows in a fantasy setting; or adding a touch of nature to a futuristic or post-apocalyptic sci-fi world.
How to Work with Basing and Tufts
Before you begin completing your base, there are a few tools you will need: Battlefield Basing: Glue, tweezer, and basing/tufts materials.
Start by thinning the Battlefield Basing: Glue with a bit of water and using a brush to spread it onto your base. We highly recommend using an old brush to avoid damaging your newer or more expensive ones.
Dip the base into the basing material of your liking, making sure it’s fully covered. Tap off the excess material and clean up any that is misplaced.
This step is optional, but for more depth and contrast, give the textured base a basecoat with Warpaints Fanatic and drybrush with a lighter colour on top.
Add tufts for that extra touch of vegetation and realism. Glue it onto the base with Battlefield Basing: Glue (or Super Glue for an even stronger bond).
And there you have it! The basic knowledge and How-To for working with basing and tufts. The miniature is now ready to join the rest of the regiment on the tabletop and march into battle.
For a more in-depth guide, check out our blog post, Finishing the Miniature’s Base, or our YouTube video How To Use: Battlefields Basing Materials.
How to Create a Lush Meadow Base
- To start with, the base on Orc Warrior from the Most Wanted Set was primed with Colour Primer: Matt Black, and then edged painted with Matt Black.
- Then, we added some ground textures to make the base even more visually appealing and engaging. The texture is a mix of Battlefield Basing: Snow and Battlefield Basing: Brown Battleground, glued onto the base with Battlefield Basing: Glue.
- After the texture has dried and any excess basing materials removed, the base was painted with Woodland Camo and drybrushed with Necrotic Flesh.
- Finally, the Meadow Flowers Tufts were placed on the base, giving it a fresh and lush look. We’ve used various sizes to create a more realistic and dynamic appearance.
The Meadow Flowers Tufts help create a lush, vibrant scene reminiscent of a serene and possibly untouched environment, enhancing the natural environment with a sense of life and tranquillity. The base contrasts sharply with the Orc Warrior’s aggressive and warlike appearance. This adds a layer of depth to the storytelling aspect and suggests an upcoming clash between the peacefulness of the meadow and the brutality of the Orc.
Simple or Advanced Miniature Base? The Choice Is Yours!
There are many ways to finish your miniature’s base – some simple, some more advanced – and lots of basing materials to choose from. As both our Orc Warrior and the Nurgle Warriors below demonstrate, the choice of materials depends on the desired effect and story you wish to tell with both the individual mini and the overall army.
While some bases come with pre-designed elements like cobblestones (e.g., the base of the knight from the Warpaints Fanatic Starter Paint Set), others require you to do the heavy lifting and create the setting and thematic narrative yourself. In the image below, you can see the difference the base makes and – and how you, with a few materials, can progress from a simple base to a more detailed and complex base.
But don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques (e.g., drybrushing and weathering effects), types of basing materials, and other types of customisations to achieve the desired look on your miniature’s base.
