28mm Basing guide - techniques

28mm Basing guide.

This is a short guide to basing 28mm miniatures, this is one of the last steps ideally after you have finished painting your figures. I generally base on plasticard: High Impact Polystyrene Sheet (HIPS) commonly known as plasticard in the UK or styrene sheet in North America. The best way to cut it is to score it to the desired size and then snap off the waste.

Alternatively laser cut mdf could be used, for 25mm round bases I use U.K. two pence pieces which give a nice weight to the base.

Stage.1 - glue & filler.

I use superglue flooded under the figures base to secure it, remembering you don't need a lot to safely glue the metal miniature to its base.

Then I use filler to the base, ideally some of it covers over the edge of the metal miniatures base to help the whole thing a bit more durable.

filler with a sandy rough texture which hardens rock solid.

various tools to apply the filler

filler added no need to be too neat in the application yet.

 Stage.2 - grit & texture

select your basing grit

PVA glue applied neat with a brush

Large coarse rocks are applied first then gradually sprinkle on the smaller grades.

Tea leaves from a teabag are the final texture to be applied, the tea leaves will represent grass.

 Stage.3 - painting the base
Wait for the PVA to set hard, heat can help to speed up the setting process. Then brush off the excess scatter material with a soft brush.

I use enamels and oils to colour the base.

greens flooded into the tea leaves

browns added to the areas to represent the dirt.

 Stage.4 - Drybrushing.
This stage involves the most amount of work as the various tones of colour are brought up:
Greens have yellow and tan added.
Burnt umber browns have tan added, then tan + yellow and white for the extreme highlights very gently brushed on. Any mistakes can be corrected by flooding in a darker colour to take it a stage back.

Then the grasses are added, I make these myself and sell them occasionally on eBay at pjw_wargames_supplies , the shrubs represent low lying bushes, nettle patches etc.

The finally the whole model receives at least one coat of 'Testors Dullcote' matt varnish, it's stinky stuff but the best varnish spray on the market.

Austrian Hussar squadron of the 4th Regiment (Hesse-Homburg)

miniatures made by Perry and painted a few days ago.

The finished result, remembering a little care and avoiding rushing the basing stage can produce a nice neat effect which will last a very long time, I've occasionally bounced some of these bases off a hard floor with little to no damage to the model.

Anyway that's all there is to it.
All the Best,
Peter.

2mm Grass Tufts (made to order).

2mm high WILDERNESS Mix regular shape Grass tufts - self adhesive.

One of the most interesting features of collecting and painting miniatures is trying to find a way to create realistic scenery or terrain for bases. I used to buy grass tufts, and found it was better to make them myself as I can get through a huge amount sometimes.

The tufts add an extra dimension to the miniatures and can be used in a variety of colours, a good mix I have found is 2mm Wilderness mix which can be used to depict grass & scrub from the dry summer highlands of Scotland to the dryer climate of the Mediterranean.

2mm Wilderness mix a good versatile choice for 15mm figures to 28mm figures.  

2mm wilderness mix closeup.

I've started to market these 2mm grass tufts through pjwalke@live.com also on ebay just search for Ebay seller ID: Lord_Jaggard

Each box contains at least 120 regular sized tufts which maybe torn in two as required. They are Self-Adhesive, just peel them off the backing and firmly push onto your miniatures base.

£5.50 each box, U.K. postage free, worldwide £3.69 (for 1 to 4 boxes)
PayPal payment to accepted through pjwalke@live.com

2mm wilderness grass tufts on a 28mm WW2 Fuel Dump.

Foundry Peltast with my 2mm Wilderness Grass tufts representing wild grass.

28mm Foundry Archer with 2mm Wilderness Grass tufts.

Specs:

Colour: WILDERNESS, grass/scrub, greens & brown mix as pictured. A Darker colour mix which can be used to depict summer dry grassland/scrubland/moorland/heathland from the Highlands of Scotland to the Mediterranean scenery. Perfect for Ancient to Modern periods.

Quantity: 1 box 160mm x 130mm x21mm containing approximately 120 grass clumps of regular size. Good for anything from 15mm to 28mm figures etc.

Description: Grass tufts/clumps using 2mm static fibres in a green WILDERNESS mix on self adhesive backing. just peel off and apply to your scenery to create interesting basing effects.

Also available:

2mm high DRY ARID Mix regular shape Grass tufts - self adhesive.

I've started to market these 2mm grass tufts through pjwalke@live.com also on ebay just search for Ebay seller ID: Lord_Jaggard

Each box contains at least 120 regular sized tufts which maybe torn in two as required. They are Self-Adhesive, just peel them off the backing and firmly push onto your miniatures base.

£5.50 each box, U.K. postage free, worldwide £3.69 (for 1 to 4 boxes)
PayPal payment to accepted through pjwalke@live.com

2mm DRY ARID Grass tufts great for 15mm to 28mm figures.

2mm DRY ARID Grass tufts closeup.

Specs:

Colour: DRY ARID, grass/scrub, greens & brown mix as pictured. A Darker colour mix which can be used to depict grassland/scrubland/moorland/heathland from the Dry Summer Highlands of Scotland to the Mediterranean scenery. Perfect for Ancient to Modern periods.

Quantity: 1 box 160mm x 130mm x21mm containing approximately 120 grass clumps of regular size. Good for anything from 1mm to 28mm figures etc.

Description: Grass tufts/clumps using 2mm static fibres in a green DRY ARID mix on self adhesive backing. just peel off and apply to your scenery to create interesting basing effects.

4mm Grass Tufts (made to order).

4mm high SUMMER Mix random shape Grass tufts - self adhesive.

One of the aspects of collecting and painting miniatures is trying to find a way to create scenery for bases. I used to buy grass tufts, and found it was better to make them myself as I can get through a huge amount sometimes.

The tufts add an extra dimension to the miniatures and can be used in a variety of colours, a good mix I have found is 4mm Summer mix which can be used to depict grass & scrub from the highlands of Scotland to the Mediterranean.

approximately 80 clumps per box.

4mm high Summer mix Random tufts, ideally represents Grass & scrub.

4mm high static grass seems to be the ideal height for 28mm figures, 2mm high tufts look like fuzz whereas 6mm tufts are too tall for my use.

French late 17th century Officer, grass/scrub and white flowers.

French late 17th century Officer, grass/scrub

I've started to market these grass tufts through pjwalke@live.com



Each box contains at least 80 random sized tufts which maybe torn in two as required. They are Self-Adhesive, just peel them off the backing and firmly push onto your miniatures base.

Nobody seems to make these random clumps of grass tufts at the moment, I will also make them in neat ordered tufts in the near future just see my listings.

'How to' instructions:

1. Take the tufts out of their box.

2. Use tweezers or your fingers to pull the tufts off their silicone backing paper.

3. Place the tufts on the miniatures base, they are self adhesive, just push down with your finger.
That's all there is to it.

Specs:

Colour: SUMMER, Greens & Brown mix good for the highlands of Scotland to the Mediterranean scenics. 

Quantity: 1 box 160mm x 130mm x21mm containing approximately 80 grass clumps of varying sizes. Good for 28mm cavalry bases, artillery bases etc. They can be torn in two to make smaller clumps.

Description: Grass tufts/clumps using 4mm static fibres in a green & brown summer mix on self adhesive backing. just peel off and apply to your scenery to create interesting basing effects.

I also produce: 

4mm SUMMER mix Regular sized tufts. 

4mm Summer mix Regular sized tufts 120 in each box, representing grass/scrub.

£5.50 each box, U.K. postage free, worldwide £3.69 (for 1 to 4 boxes)
PayPal payment accepted through pjwalke@live.com

Specs:

Colour: summer, greens & brown mix good for the highlands of Scotland to the Mediterranean scenics. 

Quantity: 1 box 160mm x 130mm x21mm containing approximately 120 grass clumps of regular size. Good for 28mm figures etc.

Description: Grass tufts/clumps using 4mm static fibres in a green & brown summer mix on self adhesive backing. just peel off and apply to your scenery to create interesting basing effects.


4mm high SPRING GREEN Mix random shape Grass tufts - self adhesive.

approximately 80 clumps per box.

4mm high SPRING GREEN mix Random tufts, ideally represents Grass & scrub.

£5.50 each box, U.K. postage free, worldwide £3.69 (for 1 to 4 boxes) 
PayPal payment to accepted through pjwalke@live.com

Specs:

Colour: SPRING GREEN mix good for Temperate Grassland/Pasture scenics

Quantity: 1 box 160mm x 130mm x21mm containing approximately 80 grass clumps of varying sizes. Good for 28mm cavalry bases, artillery bases etc. They can be torn in two to make smaller clumps.

Description: Grass tufts/clumps using 4mm static fibres in a SPRING GREEN mix on self adhesive backing. just peel off and apply to your scenery to create interesting basing effects.

4mm SPRING mix Regular sized tufts.

4mm Spring mix Regular sized tufts 120 in each box, representing grass/pasture.

£5.50 each box, U.K. postage free, worldwide £3.69 (for 1 to 4 boxes)
PayPal payment to accepted through pjwalke@live.com

Specs:

Colour: SPRING, greens mix good for Temperate Grassland, Pasture scenics. 

Quantity: 1 box 160mm x 130mm x21mm containing approximately 120 grass clumps of regular size. Good for 28mm figures etc.

Description: Grass tufts/clumps using 4mm static fibres in a green SPRING mix on self adhesive backing. just peel off and apply to your scenery to create interesting basing effects.

4mm WILDERNESS Mix Random shape Grass tufts - self adhesive.

£5.50 each box, U.K. postage free, worldwide £3.69 (for 1 to 4 boxes)
PayPal payment accepted through pjwalke@live.com

Specs:

Colour: WILDERNESS, grass/scrub, greens & brown mix as pictured. A Darker colour mix which can be used to depict grassland/scrubland/moorland/heathland from the Highlands of Scotland to the Russian Steppes scenery. Perfect for Ancient to Modern periods.

Quantity: 1 box 160mm x 130mm x21mm containing approximately 80 grass clumps of random size. Good for 28mm figures etc.

Description: Grass tufts/clumps using 4mm static fibres in a green WILDERNESS mix on self adhesive backing. just peel off and apply to your scenery to create interesting basing effects.

4mm WILDERNESS mix Regular sized tufts.

4mm WILDERNESS mix Regular sized tufts 120 in each box, representing wild grass.

£5.50 each box, U.K. postage free, worldwide £3.69 (for 1 to 4 boxes)
PayPal payment to accepted through pjwalke@live.com

Specs:

Colour: WILDERNESS, grass/scrub, greens & brown mix as pictured. A Darker colour mix which can be used to depict grassland/scrubland/moorland/heathland from the Highlands of Scotland to the Russian Steppes scenery. Perfect for Ancient to Modern periods.

Quantity: 1 box 160mm x 130mm x21mm containing approximately 120 grass clumps of regular size. Good for 28mm figures etc.

Description: Grass tufts/clumps using 4mm static fibres in a green WILDERNESS mix on self adhesive backing. just peel off and apply to your scenery to create interesting basing effects.

4mm Leafy BUSHES, three colour mix Regular sized tufts.

4mm Leafy Bushes in tri-colour mix Regular sized tufts 130 in each box.

£5.50 each box, U.K. postage free, worldwide £3.69 (for 1 to 4 boxes)
PayPal payment to accepted through pjwalke@live.com

Specs:

Colour: Leafy BUSHES, in three colour green mix as pictured. The leaves on each bush are Light Green/Olive Green & Dark Green mix which can be used to depict scrubland from the Highlands of Scotland to the Mediterranean scenery. Perfect for Ancient to Modern periods.

Quantity: 1 box 160mm x 130mm x21mm containing approximately 120  bushy clumps of regular size. Good for 28mm figures etc.

Description: Leafy Bushy clumps using 4mm static fibres in a three greens mix on self adhesive backing. just peel off and apply to your scenery to create interesting basing effects.

Cheers for now :)