Army rebase for Square Bashing

[Leman (Andy)]

It's not always a great deal of fun, and can result in cut fingers etc. but I have taken the decision to rebase those WWI 1914 British, Germans, Belgians and a few French allies, that are already painted, onto standard 30mm bases  rather than the 50mm they are currently on [the exception will be artillery - going from 50mm squares to 40mm squares - because I like to have discarded shell cases scattered on the base]. Fortunately I had not originally based with superglue, so the figures are coming off fairly easily with no damage. Even the grass tufts are coming away well, so can be reused. So far only two regiments and machine guns rebased for the BEF, but it is a useful way to use time whilst WotR stuff is drying. Will post some pictures once the bases have been properly terrained.

[Colonel Kilgore]

That is a labour of love, Andy - best of luck!

Simon

[Sean Clark]

Having  sold my soul to the devil that is 'Base Ready' flocks I'm contnpkating doing the same with my early war collection. I like uniformity across my basing and hope to use some of my RCW collection for early war Russians who are based using it.

Good luck with the task. Mine is slightly easier as they are already on  30x30 bases.

[Leman (Andy)]

Thanks Simon, I'll keep this thread going as the task progresses. Things are a little easier as I am using a Vallejo basing material in a very similar colour to my original scheme.

[Leman (Andy)]

I have rebased two battalions so far, including one fully finished test base. I am pleased with the result. Here it is compared to the old 50mm basing.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Nice job Andy! Impossible to see that the figures have been rebased.

I'm thinking about those round-cornered bases - they do look good...

Simon

[Leman (Andy)]

I get mine from Warbases and their service is excellent. Never had a problem with their stuff being shipped over here.

[Sean Clark]

Very nice mate. Love the colours.

[Leman (Andy)]

Oh my! my little notebook with my painting notes in has disappeared. Not sure if that is a permanent situation or temporary, but I really wanted to make sure that any new BEF figures received the same colour scheme as my originals. Then I remembered I had written it out in this sub-board, along with my German one, so thank goodness we have this forum available to us. Long may it continue, and thanks to those who make it possible.

[Colonel Kilgore]

That is a nice little added bonus of the Forum, Andy!

Simon

[Leman (Andy)]

Jocks and a couple of 18pdrs now rebased. The messing about with basing materials and paints is now sorted, and it is that for the left hand gun. The shattered tree is actually a dried pear stalk. The right hand gun base was toned down with some Vallejo pigment powder, which worked well for that gun, but tended to blur out any differentiation on the left gun's base, so it will be left off further bases, and only used on vehicles  and artillery pieces. So, the final basing is a spread of Vallejo light earth basing paste, into which figures, guns, small trees, rocks etc can be glued and shell craters, ruts etc can be modelled. Once thoroughly dry a firm drybrush of Vallejo yellow ochre and then a wash of diluted Army Painter soft tone, a final light drybrush of Vallejo buff, and then paint the base edge (I use Woodland Scenics Earth Undercoat) before applying static grass, tufts etc. Incidentally, the discarded brass shell cases are cut up sections of plastic sprue and the puddled water is Vallejo still water.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Very nice, Andy.

The little additions such as you have on the gun bases in particular make all the difference - I need to do more of these for my own figures!

Simon

[Sean Clark]

For some reason when building my early war armies, I only used 2 figures per artillery base. They look rubbish compared to yours Andy! Good work sir!

[Anatoli]

Very nice job !!

There are some details I particularly like very much : the empty shells near the gun on the last picture, the holes on the ground...
Superb !

[Leman (Andy)]

Thanks gents, high praise indeed. for some reason the left hand crew cast their shell cases to their right so they are hidden by the gun in this photo. My shell cases now come from the sprue my spreader set was attached to. A nice little bargain at just over 4 Euro for a set of 5, including a tiny pointed prodder akin to a toothpick with a handle.