2025

[Moggy]

watched some vids by a guy that knew what he was doing this time. 

I am thinking about stuff like rows of sandbags and suchlike.  The 3d printer pen isn't much more than a hot glue-gun with a fine nozzles and better control but this guy seemed to make so much more of it.  Its all practice I think. That and having the idea of what you want to make.

Derek

[Sean Clark]

I've had a rather sedate New Years Day, re-painting the bases of my Mexico figures. I'd forgotten just how much I'd got. But I do like it when all of the bases in my armies look the same.

It's a fools errand to be honest. I've been doing this across several collections. It  bothers nobody but me. And it takes away painting time. But there's no denying the overall look of each army is vastly improved.

In the main the issue has been my use of the 'ready base' mixtures of flock sand and grit where you just dip your bases in and they're done. The problem being I've gone off the look and the look of my figures is important to me.

So, Mexico is done. With PBI out, its time for my WW2 armies. I have a largish late war German army, quite a lot of Russians and a late war US army. My newly finished 14th army are done in my new style which are very nice and my recently purchased Italians are yet to be sorted.

Oddly, so long as the base is nice, an average paint job on the figures is ok...which is good as I'm an average painter 😅

[Smiley Miley 66]

The base is not just there. Like your figures it needs work to it.
Firstly the 3-4 figures I feel need to be interacting with each other ? Looking the same way, running in the same direction or a couple running past as the other gives supporting fire ? To name a few things.
After that putting down your ground.
Stones, grit and logs ?
Then paint, ink wash(es) then dry brush. Repeat if necessary?
Then grass,sprinkled and prepared and maybe the clumped bushes as well if in a Jungle type.
Allowing drying time between each stage.
Miles

[Sean Clark]

Exactly this Miles 👍

[Colonel Kilgore]

Totally agree, chaps.

When looking from above, we probably see more base than figure, so bases are well worth doing as nicely as we can.

Then the bases in turn set off the figures. All a worthwhile investment of time and effort.

Simon

[Martin Smith]

>
...I do like it when all of the bases in my armies look the same.

It  bothers nobody but me. And it takes away painting time. But there's no denying the overall look of each army is vastly improved.
>
>
Oddly, so long as the base is nice, an average paint job on the figures is ok...which is good as I'm an average painter 😅

Same approach here, Sean. Having similar bases has an extraordinary effect out of all proportion upon the overall look of an army.
My painting is also 'average', so the bases do the hard work.

[Smiley Miley 66]

Remember it's not about Average or above average painting, it's about Presentation. If the overall bases looks Good then it's good. Like you say make them look all the same ? The figures and the bases are all part of the same thing.
Layering and keeping things continuously and constant, makes them look "Together"
Remember look at a lot of Martins PP bases that are used for the show games ? He puts a constant basing to all of the bases and they look good. Even when you look deep down they are relatively simple to do.
Miles

[Sean Clark]

Not a blistering start to the year with the brush as I'm trying to tidy up some unfinished bits. But here are 8 bases of Union troops who've been nearly finished for a couple of years or more.



And not the most essential of things, but lovely all the same. Two film crews for the Mexican Revolution. Again  these have been part done for some time. It's nice to get them finished and added to the soldier box.

[Smiley Miley 66]

Sean also useful for SCW ?
Miles

[Colonel Kilgore]

They all look very nice, Sean!

Simon

[Sean Clark]

I've been prepping for game 1 of the year on Friday.

The Germans have been sorted and basically use the 1944 list from the Architect. However, I've subbed in 2 Panthers and a Jagdpanther in place of Tigers. Martin may recognise the tanks as he kindly donated them to me a few years ago.



I have quite a bit more German stuff, but only realised today I have no support weapons so today ordered some mortars and MMGs. I'm also oddly lacking in dead figures. 2 US dead are substituting for dead Germans here. I've added a couple of packs to the order.

I've also made up some partial counters, but they're still drying so no picture yet.

[Sean Clark]

I've also painted up these pinned markers from Peter Pig. No idea why I've got 9 of them 😂 but I don't ever remember more than 9 squares being pinned at the same time.

[Sean Clark]

Here are my partial markers. Made use of a few Peter Pig odds and ends, twigs and some rubberised horsehair I had lying around.

[martin goddard]

With all this new stuff Sean, maybe you should get down to Entoyment on the 25th for the desert games??

martin

[Sean Clark]

I'd love too Martin but Lisa is away. However, I've now added all of the Piggie Game days to the family calendar. My aim is to make 5 this year, plus the Weekender.