Basing with Cork

Dalcohs

New member
I have been painting mostly basic humanoid figures for commission for a while now, but recently have been given a larger model to work with, GWs Be\'lakor. For his base I decided to try layering cork for a high rocky base. Does anyone have advice or pointers on any preparation needed for the cork itself as far as making sure primer sticks properly?
 

Ritual

New member
There\'s no problem with primer or any other paint on cork, so no preparation should be necessary.

However, if you\'re putting several layers of cork on top of each other and then stick a heavy miniature on top I would suggest pinning the cork tiles on a few places.

*edit* Welcome to the forums, BTW.:)
 

Margo

New member
Welcome to the forums :)

Yes, definitely pin the layers of cork together. And one more thing: I\'d suggest pinning The Dark Master (hell that sounds hillarious! lol ) to the cork itself to make sure he won\'t fall off the base -- the miniature is quite big and heavy. As for the primer, I don\'t think there\'s going to be a problem with that.
 

No Such Agency

New member
In my first cork base, which I just completed :) I accomplished both at the same time by giving the mini a long pin that goes all the way through the cork and into the plastic base. Hopefully that\'ll secure it all...
 

Ritual

New member
@NSA
On a regular size mini that will probably do just fine! That\'s how I usually pin my minis on cork bases. With a larger, heavier mini like Be\'lakor I would at least use two pins for the mini (that goes through the cork into the plastic base) and two more for the cork tiles.
 

Margo

New member
Originally posted by Ritual
With a larger, heavier mini like Be\'lakor I would at least use two pins for the mini (that goes through the cork into the plastic base) and two more for the cork tiles.

Yeah, and what would be even more secure, is to have a pin that goes not only through the basing material and the plastic base, but starts at the base and ends in Be\'lakor\'s heels. That\'s what I did to him, at least, and as of now he didn\'t fall off, despite all his mightiness and weight :)
 

supervike

Super Moderator
excuse my stupidity...

exactly what kind of \'cork\' are we talking about here?

Wine topper cork? Bulletin Board Cork?
 

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
SV,

Try this

http://www.reapermini.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=3&t=9721&st=0&#entry154191

or

http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/302
 

Ritual

New member
It\'s sheets of cork or cork tiles. I suppose it\'s what you call bulletin board cork. You can find it in various thicknesses in arts and crafts stores.
 
Thanks for posting this airhead, I was just about to ask ... \'but how do you ...\'

I haven\'t done any basing other than flock and rock and I\'m wanting to try something different with the Inquisitor line that I\'ve picked up after seeing so many great jobs on here.

Now when ya\'ll pin it, you just drill little holes and then use what? Brass pin, paper clips? Anything that works best? Also, what type of ballast do you use to keep a model from toppling over?

Boy I\'m just full of newbie questions this morning.
 

tidoco2222

Active member
As said before pin the cork and pin the model for security. I use balck car spray primer for my basecoating and this is fine on the cork.
When I make the base I use cork tile the sort you can get in DIY stores and just tear off the bits I need of the required size.
Also cork fragments (if thats the right word) is quite good as well for loose stones and the like.
 

Ritual

New member
@Frustrated Father
I use paper clips for pinning, but anything that is strong enough would probably work. I always have heaps of paper clips and never have any use for them, so...

I try not to build my bases too high so that the whole thing easily falls over. Gaming pieces shouldn\'t be too high, anyway, and if I\'m doing a display piece I make sure to use a big enough base.
 

LouisCypher

New member
i may suggest to get some cork wine toppers: they allow you to have a bigger surface to work on and you can also carve it in the shape you like more!

i based several models of mine with this method and i must say ot works perfectly!

also, you can use the spare pieces to make smaller rocks
just a couple of examples:


img409961639eb35.jpg


a very tall cork base

or
img4172a256641ad.jpg

a smaller, stepped one

Luca
 

Ritual

New member
@LouisCypher
I gotta try this...
*corks up whine bottle*
lol

Seriously, I will try this out. It looks great!
 

maxxim

New member
I had the same idea and beat you to it... LOL

box7.jpg


There are some long pins going through both levels of the cork and into the legs. I love using the cork boards now and I think that they give a mini character when done correctly.
 

Astonia

New member
I have a friend that works in a restaurant, so my supply of cork wine toppers is endless :flip:. I used to have the minis pinned to one of these when painting them, but I have found that it\'s easier to use erasers instead. Just attach the pins to the heels of the mini and press it into an eraser and you have a perfect grip. It\'s also very easy to remove the mini with it\'s pins and attach to the base once it\'s painted.
 

Ritual

New member
I use my pin vice for holding the mini. Just remove the drill bit and stick the pinned mini in the vice instead.
 

No Such Agency

New member
Originally posted by Ritual
I use my pin vice for holding the mini. Just remove the drill bit and stick the pinned mini in the vice instead.
Yeah, that may work well as long as you don\'t need to drill anything else ;)
 
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