Funky Baseing

[MPJ]

Almost embarassing for someone of my advanced painting years to be asking this, but well... I\'ve never done it before...

Seems a big trend it putting the minis on fancy bases like slate. My question is, how do you prep the mini for this? Saw the base and/or tab off the mini with a razor saw then pin the feet to the base? I\'m pretty sure that\'s all there is to it but want to be sure. I don\'t actually care for the fancy bases all that much but want to give it a try anyway, who knows maybe I\'ll convert.

 

[funnymouth]

yep, thats the ticket. works nicely for small (not towering) bases too.

edit: if you dont want to pin, just file the tab down until it acts like a pin.

 

[james sequeira]

I create the base layout make sure the mini can fit and looks right on it. Then mark out and drill and glue the pin into the model and paint the base and model. Then just put a spot of glue on the pin and slot it into the bases hole.

 

[Dammekkos2]

Wax your drill bit too.

 

[MPJ]

Wax my what? Isn\'t that a bit personal? :drunk:

You mean drive the drill bit into some wax (any old wax) before drilling into the slate? I\'ve not heard that one, then again I\'ve never drilled into slate before. Do I need a special bit (like a masonry bit for concrete)?

 

[No Such Agency]

Is it possible to just use a strong epoxy to glue *flat* feet to the slate? That way you don\'t have to risk damaging the stone, or ruining a couple of drill bits.

 

[DaN]

Superglue will sufficiently glue small pieces of slate/shale to a bse - so I don\'t see why you can\'t simply superglue a figure to it either...

However - if you are using more porous rocks I would recommend using a thicker glue... But if the glue is light enough, then maybe even PVA would glue if sufficiently.

 

[Trevor]

Pin it, unless you never intend to handle the mini. Slate is soft enough to drill relatively easily, or you can make the base and cast it in resin (which has a number of advantages).

I quite often only cut part of the tab off the mini leaving little pegs, this was much easier when minis were made with the softer lead alloy.

 

[Torn blue sky]

Personally I wouldn\'t drill slate. Its most likely to just split! Glue or strong putty

 

[desertdragon1964]

O K guys maybe I am a bit odd here but seeing as I live in the limestone capitol of the world this seems to me a better way to do what your asking as this is what I have been doing.Slate is very soft and brittle so the easiest way to accomplish a great looking remakable base is to mould the slate in a silicone rubber two piece mould compound or a one piece latex rubber compound both are avaiable from most craft stores such as Hobby Lobby or Michaels craft store.Granted it is a little extra work but it is worth the effort when you can make a new base from the mould anytime you wish.Here is a picture of some of the ones I have made recently.

DD

 

[EArkham]

http://www.brushthralls.com/Slate/index.php



Kep

 

[MPJ]

Nice little tutorial you pointed to there Earkham. Nice looking slates they made, it has everything except how they actually attached the mini to the base.

 

[EArkham]

Then how about:

http://www.brushthralls.com/Bases/index.php

Kep

 

[demonherald]

pin is the way to go..
make sure you drill the pinning hole in the heel and up into the leg....
I used to do this after painting but now find it a lot better to do the whole thing before applying undercoat that way any splitting of slate or bending of feet doesn\'t damage precious paint work.

I generally position the model where I want it on the base first..Bend feet or fill slate with greenstuff so I get a nice natural stance (no floating feet)
Mark either side front and back of feet with paint or pencil on the slate..Put a short pin in the model then put a dab of red paint on thetip of this.. Use the pencil/paint marks to line up and put the pin incontact with the base leaving a mark for where to drill..

There are tiny sized masonry drill bits available and these are the best for drilling into slate.Just take your time and you should have no probs.

when attaching I prefer a longer pin and I use epoxy glue as it stops that white fumy thing that is great for looking for fingerprints but shit over painted feet.


While painting the model you can hold the longer pin in a pin vice or something siilar...

phew...that was a long one and seemslike a lot of work but it\'s pretty simple really..

good luck can\'t wait to see the results..