How to Base Miniatures

To base miniatures, glue a textured ground layer onto the base, let it set, then add rocks, grass and tufts on top to finish the scene. A set like the Army Painter Battlefields Basing Set holds the glue and six materials in one box, so you can finish a base the same evening you finish the model.

Why should you base miniatures at all?

A model stands on its base for the whole game, and a bare plastic disc pulls the eye away from your paint job. A finished base ties the figure to the table and tells the story of where the army fights: green summer fields, swamp, rocky ground or snow. It also gives every model in a unit the same finish, which is what makes a group of figures read as one army.

What are the steps to base a miniature?

1. Glue down a ground layer. Brush glue onto the base and press the ground cover into it. The Army Painter set is designed around exactly this order: glue first, then ground cover, then the rest.
2. Add rocks. Place a few pieces of rock into the wet glue while it is still workable.
3. Build up grass and undergrowth. Field grass and undergrowth go on next, and mixing the materials in different ways lets each army carry its own look.
4. Finish with tufts. Tufts go on last as the focal points. AK Interactive tufts are self adhesive: lift one with tweezers and press it onto the base, then add a tiny amount of white glue or AK118 Gravel and Sand Fixer so the joint holds firmly.

Should you use texture paste, sand or a basing kit?

All three do the same job, a rough surface to paint or to hold the details, and the choice is about control.

• Basing kit. The Army Painter Battlefields Basing Set is the one box answer: it includes a 50ml bottle of Battlefields Basing Glue, Brown Battleground, Battlefield Rocks, a 35 piece Swamp Tuft pack, Summer Undergrowth, Battlefield Field Grass and Battlefield Snow. It is the easiest first purchase for a whole army.
• Texture paste. AK Interactive Neutral Texture for Rough Terrain is a 250ml acrylic base product with no set color. You tint it with the acrylic color you want, mix it in well and apply it. It works in thin or thick layers, and you can dilute it with water or an acrylic thinner to improve its flow, so one jar can match the ground of several different armies.
• Loose materials. Rocks, grass and moss on their own let you build a scene from scratch. AK's Green Mossy Texture, for example, is made for damp woodland moss on terrain at 25 to 35mm scale and above.

Which glue should you use for basing?

A white PVA glue is the standard choice for loose materials, and the Army Painter set already includes a bottle of its Battlefields Basing Glue. For bigger jobs, AK Interactive Wolverine P.V.A. Glue is a high viscosity white glue with a drying accelerator. It spreads smoothly, thins with water to the consistency the job needs, and reaches a full cure in about 6 hours depending on temperature and thickness. For moss, AK says to brush on a mix of water and PVA glue first, then sprinkle the moss over it.

Which tufts should you start with?

Match the tuft to the story of the army. AK Interactive sells self adhesive 6mm tufts in different grass types, and the range is made to be mixed: pick the type each scene calls for and combine tufts to vary a base. Mixed Green Tufts suit a lush field, and Dry Tufts bring in patches of dry grass for dusty ground.

When should you paint the base?

Basing after the figure is painted keeps glue and grit off the model while you work. If you use a texture paste, tint it in the jar so the ground already has a color, then add rocks and tufts on top. Once everything is dry, you can protect the finished surface with a coat from our guide to how to varnish miniatures.

Everything for the bench lives in our paint and hobby supplies. If you are still setting up, our first miniature paint kit guide lists what to start with, and how to prime miniatures covers the step before the paint.