I always paint my bases last. I don't remember how or when I learned to do it like that, but I've always done it that way. Until now. I thought I'd try painting my base first to see what happens.
It always seemed like I had problems trying to get my base painted right around my model's feet. I couldn't get the paint in there on the textured base without getting it all over the model's foot. That or I had to leave a ring around his foot since I was too afraid to get close with my base color. Both results were not what I was looking for.
I thought if I could get the base painted first, it might be easier to paint the armour on the model's foot than it would be to do the base around it. Kind of like painting the recessed areas first and then the raised portions last when you could still get to them easily enough.
Turns out to be a pretty good idea. The only drawback now is that I have to be careful when painting the armour near the base so I don't get any paint on it, but that's the trade off I suppose.
Will it work for every model? I don't know, but I am going to try it a few more times to see how it works out.
Make sure to check out these posts as they might help:
Assembly: Standing on top of the base and not sinking in
How to hold your model while you paint it
What if you paint the model and base separately then glue them together when they're both done?
ReplyDeleteThen the model will easily fall of of the base because you would be gluing the paint together not the plastic.
Deletedont paint the bottem of the foot or were he will go
Deleteor simply pin it
Icchan: Whoa... way out of my league. I'd be afraid that I'd damage the model trying to attach it to the base when done.
ReplyDeleteUnless you have it all ready to go (already pinned) and all you have to do is drop it into place with a drop of superglue.
You see, I always paint the base last.
ReplyDeleteI often weather my guys fairly heavily, and actually like to have some of the base colour (dirt) on the guys boots..
so that's never worried me.. wheras, if theres any armour colour on the ground, thats an issue for me :
i'm usually neat enough now that paint getting where i dont want it is rare, but i will usually hit the feet with a very light airbrush of the base colour, on most models.
I can;t personally imagine a benefit to switching the order I paint model/base.
ofc if I'm r4eally concerned about it, I paint them seperately and glue em after..
still might be worth a try for the challenge..
I agree with Karitas... painting the bases last allows some of the base colour to get onto the models boots / feet. This helps to cement the model INTO the base, as opposed to looking like it's just been placed onto a base.
ReplyDeleteLike these. (At this point I realise that I need to take more pics and work on more infantry... I've got tank overload in my Gallery! lol
This works with sandy, dusty or muddy bases. If you are working with something like a metal space hulk style base then I might see the value of painting the base first...
HOWEVER, the problem then arises that you have to be very neat with the painting of the actual model! This can be tricky if you've got lots of drybrushing or washes to do!
Yup, I paint mine separately as well. Currant set up involves foot pins, set in the base and a hole drilled in the foot to attach to a metal rod to keep from touching the model while painting it. When done, detach and add to the base.
ReplyDeleteI would always paint the base last to allow me the "messy" jobs of washing/drybrushing without issue. Especially on "line trooper" models where the bases are likely fairly uniform.
ReplyDeleteThen I ended up doing a set of models where I wanted the bases to be unique for each. I primed the figure white and the base black, so I had to paint them separately. I learnt my lesson there - pin the model BEFORE painting it. I nearly destroyed it getting it onto the base.
I base coat the base first then paint the model, after the washes are applied the two are seamless.
ReplyDeleteThen I back in and finish the details on the base.
I suppose I do a mix of both methods, though I've not thought about it before.
Why not just mask the models feet with tape or sticky tack, while you paint the base, last?
ReplyDeleteI never attach a model to the base until both are complete. I paint them separately and then glue them together at the last step. afterwards I may use weathering powder on both, but that is just detailing. Sub assemblies in general make painting much easier. It also means you can bulk paint 20 or so bases at once, so the colors and detailing are consistent.
ReplyDeleteI'd say paint them separately. You could definitely do that for plastic models that don't need pinning. You might need pinning for the larger ones, but my metal marines stand well enough just superglued to the base. The only ones that have trouble are the running marines that only have one foot down.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the "paint them separately" camp. I mount the model on a pin in its foot, which I clamp into an old Dremel tool. It's a cheap battery-powered one that burned up, and is very easy on the hands. The soda caps I was using before were nice, but required some long-term squeezing that was hurting my hand after a long session.
ReplyDeleteJust after I assemble the model (and the glue is fully cured!), I set the model on the base, and trace lightly around its feet with a colored pencil. That's the "footprint" of the model (pun totally intended). I then know exactly where I can apply sand and rocks and such without messing up the model's positioning.
I used to glue sand very carefully around those areas, but since I read your article on using small pieces of thin plasticard under the models' feet, I do that instead. I cut a small rectangle of card, and glue it inside the footprints. I can then sand around that freely and not have to worry about gaps around the model's feet. When I'm ready, I just pull the pin out of the model's foot (a set of needlenose pliers and a quick twisting motion frees it from the superglue), apply a dot of glue on each plasticard piece, and set the model down carefully.
Of course, this is infinitely easier for models with big feet, like Marines and Guardsmen. I'm not sure how I'd fare attempting this with Dark Eldar or skeletons.
I paint bases first and models second as long as I can remember. I never got why you would want to paint bases last.
ReplyDeleteWhy not basecoat both model and base, and then touch up if one color slips onto the other?
ReplyDeleteI do what Krisken (pinning) and Tim (masking) do.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't actually play, I just buy a few 3-4 GW models through the year... I'm more into 54mm and up models with display bases. If I was to collect an army, I'm not sure in what order would I paint things.
I'm also a paint separately camper. I pre-pin the model to the base, and use those pins to hold the model to the painting pedestal, then I just 'unplug' the model from the pedestal, apply a drop of glue to the tips of each ping and 'plug' it into it's base.
ReplyDeleteGranted, I don't paint as much as I should, but it seems to work well. It also incidentally lets me use the model before its painting, though I would imagine a number of people wouldn't see that as a plus.
I've always painted the bases at an early stage in the process.
ReplyDelete1) Undercoat and basecoat Model
2) Add sand
3) Undercoat sand black (carefully) and then watery brown basecoat.
4) Add drybrushing to base with successive earthy tones.
5) Paint rest of model
6) Add static grass only at the very end - a kind of signature for "completed"
This has the advantage that messy stages (basecoating/drybrushing) can be done relatively quickly, while later neater stages such highlights and details dont get messed up during the basing. Also the static grass covers up and major splodges. I actually use the same approach for all drybrushing - after basecoat but before highlighting.
Wow, I didn't think I'd get this kind of feedback, thanks guys!
ReplyDeleteIt's actually quite interesting to see all of the different ways people go about doing it. There are so many subtle varieties to the process.
I do the same as inquisitor..
ReplyDelete1) Undercoat and basecoat Model
2) Add sand
3) Undercoat sand black (carefully) and then watery brown basecoat.
4) Add drybrushing to base with successive earthy tones.
5) Paint rest of model
6) Add static grass only at the very end - a kind of signature for "completed"
I always do the bases last and I usually do all of the models in a unit at the same time. There is something about doing the base last that signifies the end of the road for me. It's kinda like signing a piece of artwork when you're done. That's the last thing you do and it really brings the paint job out and finishes the look of the army. I think I'm too set in my ways (i.e. too weird and anal about it) to change anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteAs I'm airbrushing the basecoats and zenithal highlights on all my marines for this army, Base has to come last unless I feel like figuring out how to mask the bases.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, I always paint the bases first as I find it easier to correct any stray marks on the bases I do for my other armies (typically urban or volcanic ash) with the midtone of the base colour.
Also, as most of my bases have a drybrushing step in them, it's easier to do that (and messy washing etc.) first.
I'm a big fan of painting the base first exactly as you've done it here. You can drybrush with impunity, and just clean up the primer/undercoat of the model when you're done.
ReplyDeleteI like to basecoat the model's base fairly early. Usually I try to do it with the other basecoats. Personally, I find it makes it easier for me to see how the finished model will look to see it as part of its base. If I leave the base unpainted while painting the model it always looks really unfinished to me. Painting some of the base helps to better see how everything will fit together once it is finished.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I just posted about this last night! I like to model up the base prior to base coating as well. I find that priming it with the model also prevents some of the materials I uses from coming off during the painting process. Also I feel that the model isn't just the figure, it's the whole thing, even it's normally a radically contrasting color palette. In fact, that contrast is another reason to not paint it last, as a person could find one's self doing a lot of annoying touch-ups.
ReplyDeleteI paint mine separate. It allows for two things - if painting massed troops you can paint them faster and if painting stand out models you can put a lot more detail on the base and not worry about painting outside the lines.
ReplyDeleteFor my last force (White Scars) I painted the bases first... this was because I wanted to work the same dusty shades up through the armour as dust in the grooves and as stains... the best way to do that was to do the base first. I also helped answer some questions when I painted the model as to the colour palette to use, as I often wanted the browns to complement the dusty looking bases.
ReplyDelete