I use fine play sand. $6 for 50 lbs. More than i will ever need. Also, you could just drill a hole in plasticard to sink the "mini-bases"

Correct. GW bases are 2mm thick, so a .040"/1mm base and a second 1mm sheet with 1/4" holes drilled or punched in it is perfect.

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SG

Ghost's Paint Blog, where everything goes that isn't something else.

There is a guy in Australia that makes it so we are well supplied here for once. Not sure on the viability of it being shipped overseas however.

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Frogbear is responsible for...
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i paint all my bases first with graveyard earth , then i flock with a mix of woodland scenics flocks, ad some small sand/ crushed rock paint and then heavy ink around the rock areas to meld it into the flock so its not a sharp transistion between the two.

Heres a pic of som prety standard basing for me, but everyone has there own methods and preffered looks / tastes etc.



Cheers

Tim NZ

The GZG bases are my "weapon of choice" for any figures with round bases these days; Available in five, four three or two hole versions, and with some random arrangement in the higher numbered types, they are ready textured and while they look good with just a green matt paint, a bit of flock makes them look excellent. No Napoleonic line or squares here for squads!

For other types of basing like strip troops, I'm going to try using hand-cut squares of styrene, doubling a 1mm sheet, then sinking holes by melting the plastic, inserting the troop base into the melt holes and flocking them.

Why melting and not a 1/4" drill bit? What advantages do you find it has?

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SG

Ghost's Paint Blog, where everything goes that isn't something else.

A drill will make a round hole, which works for round-based minis, but for the strip troops( Those moulded in a row that are cut off, the classic 6mm infantry style many historical manufacturers use) which have a square or rectangular base, that leaves an uneven depression in a round hole that needs extra filing; So, by heating a metal shape such as a screwdriver and melting a hole more exactly to shape it makes a more even insertion.

Will put up a few pictures as I proceed if you like

this is an interesting idea, id be like to see some pics

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AFK with real life, still checking PMs

To texture bases i use Vallejo white pumice (the white grainy thick paint in a big pot); it works well for me because I don't have to fiddle around with glue and sand (since I'm pretty clumsy, this usually ends up with a beach in my living room).
When basing smaller models, I usually apply it with a toothpick, to make sure not to cover the feet; should I make a mistake, it's usually easy to remove, though, since it dries slightly rubbery.
Hope this helps!

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https://www.shapeways.com/shops/Armand

It's possible to buy 1mm thick and 2mm thick cork sheets, which provide another way of approaching the counter-sinking problem.

Pre-mixed wall filler (Polyfilla in the UK) is great stuff for wasteland, mud or sand type bases. There's also a pumice in resin mix you can get from railway or modelling shops that works lovely for a coarser texture. And mixing sand with pva gives a less granular texture than just straight sand.

(I'm also a bit of a fan of doing a base without having bits moult off it...)