Wanted to get started on that urban battlefield but unsure how to base your troops to match? Warlorder Tom has a fantastic little tutorial on making street bases.
I’ve been thinking about starting a new Bolt Action army for a little while now. With the release of the Academy of Street Fighting last month, I’ve finally taken the plunge and bought some Soviets for a Stalingrad-themed force, composed of veteran infantry and local partisans.
To blend this army in with their urban environment, I had to make some custom bases.
Materials
To make these bases, you’ll need:
- A modelling knife/scalpel
- Milliput/Modelling Putty
- A small textured stone
- Bases
Step 1: Scoring
To make sure the Milliput adheres to your plastic or MDF base, you’ll need to score it using your modelling knife. Create a crosshatched pattern by cutting lines at right angles into the flat surface of the base.
Step 2: Apply Putty
Follow the directions on the putty’s packaging, mixing a small quantity together and forming it into a ball. Use wetted fingers to squish this onto the base, removing any excess with your knife until the whole surface is covered. If you’ve left fingerprints in the putty, smooth them out using a wetted fingertip.
I’ve found that using lipped bases makes this process easier, as you have something to push the putty against when smoothing it out.
Step 3: Apply Texture
Next, take your small stone and gently press it into the putty, rotating the base and changing the part of the stone pressed into the putty until the whole area is textured.
Step 4: Define Flagstones
Using your modelling knife, gently press the blade into the putty, creating a pattern of intersecting lines to recreate paving slabs. You can widen these lines by wiggling it from side to side. Use a wetted finger to smooth down any protrusions.
Step 5: Attach Model and Paint
Wait for the putty to cure (these directions should be printed on the packaging) then use super glue to affix your model to the base. Depending on the type of model, you may have to clip and file away the cast base on the bottom.
Once the glue has dried, you can paint the base and miniature.
Keep an eye on the newsletter for a follow-up article on painting and decorating your newly-sculpted street bases!
Join the Fight!
Explore the blasted ruins of Stalingrad with our fantastic Bolt Action miniatures!
Dan Hewitson
Max Ayson