Painting bases, before or after adding the model?

[War Angel]

I'm finishing up 20 bases that Im making for two tactical squads, and I'm debating glueing the models on before I prime the lot. The issue I've foreseen is difficulty painting either the base itself, or in messing up the model while painting the base.

 

Am I being a baby about this or am I correct in thinking it wrong to glue together before finishing?

 

Ps. The bases are rubble with variations in heights

[Kierdale]

If the base is going to be relatively flat and won't affect leg/foot positioning them I'll probably build the miniature first and then the base, but not glue it onto the base. I drill a hole in one or both heels and put pins in (of course drilling holes in the base where the pin will slot). Then paint them separately, with the miniature stuck atop a cork. Once both are done then I'd glue the miniature in place and, as necessary, weather both with powders at the same time.

 

If the base is going to affect limb positioning then it's a lot of dry fitting. I'd probably build the base first, constantly keeping in mind what pose I want and the dimensions of the mini (hence a lot of dry fitting and testing. You might think the marine's leg is this long then later realize it's not...). Then build the miniature (either after or concurrently) and again paint them separately.

 

All too often I've glued the mini to the base at the start and later a wrong brushstroke has put paint from one onto the other.

Cue harsh language.

 

Best to be patient and not rush the job.

[Jacinda]

I always paint first and then base.

 

I have a set of wooden dowels, about 6" long and 1/4" thick, and I glue the model onto that by one foot while painting.

On my painting desk I have a 2X4 about 12" long with holes drilled in it that I use to stand the dowels up.

 

For bases, I use resin cast bases and again, put them on short dowels for painting only the bases use 1/2" dowels about 2" long and they can stand up on their own.

 

Depending on what I am working on, I will paint and flock bases in batches. When a model is finished and ready for basing I pick one from the batch and pin the model to it. All this works well for plastic infantry. Terminators don't like to stay on the painting dowels so I glue them onto 25mm slota bases that I break off and throw away after they are finished. Metal figs often need to be pinned to the dowel and large models are just to unwieldy to put on a stick like that.

 

Anyway, that's how I do it. i know a lot of people put the model on the base first, prime the whole thing and paint the model letting any drops or smears that wind up on the base stay until the end. Then, a layer of Chaos Black Abbadon Black over the base and it's ready for paint, sand and flock like normal. And honestly, it's not like my way is easier to paint or anything, I just like having a handle to hold them with. It's a hold over from painting 15mm figs for other games.

[War Angel]

Thanks for the different perspectives

[Peredyne]

For me, I prefer building the entire model (including the base), then doing my base treatment, then painting the whole thing. My base treatment is a thin layer of Liquitex resin sand texture gel. Once that dries, I can primer as normal and paint the whole thing. I tend to paint to gaming standard. Does it look good from gaming distance? Yes. Can you see the flaws close up? Yes you can. Do I really care? They'e toy soldiers and a hobby, not the way I make a living so I can let minor mistakes slide.