Squidmar is here again with another one of his great tutorials! Check out how to base your miniatures with these 3 things you can get for free!
Squidmar’s channel is rapidly growing due to his great tutorials ranging from full-scale models to tips, even to practical physics! This time around he slows down the pace and takes a minute to help teach us how we might make better bases for our models!
He breaks down each concept/material so let’s see what he has to say about where to get each, and their costs in the video below (Be sure to subscribe to Squidmar Miniatures YouTube channel for more tutorials).
3 Free Things To Base Your Miniatures With!
Cork
A lot of people use cork as rocks, but Squidmar suggests we use it slightly differently. Go the extra mile, make platforms, really build up the scene! If you don’t carefully clean the edges of cork it will just look like painted cork, not rocks.
Cork Bark
Unlike regular cork, Cork Bark can be made to look like rocks pretty easily. This material is often the same used in fish tanks and aquarium decorations, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find.
Roots
Any roots and shrubs you can find outside are perfect for trees on your minis, just make sure they are fully dried before you try to use them.
Sticks and Toothpicks
Lots of small wood objects are great for hobbying, here Squidmar uses popsicle sticks and a pen to make it look like wood planks from a bridge.
Terrain Bits
Pretty self-explanatory here extra terrain bits are great options when you are thinking about your bases.
Sand
This one is relatively straight forward, as you can use it to texture the floor of your base! If you want to get creative you can also use it to hide seams on your terrain bits.
Coconut Fibres
Coconut fibers can be used like sand to create texture, and you can also use it with your glue if something is having trouble staying on.
Tuft
Tuft is also great if you can try to get 3 different sizes as this plant life can give it some super serious depth and bring the scene to life.
Water
Water texture is a little more unique, as you really do need to buy it from a maker, but there are plenty of options, you just need to choose one.
XPS Foam
XPS Foam has a bunch of potential uses, for example making brick patterns. An added bonus is that it’s super cheap to pick up a bunch of.
Plastic Plants
Similarly to the Cork Bark, these fake plants can work, you just need to be cautious about the size as they can look massive next to a mini.
Pigments
Lastly, there are Pigments. A lot of the previous materials you need to be cautious about size, but with pigments they are almost always perfect for ground textures!
Squidmar Miniatures is a great place to learn all kinds of hobby techniques! Be sure to subscribe to Squidmar Miniatures YouTube channel for more tutorials.
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About the Author: Andrew Schrank
Andrew Schrank
Job Title: Miniatures & Warhammer Hobby Staff Writer
Socials: Facebook
About Andrew Schrank: Over the past 15 years, Andrew has played all the games, including tabletop and video games, and immersed himself in the associated lore. Andrew joined the Spikey Bits team in 2018 and covers the Warhammer hobby and tournament scene, along with the latest in tabletop miniatures, each week.
Aspiring diplomat, Lord of Fluff, and Master of Ice Hammer, He loves Star Wars, Chaos Undivided, and Gundam. During his free time, he hunts Platinum trophies on PS5 and reads international news. On weekends, Andrew plays commander and cEDH games, often with unique strategies that push the limits.
He believes each day presents a new opportunity to grow and be challenged.
