SHIP BASING TUTORIAL

As promised I am going to tell how I based my ships.

Step 1:  Materials

For bases, I use the thick card that come the last in an A4 pages bookbind. You can ask in the shop for them if they sell them separately (or just ask them to have some blank pages bookbinded then get thick card for the basses.

The thick card has the advantage of being easy to cut but you have to be carefull and prevent it to get wet in the wrong zone such as the edges, because it can bend. The other alternative is plasticard but I did not use that.

besides the thick card for the ship's base you will need: green stuff, PVA glue, filler and super glue.

The tools required: some pincers, scissors and a cutter (or modelling knife)

Step 2: Adjusting the base size

Use the model to get the desired size for the base. Some models may require a base larger than usual if for example have metal sails that can cause the ship to be accientally knocked over the side easily.

Step 3: Glue the ship to the base

For this step you will need both the PVA glue and the Super glue. The first will be doing the main gluing and the second will hold the ship in place because it dries fasther. Otherwise, if you only use PVA, the ship can "move away" while drying,  and if you only use superglue the ship can be easily rip off from the base in an accident.

In order to use the superglue correctly, just add two little drops at the prow and the aft of the ship's bottom. Wait some seconds and then let the PVA dry. Make sure you center the ship in the base before pushing it onto the base!

Step 4: Adding the waves, part 1

Take a bit of green stuff and place it next to the hull, where the hull "cuts" the waves. Make sure the ammount of green stuff is not too much to give it a realistic look. Once it is nex to the hull separate it from it a bit with the modelling knife and shape it into a "rising wave" from the prow of the ship.

At the aft of the ship, add the "trailing waves" with green stuff too, and shape it them with the knife until you think they look OK.

Some ships may have complex patterns of trailing and cutting waves.

Step 5: Adding the waves, part 2

Let's add some texture to the base, so it can be drybrushed a bit later on. You will need the filler this time and the pincers (and some water). Make sure you also have something to dry the thick card because if the water gets to its edges it may bend if you don't dry those edges often.

First use your fingers to extend the filler, but do not approach too much to the model. Use the pincers and the modelling knife to extend the filler towards the hull, to avoid touching the model with the fingers and removing some detail from it! If you touch the model accidentally wait for it to dry and remove it with a modelling knife.

Finally you may add some detail with the pincers (more waves) if you want.

All that is left is is to wait until the filler dries, and here you go! the base is ready for painting. I usually add a base coat to the model and its base. I also paint more waves to the base, and if you want how I paint the  model wait for the next tutorial ! ;-)

Hope you liked it!

Dan