Basing
One of the reasons I started this blog was as a repository for all the scraps of paper that constituted my notes/research for this project. This post is, therefore, a blatant example of a note from me, to me. It is an attempt to save myself having to go and measure bases every time I want to order some more.
Basing is a bugbear of many gamers: rulesets are often very specific as to the number of figures to bases ratios, and base sizes. I can see the point for competition gaming, or gaming against a number of regular opponents. As I don't do any of that sort of nonsense, and provide both sides, as long as I am consistent there isn't really a problem.
All my bases are Warbases premier 2mm thick bases. Sabot/movement trays (2mm top layer) and casualty markers are also from Warbases.
Bases are finished using a variety of muddy brown paint/grit mixes, then adorned with Antenocitis' DecorPlus gamer static grass and a variety of tufts from MiniNatur (short tufts codes beginning 717-xxx). There are also a few cork chipping boulders thrown in for good measure. Recently discovered Gale Force 9 spring undergrowth which I am now a big fan of, slowly adding it to my already ''finished" bases.
For a while I was particularly taken with using Citadel Stirland Battle Mud (not Stirland Battlemire, which is really thick and paste like) textured basing paint (in other words mud brown paint with a drop of PVA and some grit in it). What I like about it is the all in one go bit of adding texture and colour. What I don't like is the price. So now I make my own with Miniatures Paint chestnut brown, some GF9 fine grit and a drop or two of PVA. The Citadel texture spatula is brilliant for putting it on, as both the Citadel and my version wears brushes out too quickly.
I want my armies to look like those represented by Streeter. Particularly my regiments of foot, which has led to thirty four man regiments (16 musket, 12 pike, 2 halberdiers, 2 officers, a drummer and a standard bearer). These are based in 4s on 40mm x 15mm bases (halberdiers have a base each), 12 bases fit a 120mm x 60mm sabot/movement tray (two are blanks to fill in spaces).
Firelocks: are based four figures to a 40mm x 15mm base, 6 bases fit a 120mm x 30mm sabot/movement tray, giving 24 men to a unit. These are my only units not to have a standard, they do however have an officer and a drummer.
Dragoons are represented on foot. There are 12 fighting men based individually on penny sized bases, these fit two 3 x 2 penny sabot/movement trays. Rather than having a token representative horse holder I decided to have 1:1 horses to men; one horse holder has three horses on a 40mm x 40mm base (of which there are six bases per unit); and a command stand of mounted officer, mounted standard bearer, drummer on foot and his empty horse again based on 40mm x 40mm. This gives a 21 man unit.
Cavalry is based on 60mm x 30mm bases, four horsemen to a base and 16 men to a unit; one stand having a trooper, officer, trumpeter and standard.
I currently field three different sizes of artillery pieces: light guns are based on 40mm x 40mm, medium on 40mm x 50mm, and heavy guns on 40mm x 60mm bases. Light guns have two horse limbers on 30mm x 70mm, medium and heavy guns have four horse limbers based upon 30mm x 80mm bases. Scots frame guns are on 40mm x 30mm, with their pack horses on 30mm x 40mm.
Siege parties: grenadiers are based on penny sized bases, petard teams on 30mm diameter bases. A custom movement tray accepts two petard teams and two grenadiers.
Siege engineers: based on penny sized bases, with a 4 × 2 movement tray.
Command stands: individual generals are based on 30mm diameter bases, commanders in chief are based with a personal standard bearer on 50mm diameter bases. Second in commands are identified by having a dog. Each side also has a preacher based on penny sized base.
Baggage train: my convention here is two wheeled carts on 30mm x 60mm, and four wheeled carts on 30mm x 80mm. I've added some suitable marching figures alongside my carts, superfluous I know but makes them look nice.
Every unit has a casualty marker (40mm style A), complete with dead person.
Civilians: are based upon round bases, individuals on penny sized, small groups on 30mm diameter, and vignettes on 50mm diameter bases.
Clubmen: are based four figures to a 40mm x 15mm base, 6 bases fit a 120mm x 30mm sabot/movement tray, giving 24 men to a unit. Command is separate from units (to help give them an unorganised look) a drummer, standard bearer, a random citizen and a preacher share a 40mm diameter base.
On the underside of the bases there is an identification code system: this is purely so I know which base goes with which unit.
The top right corner has a faction colour code: Parliament is orange, Royalists are red, Solemn League and Covenant are blue, and clubmen are white. I have a sneaky feeling that Montrose and some Irish Confederates might come along at some point...
The unit name is written on movement trays or command stands, and a unique unit code is added: e.g. RF4 Royalist Foot regiment 4, PA Parliamentarian Artillery, SLCF2 Solemn League and Covenant Foot regiment 2.
This example is Parliamentarian foot regiment #3, which is Colonel Charles Fairfax's regiment.
Basing is a bugbear of many gamers: rulesets are often very specific as to the number of figures to bases ratios, and base sizes. I can see the point for competition gaming, or gaming against a number of regular opponents. As I don't do any of that sort of nonsense, and provide both sides, as long as I am consistent there isn't really a problem.
All my bases are Warbases premier 2mm thick bases. Sabot/movement trays (2mm top layer) and casualty markers are also from Warbases.
Bases are finished using a variety of muddy brown paint/grit mixes, then adorned with Antenocitis' DecorPlus gamer static grass and a variety of tufts from MiniNatur (short tufts codes beginning 717-xxx). There are also a few cork chipping boulders thrown in for good measure. Recently discovered Gale Force 9 spring undergrowth which I am now a big fan of, slowly adding it to my already ''finished" bases.
For a while I was particularly taken with using Citadel Stirland Battle Mud (not Stirland Battlemire, which is really thick and paste like) textured basing paint (in other words mud brown paint with a drop of PVA and some grit in it). What I like about it is the all in one go bit of adding texture and colour. What I don't like is the price. So now I make my own with Miniatures Paint chestnut brown, some GF9 fine grit and a drop or two of PVA. The Citadel texture spatula is brilliant for putting it on, as both the Citadel and my version wears brushes out too quickly.
I want my armies to look like those represented by Streeter. Particularly my regiments of foot, which has led to thirty four man regiments (16 musket, 12 pike, 2 halberdiers, 2 officers, a drummer and a standard bearer). These are based in 4s on 40mm x 15mm bases (halberdiers have a base each), 12 bases fit a 120mm x 60mm sabot/movement tray (two are blanks to fill in spaces).
Firelocks: are based four figures to a 40mm x 15mm base, 6 bases fit a 120mm x 30mm sabot/movement tray, giving 24 men to a unit. These are my only units not to have a standard, they do however have an officer and a drummer.
Dragoons are represented on foot. There are 12 fighting men based individually on penny sized bases, these fit two 3 x 2 penny sabot/movement trays. Rather than having a token representative horse holder I decided to have 1:1 horses to men; one horse holder has three horses on a 40mm x 40mm base (of which there are six bases per unit); and a command stand of mounted officer, mounted standard bearer, drummer on foot and his empty horse again based on 40mm x 40mm. This gives a 21 man unit.
Cavalry is based on 60mm x 30mm bases, four horsemen to a base and 16 men to a unit; one stand having a trooper, officer, trumpeter and standard.
I currently field three different sizes of artillery pieces: light guns are based on 40mm x 40mm, medium on 40mm x 50mm, and heavy guns on 40mm x 60mm bases. Light guns have two horse limbers on 30mm x 70mm, medium and heavy guns have four horse limbers based upon 30mm x 80mm bases. Scots frame guns are on 40mm x 30mm, with their pack horses on 30mm x 40mm.
Siege parties: grenadiers are based on penny sized bases, petard teams on 30mm diameter bases. A custom movement tray accepts two petard teams and two grenadiers.
Siege engineers: based on penny sized bases, with a 4 × 2 movement tray.
Command stands: individual generals are based on 30mm diameter bases, commanders in chief are based with a personal standard bearer on 50mm diameter bases. Second in commands are identified by having a dog. Each side also has a preacher based on penny sized base.
Baggage train: my convention here is two wheeled carts on 30mm x 60mm, and four wheeled carts on 30mm x 80mm. I've added some suitable marching figures alongside my carts, superfluous I know but makes them look nice.
Every unit has a casualty marker (40mm style A), complete with dead person.
Civilians: are based upon round bases, individuals on penny sized, small groups on 30mm diameter, and vignettes on 50mm diameter bases.
Clubmen: are based four figures to a 40mm x 15mm base, 6 bases fit a 120mm x 30mm sabot/movement tray, giving 24 men to a unit. Command is separate from units (to help give them an unorganised look) a drummer, standard bearer, a random citizen and a preacher share a 40mm diameter base.
On the underside of the bases there is an identification code system: this is purely so I know which base goes with which unit.
The top right corner has a faction colour code: Parliament is orange, Royalists are red, Solemn League and Covenant are blue, and clubmen are white. I have a sneaky feeling that Montrose and some Irish Confederates might come along at some point...
The unit name is written on movement trays or command stands, and a unique unit code is added: e.g. RF4 Royalist Foot regiment 4, PA Parliamentarian Artillery, SLCF2 Solemn League and Covenant Foot regiment 2.
This example is Parliamentarian foot regiment #3, which is Colonel Charles Fairfax's regiment.
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