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 Battledmire 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.
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 and Solemn League and Covenant are blue. 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 Battledmire 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.
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 and Solemn League and Covenant are blue. 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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