Definitely a great topic for sure! Personally, I like a simple base to showcase my build, either it be an aircraft or armor piece(tarmac e/wheel chokes, boarding ladder, grassy field w/some bushes or weeds ect).
Yes, it may be simple but it brings the subject to life to a degree as it’ll be in its “element”.
I think I’ve only done one or two vinettes and as for a diorama, maybe soon lol.
I have a feeling doing a diorama will take me just as long, if not longer to buiid then then said build itself.
Getting back to the vinette, I was always told that the vinette featured a said vehicle(optional) and one figure that told a simple story and I’ve read a few articlesalong the way with essentially the same explanation.
But when you look at IPMS/USAs definition, it features one vehicle and up to 5 figures, no more. It essentially takes a diorama as a whole and brings a small yet critical part into focus.
Mind you the single vehicle(optional) and a figure explaination goes back almost 25 years ago when I heard it explained at my LHS.
Here are a few of my builds with simple yet effective bases.
Speaking of bases, I was doing some cleaning in the dungeon and I found an FSM magazine from May 2015.
Can’t believe that it was 10 years ago this month that I did an article about doing bases, titled " Display Base Basics".
It was fun doing that article and with that being said, for my next build, whether it be an aircraft or armor piece, I’m going to have to do a diorama! But wait, that means I have to paint figures… Haha
Expand my horizon…
I really love that Marder III! What company is that one? I haven’t really done any armor models, but I’ve always liked German TDs & SPGs, so I’m interested in picking one up sometime.
Thank you thank you! That’s Tamiya’s offering in 1/48th.
Its a gem of a kit and I enjoyed building it!
Butz, your Universal Carrier also looks fantastic! Is that the “Vintage” Tamiya kit?
Butz, I like it that your bases are “almost too small”. It is a concept that I think is better than a huge base with a model lost somewhere inside. Plus it takes up less space.
I have only ever made a few simple bases, but I’d like to get more into doing them. A friend makes awesome groundwork, so I am constantly inspired.
When it comes to bases I have personally felt that they need to add to the model and not try and overwhelm the model. That is to say, less is more when it comes to basing for models. Something simple, with minimal additional work, is preferable to something extravagant. Similarly the size should be just right for the model, not too big and not too small. The size of the base should not cause the model to “disappear” into the base, and should not be so small that the model does not fit on it. All this being said, a simple wood plaque that has been stained will work for almost every model regardless of subject matter.
The exception to this is when you are doing a diorama. Here the base size and shape should help with the story telling of the scene. Given the broadness of this, and the many different ideas and can be done there are not any set rules or even guidelines, as each one is going to be unique and require it’s own individual attention.
In all cases though I do highly recommend adding felt feet stickers, the things you put under furniture to not scratch wood floors, as they make moving things around a lot easier.
It’s extremely rare, if ever, that I make a base for my models. The only base I want to make for the forseeable future is an airfield tarmac base for a B-2 stealth bomber diorama I have planned, but make the tarmac as if it was at an arctic base somewhere.
I’m primarily a figure modeler and have been making bases for years. My rule of thumb is, Keep It Simple, Stupid. The base should give an impression of the subject’s location without overwhelming it. Think of the bases that came with the Aurora monster models; they enhanced and supported the figures and nothing more. Sure, I’ve added groundwork to them, blanked off the hollow backs of vertical elements like Frankenstein’s headstone, and mounted them on wood craft plaques, but that’s all they required. For other figure models, I’ve had to get more creative. In the process, I’ve broken my own rule many times - and tended to regret doing it.
As a general thing, I make each base to fit each model. However, I recently created a base on which to display 5 busts as a collection. The base can be taken apart for ease of transportation. Therefore, the busts aren’t permanently attached to the base. That will make it possible for me to compete with a different set of busts sometime in the future.
Yes basing Models put them in context ,.Many Contexts ,…depending on how Imaginative you are ,.been doing it for years ,.Using photographs is the way to go,.it is all there in front you,.or you can use something you have seen to create your own version of the scene,. what normally stops people from basing models are the Human Element ,. Us,. the Figure that really bring the piece into true perspective,. Model On,.
Thank you so much @MR_TOM_SCHRY ! Actually its Tamiya’s newer offering in 1/48th which came out a handful of years ago.
It would be really nice to see Tamiya bring out the Universal Carrier as an all new told kit. I’d be down to buiid one for sure in 1/35th.
I have to admit that this conversation around bases is persuading me to consider a first attempt at one. Specifically for the Ma.K. Falke I am currently working on.
Thank you @Tim_Kidwell1 for creating this topic and all the participants for their input and insight to it!
Yes, you found it! Still can’t believe it was 10 years ago!
If memory serves me, I worked with Mr Shaw in reagrds to editting and such.
Glad that I had the opportunity! Thank you for sharing it!
Kelly Shaw! That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. Long time.
I didn’t initially, but I found even a simple vignette to put the vehicle in contact with the ground, even if only marginally bigger than the footprint of the vehicle does wonders to put the vehicle in a particular time and place.
After my last model kit purchase offered very little in the way of provenance, I had resolved going forward that the model having some basis in an actual unit and knowing where the unit saw action with the vehicle in question is important to me. I will say the need to do a bit of research to confirm questionable provenance has been an interesting exercise on its own. Of course there’s always the option of custom or third-party unit markings and applying a specific paint scheme, but I’d like to think the kit model would have some historical basis or inspiration.
Once the unit, time and place of your model has been established then a base helps to reinforce that idea, whether it was operating in a summer field, a sandy desert, a spring/autumn quagmire or a winter warzone - It also gives you strong hint of the environment from which any mud, dust or other weathering has come which enhances the credibility of that weathering
I too am surprised that I even remembered the name!
So, after looking at it a couple dozen times, I just noticed the pun in the post title. I assume it was on purpose. Well played, Tim. lol
I am a firm believer in “he who would pun would pick a pocket.” However, I also recognize the value of letting people know that it costs Santa nothing to park his sleigh because it’s on the house. Inspiration for a model with a figure and a tidy base right there, don’t you think?
A diorama of Santa getting pickpocketed while parked on a house roof?