Introduction

After doing the hobby for a couple of years now, one of the areas that I keep trying to improve on is the 'Miniatures Base.' The next miniature I had lined up for painting was 'Heroes of Helm's Deep - Aragorn.' This is what I came up with for his base... hope you enjoy !

Materials Used

1 x Dark Age 50mm Base
Hirst Arts Basic Brick Mould #40
Plaster of Paris
1 x Siege Ladder
1 x Heroes of Helm's Deep Aragorn
Super Glue Gel
Modelling Knife
Ruler

Paints Used

Foundry - Spearshaft 13A
Foundry - Spearshaft 13B
Foundry - Spearshaft 13C
Foundry - Granite 31A
Foundry - Granite 31B
Foundry - Granite 31C
Games Workshop - Chaos Black

Step 01

The first step was to select the type of base I was going to use. I only ever use Dark Age Bases now, and needed one that would be big enough to create the scene. A 50mm base was selected.

Step 02

Next, I want to create a portion of the wall from Helm's Deep. To do this, I used a Hirst Arts Basic Brick Mould. A mixture of Plaster of Paris was mixed to the consistency of 'Pancake Mix.'

I only required about 4 bricks, therefore the plaster was placed into a few select bricks on the mould.

The Plaster was left to dry for 45 minutes. Once dry, the bricks were removed from the mould.

Step 03

Next, the bricks were placed into the desired order.

Although the bricks when cast have a textured pattern, the pattern does not fit into the feel on Helm's Deep. Therefore, I started to carve a 'Brick' pattern into each block.

This was achieved simply by using a ruler and scouring the brick with a modelling knife.

This process continued until the desired effect had been achieved.

Step 04

Next, the ladder needed to be prepared.

Using a left over Siege Ladder from a previous project, the ladder was cut exactly 3 rungs below the top-most past.

The Ladder section and the Wall section were then basecoated with Chaos Black, in preparation for painting.

Step 05

The next part was to finish the base structure. I decided to leave the base as it was for where the ladder was to be attached, to create a sense of depth below the ladder.

However, the other side was a different story, this needed to reflect a stone pathway as would be expected on that side of the wall.

Another mixture of Plaster of Paris was prepared.

This again was mixed to the consistency of Pancake Mix. The mix was poured into only one side of the base. As soon as the mix had levelled off, the wall section was placed into the mix.

This was left to dry for 2 hours. Once dry, using the same technique used on the wall, slabs were carved into the plaster.

Once this had been done, the entire piece was basecoated with Chaos Black.

Step 06

Next, the ladder's metal parts were basecoated with 'Tin Bitz.' Once this had dried, the metal parts were Dry-Brushed with 'Boltgun Metal.'

The next part was to paint the Wooden Parts of the Ladder. This was achieved by firstly base-coating all Wooden Parts with 'Foundry - Spearshaft 13A.' Once this had dried, thin intermittent stripes were painted horizontally along each rung of the ladder with 'Foundry - Spearshaft 13B.' This process was repeated again with 'Foundry - Spearshaft 13C.'

Step 07

The next part was to paint the wall sections. For this, Foundry ' Granite 31A, B & C' were Dry-Brushed onto the wall sections.

Step 08

The Ladder was attached to wall section using Super-Glue Gel. Glue was placed at the bottom of each foot of the Ladder, but also placed where the Ladder would meet the Wall section.

And that's about it !

Very simple to create and many of the materials used can be substituted for other products.

Hope you enjoyed the article, I'll leave you with the finished scene.

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