How to Make a Swamp Base for Miniatures

[@razornz007]

"I'm rambling, getting a little too artsy". This is art, Jeff. You're an artist. This is great work and you should be proud. I know people say mean shit and it makes us stifle our enthusiasm for the things that put a spark in our eye, but just remember that they suck for doing that, and they're also wrong.

[@EngineerJeff]

Thanks Feckless!

[@razornz007]

Np, keep being awesome

[@lund5869]

That's right!!

[@McMooseman1980]

Best swamp base tutorial I have seen. This was truly excellent. Thank you!

[@markt.3685]

Great video, well worth the watch, thank you!

[@ben2061james]

Huge fan. Thanks!

[@quixoticpuma]

This is my favorite basing video I’ve ever found. I’ve used the same method to make scenic ocean bases and swamp bases. You just change up the colors.

[@MikeSpicyWinner]

These bases would look amazing on my Malifaux Zoraida crew, Thank you!

[@mateoej]

Awesome tutorial, I watched it at X1.75 speed

[@trevorbrown7039]

3 Years past the post date, and these bases really made my Tau army pop on the tabletop. Thank you so much!!!!

[@nathanhaslam817]

I'm stumbling upon this vid over 2 years after it was uploaded, as I prep some swamp bases of my own, and it's the best water effect vid that I have found.

[@EngineerJeff]

Thanks Nathan! I have more basing videos qued up for editing coming soon.

[@stringstorm]

I dont even do miniatures. I'm just here because its so chill.

[@EngineerJeff]

Thanks StringStorm. I'm easy like Sunday morning, yeah.

[@fenris78uk]

These are beautiful and I am definitely going to try making some :)

[@austinwoodward9442]

This is just as comfy and informative as a Bob Ross video

[@crazyfool010]

Austin Woodward was just gonna put this and it’s the top comment 😂

[@NewSquallor]

Still one of the best videos for this technique out there. Looks great.

[@dindranew.6808]

These are gorgeous. As someone who has lived inside national "wetlands" before, I can say how real your bases look! Thanks!

[@robyngraves9582]

Necron/Harlequin collector, but I got myself the Dark Imperium boxed set because the Plague Marines seemed really interesting to paint. I've never based any of my models before because I never saw the point, but thanks to this video, I'm eager to stage my lumbering brutes of rot and contagion on brown swampy bases to complete everything. Thanks very much for the insights and suggestions! I shall use them to full effect to please Papa Nurgle!

[@richmltn]

Some great ideas and wonderful execution. Altogether a wonderful tutorial!

[@emmanuelmatagne2366]

Hi Engineer Jeff I want to thank you very much for this tutorial. My lizardmen army is just gorgeous with its swamp bases. I wanted to show you some, but I don't know how here, sorry. Many thanks again !

[@malcolmcurrie7542]

Phenomenal bases, definitely going to be trying this method/some of these products myself. Very relaxed delivery throughout the video, absolutely wonderful to listen to. Thanks for this hidden gem of entertainment!

[@robertallia5306]

Love it, let's do a graveyard base next!

[@middleofthelabyrinth]

Thank you. Going to use this to do my Kruleboyz bases and I am so excited to have such an amazing guide to reference

[@thrago916]

Looks great I'm going to give it a shot. Thank you.

[@voodoohao]

This is amazing, am gonna use it for my Kruleboyz, especially the tip about mixing the Vallejo Still Water mixed with other paint/inks. Sad to see that you have stopped making videos 3 years back

[@yasminmartens2223]

Did you use the standard he bases?

[@CUTEMKUltras]

Always great to see your process. Just one request- more videos, more frequently please!

[@jamescheetham1982]

Love it, more people need to see this!

[@IDICBeer]

Very nice work mate, the base came out so nice

[@jasonsavage2865]

So good to see a new video from you! I think a graveyard base would be cool.

[@LuckGod84]

Thanks for the tutorial, I will be trying this for my Gatorman army (for warmachine and hordes)

[@amtulumello]

Thank you. This was very informative.

[@mikebreazeale2563]

It seems pretty much the same video as the last base video you did. But, it's a great reminder of how to do it. Great video...Thanks for sharing.

[@NastyCrimeBoy]

Beautiful. So relaxing too. Well done!

[@ImmortalDragon21]

Love the idea will work good for jungle bases for my Catachans.

[@Kay_Drechsler]

Exactly what I want to have for my Death Guard. Thanks for this awesome tutorial!

[@EngineerJeff]

You are welcome!

[@brigandboy1425]

I think if you used the right kind of base, you could use this technique for snow/ice as well. I love this video. Gives me so many ideas :)

[@gruppenfuhrer45]

Wow very nicely done.

[@BoneSaw878]

Very cool! Love the result. Gonna try it for my Tyranid bases.

[@DreadPirateMick]

Thanks for this. You've helped to give a black dragon a suitable home.

[@EngineerJeff]

Awesome! Glad to help!

[@tylergherman]

You need more subs, these videos are great.

[@EngineerJeff]

Thanks! I need to start editing and releasing videos again soon!

[@timberry4709]

Just found this video, this technique looks great. I have passed along a link to it on "The Drowned Earth Fan Page". As it's title suggests swamp/marsh bases fit in nicely.

[@EngineerJeff]

Thanks for watching Tim!

[@45cmurphy]

Great artistry on any level!

[@EngineerJeff]

Thanks Charles!

[@TurrenciO]

A good idea, thanks

[@aaronlabeau1007]

I'd love to see something like a cemetery, castle, or some kind of field base

[@n00bzilla99]

These look so awesome!

[@EngineerJeff]

Thanks n00bzilla99. I'm working on some Cryx using this swamp-base theme. Fun stuff

[@beavisemojihere]

Looks great! I'm here because I'm supposed to make a swamp dragon for d&d. Couple of questions: does using the hair dryer to quicken the drying tend to blow waves into the water? Is still water basically the same product as Realistic Water?

[@pipham1]

You should try a glacier base, like snow on top with that green blue glacier glow underneath. By the way love all your videos.

[@samuelsanfratello4617]

Great video, Sir! Got any tips for making a splash effect, like someone running through standing water???

[@MechFoo]

Thanks! Welcome back!

[@jackphillips5625]

Hey, Great Video man. I just wanted to know how you painted the sand and rocks?

[@rumleech]

Excellent vid, mate - as always. Interested to learn how you would go about doing a stone-slab/brick paving sort of design.

[@leonardozummo4486]

Jeff, how did you make bubbles on the water? Thank you!

[@Jedijim252]

Good tutorial and awesome results...buddy....thanks for posting the vid...Jim.

[@DroopNasty]

Finally, I’ve been looking for something exactly like this. I might mix some bright greens on some of the layers for some nurgle muck/ooze. Any thoughts on that?

[@EngineerJeff]

Caleb, A couple drops of escorpina green (very light green/yellow) would do the trick!

[@TotalD4]

This was great! I have only just gotten into painting my collection of Reaper Bones which I KS all 3 runs. Since I started painting them I've been starting to want to get into more elaborate bases I already took a crack at a mounting like one for a Stone Giant I did. I'd be interesting in seeing a Tutorial on either some really Magma like or even something like a obsidian glass like terrain base.

[@CraigJohn]

Loved it! I especially loved your texturing of the basic gravel (by picking out a few of the stones with some natural colours) and totally agree that a uniform dry brushing is completely unrealistic. The bits of flock in the water worked amazingly too. I noticed that the water turned out incredibly wrinkly. Does it always turn out that way or was the accelerated drying time the cause?

[@bethanygraham427]

Very nice bases, Sir. I add my vote for a video on graveyard bases, but an ocean base would be really cool :)

[@timpiscovich4955]

Great video . What kind of camera are you using , the zoom is incredible.

[@EngineerJeff]

Tim, Just using a cheap Sony camcorder. I'll have to look up the model #.

[@flkpnzr8303]

Hey there, how do you painted the earth? I can#t really figure it out. Also, what is the exact name of the Grasstufts?

[@highmarshalhelbrecht4715]

so calm love it

[@Max7185]

great stuff!!

[@VashGames]

I'm new to this and have noticed bases with pre printed terrain out there. Those tend to have quite an uneven terrain for miniature placement. How should that type of base be used?

[@EngineerJeff]

VashTS, If the miniature allows for it, I would drill small holes in the bottoms of the feet and insert pins to help anchor the model to the base. You may have to build up the surface with a putty of some kind to make it level. It really depends upon the miniature and the base. A crazy shaped base might require a re-positioning of the model to make it fit.

[@FAR_-ej9xt]

I was wondering if I could spray miniatures with the dullcoat instead of varnishing them, also if I do this would the dull coat have a chance of frosting like spray varnish does, thanks for the help.

[@EngineerJeff]

I cant recall using Testors dullcoat and it ever frosting my miniatures.

[@ryryak27]

Once I switched to Dullcote and Glosscote (going on about 4 years now) I've never had the problem with my models frosting when I seal them. This really is a great product and I can't praise it enough.

[@charlesetheridge7228]

ok i have one question what did you do to make the water the video seems to skip that part please help in dire need to know

[@firehigh38]

I'd like to see a mangrove base with all those roots at the edge of the water.

[@JimmyJams_2113]

What colors did you use for the ground after priming the base?? I can't get mine to look like yours

[@EngineerJeff]

Jimmy, I made a video, How to Make a Custom Base for Miniatures that walks you through my process. For these swamp bases, I added a diluted green wash after customizing it.

[@nomnomfabbo8515]

First question: Is dullcote a simple matt varnish? You mentioned that when painting your tyranid for the hive fleet kraken. I was looking for that in local stores but I can't find any (Germany here). Second question: What do I have to do to have a chance to get the giveaway that you talked about in your video (Except subscribing)?

[@EngineerJeff]

Fabian, You are correct! Testors dullcote is simply a matte varnish. For the giveaway video, all you will need to do is comment in the video. If you're a subscriber, that is it!

[@nomnomfabbo8515]

Ist that video online yet?If so, which one is it?

[@EngineerJeff]

Not online yet. Recording this week. :)

[@jimothy1967]

I've got you to tank for copying this and coming up with a really nice effect for a Were-Rat mini!

[@EngineerJeff]

Thanks for watching Jim! I enjoy making water themed bases, and these were no exception.

[@Lucien967]

Can I ask what colours and techniques you used to do the rocks?

[@EngineerJeff]

Lucien967, if you look back in my video listing, in Sept 2016 I made a vid called how to make a custom base for miniatures. Lots of details you may be looking for are in that video.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKLJinhqj8t4g8U is the link..

[@emanueledibona5929]

Is it possible to swap Vallejo Inks for GW Washes/Shades?

[@alcovitch]

I mean, yes, you can. Inks however are much more concentrated and a better way to dye your water. Start with very little at first. Like I said the inks are very concentrated and you can quickly overpower the saturation if you put too many drops.

[@Failerist]

Thank you for this video, this is really cool. What colors would you suggest for a brighter blue color ? Liked and subscribed for More !

[@EngineerJeff]

blue ink might do the trick.. honestly, I havent tried to go brighter blue. Maybe I'll give that a shot.

[@i.c.e3237]

This is great for lizardmen!

[@EngineerJeff]

Was just thinking about making these for my lizardman bloodbowl team when it comes out

[@i.c.e3237]

EngineerJeff oh by the way, where could you buy static grass online?

[@nixxy1983]

Does anyone have a list of paints used?

[@boathousedave2383]

Great looking bases but it would be nice to see this edited down to 5-10 min video

[@ryancarter6876]

Good information and nice videos, bases look awesome. I like your philosophy on "perfection in art" or the lack thereof, but I do wish you would cut out some of the dead space/silence in your videos. They are relaxing videos and whatnot, so you might ignore this suggestion and that is okay, I just get impatient and skip ahead sometimes and it seems unfortunate.

[@EngineerJeff]

Thanks for the input Ryan. I tend to paint in a very "lazy river" fashion, and sometimes that is frustrating for some folks. I'm recording some tutorials today and will keep your suggestion in mind. Thanks for watching! Jeff

[@davidsummers9250]

the small cork link is the wrong thing. that is Cork Foam board, which is thin sheets of cork glued to foam board.

[@bartekkucharski3880]

I'm really bad at basing. the worst part is that I cant design it properly especially with display bases

[@EngineerJeff]

Take your time, and enjoy the process. Once you make a few, things will start clicking and you'll get it figured out. :)

[@patrickdickson4671]

!

[@paulgreer602]

Have you ever built a bases like this but the model didn't sit right?

[@Pindexter77]

I was disapointed. The whole reason I wanted to watch this video was to see how to apply the water and you skipped it :(

[@davidlanier2290]

Wtf do all tgese guys talk so freaking slow!!! Dude!! How do i make it. Don't need your entire process. Don't need a chem lesson etc. Step 1) get a round base with / without lip... suggestions are??? 2) make it look like this using these things and techniques... 3) ???? I do not have 43 minutes of my life to waste watching you figure stuff out and "talk to me like you're an expert" Engineer cool! Concept of audience... Maybe take theater electives ....

[@justanotheremail810]

Great content as always! Nice giveaway as well. I would love to win that.