STEP 3 COMPLETE
I now have all my Stygian completely based. I've added a coating of sand to all the models that needed it. I do 3 layers. One base layer covering everything. A second pass where I try to "build up" sections to make the base irregular. Then a 3rd pass to touch up, or create a little more height in selected spots.
A sample of what I end up with:
For years I did the priming method of setting a cardboard box on its side, and placing the minis in the box. Hitting all the areas and rotating the minis was always a pain. Over the years I had tossed around several better options, and I went ahead and built one of them over the last couple of days:
I cut a bunch of 1.5"x1.5" wooden blocks, and used a 1" spade bit to create a mini-base-sized indentation in each. Then I attached each of them to the side of a 2x4 with a screw...not tight, so that they could easily spin. Now a standard based mini can sit on each block, and be spun easily to hit all sides with primer. Mount the 2x4 on a sawhorse, surround with cardboard and old blankets, and I have myself a portable, easily-stored, mass-mini-priming-and-sealing workstation. Can do up to 20 minis at once.
For larger minis, I will build some small "platforms" that snugly fit on top of the 1.5" blocks.
In action, priming up a bunch of Drugged and Starved:
At this point, I'm ready to paint. I decided to start with the Drugged and Starved since they will be very easy and fast to crank out. Very few colors, and not a ton of detail. Plus, my son is getting painting lessons! So these are great figures to start out with. Hopefully have some progress after the weekend!
