Hey folks!

So I've seen a lot of pictures of people who have "Black" ship bases. I'd love to do this, and was wondering how it was done. Any tips would be appreciated.

Just, using my own noggin, I was kinda assuming the following had been done. Spray some form of matt black over the entire thing. However, I thought perhaps to protect the cards, maybe you only spray the undersides of the bases? I was considering putting on some painter's tape on the top parts and spraying the sides that would be facing the play mat. Is that wise? Or should I just spray the entire thing? I just thought the spray paint might get onto the actual ship cards and I didn't want that.

I sprayed mine with a black primer (the entire thing) then went over that with a coat of black paint from my air brush (you can probably skip that step). Then I sealed my with Testors dullcote so that it won't lose any of the paint. And it gives it a nice flat finish. I also went around the edges of all the cardboard with black paint.

Hey Chioxin

Best way to do it is without the card and shield dials. I did it this way:

- assemble the base and stands (without the dials)

- spray paint them black with a suitable black primer, something like Matt Black Undercoat by TheArmypainter ( http://shop.thearmypainter.com/products.php?ProductGroupId=15 )

- seal it with a matt varnish, I used TheArmypainter Anti Shine Matt Varnish

Hope that helps

Kirin

I just removed all the card bits, sprayed it flat black and Testors dull coated them.

I just removed all the card bits, sprayed it flat black and Testors dull coated them.

This. Took all of the card components off and used Army Painter Black Primer Spray to coat them. No varnish yet.

Yep! Remove all the cards/dials, take 'em apart, and spray with any old cheapo matte spray black. Follow that with a coat of clear matte spray and you're good to go!

As another trick, hit the edges of all the card pieces with a Sharpy in order to stop them from looking out of place.

As another trick, hit the edges of all the card pieces with a Sharpy in order to stop them from looking out of place.

A very important step!

I'll add that after I sprayed the bases with black primer I painted the outside faces with black paint, then I flecked stars all around on then and finally hit them with a coat of matte spray. They blend in real nice to a star matt now. I also hit the sides of the card pieces with a black sharpie.

Ah cool, so people are spraying the actual face of the bases, not just the undersides. Alright. I figured doing that would create to big of a layer for the cards to sit in their space properly,which is why I was a bit concerned about doing that. But if it works! It works! I did know to take the dials and everything out

One thing I'll add is spray painting, much like anything else, might not be as easy as it first seems. Just in case anyone reading this has no experience with spraying other minis, don't use too much! Everyone starts off spraying way too much. Two one second sprays per angle ... know what? There are a million tutorials out there on proper base coating. Worth checking out so you don't fill in the little holes on the squadron bases, for example, or cover any other important area with too much base coat.

I did play a game with some clear and some black and the clear ones distracted the heck out of me. I need everything uniform. Consider yourself warned!

Ah cool, so people are spraying the actual face of the bases, not just the undersides. Alright. I figured doing that would create to big of a layer for the cards to sit in their space properly,which is why I was a bit concerned about doing that. But if it works! It works! I did know to take the dials and everything out

Key when using spray paint is to do short bursts and apply a thin coat! Two thin coats are better than one thick coat!

Is there an easy way to remover the dials?

Lemme ask.... Anyone have any first hand opinions on clear base trees vs black ones? Right now my bases are black but the trees are clear... But I'm not sure if I like it.

I went all black, much prefer the look over shiny clear plastic.

Yikes, sorry for the thread necro here, but I figure it's better than starting a new topic for...the same topic.

Have any of you had a problem with the spray primer sticking to the bases (being a slick acrylic)? did you do anything aside from soap & water first?

Thanks, all. I've been debating the OP's question, about not wanting my cardboard to get painty and possibly masking that section off (especially where the activation slider slides back & forth). I guess I'll just go for it!

I used a clear varnish after the black, never had an issue with the cardboard getting any paint on it.

Didn't wash anything, just hit them up with black GW primer. No problems so far.

I removed all card components before painting.

Then when complete I reassembled it all.

Same here, didn't wash just sprayed primer directly, flecked with stars, then did a sealant. Happy with the results.

Awesome, thanks folks!

I used GW and I have used Army Painter. Both worked very well. Just let things dry properly. Don't spread the underside, it will make getting the shields in tricky

Rustoleum makes some solid rattle and spray enamels.

I will also echo a few points:

1 - I use both GW and PP sprays (so far) on my bases; they work fine...

2 - IF you let them dry properly. I leave mine overnight to dry, and you want them somewhere that is not humid for this. If you live in a humid climate, you actually will want them in a climate controlled room to dry.

3 - I vastly prefer the black base / clear stand look so I don't obscure the minis for things like Assault Frigates.