How to make a simple grass field base

Display Bases

with Geoff Coughlin

Here’s another look at bases and this time how you can create a decent looking plain grass airfield base using inexpensive items and materials. What I especially like is that it’s also quick to do and hopefully you’ll see in the accompanying videos!

Ok, so what are we trying to create?

The first thing to realise is that I’m not trying to create a diorama or vignette, just a base that I can reuse many times with different subjects for which the base is appropriate.

Of course, you can add to the base, using accessories like figures, equipment and vehicles just as you like to vary and mix up the options available. As I mainly build aircraft it’s great to see a number of kit and accessory manufacturers releasing ground equipment and airfield vehicles that can make for a really interesting display.

So what I’m trying to depict here is a forward Luftwaffe airfield in Northern France around the time of the Battle of Britain, September 1940. The grass is still green and there are areas of hard, dry worn grass and mud, especially where the aircraft is parked. Some oil/fuel staining is present on the ground beneath the aircraft.

What do I need to make this base?

Ok, so here’s a quick rundown of what I have used here:

Base board – I have used a wooden art panel that I picked up here in the UK from Hobbycraft store. The one you see here is made of birch and I like the fact that it has a little height to it, so your model will be displayed prominently when put out on a table or club display
Grass covering – again, I picked up this roll of simulated grass from Hobbycraft store and is by Gaugemaster: Autumn Grass. I much prefer this product to the more usual bright green simulated grass that you can get on a roll that doesn’t look very realistic and is too uniform in appearance
PVA glue – for sticking the paper-backed grass field section to the base board. I use an old business card to spread the glue evenly on the base board, making sure every bit of the surface has glue, otherwise you will get nasty air bubbles and an uneven surface
Tools – like scissors to cut out a section of grass from the big roll; rule and pen to measure on the back of the grass sheet to get the size you need; some books or other heavy items to apply weight to the base board while the grass section dries after attaching it to the board
Paint – to paint the edges of your base board (if desired). I think the model looks much better when the sides of the board are painted in a striking, contrasting colour to the grass field, such as black used here. I used a can of black primer from Games Workshop here in the UK, but any spray paint should be fine (just remember to spray outside and use a mask for protection).
You also need some other paints like brown etc if you want to simulate areas of dry or wet mud, and work out grassed areas. In addition, I think it makes a real difference to add just a little colour to represent natural small flowers like daisies, dandelions etc – just a touch here and there can look good as you should see in the videos. Citadel paints (again, from Games Workshop) are quite thick as they come, are water-based and apply and dry easily and quickly, making them an ideal choice

Here are a few pics showing the main materials above…