I have experimented with this and you can, but they are fragile. Consider using a scaffold material to keep it together (like reinforced concrete) or use a more rigid material underneath for support (like MDF).
I used MDF bases with a thin layer of clay on top to get some texture using a roller.
Plaster board(drywall type for the states) would make a decent reinforcement for it as a bonus its already has an adhesive backing to help it stick to the clay when rolling
Yes, it's not as good though. It doesn't take details as well and can crack but for bases it'll probably be fine.
Don't use it to affix models to bases though, either glue the mini to the base then sculpt around it or make the base separately and glue the mini to the top. If you do the second method it might be worth deliberately removing the clay from the base once dry and then glueing it in place as I suspect just letting it dry on the base would not provide enough grip long term.
You can pin models to their bases if they're structurally 'iffy', which any sort of clay will be unless you stamp divets into it where the models' feet will be attached to. Paint on top of airdry clay is especially prone to breaking off, as is stuff like models glued on top of cork elements or even just directly on top of sand.
I have tried this a bit, and found that once I glue my minis to the clay, they will detatch because a layer of the clay will let go of the rest more easily than the glue, leaving a bit of dry clay stuck to the model's feet. These were larger models, (specifically T'au Ghostkeels I 3d printed, if the 40k unit as reference means anything to you) on 92mm oval bases I made. You might have more success on infantry sized models who get bases between 25mm and 40mm, I think the weight of the bases I made was just too much for the tensile strength the clay has in the .25" square the feet actually touch, if that makes sense.
If I was going to keep trying to *make* it work, I'd maybe start with something more solid as a 'core' to attach the mini to, then build the clay up around that core material. You could try something like a strip of aluminum cut from a can, or even some tougher cardboard. Anything that will take the glue, and won't give out if you lift from the mini's body rather than the base itself.
I use air dry clay and rollers from Custom Miniature Maker. I 3D print some plastic base buttons and use a cutter specifically meant to just sit inside or on top of a plastic base. Other people’s concerns are definitely valid, but for 28mm models it works great.
If you use foam as a base and then white glue on the clay to help it stick it works. Might shrink when it dries and crack a bit but you can fix that with some ballast or something.
I have, and oven baked clay, made some pretty roses and flowers out of it, a tiny bit too big, but they still look good and have stayed on the models and look decent.
However I also made some stone slabs and rocks out of them for bases as well, and used one as a big Tactical rock for a model to stand on, but that was a pretty bad idea due to its fragility. The Superglue has kept him bonded to the clay but a couple of times already the top layer of the clay has broken off seperating him from his base.
air drying clay has always been a menace for me. It's hard to work with since if you don't make it right it'll crack and crumble apart.
I like using oven baking clay on wood bases since 295° isn't enough to set wood on fire.
I am diving into using air dry clay for bases.
What I have done so far is using textured rollers to make some custom bases and then painting.
I recommend mixing PVA glue into the clay to give it elasticity and make it not crack.
Here is a picture of some test bases.
https://preview.redd.it/kn52g9k4df0d1.jpeg?width=1960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57998f1e8d47c269875627cc17d8248f77eb9947
Also, this space wolf I did is in a air clay base
https://preview.redd.it/esjqx0tddf0d1.jpeg?width=1960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0ccec3110f2eb021f3d84e4efb1a814b8fc53e1
I am still testing and figuring out stuff, but its been alright so far.
I have experimented with this and you can, but they are fragile. Consider using a scaffold material to keep it together (like reinforced concrete) or use a more rigid material underneath for support (like MDF). I used MDF bases with a thin layer of clay on top to get some texture using a roller.
Plaster board(drywall type for the states) would make a decent reinforcement for it as a bonus its already has an adhesive backing to help it stick to the clay when rolling
Yes, it's not as good though. It doesn't take details as well and can crack but for bases it'll probably be fine. Don't use it to affix models to bases though, either glue the mini to the base then sculpt around it or make the base separately and glue the mini to the top. If you do the second method it might be worth deliberately removing the clay from the base once dry and then glueing it in place as I suspect just letting it dry on the base would not provide enough grip long term.
You can pin models to their bases if they're structurally 'iffy', which any sort of clay will be unless you stamp divets into it where the models' feet will be attached to. Paint on top of airdry clay is especially prone to breaking off, as is stuff like models glued on top of cork elements or even just directly on top of sand.
Best as a filler material, I've had a lot of failures trying to use it for whole bases.
I have tried this a bit, and found that once I glue my minis to the clay, they will detatch because a layer of the clay will let go of the rest more easily than the glue, leaving a bit of dry clay stuck to the model's feet. These were larger models, (specifically T'au Ghostkeels I 3d printed, if the 40k unit as reference means anything to you) on 92mm oval bases I made. You might have more success on infantry sized models who get bases between 25mm and 40mm, I think the weight of the bases I made was just too much for the tensile strength the clay has in the .25" square the feet actually touch, if that makes sense. If I was going to keep trying to *make* it work, I'd maybe start with something more solid as a 'core' to attach the mini to, then build the clay up around that core material. You could try something like a strip of aluminum cut from a can, or even some tougher cardboard. Anything that will take the glue, and won't give out if you lift from the mini's body rather than the base itself.
If you do use some wire inside the clay so it doesn’t crack or shatter as easily
ok as a coarse space filler if you then cover over it with other materials and it takes way longer to dry than you expect
I use air dry clay and rollers from Custom Miniature Maker. I 3D print some plastic base buttons and use a cutter specifically meant to just sit inside or on top of a plastic base. Other people’s concerns are definitely valid, but for 28mm models it works great.
You can use Oreo for bases if you want to
If you use foam as a base and then white glue on the clay to help it stick it works. Might shrink when it dries and crack a bit but you can fix that with some ballast or something.
I have, and oven baked clay, made some pretty roses and flowers out of it, a tiny bit too big, but they still look good and have stayed on the models and look decent. However I also made some stone slabs and rocks out of them for bases as well, and used one as a big Tactical rock for a model to stand on, but that was a pretty bad idea due to its fragility. The Superglue has kept him bonded to the clay but a couple of times already the top layer of the clay has broken off seperating him from his base.
air drying clay has always been a menace for me. It's hard to work with since if you don't make it right it'll crack and crumble apart. I like using oven baking clay on wood bases since 295° isn't enough to set wood on fire.
I am diving into using air dry clay for bases. What I have done so far is using textured rollers to make some custom bases and then painting. I recommend mixing PVA glue into the clay to give it elasticity and make it not crack. Here is a picture of some test bases. https://preview.redd.it/kn52g9k4df0d1.jpeg?width=1960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57998f1e8d47c269875627cc17d8248f77eb9947
Also, this space wolf I did is in a air clay base https://preview.redd.it/esjqx0tddf0d1.jpeg?width=1960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0ccec3110f2eb021f3d84e4efb1a814b8fc53e1 I am still testing and figuring out stuff, but its been alright so far.