A miniature on a bare black base is only half finished. A diorama – or at least a well-made base – gives it a story: mud under tank tracks, grass by the boots, a frozen puddle. This category holds AK Interactive and Abteilung 502 materials to build exactly that.

What you will find here

• Textures – ready-made terrains (dry and muddy ground, sand, desert), resin and gel water and ice, crackle and special effects. Apply with a spatula or an old brush.
• Building materials – carving foam for walls and paving, and brass pipes from 0.2 to 3 mm for antennas, barrels and handles.
• Vegetation – grass tufts, static grass and more vegetation for terrain.
• Pigments – dry powders for dust, earth and rust, with a fixer to lock them in place.
• Weathering effects – enamel effects for dust, rust streaks and grime, a filter for green vehicles and boot print stamps.

In what order

Terrain first: apply the texture to the base and let it dry completely. Then paint or drybrush it, add pigments and finish with vegetation – tufts and static grass go onto the finished, painted surface. Pour water and ice last, once everything around them is done.

The same applies to the miniature itself on a small scale: weathering and pigments go over varnished paint, so they can be corrected without damaging the layers below.

FAQ

Do textures need painting? AK ready-made terrains are already coloured and can be left as they are. Most painters still drybrush them with a lighter shade to bring out the structure.

Where to start with nothing? One terrain matching your miniature's setting, one pigment in a similar tone and one grass tuft. That is enough for dozens of bases.