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In order to simplify things a bit, I am going to refer to this method of basing (throughout this tutorial) as GBDM, which is short for the technique's name. With that out of the way, let's get started. I will be using a 40mm round black plastic display lip base to apply my flock to. You can use any shape and/or size you like; it won't make any difference as far as how to apply it. The only thing I've done so far is to tape off the slot in the base. I won't be using a tab miniature to mount to this one, so I want the whole base covered.

Let me remind the reader here that GBDM is all about making your base look good enough for quick wargaming or role playing. In total, decorating one base should not take longer than 5-10 minutes (from start to finish). To decorate the base, we will need two different shades of flock, three small containers, some PVA glue and something to recapture our unused excess materials (I will be using a regular piece of printer paper folded in half).

The reason we have two colors of flock is because we're going to make a third color using the two different types blended together. In fact, that's the first thing we want to do. Put the two types of flock you've chosen, each into it's own container. Take a quarter of each and put them in the third container. Shake the flock to blend it (with the lid on) and now we've got three different colors...well, to the eye it appears like three colors anyway. GBDM is a very forgiving process, but the distinct color variations will fool the eye into seeing more detail than there actually is. Remember, we are trying to avoid the common "golf course" look and feel to these types of bases.

The next thing we need to do is the Glue Blob part of GBDM and, yes, it is exactly as it sounds. You are going to put a fairly large blob of glue in the center of your base and spread it out to the edges with your finger. After you have an even placement of the glue, you're going to want to set the base on your printer paper. This will help to recapture excess material. This excess flock should all go into the third container we have. This will help keep the colors seperated. But first, let's get into how we are applying it...

As this implies, you are going to basically dump the three colors of flock on to the base. No, you're not going to just dump all of the flock on top of the base all at once. Instead, we are going to take finger fulls and place small dumps of it on the base, allowing some glue areas to show through. You'll do the same with the second color but not the third. You should still have glue showing through in some areas and at this point you will dump the third blended color over the entire base. Do not use all of this blended color; just use enough to make a small mound to cover the entire area.

Almost, but not quite. The mess we've made so far should all be contained on our printer paper...er hopefully. You should allow the flock a little time to absorb the glue on the base and allow the glue to cure a bit as well. This usually doesn't take longer than 5 minutes, but if you want it fully cured, I would give it at least an hour. If you're like me (with no patience level at all) then after the 5 minutes has gone by, you can pick up the base, carefully hold it upside down over the printer paper and tap on the bottom of the base. This should get most of the excess flock off. If not, you can gingerly blow it off using your lungs or a hair dryer set on low or medium.

Optionally, you can take a toothpick, small awl, pencil (whatever is on hand) and make random depressions in the flock to give it a textured surface. This will look like the ground is uneven, as it would be found in nature. This requires finess, press too hard and you will disturb the glue underneath and run the risk of hitting the black plastic base. You want to press just hard enough to make a small depression. Also, as another option, you can allow the flock and glue to fully cure and then highlight the flock with colors appropriate to your liking. When I do this, I will typically use a #4 drybrush and lightly dust the area with the highlight color(s).

More or less, the base is done. You should definitely take all of the flock on the printer paper and place it in that third container for the blended color. This way, it's all the blended flock in one container and the other two colors remain unchanged. You can apply miniatures carefully, but I usually just make another base and another after that, and another, etc. By the time I'm ready to apply miniatures, my first base is almost fully cured. In no time, my army is ready to play.