One of the key aspects of miniature painting which is often forgotten is the story that can be told via a well designed base. A well designed base can make that miniature pop.
One designer which specialises in the design of bases is Admiral Apocalypse. As well as bases in the science fiction and fantasy genres Admiral Apocalypse also make basing bits and other bits of décor which all go towards telling the story of the figure and give it that extra something we are all looking for.
There are over 35 themes for the bases spread across both the classic genres. These themes include the classic mad lab and spaceport as well as Corrupted Temple and Crystal Cave.
All of these bases are highlight detailed with 3d scenery aspects built in and the details assisted greatly when painting the base. They also come in a wide variety of sizes (some as many as 11) to accommodate various scales of figure.
Origins of Admiral Apocalypse.
I began my interview with Jack of Admiral Apocalypse and asking him his background.
‘I have always been into miniatures and tabletop games. At first, it was just painting, building, and wargaming—starting back in the day with a small army of High Elves. Losing myself in tiny details, I realized how much a good base could add to a miniature, especially seeing how they evolved, reaching mesmerizing designs. This passion kept growing until I decided to turn it into something more—creating bases, basing bits, and scatter terrain for others who love the hobby as much as I do.’
The role of passion is something that has been mentioned many times before in these interviews with makers and certainly comes across in the intricate design of the bases.
This is clear when I asked about the origins of Admiral Apocalypse.
‘I started Admiral Apocalypse Miniatures in 2022 because I saw a real need for detailed, immersive bases that could match the quality of the miniatures themselves.
Bases are the foundations of any miniature or game piece playing an important role in matched-wargames too.
A good base can tell a story and draws the viewer’s attention to the miniature.
In addition, I have worked on basing bits and scatter terrains too to make everything feel more alive from bases to gaming tables.
The aim is to help hobbyists bring their miniatures, games and diorama to life in a way that is both practical to paint and artistic. I always start with at a story and a specific setting in mind, like ancient ruin or a lush forest, and trying to give it a unique twist.
A figure without a plain base feels like it has no home like a character without a setting.
Therefore, I design bases, bits, and terrains that create a full scene and let hobbyists customize their bases, create their own and build entire scenes around their miniatures and tables.
Whether it is an ancient ruin or a lush forest, my goal is to design a small, immersive scene that helps to draw the viewer attention to the miniatures.’
The Pure Joy of Design
Is there a design that you are very proud of?
‘I would pick a non-base model, the Ghost Pepper—a fan art model inspired by Plants vs. Zombies.
It was the first model that went straight from my PC to my 3D-printer, and I still remember the excitement of holding the print for the first time. That moment of seeing something I had sculpted digitally, come to life in my hands was pure joy.’
What can we expect to see from Admiral Apocalypse in the future?
‘More bases, more basing bits, more scatter terrain! Keep making things that help hobbyists make their miniatures unique and cool!
I have so many ideas and the new Shadow of Earth Roadmap is set on my Tribe with six new collections already planned.’
The images of the bases in this post speak for themselves in terms of quality. When painted they are landscape works of art in themselves. Please do go check them out and maybe invest in some bases to make that figure stand out that little bit more.
Admiral Apocalypse can be found at: Admiral Apocalypse @AdmiralApocalypse – MyMiniFactory
