Materials
Materials are things that you use in the process of basing and painting your miniatures. 

The miniatures themselves are a type of material.  There are a great number of manufacturers of miniatures and a large number of themes.  We will mainly be working on fantasy and science fiction miniatures, but the skills that you use in these projects will be applicable to most other miniatures in your collection.

Bases are another type of material.  You may have bought some miniatures with slotta bases.  Some of your miniatures are cast with integral, or cast on, bases.  Some of your miniatures may actually be well cast and have pins cast on the bottom of the miniature to glue to a base.  In order to get a standard base, I cut off the tabs on the slotta bases and file off the integral bases and replace them with an appropriately sized plastic disc or square.  Of course if the miniature is not cast with pins on the bottom, I have to use my pin vice to make holes in which I can glue my pins.

I use epoxy putty to put texture on many or my bases or do add detail to a miniature.  You can get epoxy putty from a variety of stores.  It normally comes in a two-part roll or strip that must be blended to a uniform color and cures over various periods of time.

On some of my bases, I use door screening material to easily give detail to the base.

You probably throw out good types of plastic weekly.  You can get good plastic from cookie trays (the clear thing that holds the cookies), fast food containers, and some blister or clam type containers of things that you purchase.  If you check the recycle emblem on the bottom or back of the container, tray, etc., and there is a 5 or a 6 in the triangle, then the plastic can be glued using Testors glue or something similar.

You also throw out good types of styrofoam every week.  Check the styrofoam that goes into your garbage before you throw it out.

A primer, a coating of paint that is porous, is put on the miniature on order for paint to adhere to it.  I normally use black primer, but it just comes down to preference.

There are many sorts of paints available.  Many of you probably buy the expensive hobby paints that are available in hobby stores or on line.  I have used some of them and I believe that they are a waste of money.  The difference between the results you can achieve with hobby paints and acrylic craft paints is probably non-existant.  I use regular craft paints and am quite satisfied with the results.

Inks are also a useful type of material.  You can buy inks at hobby stores.

Gesso, an artist medium, can also be used to create texture on bases.

Another helpful item is wire for pinning.  You can purchase brass wire in a variety of guages for pinning at most hobby stores.  I prefer to use the wire from plastic coated paper clips.  The steel is a little bit sturdier than the brass and it too comes in a variety of guages.