The models only stand on two feet with a relatively small gluing area, and I want the feet to sit on top of the sand I will glue to the bases, not be sunken in. So I drilled holes in he feet and inserted some bent paper clips.
I then glued the paper clips with super glue and baking soda to the bases, which lifted the feet off the ground due to the bendage of the wire.
Finally, I applied some brown stuff to smooth out the base a bit.
I think I have a large enough gluing area now, that I will not rip off the minis; mind you I need to factor in the magnetic pull of the sheets the minis will be stored on with their metal bases.