Lord Help Me... I'm going to paint minis!

Started by son_of_montfort, September 11, 2012, 10:00:38 PM

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Arctic Blast

I've been thinking about making an attempt at painting up some board game minis myself. So it's nice to see a fellow noob manage to produce something that looks pretty good.  ;)

Bison

Looking good SoM and if I might add those are some well manicured nails.

Toonces

Nice job, Doc!  I don't think I will do such a good job on my first mini...
"If you had a chance, right now, to go back in time and stop Hitler, wouldn't you do it?  I mean, I personally wouldn't stop him because I think he's awesome." - Eric Cartman

"Does a watch list mean you are being watched or is it a come on to Toonces?" - Biggs

LongBlade

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

TheCommandTent

Excellent job SoM.  You could probably even do with a darker was all over to help bring out what little detail there is.
"No wants, no needs, we weren't meant for that, none of us.  Man stagnates if he has no ambition, no desire to be more than he is."

son_of_montfort

Quote from: TheCommandTent on September 13, 2012, 08:21:16 PM
Excellent job SoM.  You could probably even do with a darker was all over to help bring out what little detail there is.

Do you think I can just use a general wash for the whole thing? Like a greatly diluted black or brown? I made a separate wash for each color and washed each section separately. I hadn't thought that I could just use black and be done with it!
"Now it is no accident all these conservatives are using time travel to teach our kids. It is the best way to fight back against the liberal version of history, or as it is sometimes known... history."

- Stephen Colbert

"The purpose of religion is to answer the ultimate question, are we in control or is there some greater force pulling the strings? And if the courts rule that corporations have the same religious rights that we humans do, I think we'll have our answer."

- Stephen Colbert

TheCommandTent

#36
Quote from: son_of_montfort on September 13, 2012, 08:32:46 PM
Quote from: TheCommandTent on September 13, 2012, 08:21:16 PM
Excellent job SoM.  You could probably even do with a darker was all over to help bring out what little detail there is.

Do you think I can just use a general wash for the whole thing? Like a greatly diluted black or brown? I made a separate wash for each color and washed each section separately. I hadn't thought that I could just use black and be done with it!

Yes a general wash for the whole thing should be fine.  I was told once (I can't remember by who) that generally a brown wash works best on a figures while a black was works better on vehicles and terrain.  I've got a pot of GW's Devlan Mud that I was most of my minis after I am done painting.  It darkens them a little but seeps into all the folds and details in the figure given great depth and shadow to the figure.  Also it helps hide how bad of a painter I really am.  (They look great when you see them down on the table in front of you just don't get to close)  :)

You can see detail the wash brought out in these figures
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=2079.msg52287#msg52287
"No wants, no needs, we weren't meant for that, none of us.  Man stagnates if he has no ambition, no desire to be more than he is."

LongBlade

You can make your own washes rather than buying one. I think The Tent is right - browns seem to bring a warmth to humanoid figures. Black is better for vehicles as it brings out the contrast in depth.
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

Jack Nastyface

Some excellent Painting Guides by Matt Parkes, here.   http://www.theassaultgroup.co.uk/articles/painting.php

The minis-painting guild has some barely okay tutorials...most don't have enough pics but this one does (http://minipainting-guild.net/tips/tips.html).  I'm not keen about using ink washes followed by dry-brush, highlights and blending but you can't argue with the artists' results.

And some not bad tips...http://rpgathenaeum.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/nine-tips-for-leveling-up-your-miniature-painting-skills/

I'm also digging the following sites:
The Painting Clinic:  http://www.paintingclinic.com/MainClinic.dwt.htm  Lots o' stuff for beginners and intermediate minis.  Some good pics and lots of explanation on theory.

I mentioned Hot Lead before (http://hot-lead.org/start/paint_guide_main.htm) but I didn't mention Lazlo's website.  Well there it is...good sections for beginners.  Although as I mentioned above I'm not keen about the wash / drybrush technique, I really like Lazlo's method where he washes with a darker color of the base color and highlights with a lighter color.

THe Jenova project also has some okay tutorials but some are a little too brief and not enough pics! (http://www.jenova.dk/)

Also a must-read by Reaper Miniatures about the Craft (http://www.reapermini.com/TheCraft).  I LOVE the following article on "getting started" http://www.reapermini.com/TheCraft/32

See how addictive this can be?  And I haven't even posted any pics yet!

Now, the problem is, how to divide five Afghans from three mules and have two Englishmen left over.

Ubercat

Pretty good work SoM! I must say it's a lot better than my first one. Based on the sculpting job, she should be saying "I am not an animal!"
"If you have always believed that everyone should play by the same rules and be judged by the same standards, that would have gotten you labelled a radical 50 years ago, a liberal 25 years ago, and a racist today."

- Thomas Sowell

son_of_montfort

I painted two more today, and I think they turned out BETTER than my librarian lady. I will post pics tomorrow, when I have some light. I even did it with a nasty flu/cold... which could be the source of my talent!
"Now it is no accident all these conservatives are using time travel to teach our kids. It is the best way to fight back against the liberal version of history, or as it is sometimes known... history."

- Stephen Colbert

"The purpose of religion is to answer the ultimate question, are we in control or is there some greater force pulling the strings? And if the courts rule that corporations have the same religious rights that we humans do, I think we'll have our answer."

- Stephen Colbert

LongBlade

Quote from: son_of_montfort on September 15, 2012, 08:14:21 PM
I painted two more today, and I think they turned out BETTER than my librarian lady. I will post pics tomorrow, when I have some light. I even did it with a nasty flu/cold... which could be the source of my talent!

Wait until the codeine wears off before you decide...
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

Jack Nastyface

#42
Back on topic...
I just blasted a few plastic 28mm minitures with Armory Black Primer and the results were disasterous.  The primer covered the minis with a very large particle finish.  Like so on attached pic.

So what I am doing wrong?  Is it:
1)  didn't mix the paint enough
2)  sprayed too far away from mini (which would allow the primer to form larger particles than if I had been closer)
3)  old or crappy primer
4) wrong kind of primer for plastic mini (don't think this is it)
5) too much primer
6)  Something else
After these results, I am thinking of priming by brush  :o .
Regards,
Jack Nastyface
Now, the problem is, how to divide five Afghans from three mules and have two Englishmen left over.

LongBlade

Where did you paint them and what were the humidity conditions?

Sometimes that can happen when the humidity is high - like painting in the garage during summer.
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

Jack Nastyface

Backyard in Vancouver BC area.  It's usually humid here...I recently read a couple things that might help:
1)  warm the can of primer in a hot water bath before using
2)  don't use armory brand primer
3)  spray one mini at a time.  It might be that the the off-spray from my 10th mini was landing on the already-primed-and-drying 1st mini on my painting stand resulting in the snow-flakey texture.
Now, the problem is, how to divide five Afghans from three mules and have two Englishmen left over.