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Post by Haardrada on Mar 4, 2023 11:55:55 GMT
I was wondering how others approach painting their armies?Do you have a set pattern and plan your work or do you just start off with what part of your army and see how it goes?
I usually split mine into a number of groups depending on how many elements and optional elements I've decided I want for the army....if doing the basic twelve elements I'll try to split it into 3 groups depending on how many mounted and foot types or models I have to do.If doing more optional elements I split them into more groups often starting with the mounted first.
It would be interesting to read how others prepare and paint their armies?
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Post by kaiphranos on Mar 4, 2023 12:40:08 GMT
One or two elements at a time, usually interspersing different types if possible. And I usually save the general's element for last!
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Post by martin on Mar 4, 2023 13:10:58 GMT
I was wondering how others approach painting their armies?Do you have a set pattern and plan your work or do you just start off with what part of your army and see how it goes? I usually split mine into a number of groups depending on how many elements and optional elements I've decided I want for the army....if doing the basic twelve elements I'll try to split it into 3 groups depending on how many mounted and foot types or models I have to do.If doing more optional elements I split them into more groups often starting with the mounted first. It would be interesting to read how others prepare and paint their armies? With DBA-sized armies, I usually prep and spray-prime the lot. Then it’s usually all the flesh (Don Featherstones ‘paint like the figure’s getting dressed, inside to outside’ method). Then depends how uniform an army is. Irregulars will all get done in one go, with assorted paints for trousers, tunics etc., so I mix one batch and use it for different items. Very quick…took me no time to rattle off an early Anglo-Saxon army during lockdown. Cavalry might be done separately;- saddlecloth, horseflesh manes tails markings, then rider afterwards. Regulars might be split into eg all the Bd, all the Pk, all the Bw or whatever and one batch of those done at a time. All wooden weapons left til near end, whole army done together to give a uniform look. Likewise spear heads and other bladed items. All basing done at the same time, for a vaguely uniform effect. Ties the army together.
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Post by Baldie on Mar 4, 2023 18:35:09 GMT
I like to prevaricate for a few years first then leave em on side for a while.
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Post by carll on Mar 4, 2023 20:23:14 GMT
With recent BIG DBA armies, I begin by researching the culture and history of the army, looking for clues about appearance or cultural issues that might suggest aspects of clothing, banners, shields. I will draw up a list of colours and draw outline figures with pointers to parts of the appearance and colours used. I may draw symbols from archaeological finds or essays that could be used for shield or banner designs where none known. If using horses or camels I will research what is known about breeds and colours of breeds used. (I find that figure makers tend to ignore what is known about the height of horses and so its often difficult to find a pony or smaller horse for some armies especially if all the makers horses look like cart horses or medieval jousting horses.) When painting a social or ethnic group I am unfamiliar with I will think about how skin tones can be represented. I tend to work out army list options and either buy figures to cover these or divide what I have already in my lead mountain to provide different aspects of the army being built and painted. I also think about soil colours (or if no soil what is there!) and vegetation for the army's homeland(s)and prepare a home made version of the Colour Party 'basetex' for applying to basing; and buy in any appropriate tufts, scatter or static grasses that would be appropriate (if there are none from previous project). Getting started on painting figures tends to follow the season the year when I start! If its spring and summer I can get outside and spray prime figures (so I may attempt to de-flash a lot of figures to take advantage of this priming method); if its bad weather (as often case in UK autumn and winter, then I brush prime and will prepare a batch of figures at a time to prime paint; this often reflects a whim, eg "I like the cavalry models." or "Think its easier to start with those psiloi with limited equipment." Etc After deflashing and priming I put my figures on painting sticks (using blutack) to begin painting. Darrell (user name Atheling on SoA Forum) described how he uses wire and cork to individually mount his riders to paint them. His skill is ultra professional so I could not emulate it, but his description gave me the idea to create a wire rack for those 25mm / 28mm riders where I want to paint them separately before mounting them on their horse, so this adds an extra step when used, of drilling out rider to take wire from the small rack. Recently I have been mounting two riders stuck to horses to a short painting stick (4 to 5 inches long, so 10cm to 13cm) with blutak (yes occasionally they fall off but rare) or four to six foot to slightly longer stick; or three riders on wires to a short cork block (about 4x1x1 inches in shape with sawn flat side). My final stage is to spray matt varnish outdoors on the painted, flocked bases, but sometimes the weather is against this so this gets delayed. CarlL PS I don't paint all 36 elements in one go of course. Before I retired I might do an hour one evening then a few days later another hour or on a quiet weekend two or three hours as one sitting. Since I retired, if the mojo is with me I might do two or three hours most days til project is finished or even longer on a day when enthusiasm (my mojo) is high. Recently I completed my Big DBA Parthian army across December 2022 / January 2023, then went on to add an edifice scratch built. But its only now in march that the baggage figures I converted and painted since finishing the army have been stuck to bases.
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Post by Ken Gordon on Mar 5, 2023 17:51:20 GMT
After prep and undercoating I try to start off trying to do all the flesh first then clothing etc. but recently it quickly degenerates into paint to completion an element or two at a time. This allows me to get them based and varnished as I go putting the completed bases on the shelf above my painting desk - keeps me motivated to complete the army unless something more shiny attracts my eye or real life gets in the way. It also helps when experimenting with new paints or processes so you can see the results before tackling the whole army. K
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Post by skb777 on Mar 5, 2023 19:35:28 GMT
I usually paint a unit at a time, but I'm not a speedy painter and will often go over them to get them right. I'll prime them paint them and then wash them in black, this picks out the detail and adds some 'shading'. I then paint them again keeping the shading and detail in place. Horses are easy as I can do a big batch by spray painting thwm with a brown under coat and then a black wash and dry brushing. I'll then do others in different shades so they aren't all the same, but 75% will be the same colour
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Post by macbeth on Mar 5, 2023 23:24:32 GMT
I prep my figures by getting rid of the flashing, and then gluing on any separate pieces before sticking the figures to strips of cardboard (4-12 foot and 1 - 4 mounted) and I have four armies on the go. There are three drawers of strips 1) Prepped 2) Undercoated 3) Underway As I finish a strip in the underway section I promote one from the same army, and about once a week or so I re-stock the prepped group. If one of foot or mounted gets completed first I sub in odds and ends - up until two weeks ago that meant subbing in strips to bring my old stable of DBA2 armies up to Purple Compliance - but the last of those was finished recently.
I have a little project book where I write out the full list, and my chosen 12 elements. As they are completed I cross them off in the book. I try and paint so that I complete elements so that I can declare an army to be: 1) Legal - I can field a 12 element army 2) Battle Ready - I can field my chosen 12 3) Complete - all options done in that order.
By and large, two of the armies being painted are for the latest set of 13 armies for a campaign set, with the other two chosen at random from the stock of armies in the lead mines of Mt Neverpaint.
Once the strip has dried I base them - sticking the figures on an MDF base with a magnetic strip, then painting this base in a base earth colour (one of my numerous shades of brown or grey). Once this is done I cover the base in PVA Glue and stick on crushed white pumice as the base flock, usually with a small rock and/or twig (as a fallen branch or trunk). The pumice is painted in the base earth colour, then a second contrasting earth colour put over as a wash. Finally I add tufts and spots of PVA Glue where I sprinkle very small rocks from the nest of Australian Red Bush Ants and scenic flock.
When I worked full time I would take the paints and the figures underway to work and paint in the breakaway area for just over an hour a day. Now that I am semi retired (I retired in 2020 an they called me back after 6 weeks) and working 3 days a week I have let the paints and figures expand and sprawl over a table in the garage. I try and get 2-3 long sessions between Thursday and Sunday.
Cheers
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Post by timurilank on Mar 6, 2023 7:34:23 GMT
I have a similar approach to painting as Martin, but differ than most as armies are centered on a particular period.
Currently, it is the armies and enemies of Early Imperial Rome.
In many cases, enemies may have similar weapons or clothing style making excess figures useful.
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Post by Baldie on Mar 6, 2023 17:23:03 GMT
I have a similar approach to painting as Martin, but differ than most as armies are centered on a particular period. Currently, it is the armies and enemies of Early Imperial Rome. In many cases, enemies may have similar weapons or clothing style making excess figures useful. Great period
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Post by Dave Hollin on Mar 7, 2023 9:13:45 GMT
I like to prevaricate for a few years first then leave em on side for a while. oiy....thats my technique! Keep yer mitts off! Patented that I'll have you know
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Post by Ken Gordon on Mar 7, 2023 19:34:26 GMT
I like to prevaricate for a few years first then leave em on side for a while. oiy....thats my technique! Keep yer mitts off! Patented that I'll have you know Keep them long enough guys and they’ll be antiques - and actually worth something!
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Post by Baldie on Mar 7, 2023 20:17:21 GMT
oiy....thats my technique! Keep yer mitts off! Patented that I'll have you know Keep them long enough guys and they’ll be antiques - and actually worth something! Which I am sure Gemma will appreciate when she inherits them
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Post by Dave Hollin on Mar 8, 2023 15:51:37 GMT
Keep them long enough guys and they’ll be antiques - and actually worth something! Which I am sure Gemma will appreciate when she inherits them always an upside....
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Post by redwilde on Apr 30, 2023 2:23:25 GMT
I tend to approach each one by whatever seems to make sense for that project. Currently diving into a pile of SE Asian armies acquired shortly after the turn of the century. A 2nd edition triple Outpost Cham army got brought to the fore. Trimmed and primed them all way back when, and even did most of the painting of the elephants (not crew yet) somewhere along the way.
For this lot, painting all the stands of one troop type at a time, including campers. Saving the biggest block, which is Auxilia, for last. Will do those one army at a time completing each army in turn.
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