This is amazing!! You have posted an image that actually shows the progression of blank/generic to personalized, spiffy, and realistic and how drastic of a change it makes! And it doesn't look like impossible a task. Who wouldn't want to get to painting after this? Thank you!
This is amazing!! You have posted an image that actually shows the progression of blank/generic to personalized, spiffy, and realistic and how drastic of a change it makes! And it doesn't look like impossible a task. Who wouldn't want to get to painting after this? Thank you!
You're welcome! I guess the step from 3 to 4 looks like the biggest change in detail... but that step only takes like 10 seconds. I think most people just don't know about the different painting techniques available, and how easy most of them are. The only thing you really need is patience... and if you really like your game, and want it to look great on the table, that shouldn't be too much to ask for, I guess.
It looks very similar to the way Flames of War minis are painted. If you're thinking of doing this with your own Memoir set, I would recommend finding/purchasing the Vallejo paints, even though the GW are usually easier to find.
I used the GW paints to paint my FoW pieces a few years back, and although they are all the similar colors... they just don't come out looking quite right.
If you're thinking of doing this with your own Memoir set, I would recommend finding/purchasing the Vallejo paints, even though the GW are usually easier to find.
That's right, although I had no problems finding them at my local games shop. The best thing about the Vallejo paints is that they are cheaper, although they contain almost 50% more paint per bottle. Basically all Games Workshop colors have a Vallejo equivalent with a similar name (as you can see in my tutorial images), which of course is no coincidence. Plus, they have more colors that are specifically meant for military miniatures - greys, browns and greens in camouflage tones.
Still, GW has some nice stuff, especially their washes, which seem a little softer in color and easier to apply (okay, I've just tried the GW "devlan mud" wash, and Vallejo's "black shade", so I can't really compare them yet). The same goes for their normal paints, which feel to apply easier than Vallejo's. After all, however, it depends on what YOU feel more comfortable with. Just try both... I'm even using both.
What size brush do you use to paint so finely? Where does one learn to do this? I now need my figs to look like that.
Concering the brushes, I only have three GW-brushes right now (they don't have their sizes displayed as numbers, so I'm just guessing here):
- a fine-detail brush (I think size 10/0) - a large brush (size 1) - a medium drybrush (size 1 as well, I think, but with short hair)
For all my painting needs I use mostly the large brush, except for hands and face-color of the soldiers, for which I use the fine-detail brush. Any drybrushing (like on the tanks) is done with the drybrush, of course.
And how to learn it? By doing! My Memoir-figures are the first thing I paint, so I learn it by painting them. Of course it helps to read about the different techniques first... Games Workhop has a lot of tutorials about them.
What's the sticking power of the paints you use or do you fix it with something after step 5 to prevent it from being worn away through use? I've been thinking of doing my Tide of Iron miniatures when I have the time/inclination but they'll need some heavy-duty painting due to the need to pop them in and out of their squad bases.
If you want to add an extra detail... do you see the bulge on the rifle 'metal' just above his left hand? That piece is actually wood, so if you wanted to add in an extra touch you could dab that part brown.
If you want to add an extra detail... do you see the bulge on the rifle 'metal' just above his left hand? That piece is actually wood, so if you wanted to add in an extra touch you could dab that part brown.
Yeah, I've found this way too late:
I still have a bunch of soldiers to paint, so I can do it right this time.
Washing hides a lot of little "oops" when painting, I use it a lot. Lots of similar, frequently handled minis can also benefit from "the dip", where you slap on a few base colors, then dip the mini into polyurethane furniture varnish. Brings out all the detail and seals the mini. Drab military stuff works well, as do other bland things, like LNOE zombies.
