I don’t tend to use contrast/speed paints over just a basic primer, regardless of whatever the instructions say! I normal do a rough and ready drybrush/layer in a more specific colour over the various basic areas, which i find adds more depth/difference to the colours?
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I did drybrush a lighter tone over the grey, but it more or less just highlighted, it was quite light. I think what you’re describing sounds good, need to decide if I will invest the time.
On the ogre, yes, possibly could avoid stripping. Will have to see if I can find a colour scheme I am happy with as first order of business.
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Sounds good.
It’s really just adding that extra tone in places that need it, which makes it work? I really doesn’t have to be anything precise and is pretty quick to do on batch models
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Firstly, i would say, @Rory cut yourself some slack. I can see texture, depth and time taken to paint inside the lines as it were. Quite often, it’s only after the first twenty or so have been painted, that you start to get a feel for the minature. You should see some of my Northern Alliance Clansmen. I had to strip them back they were that bad, and then lightly repaint them before i stripped the detail as well as the paint. Thankfully, the later ones aren’t as bad, so i’ve stuck the worst into the middle of a horde were they wont be seen much. I’m now going back and redoing the miniatures with a little TLC and their bases too.
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These models are fine for tabletop-ready.
In my experience, there’s a level of painting that goes “easy” (see my gobz here) which is my tabletop standard.
For these goblins, I use the three-layer approach (base colour, shade, highlights) with a three-colour palette for a total of nine paints/inks(1) used on the models. This approach looks grand from a distance and I can paint these guys in batches of 5-7, so a regiment is roughly 9 evenings (of 60-90 minutes) of painting.
Anything beyond this (for instance, this boat) takes an extraordinary amount of time and I am usually not content with the end result. This means that I stick to my “tabletop standard” for 90% of my models. Only single models that are larger than infantry/cavalry get special treatment.
This is my approach and it works fine. Painting like this keeps me relaxed and keeps me enjoying this part of the hobby. I probably will not win “best painted” but that’s not a goal I set for myself. My armies are fine for playing the game and look great on the table, from a distance. This is my personal goal and I expect nothing more from myself.
As for my opponents, I appreciate if they have some progress in their painting. I don’t mind playing against a proxy or empty base, as long as it’s not the same proxy every time or an army that’s completely empty bases! I appreciate to play against an army with a fully painted army, no matter the quality!
~Vince
(1) actually, I used only 8. The skin colour is contrast paint + highlight.
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To an extent here the issue is I have a decent range of Speedpaints, but I find that they way they are actually coming up over the grey primer I applied is not what I anticipated. Really glad I didn’t prime these in black, I almost did.
Yeah, any of the transparent paints really depend on what you are putting them on top off. Slapchop was all the rage but I found that it needed too much dry brushing to get the overall lightness. I like to put down some Gloss Nuln Oil over either white or, if you are feeling spicy, a nice peachy flesh tone. Then put the speed paint over that. I guess when my bottle of the gloss shade is gone I’ll have to try and make some. It’s also possible to use an oil wash but you might need to protect the primer, depending.
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Ogres, take 2.
So, did a partial strip on some of the more extensively painted ogres, and re-primed, and started over.
I’m still not that happy, if I’m honest, but at this stage I’m just eager to get something to the table. This is only 13 models, and if they’re still annoying me in a year then I’ll put the time aside to strip them completely and start from scratch. By then, I hope I would have a more efficient process, and know better what I’m doing. I feel like I made a tonne of mistakes with these guys.
Anyway, the main request at home is that my sons wanted fleshier tones, the deep red skin didn’t do it for them. That’s going to enable me to turn out ogres with a variety of hair colours, I guess.
The copper armour here doesn’t quite work for me. I may stick with it, but I’d like to try a few bronze options. I have one bronze I really like, but I want to save that for the EOD army they’ll be facing off against.
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Ogres done.
Thinking about multi basing now, and just curious how I should aporoach priming and undercoating before gluing down the Base Ready, if going for a desert theme.
I was going to prime with a cream and then go darker, but obviously yellow / desert can mean very different tones. I was thinking of using a basalt sort of brown… Not like a bright sun yellow. But is there any reason to go on the darker side? Tips welcome.
