Painting and fixing figures

Painting passable figures without pain or suffering and rapidly fixing up already painted figures.

Problems with commercial painted figures

Popeye! Flat, no contrast Colors too bright and

toy-like or otherwise off.

Bad proportions

What we really want

Shadows and contrast

Grungy working stiffs in messy industries

Faces with some character

Colors closer to what we like

Tools

Good brushes - Winsor Newton's Knife, file, flush cutter and putty for figure prep If you add pins, pin vise, drills Xuron cutter Needle nose pliers for bending Ceramic dish or CD as palette

Art of the quick fix

Acrylic ink washes Dry brushing Judicious touchups

and detailing Weathering powders

Preparation

Trim the flash Add pins if needed Fill holes or carve on problem areas Prime, white grey or sometimes black

Colors

Advantages of working with a limited color palette

Colors that work we together Colors that look good under our lighting

General procedure

Paint in dressing order, from the skin out Try to avoid painting between two already

painted portions Paint several figures at a time

Sloppy painting

Thinned acrylic paints are self shading

A wash of dark acrylic ink can add deep shadow detail to figures

Drybrushing lighter colors pops out highlights

Detail work

Black lining Small details

Eyes

Faces

Special effects

Add gloss for leather or oiled hair Add extra goodies using putty or paper Look at some of the military modeling groups

for true insanity