Armchair Dragoons Forums

Other Gaming => Arts & Crafts & 3D Printing => Topic started by: BanzaiCat on November 22, 2021, 12:13:08 PM

Title: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: BanzaiCat on November 22, 2021, 12:13:08 PM
Thought I'd start documenting where I'm at with painting some minis for my Shadows of Brimstone game.

Note that what you see here has taken a few minutes here, a few minutes there, over the last four weeks. Not all at once - that's crazy right now.

It all started with this - a bundle of Forbidden Fortress goodness sold at a very good price (this is the third of three Core sets for SoB):

(https://i.imgur.com/TUfDMzY.jpg)

Well, technically, with my trading earlier this year for the City of the Ancients and Swamps of Death core sets. Plus the Frontier Town expansion. And the Feudal Village expansion. And the Prospector character pack, and the Old West Allies pack, and some paint sets/washes, and brushes, and a few other odds and ends. Oh, and the Blasted Wastes expansion, too.

(https://i.imgur.com/Q9Pvo1o.jpg)

BW is supposed to be a hell of a great addition to SoB.

But wait, before you think I have acquisition issues, you should see some of the guys on the Shadows of Brimstone community group on FB.

But anyway.

Upon the advice of these fans, I decided to do one set at a time. It might take me months to get it all done, but that's okay. I decided to start with the Forbidden Fortress core set. Here's the assembly guide for its minis:

(https://i.imgur.com/Ig5jqPy.jpg)

These slowly but surely came together:

(https://i.imgur.com/Pb9W3GC.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3ogvfP7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/mHbdDi2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Pb9W3GC.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/qkQ7pgP.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Z6b34vM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/wPThPH4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/puXxnP7.jpg)

After a bit of research on storage solutions, I decided that the option of gluing a small (20mm-ish) magnet to the underside of the figures, and then using a basic cookie sheet to place them upon, would be the best one. And it works splendidly. That's the box in the lower right corner of the last picture, holding the 20mm magnets I ordered. I thought they may be too small but they work great.
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: BanzaiCat on November 22, 2021, 12:18:15 PM
The next step is priming. At least, according to an awesome YT video I found on painting minis. Honestly, there's so many of the bloody things out there saying "THIS is the best method!" that I just went with the first one, and this guy has a lot of great tips for beginners.



So, I mimicked his priming scheme, using a base coat of black and then putting a light dusting of white from up above. I think it came out very well.

(https://i.imgur.com/6K6dwDJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9Vbl6m3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/8GrKdlH.jpg)

So far, so good, anyway.

I just brought them inside yesterday:

(https://i.imgur.com/L0WGVBF.jpg)

And with a few odds and ends and very little table space, I just need to set up a paint bowl according to the video above (a plastic container like a sandwich container, a soaked, small stack of paper towels with the excess water drained out, and then parchment paper on top. Then, paint will be dabbed on top of that, and the moistness should help keep the paint from drying too quickly - especially if I'm slow, which I foresee.

(https://i.imgur.com/3Ya8jXK.jpg)

I've not gotten to setting up the paint yet - will need an hour or two of uninterrupted time, and that's really going to be a challenge.
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: Undercovergeek on November 22, 2021, 12:38:26 PM
excellent - any paint is better than no paint

nice use of the zenithal there - the videos ive watched utilising it now uuse washes or contrast paints to help the zenithal do its work - otherwise youre just painting over your priming
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: bbmike on November 22, 2021, 12:53:11 PM
Looks like a good start. I recently acquired an unpunched copy of Battle Cry (the first one) and was surprised at how detailed the minis were. It's tempting to try to paint them but it's also easier to just use the blocks from Hold the Line ACW.  ;D
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: bob48 on November 22, 2021, 01:30:52 PM
That should keep you quiet occupied for a good while.
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: Hethwill on November 23, 2021, 08:20:06 AM
Good variety of figures !

Go forth and never look back ! We want to read those AARs and see pretty pics !
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: GROGnadsUSA on November 23, 2021, 05:13:14 PM
Hoi, as 'moi' barely elicited any slight 'chortle' from espying these, so, I am OWED further "laughworthy" prospects, or else ascribe yet another 'topic' of such! Good Day, sirrah!
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: mcguire on November 23, 2021, 06:15:11 PM
Missed a spot.

Yours helpfully,

Me
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: Bison on November 24, 2021, 10:06:43 AM
Nice start! Keep it simple.

Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: BanzaiCat on November 24, 2021, 10:10:31 AM
Thanks, everyone.

I bought another set of paints (didn't think I had enough with just 20, wanted more variety and actual base greens and browns), paintbrush cleaner, and a paint set organizer to keep things neat. The organizer won't fit all my brushes but that's no big deal - it was super cheap and has lots of space. I also got a Citadel Miniatures handle for the 30mm figures. It won't fit the larger ones but I'll figure something out with that.

I just spent a handful of minutes this morning gluing 20mm magnets to the bottom of each figure, so that's all done. I'm hoping to get something started this weekend. I will update with pics if I can get to this.
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: bayonetbrant on November 24, 2021, 10:25:05 AM
GrogNads has a point - you haven't given anything to actually laugh at yet, ergo this thread title is false advertising
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: BanzaiCat on November 24, 2021, 10:38:47 AM
Just you wait
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: Steelie on November 24, 2021, 11:59:40 AM
BC, they sucketh not. You're gonna have to try harder to live up to the subject matter.   :bigthumb:
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: BanzaiCat on November 27, 2021, 03:51:15 PM
Here we go...

Got a short break from everything to try my hand at this.

I'm starting with three larger figures (40mm I think), called 'Oni,' which are large demons from the base Forbidden Fortress set. I painted a base red coat on them and then, assembly-line style, painted another coat as they had plenty of time to dry (I think, anyway...prob about 15 minutes each).

(https://i.imgur.com/DWBw2Hm.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/AZuwb7t.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/naX8t1Y.jpg)

I'm relatively happy with the results, though they seem splotchy. I don't know, I don't have much of a base of reference.

Do you mini painters out there ever do three layers of paint? Or maybe I should just leave it as is. I don't want to lay it on too thick.
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: bob48 on November 27, 2021, 04:39:24 PM
There are many techniques for shading and highlighting and using acrylic inks, but although tips from painters are useful, there is really no substitute for experimentation and gaining experience.
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: Bison on November 27, 2021, 08:06:18 PM
Looking good.

Red, yellow, and white are all very translucent colors so they tend to show the colors underneath. I suspect what you are seeing is your "salt and pepper" white/black base coat still showing through your paint. So yes, sometimes it takes three layers especially if you are thinning your paints. Thin your paints. Once you move onto zenithal highlighting, you can use the undercoat as shade/highlight technique.

The key is not to be overly critical and just learn from the process. No matter what they will still be the best painted Oni on your table. :)
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: BanzaiCat on November 27, 2021, 09:07:02 PM
Thanks guys, I'll do that.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: Bison on November 28, 2021, 12:22:54 AM
If I were you, I would invest in some Citadel washes. They are IMHO the best shades on the market. The washes are easier to work with than inks because they are much more forgiving to new painter mistakes. They pop out details with minimal effort. I recommend the following colors: Agrax Earthshade, Rekland Flesh, and Nuln Oil. You can add colors based on your pallet but these cover most situations when starting out. I actually only use the famous Nuln Oil on silver metals and grey colors. It's black and really overly darkens other colors. 

I know a lot of people love the Army Painter "tone" washes but I have never used them and cannot speak to their effectiveness. I have used Vallejo washes and hate them but I do love Vallejo inks.
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: Undercovergeek on November 28, 2021, 03:51:26 AM
Citadel all the way - the 3 mentioned plus seraphim sepia for a lighter brown wash
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: BanzaiCat on November 28, 2021, 09:14:22 AM
I already bought some washes - though they're Vallejo/Game Wash. Got them a couple of weeks ago. Hoping they'll be good enough.
Title: Re: My Laughable Painting Attempts
Post by: Bison on November 28, 2021, 11:29:00 AM
I already bought some washes - though they're Vallejo/Game Wash. Got them a couple of weeks ago. Hoping they'll be good enough.

Hopefully, you have a better experience with them than I did. The washes left drying rings last time I used them. But people do use them all the time without the issues I had.