Tips for painting 20mm ww2?

[.:Gunslinger:.]

Hi LAFers,

I recently made the transition from 28mm to 20mm WW2, because I want to play bigger games and have more terrain on my tables. Also I grew quite tired of the cartoony faces on many of the 28mm miniatures nowadays...

However, having painted only in 28mm until now, I struggle with 20mm. I painted many details on my 28mm's, especially on the faces.
Now I've tried doing the same on the 20's and it just doesn't look right. When I put the minis 30cm away from my I don't see any highlighting on the faces etc.
Now I would like to know how to paint the faces in 20mm to make them look convincing from an arm's length distance.
Also for german camo smocks...how to highlight these pieces of equipment?

Any tips (if possible with pictures of your minis) will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Red Sveta]

I find 20mm a bit of a problem to paint, in that the detail is there but too small to see once on the table. I think moving from 28mm to 20mm really does need a style change in painting have a look on the Guild forum page for tutorials. On the whole I would say the highlights need to be bolder and brighter than 28mm but as I say I find it hard work to get a look I like in 20mm, strange thing is I find getting results I like more straight forwards  in 15mm. I am experimenting at the moment in basing 15mm figures to be able to play skirmish games as well as larger actions. Sorry No pictures yet.

[Gunbird]

It's simple really, the smaller the scale, the bolder the highlight to make it pop. But you will need less of them. Go check out the Guild, it's atreasure trove of things 20mm.

www.guildwargamers.com

[Tim]

For faces, I will usually just wash them a darker colour to make them appear to have some relief.  I think a lot of people who paint in this scale do similar.

[Tim]

It's simple really, the smaller the scale, the bolder the highlight to make it pop. But you will need less of them. Go check out the Guild, it's atreasure trove of things 20mm.

www.guildwargamers.com

Good luck trying to get in there!  I've had a user name there and never been activated.  There does not appear to be a way to "contact an administrator" which is mentioned in the FAQ for several questions.  I've always assumed I've been blocked out.

[Gunbird]

Good luck trying to get in there!  I've had a user name there and never been activated.  There does not appear to be a way to "contact an administrator" which is mentioned in the FAQ for several questions.  I've always assumed I've been blocked out.

Your assumption is incorrect. The guys that sold our admins the Forum format are unwilling/unable to fix the messaging system and it has been broken for a good few years now, so quite a few of us keep a look out for posts like yours complaining about it. Pass me a PM for your chosen username and emailadress and I will make sure it will get activated, I will send you a PM when it is done.

It's quite bothersome, downright annoying, but it's the best we can do with the forumware format we at the Guild have.

[wrgmr1]

I use the same method for my 20mm as 28mm.
Burnt sienna base, dark flesh over cheeks, chin, and nose, then 1 drop of dark flesh with 3 drops of flesh high light as a final layer. The third layer on cheeks, chin and nose.
Seems to work for me.