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Miniatures Adventure => Pikes, Muskets and Flouncy Shirts => Topic started by: Rob_bresnen on 14 October 2012, 12:13:17 AM

Title: How to paint red?
Post by: Rob_bresnen on 14 October 2012, 12:13:17 AM
I have a F+IW army in mind, and have been looking how to paint my British army. I was wondering how you guys like to paint the red of the British Red Coat.

My usual method for painting red is to use GW Blood Red over a yellow base coat- but it is time consuming and generally goes on a bit 'thick' thus obscuring some details. It also has a tenancy to be patchy.

Any tips would be welcome indeed.
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Johnno on 14 October 2012, 03:16:56 AM
I use GW paints and paint MY reds as follows:

Black base coat
Khorne Red base coat
Shade: Carroburg Crimson
Layer: Khorne Red on raised portions only leaving darker shadows
Layer 2/Highlight: Evil Sunz Scarlet

I don't know how this colour would match a more historical red though...
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 14 October 2012, 04:49:14 AM
I go for a deep brown base coat followed by an old GW red (scab red I think) that's on it's last legs then just a lighter red depending what my hand reaches for in the red/yellow paint draw  lol

cheers

James
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Yankeepedlar01 on 14 October 2012, 09:16:40 AM
I use the Foundry 'British Redcoat' triad, with a final highlight of Foundry 'Bright Red'. Works for me.
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Rob_bresnen on 14 October 2012, 09:31:42 AM
I use the Foundry 'British Redcoat' triad, with a final highlight of Foundry 'Bright Red'. Works for me.

Off a black base coat?
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Yankeepedlar01 on 14 October 2012, 10:35:03 AM
Off a black base coat?
No, always white, don't ever use black.
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Malamute on 14 October 2012, 10:39:18 AM
No, always white, don't ever use black.

Same for me. I usually use a brown base coat like the old GW scorched brown followed by Vallego deep red, then a mid red followed by a scarlet highlight.
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Galloping Major on 14 October 2012, 11:24:24 AM
I think the main problem is that most manufacturers' reds (and a lot of yellows) are a bit translucent for working over black or dark brown bases, which is why a lot of folk resort to yellow or white under red. The best red I ever had for covering power was the Humbrol acrylic of 20-odd years ago - bought another one recently, sadly not as good.  :-I

I agree with the above comments, good pragmatic stuff, and some good recipes  :)

I'm currently (rather spasmodically) painting some provincials with red waistcoats and facings. The colour combination I've ended up with over a black undercoat (actually I've come round to undercoating grey then a heavy wash of black to make the details more easily visible to work on) is:
Base - Foundry Madder Red Shade or GW Scab Red - James, it's still available  :)
Mid - Foundry Scarlet Light
Highlight - Foundry Bright Red Light
I haven't tried the Redcoat "triad" yet.

I may move away from this a little bit for my regulars (when I have some ready  ;) ), one thing to be wary of is ending up with too vivid a red for the British squaddie of this time, scarlet for soldiers was a relatively cheap colour of cloth,that of officers and sergeants being better.

www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Christian on 14 October 2012, 12:21:29 PM
I don't tend to worry so much about the basecoat, but generally use black.

I will then use my old Mechrite Red Foundation Paint. I go over that with a watered down wash with some black gesso (water-based undercoat, really cheap).

Once that has dried, I highlight with some really bright red. My latest one is Vallejo's Carmine Red 70908. I might mix that with some orange to really bring it out.

I also always add water to my paints before painting them on to a miniature.
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 14 October 2012, 12:58:17 PM
GW Scab Red - James, it's still available  :)

But is it the same recipe?  ;)

cheers

James
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Galloping Major on 14 October 2012, 01:17:53 PM
But is it the same recipe?  ;)


James, I can't swear to it, I had a pot ages ago which dried out eventually, but it looks pretty much the same to me.  :)
It paints over black pretty well and is a good deep colour, other reds go over it nicely.  8)

Cheers,
Lance

www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 14 October 2012, 03:11:36 PM
James, I can't swear to it, I had a pot ages ago which dried out eventually, but it looks pretty much the samec to me.  :)
It paints over black pretty well and is a good deep colour, other reds go over it nicely.  8)

Cheers,
Lance

www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

Thanks Lance, I'll give it a go if I can be brave enough to go in  ::) lol

cheers

James
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Svennn on 14 October 2012, 03:20:40 PM
I do my reds with craft paints starting with a burgundy and finishing with one called Holly Berry from Inscribe.

James, mail order it you great wuss.  I fully understand where you are coming from though, just not worth the experience involved to cross their threshold
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 14 October 2012, 07:04:25 PM
James, mail order it you great wuss.

 ;D bugger off you  ;D

Anyway, you've got to register and I really can't be bothered with all that and the postage for one pot of paint that I can probably get my missus to buy for me  :D

cheers

James
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Captain Blood on 14 October 2012, 07:56:29 PM
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/11/577_01_10_12_6_21_05_0.jpg)

Black undercoat
GW Blood red cut with 10% black as a basecoat
GW Blood red top coat
GW Blood red cut with increasing amounts of Vallejo Flat Yellow for highlight coats.
The topmost highlight has a lot more yellow than red in the mix.

GW Evil Sunz Scarlet is the best substitute for the GW discontinued Blood Red. In fact, it's already a bit yellower.
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Bugsda on 15 October 2012, 02:45:23 AM
Plaka 23 Siignal Rot, redder than Lennin  :)
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Aaron on 15 October 2012, 12:23:36 PM
If you want a more "historical" brick red you can try Valejo burnt cadmium red, cavalry brown, and flat red. I use a highlight of scarlet for officers. If you want a faded look, mix in some red leather and/or orange brown. I almost always prime black. It comes out looking like this:

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/3/520_21_07_09_2_35_05_1.jpg)
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: dampfpanzerwagon on 15 October 2012, 01:19:44 PM
Just to add my two-pennies worth;

Over a Black undercoat
Blood Red mixed with some Dark Green for the base.
Blood Red for the mid coat and highlight.

I find that Red does not need a final highlight.

You can always wash with Red Wash.

Tony

Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Captain Blood on 15 October 2012, 01:33:47 PM
Blood Red mixed with some Dark Green for the base.

Interesting - sounds like a proper artist's trick that one  ;)
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: Froggy the Great on 15 October 2012, 01:39:17 PM
Purple-black for the basecoat, then up through the Reaper MSP "Painter's-Blood" triad, if I'm being careful.  If I have a lot of redcoats, I just use MSP Clotted Red thinned over white primer and that nearly self-highlights.
Title: Re: How to paint red?
Post by: TheBlackCrane on 15 October 2012, 05:15:51 PM
Just to throw another option in, I use a mix of paints, and best result I've had is usually through black base, followe dby a lightish brown and then 'cardinal red' from the FolkArt range, then highlighted by mixing a little white in with the red to produce a lighter shade. Although having seen Captain Blood's photos I think I might just go home now  :)

Otherwise, I've also found Tamiya acrylic hull red as a good basecoat for reds (it's nigh-on brown), although it does sometimes require a couple of coats for good coverage.