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Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: abu iskander on October 22, 2019, 04:01:14 PM

Title: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on October 22, 2019, 04:01:14 PM
Finished my first stand of troops for a SP2 project I've decided to get going on, alongside my main 6mm efforts in SYW and GNW.  Looking to be quick with this - basic/core forces for the Peninsular - French and Anglo-Portuguese.

Around 1 hour per figure for the brushwork, which is mostly CP, but with highlights applied to the flesh and the white elements. Otherwise a pretty straightforward application of the stuff as Rx'ed. I did do a bit of wet blending here and there, which added a negligible amount of time, but can be useful to add some additional subtlety - like mud at the lower ends of trousers, etc.

(https://i.imgur.com/uL9ewSx.jpg)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: OSHIROmodels on October 22, 2019, 04:39:11 PM
Splendid  8)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: DintheDin on October 22, 2019, 06:19:38 PM
Very well painted, indeed!
You've done a great job, especially on their faces!
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: Shahbahraz on October 22, 2019, 08:02:39 PM
I particularly like how neat the basing is. I always manage to mess mine up. It looks like you have done the figures and sabot base together, which I can never get to work, the figure ends up stuck in the hole permanently. Is there a trick to it?
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: Captain Blood on October 22, 2019, 08:32:03 PM
Most handsome paintwork  :)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on October 23, 2019, 05:26:59 PM
Thanks gentlemen. Has been an easy build so far, am really endeavoring to be economical with the time spent.

Shahbaraz - I'm not sure if there's a trick per se, but I usually grit the base with something like Liquitex artist's stucco or whatever your texture/basing medium is first, with a blank set of washers in the insets. When I remove these I make sure to scrape any residue from the insides of the depressions. I'm also meticulous about making sure there's no basing material on the sides of the figure's individual bases when I texture them.When I do the first layer of paint I break the figures free if needed before it really sets up. That's about it...

I particularly like how neat the basing is. I always manage to mess mine up. It looks like you have done the figures and sabot base together, which I can never get to work, the figure ends up stuck in the hole permanently. Is there a trick to it?
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: LazyStudent on October 23, 2019, 05:41:02 PM
Very nice!

By CP do you mean contrast paints? How do you find them to work with? Are you doing any special prep work for them?

LS :)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on October 23, 2019, 07:10:52 PM
Thanks, LS, I do mean Contrast Paint -- it has a bit of learning curve, and its properties vary by shade a bit, so took some time for me to get comfortable going beyond the test phase... I recommend this video (1hour 40 min, by the way) if you want to get a good handle on the stuff.

No special prep, just use a smooth primer and prep your figures as usual.
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: Phyllion on October 23, 2019, 07:56:01 PM
Really fine work to get these so quick and make the Contrast sing. I’ve been mulling over something similar with plastics in AWI.
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: LazyStudent on October 23, 2019, 08:13:03 PM
Hi Abu iskander,
Thanks for the hints! I'll watch the video at some point, when I have time. I'm still at the mulling over the cost-benefit stage for contrast paints!
Do you intended to try contrast paints on your 6mm chaps? I've read a few articles saying they work well.
LS :)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on October 23, 2019, 10:33:21 PM
Happy to help, LS.

No plans to use them on the 6mm. I've tried it on the horses and didn't like the finish as much as my layered forced contrast approach, nor did it really save much time on those. For reasons based on how the paint/glaze is formulated, I think these are better suited to models with higher relief and somewhat larger surfaces.
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on October 25, 2019, 09:01:58 PM
Added the foliage to the first base.

(https://i.imgur.com/V8ZzXT4.jpg)

And brushwork done on the next group.

(https://i.imgur.com/v78trUg.jpg)

On to some grenadiers and dragoons...
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: DintheDin on October 26, 2019, 02:00:09 PM
They are stunning!
Neat painting and the colors pop!
And the faces! Oooh!  :-*
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on November 01, 2019, 11:51:53 AM
RHA crew next up along with 'not' Obediah. Neither so speedy, but needed one gun team for this project. More characters to follow, then will be glad to return to some simpler French uniforms for a bit...

(https://i.imgur.com/2CoM9ZX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/0KwAo0i.jpg)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: FlyXwire on November 01, 2019, 12:39:24 PM
They look great!

(liking that you're basing them as "rounders", but with sabot trays, and that the seams between are nicely disguised)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on November 03, 2019, 07:22:55 PM
Thanks FxW, planning to use them for SP2.  Here's the next batch - some French this time (More WL - not their best sculpts, imo) and a shock marker. Planning to make one of these for each group - so more in the queue below...

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

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

(https://i.imgur.com/XUxl7qO.jpg)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on November 08, 2019, 11:50:50 PM
Slow progress this week but got a couple of officers done. More time consuming than the line troops.

(https://i.imgur.com/hB1KMJ5.jpg)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: gamer Mac on November 09, 2019, 12:12:21 AM
Lovely work :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: OSHIROmodels on November 09, 2019, 12:46:50 AM
Any progress is good progress and this is good progress  8)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on November 14, 2019, 09:28:58 PM
Thanks, slow but steady yet again for the time being.  Need to get through the characters and casualties and back to line troops!

Have been contemplating modeling some sort of flying dirt effect but thinking I'll leave him at this stage for now, tho I'll address some small details the camera shows more than the eye.

(https://i.imgur.com/0f0HocR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kcGgaQV.jpg)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: Maddoc on November 15, 2019, 12:53:38 PM
Love the addition of the cannonball too!
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: LazyStudent on November 15, 2019, 01:10:32 PM
Really nice base! Loads of character and movement.

How are you finding the contrast paints? Still good? :)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on November 18, 2019, 12:38:11 AM
Thanks, gentlemen.  LS - the CP is still working well, tho I'm a bit bogged down in the special figures at the moment, where I'm doing more additional detail, so for some if these it's really just a base coat.

Continuing to plug along a few figures at a time. Glad I won't be painting many drummers for SP2. Quite meticulous at this scale...

(https://i.imgur.com/eYBO0Pl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/l0Ue33V.jpg)

Really liking the Offensive Miniatures casualty packs, which will really contribute to the overall project in some way or another.  Two of the more novel on the go here along with some other Victrix casualties and a hussar (which still needs a little tweaking).

(https://i.imgur.com/hwU8822.jpg)

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

(https://i.imgur.com/ijs5EEG.jpg)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on November 26, 2019, 01:23:55 AM
A couple more additions - slow and steady again.

My first deployment point, need to add some more entourage or clutter, of a subtle variety to give it a bit more of a 'lived in' look. But the scene is blocked in...

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

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

Start of some Legere - have most of the group done, but need a break from white piping before I finish the group and base them. Hope to have some good unbroken time over the upcoming US holiday weekend.

(https://i.imgur.com/9jUlPum.jpg)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on December 02, 2019, 07:14:02 PM
A little more progress over the weekend - now over 50% done with the French foot. One more group of Legere and 2 of Grenadiers (One of these nearly done, note them in the background) to go. And pushing through some more dragoons. They need a little adjusting here and there before I'll be happy with them. But it's been awhile since working on them and my approach to the CP has been evolving, so no surprise there.

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

(https://i.imgur.com/fDRSJUb.jpg)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on December 08, 2019, 01:18:08 AM
A little more progress.

13th Cuirassier - uniform was brown with wine-red facings, so unique among the regiments. Also, the only heavy French cavalry in the Peninsular.

(https://i.imgur.com/lj4m6Jw.jpg)

And a start on my Vistula Lancers.

(https://i.imgur.com/D5hxRAG.jpg)

Been a bit distracted lately, as I scored a Perry ACW Battle in a Box set for a mere $60, so couldn't resist messing around with them a bit.

(https://i.imgur.com/7xUXmSj.jpg?1)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on December 22, 2019, 04:01:33 PM
A DP in progress.  I'm going to keep the tree removable for storage as well as to be able to have the option to use different trees for different campaign locations.  All Perry sculpts.

(https://i.imgur.com/ujr50t3.jpg)

Some French command - a mix of Victrix and others.

(https://i.imgur.com/lWpjLMJ.jpg)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: tomrommel1 on December 23, 2019, 07:12:45 AM
nice project
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: wmyers on December 24, 2019, 05:50:05 AM
Very nice figures!

May I ask which Contrast Paints colours you used for the British trousers?  Was it over a certain base colour?

Also, you referenced a video on the first page of the thread, but it does not appear to be there.  Do you have a working link?

(Oh! and the angle you took the photo of the British sergeant, I could not see the photograph inside his shako)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: Silent Invader on December 24, 2019, 06:28:36 AM
Very nice progress - I have a load ready to paint..... maybe one day  :D
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on December 24, 2019, 03:46:52 PM
Thanks gentlemen.

I've been painting over mostly the Wraithbone base.  For the light colored trousers, I've been applying a very dilute mix of the medium with a bit of Space Wolves Grey and Skelton Horde.  Then I'll wet blend in some darker brown here or there at the trouser leg or in deep creases. It's a one off process every time, but very quick.  Just keep it very thin and add more layers if you need to get more saturation or want to modulate the off-white one way or the other.

wmyers - here's the link to the video I must have forgotten to attach earlier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jla40wPw7_U (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jla40wPw7_U)


Very nice figures!

May I ask which Contrast Paints colours you used for the British trousers?  Was it over a certain base colour?

Also, you referenced a video on the first page of the thread, but it does not appear to be there.  Do you have a working link?

(Oh! and the angle you took the photo of the British sergeant, I could not see the photograph inside his shako)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: wmyers on December 25, 2019, 12:48:21 AM
Thank you for the link and the information! 
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on February 07, 2020, 10:42:04 PM
Been ramping back up on this project, after some pesky real life distractions, such as work. A necessary evil for most or all of us, I suppose.  Recently got an inexpensive 3D printer, for terrain making purposes. So have also been putting it through its paces.

A few new figures to add to the Peninsular and ACW builds...

(https://i.imgur.com/yyONJl5.jpg)

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

(https://i.imgur.com/FNhpff0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/V3x0p4z.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Hv3kGkM.jpg)

And the beginnings of some printed terrain. Which will need some texturing, for the stucco, at the very least, but seems like a sensible way forward here.

(https://i.imgur.com/c1V5t5T.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/OZhgvq6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/qxV4Z9E.jpg)

Going to see if I can make some sabot movement trays that are more satisfactory than what's commercially available as well. Did a little work in TinkerCAD, and plan to do a test print with this first prototype and see what needs tweaking -- Ensure the washers fit properly (not always exactly 25mm/1"), and thin the whole base down a bit. I’ve never been a big fan of the thicker plinth of the commercially off the shelf variety. These are cut all the way through, and I'll eliminate the bottom mdf layer. Instead I'll laminate to sheet magnet.

(https://i.imgur.com/oT34Z6B.png)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on February 09, 2020, 08:45:25 PM
My most ambitious print yet:

(https://i.imgur.com/ZTV3wmM.jpg)

A bit of touch up today before I finish the basing process. Shock marker for the 13th Cuirassier.

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

Dragoons in skirmish order for SP2:

(https://i.imgur.com/1itfmoc.jpg)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: FreakyFenton on February 09, 2020, 08:57:48 PM
Top job!
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: tomrommel1 on February 10, 2020, 06:55:45 AM
Your 3D prints are nice indeed. Which printer do you use?
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: William Bath 2 on February 10, 2020, 10:09:39 AM
Which printer did you buy and what model did you use and where did you get it from? Can you post a link?
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on February 11, 2020, 01:01:02 AM
Thanks all.

It's a Lotmaxx SC-10.  The file is the Church -- you'll have to dig through here to find it.

https://holvi.com/shop/6GWBSw/product/944270329beb8c7b2b829ac5ca728927/ (https://holvi.com/shop/6GWBSw/product/944270329beb8c7b2b829ac5ca728927/)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: abu iskander on March 06, 2020, 05:02:22 PM
Lancer troops ready for basing for the Peninsular project...here's the group:

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

With these 4 being newly painted:

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

Also, painted on of my home-brewed 3d Printed sabot bases. Much better to my eye, as it's lower profile than the mdf stuff.

(https://i.imgur.com/eLdJN7C.jpg)

And lastly, getting down to the artillery pieces... (only 3 infantry groups left to finish the French at this point):


(https://i.imgur.com/xFW7ycX.jpg?1)
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: Malamute on March 06, 2020, 05:41:14 PM
Excellent stuff, really enjoying seeing these come together ;D
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: Ceeteegee on March 07, 2020, 11:43:42 AM
Great thread and great work. Having been pressed into Napoleonics; a little inspiration it just what I need.
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: flatpack on March 07, 2020, 01:22:38 PM
Great painting and great characters
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: DintheDin on March 07, 2020, 04:40:19 PM
Neat paintjobs and beautiful horses! And the cannon is one of the best painted I've seen!
Title: Re: Sharp Practice - a 'speed build'
Post by: rumacara on March 08, 2020, 09:13:17 AM
Great project. :-* :-* :-*
Will follow with great interest.