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Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: olicana on May 14, 2020, 02:03:07 PM

Title: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: olicana on May 14, 2020, 02:03:07 PM
Without wanting to big myself up too much, I've had over a dozen emails in the last two weeks asking for detailed advice on painting with enamels and, strangely to my mind, about my painting station, lighting, etc.

Consequently, I'm doing a series of blog posts which, I hope, will cover most of the bases. The painting with enamels step by step will be on a unit of Coldstream Guards for the Peninsular, hence I'm posting a link to the thread here.

First up is 'The Set Up'. It's a very general piece about my painting station, brushes, lighting, white spirit, PPE, etc. but the links will become very much more Big Battalions very soon, so please bear with me.

https://olicanalad.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-i-paint-in-enamels-part-one-set-up.html (https://olicanalad.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-i-paint-in-enamels-part-one-set-up.html)

I'm not sure how interesting you'll find it but, there are some tick boxes at the bottom of every post and if for you it's "Not my bag",  that's the box to tick.

Regards,

James
Title: Re: By popular demand, painting in enamels, part 1
Post by: robh on May 14, 2020, 02:32:28 PM
I look forward to reading it.

Out of interest (as another enamel user) do you find the new formulation Humbrols lose liquidity and take on a jelly like consistency very quickly?
Title: Re: By popular demand, painting in enamels, part 1
Post by: Bugsda on May 14, 2020, 02:38:02 PM
I remember when Humbrol enamels were the norm and a W&S series 7 would last six weeks at best  :)

I'm now tempted to give them another go.
Title: Re: By popular demand, painting in enamels, part 1
Post by: olicana on May 14, 2020, 02:41:22 PM
I generally use them too quickly to know. In the past, I've found this happens if you get too much white spirit in the pot. I tend to scoop paint onto a pallet rather than 'dip my brush' and I wonder if this helps it not to happen.

I'm not saying it doesn't happen, it does. But, not very often.
Title: Re: By popular demand, painting in enamels, part 1
Post by: SABOT on May 14, 2020, 04:05:59 PM
I’m still using them.

Sometimes there is too much medium t so I stir the pot well then leave the lid off. After 12 hours or so they are far more consistent.
Title: Re: By popular demand, painting in enamels, part 1
Post by: olicana on May 14, 2020, 11:01:40 PM
Part 2. Figure prep.

http://olicanalad.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-i-paint-in-enamels-part-2-figure.html (http://olicanalad.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-i-paint-in-enamels-part-2-figure.html)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HtOmIs--XSs/Xr2m9fj15BI/AAAAAAAAOf8/-iYD-UHH3Rgt0s4mioQ_O4zA7nPLQSvogCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_3308.JPG)
Title: Re: Edit 14:5:20 - By popular demand, painting in enamels, part 2
Post by: Bloggard on May 15, 2020, 12:42:19 PM
excellent - thanks for doing this.
Title: Re: By popular demand, painting in enamels, part 1
Post by: robh on May 15, 2020, 01:26:41 PM
Quote from: SABOT on May 14, 2020, 04:05:59 PM
Sometimes there is too much medium t so I stir the pot well then leave the lid off. After 12 hours or so they are far more consistent.

It is after stirring them well that I am finding the problem. Opening an unmixed pot I can lift out some thick pigment on a dowel and palette mix it without problem. But if it is a pot that I have mixed well to syringe out a quantity for airbrushing I find that the next time I open the pot the mix has become like sloppy jelly rather than the thick liquid consistency expected of enamels.
I have this over a selection of colours all purchased in the past 6 months or so. I am thinking the problem is with the medium.
Title: Re: By popular demand, painting in enamels, part 1
Post by: Bloggard on May 15, 2020, 08:51:49 PM
Quote from: robh on May 15, 2020, 01:26:41 PM
It is after stirring them well that I am finding the problem. Opening an unmixed pot I can lift out some thick pigment on a dowel and palette mix it without problem. But if it is a pot that I have mixed well to syringe out a quantity for airbrushing I find that the next time I open the pot the mix has become like sloppy jelly rather than the thick liquid consistency expected of enamels.
I have this over a selection of colours all purchased in the past 6 months or so. I am thinking the problem is with the medium.

blimey, hope this isn't the case - just pretty much completed my set of matts over the past few days ...  :o
Title: Re: Edit 14:5:20 - By popular demand, painting in enamels, part 2
Post by: olicana on May 15, 2020, 11:20:35 PM
I don't use an airbrush. I had a very good one given to me years ago. I found it more trouble than it was worth so somewhere in the world there is a proud new ebay owner.

I think the problem, by all accounts, seems to stem from mixing. I don't mix, I delve, and I don't have the problem - at least not more than usual with enamels. Enamels have always been prone to deterioration in the tin, even over quite small time spans but, I really don't suffer much. Putting lids on properly, quickly, might stop problems but, I can't be bothered - I just bung the tin and open another one. I paint for a living and all business has costs.

Perhaps there is something in this so I will certainly mention it in my next post - I've done the faces and the red coat now, though that is not enough for a post.
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: olicana on May 24, 2020, 11:33:52 PM
Onto the painting itself. It might prove useful to someone.

Link: http://olicanalad.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-i-paint-in-enamels-part-2-figure.html (http://olicanalad.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-i-paint-in-enamels-part-2-figure.html)

Finished result

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JjYgvOF77sM/XsrLdy9Wb5I/AAAAAAAAOl0/RjaxvJxGS8osoRHcmHiulK4C3lQhZxjBgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_3381.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H0G97hmKt5g/XsrLeBpnBeI/AAAAAAAAOl8/wynLQW5dyuwRdd2Bu7iAEne59Xq7hGi6ACPcBGAYYCw/s400/IMG_3382.JPG)
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: gamer Mac on May 25, 2020, 01:24:47 AM
Great looking unit :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: CHALLY on May 25, 2020, 01:45:50 AM
Terrific.
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: Harry Faversham on May 25, 2020, 07:51:02 AM
A great tutorial, really enjoyed reading that, I'm on with the Coldstreams in 10mm at the moment. Am I right in bunging the King's Colour on the left, Regimental Colours on the right looking from behind the unit?

  ???
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: olicana on May 25, 2020, 10:48:30 AM
HF. Go back to the post. I've edited with new photos.

I think it's the right way around now. The Union flag is the company flag (they had one per company and they alternated them on a daily basis), so I think the crimson one is the King's Colour and should go on the right. It's certainly that way in the Osprey plate for 3rd FG at Telavera.
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: robh on May 25, 2020, 10:50:39 AM
Yep, that's how to do it.
Nice confident style, your units always look superb on the table so it really works.
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: has.been on May 25, 2020, 10:53:12 AM
Good job, thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: Harry Faversham on May 25, 2020, 02:55:36 PM
Quote from: olicana on May 25, 2020, 10:48:30 AM
HF. Go back to the post. I've edited with new photos.

Cheers mate...
I've never been one to blow mi' own trumpet, but I think my 10mm 'munchkins', just shade ( ::)) that scruffy shower you're parading as Coldstream Guardsmen.

;D

Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: Bloggard on May 25, 2020, 04:58:58 PM
just bloomin' marvellous. Superb.  :-*

and it was me about the brushes - apologies, coz, true to form I managed to buy the wrong sort: 'rigger' brushes, but with a similar make-name etc. ...

tbh you seem like the Master / magician with this particular approach, and I most certainly doff my cap to you.
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: Hu Rhu on May 26, 2020, 11:53:55 AM
Quote from: Harry Faversham on May 25, 2020, 07:51:02 AM
A great tutorial, really enjoyed reading that, I'm on with the Coldstreams in 10mm at the moment. Am I right in bunging the King's Colour on the left, Regimental Colours on the right looking from behind the unit?

  ???

The correct way is Kings (or Queens) Colour on the right and Regimental colour on the left facing forward.  Hope that helps.
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: olicana on May 26, 2020, 12:41:44 PM
Quote from: Hu Rhu on May 26, 2020, 11:53:55 AM
The correct way is Kings (or Queens) Colour on the right and Regimental colour on the left facing forward.  Hope that helps.

Yes. The problem originated in my original blog post where, out of habit, I placed the flag with the Union pattern on the right.  In most regiments this would be correct because the Union flag is the King's colour. However, this isn't true for the Guards. The guards have ten 'captains / company' flags with the Union pattern, and the King's colour is the plain crimson one. In consequence, the flag positions in Guards regiments tend to look the opposite to regular line regiments. Easy mistake to make if you don't engage your brain, but it's all sorted now.

Flags in the Guards the right way around:
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djm-5X7fw_g/XsuSeyVgogI/AAAAAAAAOmY/XemJ260j1e8Q2LRWaDRhWbTGoqshlN2BQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3393.JPG)

Flags for Line the right way around (note this looks opposite to the guards):
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FygSY78zNkE/Xq1E3QAxLiI/AAAAAAAAOcY/HsDTU5PQqt8bt6H5Jp3rMq24dxUZelNSgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_3290.JPG)

On the subject of the guards, their officers are a right old bunch of toffs. Until very, very recently, guards officers were not allowed to use public transport, including buses and the tube, though I believe the train and taxis were OK (so as not to associate with plebs) or to carry parcels (because any self respecting guards officer should have a man to carry stuff for him, including his parcels and his hat).
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: Harry Faversham on May 26, 2020, 01:34:48 PM
Quote from: olicana on May 26, 2020, 12:41:44 PM
On the subject of the guards, their officers are a right old bunch of toffs. Until very, very recently, guards officers were not allowed to use public transport, including buses and the tube, though I believe the train and taxis were OK (so as not to associate with plebs) or to carry parcels (because any self respecting guards officer should have a man to carry stuff for him, including his parcels and his hat).

I employ a 'man' to dip mi' paint brushes....

 :P
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: Harry Faversham on May 28, 2020, 12:27:21 PM
I've just re-read the painting articles and am wondering If I've missed a page? Is there anything about they type of varnish used, only a supreme optimist or lunatic, would have the bottle to trust Humbrol matt varnish!

:o
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: olicana on May 28, 2020, 01:57:15 PM
I paint in enamels, so they don't need varnish. Toughness is one of the beauties of enamels.

The only problem I've ever had was with my Renegade Miniatures Punic Wars range figures which chipped something rotten until I was told they use a greasy release agent (rather than a talc) in casting. Once I knew that, after thoroughly washing the figures in concentrated bleach, then rinsing thoroughly with water, the problem went away. I understand they are well known for chipping, with any kind of paint, because the undercoat can't find purchase if they are not first washed in strong detergent.
Title: Re: Edit 24:5:20 - Coldstreams painted in enamels, step by step.
Post by: Harry Faversham on May 28, 2020, 03:45:56 PM
Thanks for that.