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Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: Redshank on September 20, 2021, 03:31:17 AM

Title: British Peninsular - first efforts
Post by: Redshank on September 20, 2021, 03:31:17 AM
I bought a box of plastic Warlord Peninsular British infantry to have a go on, because the mega box of ACW epic scale doom was starting to pall.

(https://i.imgur.com/xLMNeli.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/K0kenDS.jpg)

Mostly done with Army Painter.

Still plenty of rough edges. My two main issues are detail/fiddly bits with base coats, and highlighting. (You know, the parts that require some actual skill.) But with the chap on the right in the first shot, I finally feel I am getting somewhere.

About a week ago I was thinking of a post to ask what people do if they love minis but just aren't very good at painting - I was seriously thinking I might not be able to reach even my own minimum standard so that I felt I wasn't actively ruining the minis I set brush to. Darkest light before the dawn, and all that.

Clearly there is a lot of progress still to be made and I doubt I will ever be up the standard of many on these forums. But I really needed some sense it was at least possible to make some progress, and that is what I got from the way this guy turned out.

(Of course the one that came out best would have to be the one that looks like he is fiddling with himself, but such is life.)
Title: Re: British Peninsular - first efforts
Post by: Digits on September 20, 2021, 07:11:48 AM
I for one think they look fine! 

Are you looking to paint big numbers of them?  Maybe do another couple then base them up?  You may get a better feel for how they will look on the table? 
Title: Re: British Peninsular - first efforts
Post by: vodkafan on September 20, 2021, 09:00:52 AM
The standard of your painting does look fine and neat enough. Personally I don't like the army painter brown technique, but that is  just a personal preference for me, and lots of other people do.
 Your post struck a chord, I constantly worry that my painting skills can't do justice to my figures, especially when I have fell in love with particular figures during the cleaning up process.
It is a mental block that actually impedes my progress. Failing eyesight adds to the angst.
Keep at it. The great thing is that I find, is that none of it matters once my troops are on the table, I just enjoy the fact that I have painted them and they are representing me in some way in the game.
Title: Re: British Peninsular - first efforts
Post by: Huggy on September 20, 2021, 11:46:37 AM
I feel you. I am not blessed with any great painting talent. But I remind myself that painted figures are better than non painted miniatures.
Title: Re: British Peninsular - first efforts
Post by: Cubs on September 20, 2021, 01:35:20 PM
Nice work, well done you. I never got on with the oil-based Army Painter 'dip', but I do use inks and washes extensively. I think with the crisp detailing of modern models (especially the plastics), a basic coat of the colour with a wash over the top is a great way to bring out the best in them quickly and effectively. You can always use lighter or darker shades to get more/less shadow on the model and adding a black wash to the deep creases and crevices (groin, armpits, just under the hat brim) gives even more depth.
Title: Re: British Peninsular - first efforts
Post by: Redshank on September 21, 2021, 12:24:17 AM
Thanks for the kind words chaps

Your post struck a chord, I constantly worry that my painting skills can't do justice to my figures, especially when I have fell in love with particular figures during the cleaning up process.

I was hoping my short tea-time of the soul might provide some inspiration to others!

The great thing is that I find, is that none of it matters once my troops are on the table, I just enjoy the fact that I have painted them and they are representing me in some way in the game.

I feel you. I am not blessed with any great painting talent. But I remind myself that painted figures are better than non painted miniatures.

Great points. I lack much opportunity to get figures on the table at the moment but this must make a huge difference. I was getting fed up with the amount of mistakes I was making with the epic ACWs and my massive quality gap vs supposedly practical youtube painting guides, but now I think I was being a bit daft - once X dozen or hundred of them are out on the table, who will notice?

Are you looking to paint big numbers of them?  Maybe do another couple then base them up?  You may get a better feel for how they will look on the table? 

I might as well paint up the box. My figures choice is fairly limited at the moment as I am working abroad until Christmas and don't want to pay silly money for delivery; basically, locally you have access to a limited selection of warlord and some fantasy/SF stuff. I thought I could get some practice in before I return to the unpainted stuff at home.
Title: Re: British Peninsular - first efforts
Post by: Roo on September 21, 2021, 06:39:19 AM
They look great.  There are some incredible artists on this forum that create miniatures to drool over and some of them push batttalions out at a rate most of us could never match. Find a technique that works as you have and keep going the collective result will be greater than the sum parts and to be they ain’t too shoddy.  You lead pile at home will be waiting with great anticipation.  Bravo!
Title: Re: British Peninsular - first efforts
Post by: steders on September 23, 2021, 09:30:40 AM
Look Good
I have a few battalions to paint up for the Peninsular, I'm going to try contrast paints.
I just finished off some lads for the Crimean using contrast and I was pleasantly surprised by how well they worked.
Title: Re: British Peninsular - first efforts
Post by: has.been on September 23, 2021, 10:24:04 AM
They are fine, stop beating yourself up over them.
The more you paint the better they will become.
Try looking at them from three foot (a meter) away,
that is the distance they will often be viewed at.

Thin washes, army painter, dry-brushing, contrast paints
and a myriad of other techniques are all worth trying.
You will find a style that suits YOU.
In the meantime paint enough figures for a Skirmish
game & have a play with them. :)
Title: Re: British Peninsular - first efforts
Post by: Redshank on September 26, 2021, 11:30:33 AM
Been watching a few tutorial videos and I was surprised drybrushing doesn't seem to get much of a look-in, whereas if I remember rightly, it was emphasised quite a bit the last time I was doing this (thirty years ago). Maybe it's just the videos I am watching, but people seem to apply wet paint in small amounts to make their highlights. I've tried it but I find it's very easy to go too far and end up looking cartoonish.

Trying another batch with contrast paints so we'll see how that goes!