Painting set-up

[blackstone]

Thought I'd post this here as well as my blog. For years I used old paint pots to hold figures whilst painting but occassionally this lead to access issues with some parts of the figure because the top of the paint pot was often larger than the base of the figure. Then last year I started using a different method inspired by one on the DnD Lead site.  The guy over there was using nails as miniature holders but I ended up using screws instead of nails. Basically by supergluing some coins to the top of a screw you can create a great figure holder. The screw thread gives good grip when handling the figure holder, nice and non-slip!



A cardboard box with holes in will hold many of these in place. This is where the figures go when priming and between painting. By giving the screw a spin when placing them in the holes they bite into the cardboard staying secure.



The way the figure holders grip becomes really useful when priming multiple figures. The whole box can be turned upside down to prime the underside areas without the figures dropping off and many figures can be primed quickly at the same time. As well as turning the box while priming the individual figures can be turned in the hole, a quick way of getting a even coat of primer on lots of figures.

[Damien]

I like your idea, I use paint pots myself, I think I may give this a try. Oh by the way, nice skin tones on the zombies. Who makes them?

Damien

[blackstone]

Most of those figures are (converted) plastic zombies that come with the board game Last night on Earth. Loads of painted examples on BBG

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/29368/last-night-on-earth-the-zombie-game

[Skrapwelder]

Great idea. I just started using wine corks myself, but I don't mount them until after priming. I drove some 4 penny nails up into the corks and then use a magnetic knife rack on the desk to keep them orderly.

[Captain Blood]

Very neat looking solution, although I must say I've never found the need to mount the figure on a bottle top (or whatever) for painting.
I just stick it on a washer as its base and handle it by that. Not sure what the benefit of raising it up in the air is? 

Mounted figures, I do mount on a wire spear shoved into a cork, since otherwise they wouldn't stand up at all.

Ah well, we all have our own ways of doing things 

[blackstone]

Not sure what the benefit of raising it up in the air is?

  From when I wash a figure pre-priming to when it's varnished it I try not to touch the surface of the figure, grease from fingers and all that, that's why I mount them on something. Of cause it may not make a jot of difference

[Captain Blood]

Okay - at least it's a reason I can understand the logic of! Thanks

[Skrapwelder]

For me its simply a case of sausage fingers.

[Major_Gilbear]

It's a good idea, but I wonder how secure larger metal models would be? Personally, I'm not sure I'd trust a penny super glued to a screw would support them well enough, but I'd be interested to know all the same!

I pin all my models into deep bases (3mm+), and prefer painting them off the base; the pins in the feet are a good place to grip with some hemostats while you're painting:



The clamps can be moved and reattached (good if you don't have a permanent painting area like me!), are easy and comfortable to hold (I have big hands and paint slowly...), stable when the model is put down, and - best of all - I can easily get to all parts of the model effortlessly!