Painting a Medieval Castle Display

[TabletopWorkshop]

Hi, so we've just finishing off our design which is a medieval castle display. We want to showcase this in the office but the problem is our painting skills aren't the best. Anyone painted medieval fortifications before have any ideas on paints and tips for painting? Also we'd love it if anyone had any ideas in how to decorate our display to make the castle look better!
Cheers, Dan

[snitcythedog]

It would help to have an image of the castle or part of the castle.  
My general rule of thumb is to approximate the color pallet of the rock that I am trying to imitate.  Generally I prime black and then work highlights up.  With a stone texture it should bring out the texture well.  Another thing that is helpful is to use a varied color pallet.  Mix highlights with varying shades of brown and gray all over the whole build.   Using the multiple colors makes the stones look like they have weathered together.
For the basing, That is up to you.  I always try to vary the vegetation because most areas do not have a nicely planted and manicured lawn.  Again seeing the base will give me a better basis for making suggestions.
Snitchy sends.  

[fastolfrus]

Decide on a colour scheme first - Bolton or Scarborough look different to Burg Elz.

Aren't you based in North Yorks?
If you want it painted, fetch it to our school club and I'll ask the art teacher to help out.

[TabletopWorkshop]

Thanks for the help. We'll try and get an image up soon. I know it's not ideal! And thanks for offering the school club. We think we're going to give it a go ourselves first using the research we've done but if it comes out crap we'll certainly consider getting in contact. We're at Leyburn. Right at the other end of the Moors. 

[fastolfrus]

Leyburn isn't so far from Scarborough.

Take a good look at Castle Bolton, Barnard Castle, Richmond for ideas on painting.
Depending on the style of castle of course.

[War In 15MM]

I did a castle siege as the central piece for my 15mm medieval collection.  Despite the fact that it is for 15mm figures, the castle covers a large area.  I gave it a base coat of flat black and then drybrushed it with several coats of gray getting increasingly lighter in color with each coat.  You can see the end result at www.warin15mm.com/Medieval-.html

[TabletopWorkshop]

Yeah that seems to be the general advice I've gotten so thanks! The castle looks great.
And fastolfrus We're basing our design at the minute on Bodiam Castle. Just trying to figure out how we're painting at at this current stage!

[Christian]

To paint stonework, after the undercoat I do a dark grey in splotches covering mostof the surface. Then I do some green splotches. Then I do some sparse light grey splotches. I let that dry. Then, I water down some black gesso to about 50/50 and paint over the entire surface. I let it sit for about 30 seconds then dab away at it with a paper towel. This leaves the black in between the bricks, and evens out the rest of the paint.

Once dry it should be a lot darker. I then get the light grey and dry brush top to bottom with small, straight strokes.

[Elladan]

Hello,

some times ago I painted the ruined Cathedral from Armorcast. This was painted to represent sandstones. I don't know if this is the result you are looking for. Here is a pictures of a finished piece:




I did a step-by-step tutorial with many pictures and informations about the used colours and paintingtechnices. You can find the tutorial here => http://www.elladan.de/050%20Ruined%20Cathedral/050.htm

Hopefully this will help


Ciao

Elmar


http://www.elladan.de/

http://www.stronghold-terrain.de/

[TabletopWorkshop]

It's a beautiful piece of scenery Elladan but we're looking for something a with a touch more grey instead of sandstone. Nevertheless, great effort though!