Some painting I did on my original pieces.
Japanese Navy.JPG Italian Navy.jpg Bismark.jpg
-A Painting Tutorial and Resource for A&A Global-
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I use enamel paints on all of my miniatures……I have a YouTube video showcasing my figures if you would like to see them… It is in this same customization page under the topic name “Board Game Pieces”. I did not put as much detail into mine as many others do because of the fact that it takes soooo long! And to answer your question I seem to have ZERO issues with enamel paints. I have used them for a long time and will continue to do so. :)
Here - http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=28438.0
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I use enamel paints on all of my miniatures……I have a YouTube video showcasing my figures if you would like to see them… It is in this same customization page under the topic name “Board Game Pieces”. I did not put as much detail into mine as many others do because of the fact that it takes soooo long! And to answer your question I seem to have ZERO issues with enamel paints. I have used them for a long time and will continue to do so. :)
Here - http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=28438.0
Yeah, I started and I am using predominantly enamel paints also. They seem to be working better than the acrylics I use. They don’t dry quite as fast which is actually a good thing. Because of how little paint you use for models of this size, the acrylic paint dries very quickly and gums up your brush and the model. Haven’t had that issue with enamels, even if they sometimes look glossier than I want.
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Spray or paint-on matte varnish will cure the gloss.
I usually gloss coat after the wash and then apply decals due to the smoother gloss coat.
I then dry brush and that’s it. Mostly I apply a coat of matte varnish to add another layer to protect the paint but enamels,
once dry, are unbelievably durable. Looking at old pictures of vehicles, you can still see an almost shiny surface on large flat spaces
and I discovered by accident that a matte coat is not necessarily a must. Might be different with ships where a satin finish is more desirable. -
(pours a pint and sits down with the rest of the painters)
Enamels? I’m not a fan - I like the blending and the ‘dry-fast’ of acrylics, and I find it easier to make the unit look like its seen some action. Though I do use some enamels for select things I want to remain shiny (guns sometimes). I (personally) like the dullness of acrylics, though I whole-heartedly agree that the enamels are far more durable (I have used them in the past).
If I worked with enamels I probably wouldn’t have the ‘fade out’ problem I get on occasion with acrylics, that is to say, after I give them a protective coat some colors/detail isn’t quite as fine. At times this is ok, a bonus blending more-or-less. But then there are other times when it mucks up the detail of the face for instance… I also like that when using enamels, the sheen of decals isn’t as visible. Huh… might have to dust off the enamels and give 'em a go.
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(pours a pint and sits down with the rest of the painters)
Enamels? I’m not a fan - I like the blending and the ‘dry-fast’ of acrylics, and I find it easier to make the unit look like its seen some action. Though I do use some enamels for select things I want to remain shiny (guns sometimes). I (personally) like the dullness of acrylics, though I whole-heartedly agree that the enamels are far more durable (I have used them in the past).
If I worked with enamels I probably wouldn’t have the ‘fade out’ problem I get on occasion with acrylics, that is to say, after I give them a protective coat some colors/detail isn’t quite as fine. At times this is ok, a bonus blending more-or-less. But then there are other times when it mucks up the detail of the face for instance… I also like that when using enamels, the sheen of decals isn’t as visible. Huh… might have to dust off the enamels and give 'em a go.
Yeah, sounds like you talked yourself into it.
I once thought that all enamels had a gloss sheen to them, but that really is not the case. If they were all glossy I wouldn’t use them either. I have been using Testors and Model Master enamels for some time and quite like them. (Model Master I like quite a lot, especially since they have some great color blends for war painting… Testors is quite a bit more limited, but they work okay.)
Even with my airbrush I think I will like using enamels more, which I did not think would be the case before I started using it. Granted I am a beginner, but cleaning an airbrush full of acrylic paint is a major pain. The paint just dries so darn fast… even acrylic cleaner doesn’t help much, especially in the small space. With enamels on the other hand, just pour some thinner on and the stuff comes right off when you wipe. Acrylics dry while my airbrush or normal brush is still painting, which I find extremely annoying; not to mention the residue gets on the model and gunks up the surface.
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That’s what I hate about acrylics. You end up wasting a lot that doesn’t reconstitute like enamels. It does have a much better flatness for a surface.
The advantage of blending with enamels can also be it’s downfall when you need color separation. Each coat has to dry enough so I would do large batches
so that by the time I came back around to the first figure, the coat is pretty much dry. The other advantage though with acrylics is you don’t need to worry about the fumes from the thinner. I’ve heard so many airbrush problems and the PITA setup cleanup process that I’ve only gotten the spray can type
airbrush and have not even used them after 2 years. Model masters spray cans and Krylon Camo sprays have been pretty good for me. I’ve not yet used
Krylon camo on such small pieces as A&A game pieces though. Paint and brushes are a whole investment in themselves. -
Yeah… ok, I’m convinced, I’ll give enamels another go. Though - I’m going to have to make a trip to the Hobby store because some of my primaries have dried up it looks… :-o
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Well, the last post was about a month ago, but I’ll jump in on the conversation. I haven’t ever used enamels, but I like the sound of paints that you can reconstitute. I often end up wasting paint (granted, I’ve learned to conserve, so it’s not large quantities) if I need to get a color right and end up mixing a batch too large. However, I really like the quick dry of acrylics. Perhaps if I ever stumble on a large sum of money I’ll get me some enamels :lol:
In other news, I have some more pieces painted that I’ll post pics of. I have been absent from A&A.org for quite a long time for various reasons, but I’d like to get back to posting tutorials/sharing ideas and work! I’ll post my US Navy warships (I haven’t finished CVs, trannies, or subs), and my Russian inf, which I’m quite proud of. Also, I have some HBG Axis supplements (Hummels, trucks, arty, StuGs, etc) that are in a dark grey/black scheme, and a woodland camo, as well as 6 FW-190s. So, I’ll try to get pics up of those ASAP.
Anyone have any tips for taking photos? I can’t seem to get lighting or angles that make them look right; perhaps I need to use more natural light or a different camera.
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Hey Spitfire - let’s see those pics!
Ok, so I tried enamels… nope. I’m sticking to acrylics. They just don’t dry fast enough for me, and despite the shiny coat that blends better with the decals, I prefer the acrylics. To each their own obviously, as I’ve seen some awesome enamel pieces on here.
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Here is the entire Russian infantry army. Well, just for the Europe1940, as I’m trying to finish that one first. (I’m pretty darn close too; well, relatively close :-D)
Forest Scheme
Drab Scheme
Here are what I call the “Nationalist Troops.” For each faction I try to paint a few inf with the roundels on the base, just for flair, maybe to put in the capitols or for house rules. And they’re fun to paint.
And every once in a while you have to let loose. The Russian jacket has two lines on it that make for a perfect tuxedo, and so I decided to make James Bond/Hitman/Spy, whoever you want him to be.Enjoy! I’ll put more pics up when I get the chance.
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Fantastico! Those are awesome - those Soviets and ‘back’sacks’. eh eh eh - wonderful shading Spit. And ‘letting loose’ - love it! I have a few of those I’ve been meaning to post. Hey - are these coated yet? What do you use to coat em? I go for the basic clear coat - but notice I lose a little detail sometimes.
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Awesome work Spitfire. Great color selection
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Thanks guys!
No, they’re not coated yet, unfortunately. They lose the rustic look when you spray them, so I always am hesitant to do so, but I’d like them to last. I recently moved overseas, so I’m not sure exactly where I’ll find the spray. I used to use a matte varnish from a spray can, just from Home Depot or Lowes. However, I think I will have to spend a bit more $$$ and go with the Warhammer varnish spray instead, since I can’t find the equivalent of what I used to use. I have heard that there are varnishes you can brush on, but I’m not that interested, although I would love to hear any advantages to using those.
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I tried the brush on varnish once - bad experience, took out more detail than the spray.
You moved overseas? You didn’t by chance end up in the UK? Always looking for players…
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Spitfire38,
––I really like your Russian Infantry. Nice shading and excellent color separation!
Well done! :-D
----And you’ve hit a home run with the ‘Combat Tuxedo’ on the “From Russia with Love” character. 8-) You have to “let Loose” every once in awhile.“Tall Paul”
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You moved overseas? You didn’t by chance end up in the UK? Always looking for players…
Unfortunately not the UK. :/ I mean, I’m very happy in the Netherlands, but we can’t play a game hahaha!
@Tall:
––And you’ve hit a home run with the ‘Combat Tuxedo’ on the “From Russia with Love” character. 8-) You have to “let Loose” every once in awhile.
“Combat Tuxedo”. I like it; I think that will now be his name!
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Here is half of the US Navy.
If you look closely on the right side, you can see some US destroyers from A&A 1941 that I threw in as a light cruiser/destroyer. “One of these things is not like the others…”
Spitfire’s tip: When painting, “washes” and a subsequent drybrush with a lighter shade of the original will really make your pieces pop, as the shadows will be emphasized and the raised parts/corners will be highlighted. This is most effective on ships and infantry, although you can get some really cool “battle scarred” or “rusted metal” or “dirty tracks” looks on your ground vehicles as well!
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Question:
How do you normally approach washes? I do a bit of dry brushing but have struggled with washes, especially on something so small as A&A pieces, in the past. I have used some black ink, watered down, on occasion, but it does not seem to seep well enough; if you know what I mean.
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Wow, that Navy looks amazing. I haven’t started on my American fleet yet, so I may try your color scheme with a wash and see how it turns out.
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Question:
How do you normally approach washes? I do a bit of dry brushing but have struggled with washes, especially on something so small as A&A pieces, in the past. I have used some black ink, watered down, on occasion, but it does not seem to seep well enough; if you know what I mean.
Well, I used to use black acrylic paint mixed with water, but that just wasn’t dark enough and it didn’t hold. So don’t try that. Then, I decided that I would go ahead and try actual washes, so I went to the local hobby store and got a “Citadel Shade” wash, one in brown (Agrax Earthsahde) and one in black (Nuln Oil), which appears to be some sort of ink wash. They were each 6 euros/7.50 dollars, and they should last me the rest of my Global set. I would say you could paint one entire Global set, all 800 or whatever amount of pieces they are with just 2 bottles. I have never gotten into Warhammer or Flames of War, so I was new to washes, but I didn’t find them difficult after my 2nd or 3rd use. Here’s the wash I use. (Webcam photo, excuse the crappy quality)
Basically you paint your piece, preferably in a slightly lighter shade than you want the end product to be (but not 100% necessary), then wait for it to dry, and get a largish brush and apply wash liberally. Suck up any pools of wash that collect in the elbows of infantry, the conning towers of ships, tracks of tanks, etc, but only until it’s not a giant pool. You still want it to collect in the recesses. Then just wait for it to dry, and drybrush it with the original shade, or lighter if you really want it to pop. I’ll post a tutorial next time I get around to painting, and hopefully that will help a bit more. It’s personal preference and practice, but it’s not too difficult to get good at IMO.Wow, that Navy looks amazing. I haven’t started on my American fleet yet, so I may try your color scheme with a wash and see how it turns out.
Thanks!! I based the colors on a scheme called Measure 22 that they used in WWII. Here’s the link I used; scroll down to the “Late 1943 to late 1945” portion of the description to see what it says. And it has color palettes so that you can see what to mix. (I’m warning you now… I find waterlines/stripes are hard to paint on ships! Expect some frustration :D) http://abbot.us/DD629/fletcher/camouflage.shtml
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