COLLECTING PAINTING FIGURES

[ariete]

the purpose of this thread isn't to be a tutorial, you can check on youtube channel to find excellent tutorial videos about how paint figures, here i want share my first experience about collecting and paint figures scale 1:72.

first of all, choose the goods to collect.
we've a huge assortment covering all historical periods, personally i prefer what was between 1850-1945.
this site is the place to check and have previews about the figures made by the several manufacters : plasticsoldierreview.com

once chosed what buy, you have to search in interent what are the cheapest retailer for your country.
i've been luck to find two internet retailers near where i live, so i contacted them and i could retire personally the goods; the human relationships remain a good point in make business and ask further discounts; anyway i would warning about shops beacause they seem apply, for the most, the same or more expansive price than what an internet retailer can however reserve. if you can visit dedicated fairs about wargame or anyway where they sell toy soldiers, i know they're excellent places to make great business, usually the goods are sold like in a clearance sale.
here a couple of the several retailers you can find in internet, they've good catalogues and cheaper prices :
drumandflag.co.uk
michtoy.com

(i'm collecting several products about the period i'm interested in. i like products made by Strelets, Hat, Caesar, Italeri, even if i have yet to find a retailer that suit me for Strelets goods ! )


moving on my first experience in painting, i'm going to show step by step the phases of my work (i meet everybody have to rich this topic to come forward with own knowledge, notions, advices, suggestions).

1. unboxing the product and remove the single pieces

what needs : TILE NIPPER

2. remove impurity from the single item
what needs : TOOL FILE, CUTTER
(i prefer use the cutter lightly around the part to remove)

3. wash the items
what needs : DISHES SOAP, TOOTHBRUSH

(i left the items in a soapy water for a long while before rinse them with clean water)

4. leave the items dry for a night

5. paint the figures with primer
what needs : PRIMER, DISH as palette, BRUSH FINE TIP, PINCER to take the figure)
(i don't use primer in spray because i prefer make this step manually)
(i choose the white because i think is the best base we can apply to a model, details of the figure stand out)

(more than an hand of primer to well cover any part of the item)

6. paint
what needs : COLOURS, DISH as palette, BRUSH FINE TIP, PINCER to take the figure, CUP of water, RAG to dry brush)
(exist lot of tones and colours by several brands, me, because one of my retailer paint with it and i readed excellet reviews about, i choosed - the army painter - and i bought just the essential : black, white, red, blue, yellow and gun metal because it give a different effect than grey on the weapons)

(i use a magnifying glass just to check the details of the item before paint, i can do the job quietly by the naked eye)

(i paint the part of the items by colour i prepar before, there's not a rule but continue retouching)

7. correct the items from smudges and mistakes and retouch the details

8. cure the highlights and wash the items with quickshade, final details and corrections

(i adjusted the colour of the skin which now is no more pink)

[fritzlang]

I have seen that upload the images to Mediafire, if you want to resize the images you must do it in the camera or before uploading them, I think Mediafire does not offer options to change the size.

I upload the 3d images to this free server and it offers me several size options.

imgbb.com/

I really like the idea you have had with this post

[ariete]

post settled.
deceived by your assent, i hoped for a while you too had to show something fritzlang
think, i lost my toy soldiers about 3 years ago when i cleared the cellar where they stayied undisturbed for about 25 years .. now, because we can't change the past and so avoid the thousands situations and conditions which make us wrong, i decided to start a collection, and paint them !
my mom painted and so i still have old but good tiny brushes, even if just one is the much suitable for the job (brush 1).
anyway, i open this topic to share this passion with everybody are interested in or are valuing to interest in ! we've to move us on what we like, it's our vital sense, and moreover it relax me too much !
i'm thinking to use even a toothpick for micro details like eyes, buttons, .. these items don't reach 2 cm

[fritzlang]

I have not painted or made models for many years, now I start to dedicate myself to 3d for different reasons.
To paint small details you can use a number one or zero brush that has a fine tip, this is the most important detail, an artist's brush with marten hair or similar.
I painted the models with oil paint that allows to easily fuse colors to paint small details and having a long drying time allows to correct errors.

The image is a sample of digital figure painting, I'm learning

I will look for a photo of the past

[ariete]

ahahahahah

i choosed - the army painter - because i readed good reviews and the retailer i refer to, use and sell this brand, anyway fritz, today people go of acrylic colours ! i assure great performance, and i'm a newby at his very first time

edit : i've just uploaded photos for step 7 fritzlang but i need more retouching .. and new brushes more tiny LeRoy Merlin sell great universal brushes 0 and 1 for 1.50-2.00 euro .. it close at 20.00, just the time to eat and go !

[fritzlang]

The important thing is that the brush has a sharp point and maintains its shape when painting, there are countless brands and prices on the market. The more quality you have, the longer it will last.

Shading and adding lights and reflections will improve your figures a lot.

take care of your brushes like they were weapons:)

I'm painting a team of elven machine guns

[ariete]

i've just uploaded the first post with 4 new photos.
better than that result .. i can't !
next step will be wash the items.
let me know if you have to suggest me something about.

[feldgrau]

May 10, 2019 13:01:26 GMT 1 ariete said:

...moving on my first experience in painting, i'm going to show step by step the phases of my work (i meet everybody have to rich this topic to come forward with own knowledge, notions, advices, suggestions).

...

very nice little things

[BigJoe]

Wow! A very cool job! I like it a lot.

[BigJoe]

I do not have so much patience for this kind of hobi.

I buy them already painted and finished.

[ariete]

May 21, 2019 7:02:53 GMT 1 BigJoe said:

I do not have so much patience for this kind of hobi.

I buy them already painted and finished.

no wittmann, i guarantee, it's an extremely relaxing job !

anyway that tank is very cool, i was asking you the scale of the model, but i can understand it comparing to your keyboard size

feldgrau yes so tiny .. about 1.70 cm

product is this

www.italeri.com/prodotto/1797
www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1332

i used just one grid of three.

i bought the box for 4 euro in a sale, anyway i can always found it for 7 euro from the retailer near my home; in internet the cheaper price i saw for that has an average of about 9 euro, so less then what the official Italeri website propose, but in foreign countries can reach more then 10 - 13 euro / dollars .. just to reckon !

[BigJoe]

May 21, 2019 12:14:51 GMT 1 ariete said:

anyway that tank is very cool, i was asking you the scale of the model, but i can understand it comparing to your keyboard size

1/72

[ariete]

i retouched a bit again the result before wash them, photos above in the first post, moreover i changed the apparence of two items to better suit them with the rest of the group.
mah ! .. i rest each time satisfy and unsatisfy .. a bit like when i tried to make maps for BK .. tought i surely can make better in this hobby !

[ariete]

www.hat.com/Curr2/Bx8200GI/Scibona01P.html