forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

WW1 Aircraft Modeling => WW1 Aviation Figures => Topic started by: Repainted on June 13, 2013, 02:10:46 AM

Title: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on June 13, 2013, 02:10:46 AM
or just my way. ;D
Hi Folks I´m been asked about a tutorial on how I paint my figures and here I will give it a try. So first thing first as they say, this is what you need for the job. Most off it you already have I guess.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/Tips%20and%20Tech/219_zps6a345e05.jpg)

•   A nice figure you’ll want to paint.
•   White Spirit, This is my favourite medium to dilute the Humbrols and oils paint with. It´s easy to get a new bottle from grocery and comes sheep.
•   Humbrol paints in different colours and shades, I´ will give you some kind off the most common colours I use.
•   Brushes, if you will go sheep that’s okay and always choose the good brush at your own local hobby shop, if the tips is broken the brush is useless. Synthetic brushes are okay but they weir down rather quick so you have to get new one for the next figure. If you go for little bit more expensive brushes I recommend “Colinkski´s” They are good and last for six, seven figures before they get tired. You need brushes from size 0000 to 4- 5. Remember to use a big brush for big areas and small for the small areas.
•   Cotton glove can you get at the pharmacy, but if you have an old T-shirt that will do just fine anyway. I use this glove to moisten the brush with. A brush filled with paint will be rinsed in the first cup off spirits. This cup with spirit will soon get a dirty so using the second cup of spirits I´ll can see if the brush is clean, When the brush is full of spirit it’s just too much and by gentle touch the glove with the tip you can get rid of the excess off the spirits and the brush is just moistened and perfect to work on the wet Humbrol paint..
•   Matches, just something to stir up the paint with. The old Humbrols before the “super enamels” was thicker than the Super enamel´s so the old ones I stirred up real good before using them. Nowadays with the less pigmented “Super enamels” I almost never stir up the paint, I just pick up a lump off paint from the bottom off the can with a match and use White spirit to dilute it.
•   Airbrush or rattle can with primer. I use Humbrols flat white 34 and grey (64 50/50%), using an airbrush for the first coat of primer. You can use a rattle can if you don´t have excess to an airbrush just beware that you don´t get to much paint on the figure, that´s common with these rattle cans. I use the grey/white mix because my eyes like to see the figure and the shadows that’s comes alive when putting the figure under the work lamp. That’s the first hint off where the shadows will be painted so just play around a bit to see the shadows changing.
•   A good work lamp. Check your light bulb man!!!!!! Make sure that you have a light bulb that gives you “daylight” otherwise you end up with some mysterious colours' on you figure. Cold white is no good..

This is for a starter and hoping that you got any question, comments. Sorry if my English are somewhat rusty, you’ll have to live with it if you follow this thread.

Regards
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Des on June 13, 2013, 08:05:15 AM
Thanks very much LarsaQ for starting this topic, I am so much looking forward to learning from you.

Des.
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: lawman56 on June 13, 2013, 08:10:45 AM
Thanks for starting this, I love to learn and improve my skills!
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: michael on June 13, 2013, 06:02:03 PM
great stuff, looking forward to the rest of the tutorial  :)

michael
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Eudgen on June 13, 2013, 06:49:52 PM
Subscribe to the topic. Especially because MiniArt will soon release 1/16 Ernst Udet figure.
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on June 14, 2013, 02:33:27 AM
Thanks for your response guys, this will be fun for me and a challenge for my English skills.
Have you chosen your figure yet? I have and my obvious choice is the bust from Stormtrooper “Josef Mai”. The reason for choosing this is simple, it´s the only figure I have in hand today and if I´ll have to order a new one (54mm) you have to wait and we don’t want that.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0229_zps93fdc5de.jpg)
So preparing the figure for painting is the game now. There´s some stuff to know here, first I´ll often give my figure a good bath with soap and water to get rid of any kind off grease from the moulds. As you maybe know the figure is casted in silicon moulds and when the moulds get older they dry up and one way to get more money out of a mould is to give more oils to soften the silicon.
With fresh moulds you get fine mould lines around the figure and with older moulds you got heavier mold lines. So here´s the tip, remember get the figure when its new on the market if you want a good one almost every figures is short productions and as long the master and mould are workable copies off the master hits the market.
On my bust there is some resin inlets and some bubbles to fix before the first primer is top go on. This will be fixed with some emery paper, needle files, and a good hobby knife.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0222_zps50263350.jpg)

 If you’re into a full figure you will need to drill a tiny hole in one off the feet and insert a short pin or paperclip. This pin or paperclip will give you to fix the figure on a pinvise or painting plinth. this is only for easy painting.
When the figure is painted and done this pin will secure the figure to the base.


Okay back to the bust again, when the bust is cleaned in soap and water give it the night to dry, then you can start the preparing it for primer. Any inlets or mould lines are/is removed gently work with your hobby knife and emery paper to get rid of the lines. If you trouble to find them give the figure a thin coat of primer and they will appear if they are there. As I mentioned before, a mix of grey and white Humbrol is a good colour to see and find these lines before you got the paints on the figure.

When all preparing is /are done give the figure a new thin coat of primer. This primer will hold the paint as a canvas for you to paint on.

The last tip for today is this
Say you have a figure where the painting skill is not up to your expectations. Here comes my best friend ordinary house hold pluming cleanser.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/081_zps193b91f5.jpg)
You can get this at your grocery store and with some hot water in plastic bowl add some cleanser to the water and mix it, you have a real good paint stripper here. Just be outside here or well ventilated areas and use rubber gloves from the pharmacy. In an hour get your figure back without the old paint, just restart the paint again. This works fine with humbrols and my guess is that you can find similar tricks for acrylics.

Enough for tonight folks, questions, critics and comments are welcome.
Best Regards
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on June 23, 2013, 05:59:27 PM
Hi folks
I have prepared the bust and got it primed. The mix of Humbrol White 34 and grey 64 is dry and now we can paint. I will use these pics as guide for the putting in the shadows and highlight.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/Josef%20Mai/001_zpsc194dd8f.jpg)
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/Josef%20Mai/002_zpsdd90946b.jpg)
I told you earlier that I will use an airbrush for this bust and we start up first thing. So first up will be the Face and Jacket, because it will have the same base colour so why not fix them at the same time.
Painting the flesh
Painting the flesh on a figure many say it´s the hardest thing and I agree on that. It makes or breaks the whole figure. So a good role is to start with the face and hands first. If you’re not satisfied with the face you can always start over again, if this happens you won´t need to clean off everything. 
The colour I use here is a base for the flesh. Humbrol´s Flesh 61, Sand 63 and 29 Dark earth. I Mix these colours on estimated ratio 80%, 10% and 10%. This is not any exact, and that’s because you can’t use the same mix for every figure, you have to alter the base colour from figure to figure to get the skin tones to be at variance. Mixing in 63 and 29 into the 63 flesh will take away that brightness of the flesh 61 and helping you later on in the painting.
With this mix loaded in the double action airbrush, I´ll trim in the settings on the airbrush to give me fine lines and using a low pressure. Starting to cover up the face on the bust.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/Josef%20Mai/008_zps86d3e644.jpg)
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/Josef%20Mai/005_zpsf59222aa.jpg)
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/Josef%20Mai/010_zpse9719563.jpg)
I use the remaining paint in the airbrush on the Jacket to. Giving the jacket a thin cover of the mix and pay attention for the highlights. By adding little 62 leather in to the mix I worked on the shadows on the jacket little more.
Taking care to not paint over the highlights.
Before cleaning up the airbrush I mixed in some black 33 into the mix and started to give the jacket black tone. So with this done the bust had to get dry so today Ill can take the first pics on it again so 
See u

LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Des on June 30, 2013, 11:42:06 AM
Thanks LarsaQ for the tip on an easy paint stripper, removing enamels without damaging the plastic can be quite difficult. The figure is looking good so far, what scale is it?

Des.
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on June 30, 2013, 04:46:27 PM
Thanks LarsaQ for the tip on an easy paint stripper, removing enamels without damaging the plastic can be quite difficult. The figure is looking good so far, what scale is it?

Des.

Hi Des, It's Stormtroopers Josef Mai in 1/9 scale so its a big one.Next updates will be up in a few  days.
Regards
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Mac on August 05, 2013, 03:10:15 AM
Following this with great interest thank you.  :)
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on August 05, 2013, 08:13:17 PM
Following this with great interest thank you.  :)

Hi
Just back from a week in Greece and still having vacation I´m a bit slow with the hobby, but don´t you think I´m planning to end this one, just have some patience update will come.

Cheers
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on August 07, 2013, 05:33:27 PM
Hi folks
Sorry for been slow and lazy now under the summer but I´m a hobby gardener and working up my own tan while giving the flower some TLC. So painting skintones here it is.
Working with the Humbrols and white spirit, the technique is to work with two jars of spirits. One for cleansing the brush from paint and the other ones for moisten the brush so with the clean brush the stroking/stippling technique can be done without putting on more colour from a badly cleansed brush. I often replace the spirits in the jars so I always have more or less clean spirits
The base color is already on the face and the first shadows are next to put in place. The shadow applied is the subtlest one, using a mixture similar used for the face, but more darken, so less flesh Hu 61 in the mixture. The mixture is very thin – transparent in fact and applied in the hollow under the cheekbones, along the fold beside the nose and on each side of the nose, in the temples, beneath the lower lip, and under the eye bag. After these areas are blocked out, the EDGES are blended into the base colour using a very gentle stroking/stippling motion. The intent here is to pull the two colors together along the “border” so that one seems to fade into the other. Great care is taken to ensure that two distinctively coloured areas remain, each fading into the other, and not a single colour made from a combination of the two.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0265_zpsa573011f.jpg)
from here it’s the next darker shadow and the same technique is repeated for three darker tones.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0266_zpsbbba3769.jpg)
When coming to the highlights it’s just the same kind of job on the cheekbones, the bone above the eyebrows, the bridge of the nose, the nostrils, the top of the chin, above the upper lip, at the top of the eye bags and along then diagonal ridge going from the inner eye towards the corner of the jaw. All highlights are carefully blended into the adjoining colour. So from here you can add more highlight each time a little bit lighter than the privies.
Next thing is to paint in the eyes and lips and for this one I don’t have to do the hair. When you're done and happy with the result you seal the face with a semi gloss varnish (I use an acrylic) that will bring the skin “to life”.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0267_zps1d289874.jpg)

Cheers
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on August 07, 2013, 06:53:53 PM
So
I´ll worked in more shadows here and have the last and darkest to add, the camera did not pick up the job in the best way so sorry.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/269_zps3902e567.jpg)
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/268_zpsf0b211b7.jpg)
But you can see the colours are blended into each other. Working with the Humbrols I wait for twenty to thirty minutes between each layers so I don´t disturb the different coats off paint.

more to come

Cheers
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on August 07, 2013, 07:30:08 PM
The head is back on the bust without glue, just to check where I am in the painting. Checking out the harmony of the whole bust.

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/272_zps30e71522.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/273_zpsc8292e80.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/271_zpsb37f1272.jpg)


Cheers

LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Zabu on August 08, 2013, 08:35:12 AM
I'm... i'm... i'm...!

I'm lacking words. Your skill to paint figures it's beyond adjectives imo, so i'll just say... thx for those pics.

Cheers
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Ernie on August 08, 2013, 04:02:13 PM
Larsa, Amazing job!  I only wish I had your talent.
Wonderful painting!

Cheers,
Ernie :)
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on August 08, 2013, 04:58:47 PM
Larsa, Amazing job!  I only wish I had your talent.
Wonderful painting!

Cheers,
Ernie :)
Hi Ernie
You have the skill,you just haven't trained that skill. It´s take practise and a lots of hours I've been painting figures for twenty years now and done more mistakes then I remember :D, but learning from them is a good way to get better. One thing that's never been told in a thread is how long it took to finish the model in minutes, hours, days, weeks
 Depending on what's on your desk you always getting more skilful every time. So there is the talent.

Thanks
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on August 08, 2013, 05:00:14 PM
I'm... i'm... i'm...!

I'm lacking words. Your skill to paint figures it's beyond adjectives imo, so i'll just say... thx for those pics.

Cheers

Thanks Zabu
I have a lot too say and show so if this thread growing long I´ll stay here.

LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: GAJouette on August 09, 2013, 12:30:29 AM
  Larsa,
Heaven know I could really use this wonderful thread! Much appreciated my old friend.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on August 09, 2013, 02:26:03 AM
  Larsa,
Heaven know I could really use this wonderful thread! Much appreciated my old friend.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
Hi
You surprise me, I had that idea that you already had the skill but anyway I will this thread as long someone likes it.
Cheers my friend
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Gisbod on August 09, 2013, 05:06:15 PM
Just catching up on this this thread..

Just what I was after.. I've just posted about a new range of Modelkasten figures - I wasn't going to - but I'm really tempted to get a couple now to give it a go - my few previous attempts at figure painting have never matched up to the model so I'd basically given up - but you've given me new hope!

I'd love to see a similar tutorial in 1/32?  ;)

Cheers

Guy
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on August 09, 2013, 06:04:40 PM
Just catching up on this this thread..

Just what I was after.. I've just posted about a new range of Modelkasten figures - I wasn't going to - but I'm really tempted to get a couple now to give it a go - my few previous attempts at figure painting have never matched up to the model so I'd basically given up - but you've given me new hope!

I'd love to see a similar tutorial in 1/32?  ;)

Cheers

Guy

Hi Guy
I´m glad to have inspired you.
After this Stormtrooper bust I`ll go 32-scale  again and if the interest are up I´ll keep posting here..

LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on August 18, 2013, 12:41:36 AM
Hi folks
It’s time for a new update on the bust and it’s soon finished. The highlights are on and on this I used two highlights, one lighter than the other. At the moment when I just have the darker shadows on the face it’s looking rather funny and not so promising but when the highlights goes on difference makes. 
So the first highlight’s mixed from Flesh Hu 61, leather Hu 62. Using the same technique as described earlier. The last highlight was mixed in the same way as the first but white Hu 34 was added into the mix. With this colors just tiny spots was painted as nose tip, cheekbones and upper lips.
Finally a thin coat off acrylic semi gloss varnish was used to get the skin alive.
So the rest off the figure was painted with an airbrush and the details were fixed with brushes in sizes 00-4.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0279_zps00906bdf.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0276_zpsd217c294.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0274_zpsef6e9ca3.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0275_zpsf5318405.jpg)

So, hoping that You had the chance to learn something off what I did on this big bust and it is very recommended if you like to try, and if so good luck and don´t think I can never do that, you can always clean off the Humbrols and start all over again so why not give your skill a boost forward.
Comments are welcome as likewise critics.
Cheers
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Des on August 18, 2013, 08:37:08 AM
Excellent result with this figure Larsa, you certainly have done a superb job and thank you for posting the tutorial, it is most helpful. Please do post the painting technique for your 1:32 scale figure, this is the scale I work in and I am having issues with painting faces in this scale, or any scale as a matter of fact.

Des.
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on August 20, 2013, 03:40:24 AM
Excellent result with this figure Larsa, you certainly have done a superb job and thank you for posting the tutorial, it is most helpful. Please do post the painting technique for your 1:32 scale figure, this is the scale I work in and I am having issues with painting faces in this scale, or any scale as a matter of fact.

Des.
Hi Des
I´ve promised an tutorial on 54mm and I will stick to that promise. For the moment I don´t have any on the shelf but will order one asp for the start of the 54mm ditto. And I will stick to brushes and let the airbrush have vacation.

Regards
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: martin on August 20, 2013, 04:05:03 AM
Wow, what a beautiful figure and equally beautiful finish you have achieved on this....wonderful work.

Martin.
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on August 20, 2013, 04:52:21 AM
Wow, what a beautiful figure and equally beautiful finish you have achieved on this....wonderful work.

Martin.

Thanks Martin
This is a very recommended bust.

Regards
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on September 24, 2013, 02:16:12 AM
Hi folks
Just got the RFC Mechanic from Kellerkind today so watch out for the  next tutorial Des. This time you and all who needs it in 54mm.
(http://www.kellerkind-miniaturen.com/images/product_images/info_images/54039-a.jpg).
Next I will come back with pics and a review before Ill start to paint the figure so be sure that you have a figure to go along.

LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Ernie on September 24, 2013, 02:24:46 AM
Amazing job on the bust, Larsa.  A tutorial on 54mm figures would be
wonderful!

Cheers,
Ernie :)
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Des on September 24, 2013, 07:46:58 AM
Thanks Larsa, I'm looking forward to seeing the painting tutorial for the 54mm figure, this will help a lot of members.

Des.
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on September 25, 2013, 05:42:59 PM
Hi
Here is the Kellerkind RFC Mechanic and it’s delicate. You got seven bits of finely cast grey resin and I have not found any air bubbles and just one bigger mould line on one of the legs. The figures pose is not what we see in this range every day, leaning against the work table in a natural resting pose. The table or work bench is nicely cast and no warped bits here folks. I must say that this time Martin did a gorgeous figure I´m just hoping that Martin will come up with a second mechanic to go with this kit. This kit has given me ideas about a new vignette, but more of that another time. First we will be painting this little gem.
Martin has done the grains in the wood sharp and subtle enough, no over doing here. When I saw this kit at first time I´ll had some problems finding the bench empty and just wonder why, now I´m glad that clean space is there. This will give the modeler plenty to go for by himself. Just look into the Wingnuts´s and see what you can find there. The left arm fits nicely and no filler will be needed.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/0303_zps978110a3.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/0305_zps50720314.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/0306_zpsd4d92694.jpg)

Preparing the figure for painting.
For this job you will need a razor blade, needle files, hobby knife, emery paper, paper clip and a drill bit matching the clips thickness, 1mm. From the casting process there´s always some lines around the figure and some part, they will be removed carefully with the knife, needle files and emery paper. Then the casting plugs are removed from the feet with the razor blade. The paper clip is used, a 1mm hole is drilled in one foot and a piece of the clip is glued in place and will help you during the painting and finely when it’s time to glue the figure onto the base.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/0307_zpsac2c7159.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/0304_zpsc4cac88a.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/0308_zpscd5ce502.jpg)


Cheers LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on September 25, 2013, 09:04:17 PM
The figure is prepared and just a tiny filler was used joining the left arm to the body. Some light sanding was done to the table legs to ensure right height between the figure and table. So from here I´ll going to load the airbrush with primer and give the figure a even thin coat of primer before I close down for a nights rest. I must again say I´ll love this one and what a personality this one is.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/309_zps4760ab28.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/310_zpsd746f703.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/311_zpsc5042cb2.jpg)

Took some time to play around with the clean table using some guns from Wingnut´s RE8 kit and at once the feeling of a vignette was there.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/314_zpsa6378154.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/315_zps0e807dc2.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/316_zps6007ff61.jpg)

Regards
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Ernie on September 25, 2013, 09:40:12 PM
Nice!  It already looks good, Larsa. ;D

Cheers,
Ernie :)
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: uncletony on September 25, 2013, 10:43:43 PM
Nice photos Lars. The figure is really well sculpted.
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: kornbeef on September 26, 2013, 01:10:07 AM
What a wonderfully  sculpted figure, got to love the  individual look given to him, those ears really suit the look of his face.  ;D
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: RAGIII on September 30, 2013, 02:18:04 AM
What a wonderfully  sculpted figure, got to love the  individual look given to him, those ears really suit the look of his face.  ;D

Martin Puts lots of "Character" in all of his figures. His sculpting is getting more crisp with each release, at least in My Opinion!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Nigel Jackson on September 30, 2013, 03:38:04 AM
Hello All

What I like about this is how the sculptor (Martin) appears to have handled the eyes. It seems to me that people out in the open, (and also maybe not in the first flush of youth!) tend to squint or at least half close their eyes in broad daylight, as I think Martin has shown. Sometimes beautifully sculpted, cast and painted work can be let down by eyes so wide open and bright that they wouldn't be out of place in a television advert  for some sort of cosmetic/optical product.

Best wishes
Nigel (not in the first flush of youth!)
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on October 10, 2013, 06:13:50 PM
Hi folks
The first coat off flesh is on and I mixed it from Humbrols Flesh 61 and wood 110.The reason for using wood 110 in the flesh 61 is just to take that screaming top off the flesh colour. The 61 flesh is a good base colour for skintones but needs “knocking off” a bit. Leather 62 could be used to or instead. I´m often try to change the skin tones so I don´t ending up with a standard paint mix for my figures. If so I wouldn’t like to take a look on the shelf where I have my figures so take a good look around you at your local Mal, skin tones comes in many tones .The paint was added with a Kolinksi #0 brush.
I often see this on WW1 models where the modeler just using the same old tin for all his British birds. I´m not so impressed to see the same clear doped linen in the same tone, so make some changes.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0323_zpsbd26ba7c.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0324_zpsa1fe7265.jpg)
 I used two thin coats for this and make sure that the first coat was completely dry before adding the second. The whole face and hands was covered, no fuss here just simple brushing. The paint mix was diluted 50-50% with white spirits just so I had a good cover off the areas. If you do this make sure that the paint isn´t diluted to thick, you will lose all that nicely detail the sculptor have worked in.
When the first flesh coats having a day to dry up my attention was to the tunic and hat. I just painted the tunic and hat here with the same mix off Kaki. The mix was done with Hu 78 Cockpit green and Kaki 26.Two thin coats will be added to give it a good base for the next to come. I did not paint the trousers with this mix, because I want to get another Kaki mix for this, just following my own advice here. The paint was added with a Kolinksi #0 brush. On the pics I have just put on the first thin coat off Kaki and now it will take 12 hours off drying time, that’s what I calling painting ”wet on dry” method.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0325_zps3ca30fbb.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0326_zpsedb8cc0f.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0327_zps300305b3.jpg)
When I was in the primer work with my airbrush I mixed wood 110 and sand in the airbrush jar un cleaned after the figure was primed, so ending up with a soft wooden colour in the airbrush me attention was on to the working table/bench.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/0329_zps9c818770.jpg)

Critics and comments are off course welcome
regards
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Des on October 10, 2013, 06:49:20 PM
Beautiful work so far Larsa, the figure is exceptionally well made and your painting is bringing it to life, I look forward to learning a lot more.

Des.
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Gisbod on October 10, 2013, 07:49:27 PM
Great stuff Larsa..

But can you hurry up - I'm about to start painting my figure!  ;D

Watching with interest..

Guy
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on October 10, 2013, 07:55:54 PM
Great stuff Larsa..

But can you hurry up - I'm about to start painting my figure!  ;D

Watching with interest..

Guy
Hi Guy
Whats the hurry??? And if so check in my bust tutorial or pm me about your Q:s

I´m hurrying as much I can my friend, but the paint have to dry.
Regards
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on October 10, 2013, 08:44:46 PM
Hi While the figure drying up my attention was on the bench/table. With soften light brown as base colour I used Raw Sienna and Raw Umbra oil paint for the wood graining. Painting these grains with an old very used brush is the best way for me. The oils where diluted to milk like consistence and washed in one direction. Care was taken to stay inside each plank on the top side of the table. When all covered I used the same brush to “brush” off excess paint from the table. The old worn out jeans I have when modeling had to take the excess paint so the old brush stayed as dry as possible. Someday I´ll have to take a picture of these jeans….
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/330_zps00e29064.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/331_zps50aeeaf5.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/333_zpsd566854f.jpg)
The importance here is to stay in the grains direction all the time and using long strokes with the brush, from one end to the other in one stroke .When enough oils was brushed away the soften light brown base colours is shining thru and give the table that wooden graining. So from here the table/bench will have 24 hours of drying time before I can give it stains and a more worn look. Just remember not to overdo the grains, so stay in scale buddy.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/334_zps7bd1209d.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/335_zps81b432ca.jpg)
When the oils is dry it will need a sealer otherwise you will disturb the oils again when painting on stain and some light dry brushing. I will use a semi gloss varnish from Humbrols for that.
Comment and critics are welcome
Regards
LarsaQ


Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Ernie on October 10, 2013, 08:59:40 PM
Wonderful work, Larsa.  The woodgrain on the table is great.  I bet your
painting jeans are a work of art itself. ;) ;D

Cheers,
Ernie :)
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Des on October 10, 2013, 09:12:41 PM
The workbench looks fantastic Larsa with excellent wood grain, looking forward to seeing more.

Des.
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on October 10, 2013, 09:40:49 PM
Wonderful work, Larsa.  The woodgrain on the table is great.  I bet your
painting jeans are a work of art itself. ;) ;D

Cheers,
Ernie :)
Thanks Ernie
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on October 10, 2013, 09:41:12 PM
The workbench looks fantastic Larsa with excellent wood grain, looking forward to seeing more.

Des.
Thanks Des
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Repainted on October 10, 2013, 09:45:25 PM
Hi. The figure has stayed under the worklamp for an hour or so to get that dry its need to getting on. The first shadows are put in place around the nose, under the cheek and around the lower edge of the hat.
This color for the shadows are mixed from “flesh” 62, “wood” 110 and” WW1 purple” 107.
Nowadays you can’t get hold of tin No 107, it´s out of production and I just stashed up I pail of them long time ago. But no worry there my friend , you can use any wine colored red from Humbrols range. No 73 “wine” is the closest match I found and working just find.
Next thin coat of shadow will be mixed from the same color and just adding some tiny black to it. This second shadows will be placed within the first shadows and the edges will be blurred out with a moistened kolinsky brush carefully. The third and darkest shadows are just in “dots”. They´ll go in the corner of the eyes and under the cheek.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/336_zpsa5c08472.jpg)

The trouser got the kaki paints on now and I used the same mix as the tunic but added little 74 “linnen” to the mix. This will give the trouser just a lighter tone than the tunic and hat.
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/341_zps18e7346e.jpg)
Just for the picture I added a cut down Se5a from Roden, I don't know if I´ll use it but... ;D
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/lars64/figures/339_zpsd8371f32.jpg)


Critics and comments are welcome
LarsaQ
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Ssasho0 on October 11, 2013, 06:40:35 AM
Wonderful work Larsa! You make this to look easy.
Best  regards,
Sasho
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: RAGIII on October 11, 2013, 07:52:46 AM
Very well done as always Larsa! I guess I should have saved my OLD build of the Roden SE that fell to the floor. Could have used it like you are  :(
RAGIII
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Nigel Goodson on November 05, 2013, 01:28:11 PM
Wow, just wow..
Thanks so much for walking us through that process...the result is incredible.
So what next? Lol, can't wait to see ...
Thanks again for sharing with us
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Ernie on November 05, 2013, 04:42:26 PM
Wonderful work, Larsa. Our Mechanic friend is looking more and more
lifelike.  Well done!
Cheers,
Ernie :)
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Des on November 05, 2013, 06:56:12 PM
Thanks very much Larsa, your techniques are amazing, but you do make it look easy but I know it isn't, looking forward to seeing more.

Des.
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: mgunns on November 27, 2013, 02:04:32 AM
Hello Larsa:

Thanks for sharing your techniques and methods for painting figures.  I will refer to this when I get to painting my figures.

Thanks again.

Best

Mark
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: nuvolari on May 19, 2014, 11:14:27 AM
Hi,

I've been reading with intrest this topic.
To the skills shown here, I only can say, perfect.
But I would have written this reaction if there wasn't a "But".

I also use to paint with Humbrol enamel lakkers until recent, and there is nothing to bring into the quality, of this paint, if used correct.
Except that the drying time takes ages, and the fumes are bad for your health, and smell awful
But the modeling industrie hasn't stood still since, and the development of acrylics, has been developed to a top paint.
Most of us know the rich color range of Vallejo brand, but if we speak of a a special developed figure paint, personally, I think there goes nothing above the Andrea paint system.

The idea behind their color system is, that every basic color, is sold in a set of six basic shades.
Lets say you want to use red, up until now if you wanted to shade red, this was very difficult.
If you wanted to bring on a lighter shade, and you would add white, the color will go strait into a pink.
Mixing other colors in, would give you a different red.
Of course, before applying any color, always bring on a primer, I use a Vallejo mid grey primer
With the Andrea system you start with a basis red, the nice thing about acrylics, is that the drying time is as fast, as water will evaporate, so within a few minutes, you can over paint it with a new layer.
After the basic coat is applied, I start with bringing on the darkest shade, and work my way up to the lightest shade.
A good tip, if you want to know, where to apply the dark and licht shades, hold your figure under an overhead hanging lamp, this reveals all the shade parties, and if doubting when you are painting, you can use this trick at any time you like.
For detailing colors, I use Vallejo, and Vallejo and Andrea are perfectly mixable.
For those who want, always can applier oil colors, to put on washes, that is no problem.
But Andrea has also an ink wash set, that does the same trick, and again dries quicker, and doesn't smell.
There is a small difference in finish between the two brands, Andrea has a matt finish, while Vallejo is more gloss.
But a varnish finish will cover up all differences.
Other advantages of Vallejo and Andrea Acrylics are, that you never will see paintbrush marks, and mistakes can be very easily, and fast corrected

There is a good tutorial on Youtube, made out of six or seven episodes, just type in "Andrea color system", this is made by Michigan toy soldier's.

The down side is, that if you want the full color range, that's going to be a small investment.
But if used it wise on 1/32 figures or busts, this paint will last you a lifetime.
An other thing some people complain about, is that ones shade is used up, you can't buy this color separately, so in order to make use of the full range, you have to buy a new set.
But as I have mentioned there is enough paint in a set, to keep you going for several years, if used wise.

Here is an example of a semi finished 1914 Belgian soldier.
The figure now needs a matt varnish, some details will later get a satin or gloss finish, where ever needed.
When the figure is mounted on a small diorama, further weathering details like mud, will be made, by applying pigments.(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o57/vanstraelen/BILD0568_zps78638e7c.jpg) (http://s117.photobucket.com/user/vanstraelen/media/BILD0568_zps78638e7c.jpg.html)(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o57/vanstraelen/BILD0571_zpsca1271bd.jpg) (http://s117.photobucket.com/user/vanstraelen/media/BILD0571_zpsca1271bd.jpg.html)(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o57/vanstraelen/BILD0576_zps8bb4f48e.jpg) (http://s117.photobucket.com/user/vanstraelen/media/BILD0576_zps8bb4f48e.jpg.html)(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o57/vanstraelen/BILD0577_zps481936ee.jpg) (http://s117.photobucket.com/user/vanstraelen/media/BILD0577_zps481936ee.jpg.html)

I'm sorry for the bad photo quality as these are made with a snapshot camera.

Cheers,
Danny
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: GHE on October 23, 2014, 12:58:20 AM
Meine Herren !

YES: I also pick out the paint from Humbrol cans and dilute them with petrol for cigarette lighters; especially when a
flat surface is wanted this works very good!

Gunther
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Daryl_Huhtala on February 09, 2018, 01:02:20 AM
This seems like an excellent visual tutorial......all ruined by photobucket

I will have to look elsewhere  >:( :'(
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: RAGIII on September 27, 2019, 11:28:30 PM
This seems like an excellent visual tutorial......all ruined by photobucket

I will have to look elsewhere  >:( :'(

It seems it wasn't good enough for phtobucket to place the watermark in the middle of the photos. Now they all appear out of focus.. SOBs'!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Painting figures 101
Post by: Gene K on September 28, 2019, 03:12:07 AM
SOBs'!

Yes, chalk up yet another Crime Against The Internet for Photobucket. Really too bad they can't be shut down for what they did, ruining untold web sites and posts. Kind of like burning down the Library of Congress with no repercussions.

Unfortunately it appears the OP (Larsa?) has disappeared since 2015, and so can't be contacted to repost his pictures.

Gene K