With the success of my new painting technique of Contrast paint, AP wash and highlights in acrylic on flats, I thought I'd try on fully round figures.....
Some 20mm Revell 8th Army were the experimental volunteers:
Contrast Paint
Army Painter Strong Tone
Highlights to uniform, helmets, webbing and flesh
Total 30 infantry, approx 15 minutes per figure.
Some more Swiss Zinnfiguren have also had paint splashed on them...
Contrast
The perils of flats, besides extra arms and legs to look out for, you have to remember to paint both sides!
AP wash
Basic highlights
Final result after fettling and touch ups...
Did not measure the time taken for these, but not pictured are another 8 pike at finished stage and another 29 figures which have reached AP wash stage. So far two afternoons, I suspect another afternoon, but as rough calculations it's looking like 15-20 minutes per figure.
As can be seen, if you take your time a basic job of Contrast, AP wash and highlights produces nice results. For some people, they will be happy with only one or two of the stages. I cannot help myself doing the little bit extra....even then the results are worth the time put into it. By contrast (forgive the pun) painting SSM using black undercoat and basic blocked in colours probably takes around 5-6 hours for 8 figures or 4 mounted that works out at around 45 minutes per figure......
That is a very effective technique and the results are very impressive.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Bob
Thanks Bob. I tried some experiments with 15mm using different undercoats and washes before after the Contrast paints as well as some 20mm Arab-Israeli with just Contrast paints. I found I needed to do extra work to get them looking how I wanted.
DeleteThis technique grew out of the flats. It exploits the detail on the figure. I am very pleased with the result.
Neil
The 8th Army look rather splendid. The technique works and as you say, that extra highlight really lifts them.
ReplyDeleteAnd the flats are looking as colourfully splendid as ever.
Fantastic work, Neil! The "dip" method works especially well for earth tones.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jonathan, not so much the "dip" as Army Painter ink washes......
DeleteI use dark tone on "cold" colours (blues, whites) and strong tone on "warm" colours (reds, yellows).
I try for a pin wash rather than slathering them in the ink wash.
Neil
Thanks Andy. What I like is I'm getting something similar to a black undercoat and layers and highlights.
ReplyDeleteNeil
The 8th army bods look great, good technique and they make for a quick turn around. The flats are great, really very nice and super additions to your project.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donnie, I was surprised at how good they looked after such a quick paint job.
DeleteThe flats are about half the remaining Swiss.
Neil
Great looking figures, both the flats and the 8th Army.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe. They have turned out nice.
DeleteNeil
Very nice indeed Neil…
ReplyDeleteThe 8th Army have come out particularly well….
And once again the Swiss flats shine out… They will look splendid when they come to battle.
All the best. Aly
Thanks Aly. The 8th Army was very much a trial to see how it worked. Even the Contrast paint looked good, the wash really brought out the details and a few highlights made them pop.
DeleteI'm hoping to get all my Swiss out after I finish these to see how they look en mass.....
Neil
Those 8th Army figures look great. I really like the shade of tan you've used for the KD, it looks just like the real thing (not the slightly orange toned reproductions).
ReplyDeleteThanks Martin. I was working from a combination of an old 8th Army painting guide and those French magazine / books with models wearing real uniforms. While there are variations, British KD has a grey tinge to it.
DeleteI used a 50:50 mix of Skeleton Horde and whatever the White is called. With Contrast it's hard to know what a mix will look like until you apply it. I thought I'd mixed in some grey, but it was more white, so it was a happy accident when it came out that colour!
Neil
Excellent work Neil.
ReplyDeleteWillz.
Thanks Willz.
DeleteNeil
ooohhh, those came out rather well I think. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteand a good production rate as well. stuff to think about.... 😁
Thanks Stew. My first experiments ended up with a lot of over-painting to get them looking how I wanted; 15mm ECW and 20mm Arab-Israeli. I think it was seeing a youtube video by an Italian painting skeletons; he used Contrast paints then did an oil wash and afterwards highlights.
ReplyDeleteSo I tried white undercoat, pure Contrast paint then the Army Painter ink washes (Soft, Strong and Dark tone). At first it was a "what have I done moment?" ☺ It looked like I'd just covered them in gunk! Going back and adding highlights , pulled them back and the Contrast and wash had added depth.
I now apply the Wash more sparingly aiming for the shadow areas.
Neil
Great looking work all around, Neil.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dean.
ReplyDeleteNeil