IPMS Scale Model World 2011 - a photo report, part four

In an attempt to get up to date, I have posted this huge photo report which covers a whole host of different vehicles seen and photographed at the recent IPMS show, Telford.  Sit back with a strong cup of Cocoa and enjoy.

Tony

Figure Painting Tips and Advice.

In an attempt to pass-on some small 'nuggets' of advice relating to painting miniatures I have listed below some tips on painting miniatures.  Before I start, I need to confirm that I am NOT A GOLDEN DEMON winner or a professional figure painter.  Just someone who enjoys 'prodding paint on small metal figures.'

The impedes for this post came following a request on The Miniatures Page (TMP). See this link

In no particular order;

Light source
A good light source is a must. I use Daylight Bulbs or Blue Natural Bulbs in my overhead anglepoise lamp as well as having my workbench mounted below a North facing window.  I actually have two Daylight Bulbs, one to the right and another to the left but for most figure painting jobs one is enough. Finally as a right hander I find that it is best to have the main light shinning from above and slightly to the left.

Seating position and workbench
I use a comfortable wooden chair with arms, as I like to rest my elbows on the arms to steady my painting and holding hands.  I have also raised my painting workbench so I am not 'hunched over.'

Water (and additives)
There have been many comments about using clean water to paint acrylics.  I am sorry to say that I do not always 'practice what I preach' and there are many occasions when my water jug is filthy.  Never-the-less the sound advice is to have at least two water jars on your painting bench, one for metallics and one for 'normal' paints.

When filling the jars I try to use boiled water rather than tap water - again don't get too worked up over it as I am sure that tap water in the UK is perfectly OK for figure painting.  I also like to use a tiny drop of flow improver, I really do mean a tiny drop. You can find flow improver in your local arts store - a small bottle will last ages. If you cannot find any or maybe think that you can do without flow improver, you can always use a drop of plain washing-up liquid in your water jar. A dilution of one part washing-up liquid to thousands of parts of plain water is enough.

Shake your Paint Pots
OK, once again I have to admit to not always following this piece of advice.  That does not mean that it is bad advice - just that I am lazy!

I label all of my paint pots or bottles with a date purchased mark - just Month/Year will do as it helps to organise your paint collection and obviously you use the earlier date first.

Thin your paints
It is an obvious hint but well worth repeating.  I am not going to give any hard and fast formula, just experiment and remember that three thinned coats will give a better finish that one from the pot - except in the case of WHITE!

Brushes
Use a good brush.  I am not asking you to go out and spend a fortune of a No.7 Windsor & Newton Sable. I just recommend having a good brush with a good point.

The last time a purchased a standard Games Workshop/Citadel brush I must have driven the salesman mad.  I tried five or six brushed, taking the plastic tube protector off each and examining the bristles and point of each before making my choice.

When was the last time you examined a brush before buying it?

Palette
I use a spiral-bound notebook as a palette, they are cheap to buy and when you have finished your current project - just rip the page out and you have a fresh paper palette.

There are many specialised plastic or porcelain palettes available - I know because I have them.  But I still prefer the plain notebook palette to all those fancy ones and they are cheaper.

Brands of Acrylic Paints - which ones are best?
I have no idea!  I am a real paint collector and have paints from dozens of different companies, pots, eye-droppers, tubes and so-called Craft Paints. For me it is using the right colour/consistency for you.  The best advice I can give on choosing paints is to experiment and even then, some companies may well produce Great Metallics (for example GW) but have really washy Yellows and weak Reds.

I would never think of starting any painting project without having Snakebite Leather from GW on my bench.

Painting eyes
I have better things to do with my time!  When it is done properly it is great, but in the main only paint eyes if you have too.

Washes - good or bad thing?
Not sure how to proceed with this one - when washes came out I was an early-adopter and have many pots and bottles on my desk.  However in recent months I have begun to question their worth and how they can make a miniature look 'dirty' or 'grubby'.

One piece of advice I was given some time ago was to water-down your washes with distilled water (the sort you can buy in any discount store or supermarket for topping-up batteries).  Distilled water, flow-improver's and commercial washes make great washes.

Black or White undercoat?
Mainly I use a Black undercoat.  But have been known to use White, Grey and even Dark Brown.  It is purely a matter of personal choice and what effect you are looking to achieve on the miniature. Do not feel that you have to stick with one style of undercoat. Mixing undercoats on figures in the same regiment or even on the same figure is perfectly acceptable.

Paint in small batches
I find that I work best with batches of 4 to 12 figures at a time.  Any more and the task becomes too daunting.

Dallimore Painting Technique
I have all of Kevin Dallimore's Painting Guides and Books.  I do not attempt to copy his style, preferring a hybrid Dallimore and Blending technique.  When the Dallimore technique is done well it produces some quite stunning figures, but although I paint-up over a Black undercoat and in layers. I find that I blend a little more than Kevin.

Colour Theory
I am lucky in that I studied art and colour theory at school.  Therefore in the main it comes naturally. If you want to know more then the Internet or local library are your best sources. You could even look at joining a local art course. Many years ago my Wife enrolled me on one - Painting Watercolours and I had a ball as well as learning loads.

Finally, the best piece of advice I can give is develop your own style and paint for enjoyment.

Tony

Update;
Andrew Beasley has commented that he uses Bottled Water (sorry no details as to what brand) for thinning acrylic paints and Used CD's as mixing palettes. Both great tips.

Foul Mouth Freddy Adventure on Orcs in the Webbe

The latest Foul Mouth Freddy story has just been uploaded to this years Advent Calendar on Orcs in the Webbe.  For full details of Freddy's latest adventure go to this link

Since I first wrote about the heroic Orc Sergeant back in 2009, Freddy has gone on to become a regular feature on the Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar as well as Barking Irons Online.  Craig has detailed in the latest post all of his adventures to date.

This image shows the original Freddy sculpt leading a group of loyal Red Coats, the production model of Freddy is still available from Alternative Armies, although stocks are running low. Further details can be found here

The latest adventure Foul Mouth Freddy Divides up the ****ing Loot, details some experimental Solo rules that I have been playing with, as usual comments and critique are welcome.

For anyone not familiar with FMF, he is loosely based on a family friend, Uncle Fred with some of the adventures inspired by memories and stories told to me by Fred and my Father. The 2011 Advent Calendar goes from strength-to-strength and it is great to see Freddy back in his spiritual home - after all an Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar just wouldn't be the same without a FMF story!

Huzzah

Tony

Droitwich Golf and Country Club

As regular readers and followers will know around this time of year I conduct a "Guess the Vintage Port" competition.  In previous years we have raised a considerable amount for different charities by auctioning off various items. Last year I modelled and painted a Portuguese Cacadores Rifleman which raised £50.00, see;

http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/2010/12/portuguese-cazadores-result.html

This year, as well as the Vintage Port tasting I will be auctioning this pencil sketch of the club house at the Droitwich Golf and Country Club.

I'll update later this week with how much was raised.

Tony

Update;
We raised a grand total of £130 for charity. The three Ports tasted were;
Noval Extra Dry White Port
Calem 10 year old Tawny 1987 (bottled in 1997)
Offley Late Bottled Vintage Port 1997

Christmas Away-Day, Birmingham

Last week Dave Bodley (Grand Manner) and I had made plans to visit Richard and Mark at The Honourable Lead Boiler Suit Company, Birmingham or HLBS. Due to circumstances beyond our control (Richard had Man-Flu) the visit was cancelled at the last minute.  However not to be put off we rescheduled the trip for Friday 2nd December.  I picked up jam doughnuts and Dave had a selection of soft cream buns for our long and arduous day out.

After finding a parking spot in The Jewellery Quarter we marched across to Parabellum where strong hot tea was waiting.  Anyone who has yet to experience the pleasure of a visit to this modelling emporium will realise just how popular it is when I tell you that for the next two hours Mark was kept busy making cups of tea for literally dozens of visitors and customers and we spent a great time dissecting the current situation of the Modelling and Wargaming industries.

Just before we were about to leave Jim (a regular visitor and character) arrived to say that he had been delayed by the Christmas Market and a stabbing at the local pub just under the Birmingham Central Library. "Weather something or other".  "Weatherspoons,?" Was the chorus of replies.  No said Jim with a knife!  (A joke that will only have any meaning to someone familiar with local Pub Chains in the UK and should also illustrate the level of humour that two hours in a cramped model shop can deteriorate too).

On a serious note Richard showed me some fantastic 28mm ACW Coastal Battery guns that he is working on, true masterpieces of the model makers art, tiny details on superb resin guns and carriages. Later I was shown the new 28mm Nautilus. A breathtaking water-line model of the famous Submersible. And seeing it in the 'Flesh' took my breath away, a fantastic model and a snatch at just £75.00. For full details go to;

http://www.hlbs.co.uk/product.php?id=782

Discussions moved on to 'what is currently on the workbench' and I was shown two spectacular masters that Richard is working on and should be available very soon. The first is one of the biggest and most beautiful modern 'water line' boats I have ever see, sorry sworn to secrecy at this moment, but as soon as I have the green-light I will post more details and prices.

The second model is a tank and I predict it will be the best selling model in the range, once again sworn to secrecy, but when this model is released the whole hobby will be clambering for one.  Honestly, it is that good and of a prototype that everyone will recognise.  I mean everyone, Hint, Hint.

(Sorry its all secret, but I have been asked not to betray a confidence, I can still hint at it! Can't I Rich?)

After a couple more cakes - a real Sugar-Rush, Dave and I visited Wayland Forge, then walked down to Ian Allen Books for a browse at the shelves.  Prior to making our way back to Droitwich and Bromsgrove we had an hour in the German Market.  A day out, that I had told my Wife would finish by 4,00pm, actually lasted until 6.30pm and when Sue asked what I had been doing?  I replied by saying. "Standing around in a cramped Model Shop, drinking tea and moaning about the state of the economy and how wargamers can be such a strange breed!"  "So you didn't enjoy it?" Asked Sue.  "Oh no, I loved it - and I can't wait to do it again." I said.

Tony

Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar 2011

Pinch-Punch - first of the month.

Today sees day one of this years Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar. For anyone not familiar with the OITW Advent Calendar, each day from today through to the 24th of December Orcs in the Webbe bring you a gift in the form of a cracking piece of content.  This year Craig is promising a vintage year with scenarios, mini-games, interviews and much more!

Keep checking back to see what is behind each little door every day up to Christmas Eve. Day one brings us "The Thrill of the Race" by Matthew Hartley

Full details can be found at;
http://www.orcsinthewebbe.co.uk/index.php/orcs-in-the-webbe/site-updates

Thank you to all my followers who made November my second-best ever month with over 9300 page views.

Huzzah

Tony