Miniature paints and inks suggestions?

[Wik]

Well, I like dark minis, not the bright ones. Taht being said, I still prefer GW paints - they're about the same price as reaper paints (okay, maybe a BIT more expensive), and the tones are great. I simply water them down a LOT (like, six parts water to one part paint) and then just go over the same area again and again. It really gives the mini tone.

I use GW inks, but make sure I mix them with water to prevent the ink from "shining" too much. In the end, I get a pretty dark-looking mini.

reaper paints are pretty good, too. I have a whole case of them, and I enjoy working with them. That being said, I prefer GW paints.

 

[jdrakeh]

48 hours on each individual piece in a 50-100 figure army! That's insane!!!

Yes, it is insane. Which is why I took a long break from it

Did they look pretty special by the end of it. . .

They looked phenomenal. Flocked bases and everything (i.e., realistic dried blood spatter on weapon blades, the undersides of individual fingernails washed, individual armor rivets dry brushed in different, shade-appropriate, tones of metallic paint, etc).

I wasn't a wargamer. I was a miniature painter. I want to avoid that this time out, which is why I'm shooting for a Mignola and/or cell-shaded painting style with these figures. Not only is it Pulp-appropriate but, more importantly, there will be less detail to fret over.

After all, you know that you're out of control when you're touching up individual 'grains' of the ground coffee that you're using for scorched earth flocking, right?

 

[jdrakeh]

P.S. Now you all know what kind of obsessive freak you're dealing with.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

For quick 'get 'em on the table' paint jobs I have become fond of 'magic washes' - a mix of four parts water to one part Future acrylic floor polish, you can mix this part up ahead of time. Add a bit of your pigment - paint or ink, and use it as a wash. The results are much sharper than a normal water and pigment wash.

The quick and dirty part comes in when I am painting skeletons, furry animals, or folks in armor - brown ink added to the magic wash can be used on all of them, to good effect.

I use the cheap acrylic paints for large areas, and use Reaper Master Series and Vallejo for the details - the pigment is finer ground and the paint is more saturated, which means that fine detail stands out more.

Last I looked Dungeontrader.com was running a half price sale on the Reaper paints. I picked up a goodly number.

The Auld Grump

 

[pogre]

My current preferences:

Primer - see above

Brushes - Windsor & Newton #7 - amazing brush - if you are insterested I'll tell you where to get them cheapest online - I was hesitant to buy a brush online, but I have yet to get a bad brush.

Paints - Mostly Vallejo Model Color and Game Color, some Reaper Master Paints (there are a couple of triads I cannot paint without these days), and a couple of citadel paints. I have not tried Privateer Press's paints, but I hear great things about them.

Inks - I use a couple of Vallejo inks, but really I still love the GW inks. I also use some Tamaya (sp?) smoke and washes - they give some really wild effects.

It is a lot easier to crank out great looking figures with all of the information available on the web today. I would also encourage you to wander over to the Reaper forum or Wyrd Miniatures forums to ask questions, post WIPs, etc. Those are some of the friendliest miniature forums around these days.

 

[Shape D.]

Brushes - Windsor & Newton #7 - amazing brush - if you are insterested I'll tell you where to get them cheapest online - I was hesitant to buy a brush online, but I have yet to get a bad brush.

I won't hesitate to mention it currently as They are on sale now......

http://www.aswexpress.com/discount-art-supplies/online/702/art-supplies/6

These brushes are outstandingly Awesomel, I just finished getting my brush collection up to snuff because of this sale... (I still don't have sizes 5 or 6, but I don't do much in the way of larger minis, or vehicles so I don't think it should be an issue for now)

As far as paints go, I prefer using the "mini" paints vs the craft paints, Mainly GW and Reaper.

 

[Dragon Snack]

P.S. Now you all know what kind of obsessive freak you're dealing with.

Then it won't take you long to abandon the craft paints...

I still use some craft paints, but quality tools give you quality work. Some craft paints (reds, yellows, and purples) can take multiple coats to come out decent, not to mention any shading or detail. I've seen some great minis painted with craft paints, but as you saw the last time you painted minis - it takes time (and/or loads of talent) to get them 'just right'.

My brushes: Windsor and Newton Series 7 (that's a great price, I thought I got mine cheap). A quality brush not only gives you better control, but also lasts longer (I'm counting in years with my current W&Ns, instead of minis with any of the cheaper brushes I tried). Keep a cheap brush around for drybrushing or getting into nooks and crannies.

My paints: Reaper Master Series Paints, combined with my W&Ns they improved my painting by leaps and bounds. I use Reaper Pro Paints and craft paints for brybrushing and bases/terrain.

 

[Festivus]

I just use "Apple Barrel" hobby paints (I think thats the name), and make magic wash with "Future" floor cleaner and water. I primer with the same paints I paint with. I finish it up with a varithane finish. My paint quality isn't great but I usually am not after style points.

 

[jdrakeh]

I've seen some great minis painted with craft paints, but as you saw the last time you painted minis - it takes time (and/or loads of talent) to get them 'just right'.

Honestly that had nothing to do with the quality of the paint itself. It would have taken that long with God Almighty's Personal Miniature Paints (note that I used Citadel metallics and inks). Coverage was fine with the hobby paints. The issue was me

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Honestly that had nothing to do with the quality of the paint itself. It would have taken that long with God Almighty's Personal Miniature Paints (note that I used Citadel metallics and inks). Coverage was fine with the hobby paints. The issue was me

That said, I find that the flow of good paints does make a huge difference on tiny detail. But for the bulk stuff - craft paints all the way! I am fond of Americana and Ceramcoat, both have decent coverage without too much thinner. (Apple Barrel is at the rock bottom of my list - too granular, and separates way too easily, causing streaks.) And since the bulk stuff is about 90% of each figure you end up using very little of the expensive paints.

An exception in regards to craft paints - for yellows you are much better served with the good stuff - yellows can be the biggest pain in the tuckus.... greens can also be a problem, but the Americana greens seem to work just fine.

And always use the good paints for metallics, there is an enormous difference between them.

The Auld Grump