SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

My first figs

1229 views
10 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    November 2005
My first figs
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 12:02 AM
These are the first figures I have made since joining Finescale forums (I made some DAK monstrosities) and they were quite a challenge. Sorry about the blurryness, I don't have a digital camera and didn't know till too late. It is the Tamiya Front Line Infantry kit. Please make any comments you want, and if it helps me improve, be mean.
SS Panzerfaust infantryman

SS MG gunner and blurry STG rifleman

Once I get the other part uploaded I'll add them.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Sunny Florida
Posted by renarts on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 1:22 AM
I doubt anyone here will be mean Smith M. One thing I can pretty much say for most of these guys. Is they can be constructive without being mean.
Pretty ambitious paint scheme first time out.
They look good for this being the first time.
A few things that might help.....
1) Seam lines. Still alot of flash on them. This detracts from the fig and under some light conditions can really stand out. If you use a wash on the figure or drybrush, they will really stand out, so take some time and prep the figure before painting. Clean up flash or seam lines. Fill any gaps in the arms and assemblies. This includes any equipment.
2) Mix your paint thin. Better result with a couple of thin coats than 1 heavy coat.
3) Sometimes washes can add detail in the face that you would have problem painting in. An umber wash or brown wash on the face, especialy on 1/35 will do most of your detail work for you. Then a quick drybrush with a lighter flesh will give you highlights that will make the face look better. It should take you a couple of applications for the drybrushing to show up. Don't rush it. Later when you feel more comfortable painting faces...I highly reccomend oils. But that's another discussion.
4) Shading and highlights. Even camo has folds that have shadows and highlights. A wash and drybrushing will do wonders here.
5) Outlining. Use a dark color and a really fine brush to outline things like seams, pockets, flaps, support straps, belts, etc. Will make a big difference.
6) weathering. Boots get dirty, knees, seat and elbows wear or get dirty faster than other parts. Weather or show more wear in these areas.
7) Spend the same amount of attention to detailing gear as you do the figure. A quick and dirty on this stuff will detract from a well done figure.
8) You can get into things like hollowing out sleeves and reattaching hands as well as some figure conversions later. But for now concentrate on just doing really good OOB figures. As hard as it may be to resist, start off doing simple uniforms first to get the feel of the above tips. The results will show better and help you learn and improve or see mistakes. Practice makes perfect and you'll never be at a level where you stop learning, but you'll paint an army of guys getting there. Thats the fun. Keep it fun and never get so wrapped up in perfection that you make this more of a job than a hobby. You should be just as happy with these first figs as you are with the thousandth figure you do.

Good luck and keep up the good work.
Lets see more, whats next?

Mike
Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 10:23 PM
Well, I think Renarts has already covered almost everything so let me just say:

Good Job. Keep it up and thanks for sharing.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: South Australia
Posted by South Aussie on Saturday, November 22, 2003 2:37 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Dwight Ta-ala

Well, I think Renarts has already covered almost everything so let me just say:

Good Job. Keep it up and thanks for sharing.

Sign - Ditto [#ditto]
Wayne I enjoy getting older, especially when I consider the alternative.
  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by shermanfreak on Saturday, November 22, 2003 12:39 PM
Sorry Matt .... I forgot to post a response. Banged Head [banghead]Banged Head [banghead]

Mike has pretty much covered all the angles. Keep up the great work, and thanks for sharing with us.
Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 22, 2003 5:46 PM
Not bad, I am guessing you painted it all by hand. It looks great but I got just one question, What the hell is all over their helmets, the first pic I cant tell but it looks like hes got slugs crawling all over his helmet??? it is supposed to be camo like a bush or leaves stuck on the helmet right??? regardless it turned out alot better than my front line infantry men, they turned out so bad I just scraped them and used them as spare parts
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by mark956 on Saturday, November 22, 2003 9:09 PM
Thanks for sharing Matt. Good job on your first painted figures.
mark956
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 23, 2003 10:20 AM
Yeah, these were hand-painted. The stuff on their helmets is camoflage, its a little hard to see, but its a combination of railroad ground cover and tea leaves, and painted brass wire for braches (not really visable). I just got a new set of brushes (my old ones are a tad worn out) and some new figues on the way, so expect more from me soon. I'll definately follow your advice renarts, and hopefuly, my next figures will turn out better.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Waukesha, WI
Posted by David Voss on Sunday, November 23, 2003 11:38 AM
Good work on those figures. Did you practice painting the camouflage pattern prior to doing the figures or did you jump right in? Looks good.

Mike (renarts) posted some excellent advice. Spending time on cleaning and preparing the figures is important. Although it may seem boring and a pain (I hate this step too), the flash and mold lines really do stand out after the paint is applied. So as much as you might not like it spend some extra time on that first step. Even after priming, it's not too late to clean it up at this point. Things you missed before priming sometimes become more obvious afterwards. Remove what you need to and touch up the spots where the primer was scraped off.

I think this falls under outlining -- where the bottom of the shirt meets the pants, you'll want to work in some separation. The kneeling figure with the solid color pants -- it's easy to see the separation of the pants and shirt. In the two camouflage figures, it's not as easy to see. The camo patterns are different where they meet, but it almost looks like one piece.

I hope some of that made some sense. Please don't take it negatively. You're off to a very good start.
David Voss Senior Web Developer Kalmbach Publishing Co. Join me on the FSM Map
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by LoneWolf1Seven on Sunday, November 23, 2003 12:32 PM
Nice work, I really like the detail of the face.....thats a big wad of gum they stepped in Wink [;)]...
"When you're gambling always put your money heads down, never let money look you in the face!" "If I die before I wake, hit the snooze button for me!!!"
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 23, 2003 4:15 PM
I am looking forward to seeing your next figures
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.