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What is the most efficient way to paint faces with good results?

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  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Sunny Florida
Posted by renarts on Friday, September 4, 2009 10:14 AM
Danilo Cartacci's book "Painting Miniatures" is an excellent must have for your figure painting library. By far the best to date in my opinion.
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
    November 2006
  • From: Coastal Maine
Posted by dupes on Friday, September 4, 2009 6:55 AM
Wow, what a collection of links! Cool [8D] Going to need a new tab in my bookmarks to fit all of this stuff. Awesome.
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Thursday, September 3, 2009 1:34 PM
well, i think you'd be made very aware of "it"!!! LOL Laugh [(-D]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Thursday, September 3, 2009 1:27 PM
HAHAHA!!!! ... wouldn't be the first or the last time!!!!

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Thursday, September 3, 2009 1:25 PM
i could be being childish and crabby...ya never know. although im sure I would know if i were that great but that's probably why i dont know!! hey, im publically edg-u-ma-cat-ed and i be totally fine!!!! leave my lack of intelligance and public prespective out of it champ!!! Laugh [(-D] and YES, your confused...very very confused!! Dunce [D)] Laugh [(-D]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Thursday, September 3, 2009 10:58 AM
 camo junkie wrote:

dont know about you but my hands shake too much...lol...also glad u got "it" i was worried ya wouldnt! but should've known better that even with your lack of intelligence you could still figure it out buddy!! Mischief [:-,]

disclaimer***i am kidding with scott as he knows it and it's what we "lesser's" do!!

But I thought you just said that I DON'T got "it" ... I confused ... Dunce [D)]. And hey! ... its not a lack of intelligence, its called a public education! HAHA!!!!!

... and you're kidding w/ me!?! Sure you're not just being your crabby, childish self??? (hehe)

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Thursday, September 3, 2009 10:38 AM

dont know about you but my hands shake too much...lol...also glad u got "it" i was worried ya wouldnt! but should've known better that even with your lack of intelligence you could still figure it out buddy!! Mischief [:-,]

disclaimer***i am kidding with scott as he knows it and it's what we "lesser's" do!!

"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Thursday, September 3, 2009 10:31 AM

I guess I can continue to strive for "it", but then again "it" is a gift. Damned since birth I guess .... but, I'm happy w/ my non-"it" builds, but that's no excuse not to try a little harder.

Ohhhh ... if only one of "us" had "it", then maybe "we" would understand "them". Big Smile [:D]

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Thursday, September 3, 2009 10:21 AM

hey scott...your eyes will never reach that level of expertise with or without the magnifyer buddy!!! Mischief [:-,] ya just dont have "it" in you...ya know what i mean...it's ok as i dont have "it" in me either. Laugh [(-D] i think ya know what im talking about dont ya!! Wink [;)]

"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Thursday, September 3, 2009 7:53 AM
Indy, I'm glad you're enjoying Timelines. Some very nice folks there. I've met a few IRL and they are just as personable face to face as they are on-line. There are guys wyho post there and at Planet Figure who do both the scuplting and box art for some of the biggest names in the business.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 9:50 PM

Guess you guys have helped narrow my search for me ... thanks! Seems if I want to try to even come close to the work of professionals, the opti-visor is the way to go ...

We'll have to keep these in mind for x-mas. Until then ... I guess amatuer/ unprofessional work will have to do. Big Smile [:D]

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2012
Posted by I make stuff on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 9:25 PM
Donegans are the ones I bought, I looked at some cheapos at Harbor Freight, they were plastic and didn't seem like what I wanted.  The Donegans are glass lenses, well made, and I use them for 30+ minutes at a time with no headaches or eyestrain. 
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 9:23 PM

 

 

Opti-visor...magnifier of champions.

Opti-visor...don't sit at your desk without it.

 

LOL- a very good Ad mock-up there -LOL

My eyes are VERY good, and I was resistant to use the visor as well at one time, but demands of the perfection needed on the job have required it. It's all about how closely you want to look at your work. Always looks better without the visor, but with it you can see every scratch when you file or sand.

Al, I owe you debt...Thank you for the link to Timelines Miniature Forums. Amazing, serious, world-class work to aspire to and grow with. I had to join right away. It's a place for civilized, mature, accomplished figure works.

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 9:02 PM

Opti-visor...magnifier of champions.

Opti-visor...don't sit at your desk without it.

It's a rare session I don't have mine on at my modeling desk. There are about 7 figure guys in my club and I think we all have one of these. If your eyes are really good, you can get by without one, but after a, er, ah, certain age...

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 7:24 PM
 Citadelgrad87 wrote:

The magnifier helps me tremendously.  I am nearsighted, but I wear contacts, and I see fine, I can read this post as I type it and it's standard font 2 feet away. 

I find that the magnifier helps me see so much better than the naked eye.  Painting things like straps, eyebrows, etc is just way easier for me when it's three times as large as the naked eye.  BLending and layering are easier for me, too. 

I know Karl and Edmund/Schnobs use magnifiers on their figures, and Edmund's figures and posts are what got me into trying figures to begin with.  Karl's are great, but he's been building a while, it was intimidating to me.  Schnobs started into modeling about when I did, and when I saw what he could do with figures, I decided to try it too.

Take a figure into a shop that will let you try on some optivisors, and look at your work, you might like it, I could never paint figures without one.  I use the number 7, it's at the high end magnification wise, but there is a 10 which is even stronger, but the focal length is about the end of my nose, and puts the work too close to me to be comfortable.  I think there are 3-5 lesser strength versions, too, and you can buy extra lenses so you can swap them out if you need too.

Try it, you'll like it!

Bill        

Look you guys, I know you're starting to think I'm one of the know-it-all types, but one day I hope you will begin to love me for my help & for my very informed opinions. You guys prolly should invest in one of these, most of the techs use them for close-up work in the Professional Model Shop I work in:

Re: opti visor?
 

 

 

Th Donagan IS the Opti-visor it's completely worth the $30 somthing dollars. I personally prefer the # 4 lens ( which is actually a 2X lens ) they break down like this:

Item No. Focal Length Magnification
LX-314 Inch 1.75x Power
LX-410 Inch 2.00x Power
LX-58 Inch 2.50x Power
LX-76 Inch 2.75x Power

I agree the #10 is too much magnifacation to really work. That $20 copy at hobby-expo is ok,unless you've ever tried one of these babies.  Here's a link to the maker:

http://www.doneganoptical.com/optivisorlx.php     


"From a recent thread here on these  /forums/1/1087784/ShowPost.aspx#1087784

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 6:53 PM

Enjoy your time, brother ... Take a breather ... I'll do my best to catch up to your builds while you're gone! HAHA!!!

Take care.

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 5:46 PM
might have to eventually too if my eyesight starts to go due to age. right now i feel im fine...who knows though. made it up to the inlaws and am going to enjoy my time up here. ponder a few things and forget a few things!!! Smile [:)]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 12:29 PM
Hey, thanks Bill! Just might have to check one out ...

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2012
Posted by I make stuff on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 12:07 PM

The magnifier helps me tremendously.  I am nearsighted, but I wear contacts, and I see fine, I can read this post as I type it and it's standard font 2 feet away. 

I find that the magnifier helps me see so much better than the naked eye.  Painting things like straps, eyebrows, etc is just way easier for me when it's three times as large as the naked eye.  BLending and layering are easier for me, too. 

I know Karl and Edmund/Schnobs use magnifiers on their figures, and Edmund's figures and posts are what got me into trying figures to begin with.  Karl's are great, but he's been building a while, it was intimidating to me.  Schnobs started into modeling about when I did, and when I saw what he could do with figures, I decided to try it too.

Take a figure into a shop that will let you try on some optivisors, and look at your work, you might like it, I could never paint figures without one.  I use the number 7, it's at the high end magnification wise, but there is a 10 which is even stronger, but the focal length is about the end of my nose, and puts the work too close to me to be comfortable.  I think there are 3-5 lesser strength versions, too, and you can buy extra lenses so you can swap them out if you need too.

Try it, you'll like it!

Bill        

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 11:46 AM

I definitely agree w/ you on the resin figures. I usually stick to 120mm, but I'm finding out that 1/35 resin figs are worth it as well. The last set of plastic figs I did were for a 1/48 B-17 (the crew). They came out ok, but then again, they were getting closed up in the fuselage, so I really wasn't all that concerned.

Bill, I meant to ask you .... does having the magnifier really help you w/ your figures? I don't mean to pry, but is it b/c you have bad vision to begin w/ or do you find that it just helps you look closer at your layering and color blending? Just a thought .... I don't use one, but I'd consider it if I thought it would help me improve my figures.

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2012
Posted by I make stuff on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 11:32 AM

Thanks, modelchasm, I'm very happy with him, and he's most definiately my third figure.  I built up and painted two styrene DML nachtjaeger dudes that came with my E100, then this guy.  I have to tell you, resin is the way to go if you want to paint figures.  No matter what I did with the styrene guys, there just isn't enough detail to let me paint them well.

After banging my head against those two for a week or two, I picked this guy up and it seemed to be much easier.  

Bill    

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 10:06 AM
yeah, well like i always say everyone has their own preference which is why you and everyone else paint with what they do! you are right though, and that's my preference, that i dislike water colors...errr...acrylics. Mischief [:-,] anyway, going up to the inlaws for a few days, will keep in touch via her computer. have a good holiday gang!! Thumbs Up [tup]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 8:55 AM

Laugh [(-D] .... Sorry Camo, you're right ... I forgot my disclaimer, therefore my opinion is automatically debunked .... when will I learn.

But for the record ... I don't think that I hate oils like you hate acrylics. At least I'm a LITTLE excepting....

 

 

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!! j/k buddy!!

I think that every type of paint has its place. I just like using acrylics on figures b/c of the finish they give, so I agree w/ Bill. However, its very hard to get a really nice, worn finish on a tank or A/C w/o a oil finish. I personally like to use dot weathering w/ oils on subjects like that. Unfortunatly, I haven't done one of those in quite a while.

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 8:39 PM
i'm sorry but i beg to differ scott!!! (Mischief [:-,]) Yuck [yuck]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 8:20 PM

Hey Bill ... AWESOME results! And if these ARE yor results after only 3x figs ... you're a fast learner!! HAHA!!! Glad you found a tech that works for you. Some people don't (Camo ... Big Smile [:D]), but I think (IMO) Vallejo acrylics are the best way to paint figures ... especially the flesh areas ... no matter how you finish them. VA paints just seem to give you that smooth, real-life look.

Again, nice job, Bill!

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2012
Posted by I make stuff on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 4:18 PM

I have only tried one way, and it works for me, so that's the way I paint.

Valleo acrylic paints, they come in a TON of shades, they thin with water, they clean up with water, and they go on like silk.

Get some GOOD red sable brushes, I have a couple 000, some 00000 and 0000000, others tell my they don't hold enough paint, they are perfect for details like buckles, outlining pockets, etc.  Don't use the brushes on anything but the Vallejo paint.  You will also need a magnifier of some sort, I use optivisor, I know Schnobs uses a magnifying glass on an arm with a dedicated light. 

Here's how I painted my first resin figure with Vallejos,

/forums/1169916/ShowPost.aspx

In that thread, i discuss the colors and techniques I used, based on Vallejo website information, Schnob's help, and an excellent toot by Bodge on this forum.

Skip the flesh tones and get light sand and cork brown, mix 50-50 for flesh, that will save you the 3 bottles of "flesh" tones that are all too light. 

I am not an expert, but I got these results after only 3 figures.  That seems pretty efficient to me.      

There are a number of toot type threads in the past month, including a toot contest thread from about 3 weeks ago.

Bill    

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 4:04 PM

tr-la-la-la-la....tra-la-la-la-la...tra-la-la-la-la

indy, your getting too deep and analytical for those of use with only a 2 year college degree buddy! Wink [;)] im not getting into another debate with you bud, i just think your dwelving too deeply into an unnecessary human psyche. Big Smile [:D]

"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 2:45 PM

... Sure, indy .... you're right ... my opinion is wrong. Whatever ....

I was simply offering up MY opinion on the matter ... not trying to sum up everyone elses into a statement of my own. Its fine if you disagree w/ my opinion, but its NOT fine to tell someone that their opinion is wrong. (And as it turns out .... this too is an opinion of mine). Also, you should confuse expertise w/ an opinion .... a doctor is SUPPOSED to know more than me, a mechanic is SUPPOSED to know more than me, my mother sure as hell knows more than me. I don't pay for opinions ... I pay for someone's expertise. If you pay people for their opinions ... well, that's your money I guess. But, I guess I get what you're saying ... if I was of the opinion that 2+2 was 5, yes, factually, I'd be wrong ... but (and here's my point) its not YOUR  place to tell me that.  

But .... we can go round and round here, but I'm really not all that interested ...

As I have to agree w/ others' opinions here lately ... I will be keeping my comments and my wrong opinions to myself. If anyone wants to hear them on a particular technique or subject, there's the PM buttom just below .... I guess I'll also have to start every posting from now on w/ a "disclaimer" of the definition of "IMO".

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 7:20 AM
those are some nice fantasy figures cosmic. not that im into that sort of thing...but still great job!! Thumbs Up [tup]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
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