Tips for painting 1/72 scale figures

Try ebay. I looked some up and came up with these. Is that what you are looking for ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Warriors-1-72-German-U-Boat-Crew-Set-72007-NEW_W0QQitemZ180011666294QQihZ008QQcategoryZ2590QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Warriors-1-72-German-U-Boat-Crew-Set-4-Figures-WA-72006_W0QQitemZ170012177030QQihZ007QQcategoryZ2590QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Andrea-1-72-German-U-Boat-Crew-NIB_W0QQitemZ290011079359QQihZ019QQcategoryZ16511QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Good Luck

Bud

Hi there,

If the figures are moulded in a dark plastic, try painting them first with a lighter base coat, that way you can see all belts, equipment etc better which makes it easier to paint and also shows up any imperfectionns and seam lines. I also find it much easier painting in good day light. I've tried in bright artificial light but when I've looked at the figure again the next day there are loads of bits I've missed or painted over.

Good luck,   Rich

Hi, Dave,

Revell Germany make a set of figures specifically designed for this kit .  Not sure if you can get them on your side of the Pond, but if you get stuck, mail me, and I'm sure I can sort something out. As to painting, I  like to undercoat 1/72 figures in matt black, and then dry-brush the main uniform colours and a highlight shade. I then just touch in the detail, not trying for every last button and eyebrow. Here are some Airfix 1/76 RAF figures painted using this method.

For 1/72 figures, I find that less is more.

Cheers,

Chris.

Greetings and thank you all for the tips. Chris, that's exactly the look I want to achieve.  What type of paint do you use for your dry brushing? 

I was able to pick up this set on my side of the pond.    I think I'm going to practice on them and then use are more animated group for the final project. 

Thank you

Dave

Hi, Dave,

I normally use Citadel acrylics for dry-brushing figures. The Games Workshop-approved method of painting relies heavily on dry-brushing, and their paints are really good for this purpose. In this case, though, I may have used Humbrol enamel H.96 for the blue of the uniforms, because it's a very good match for the colour of the real thing.

Cheers,

Chris.

Hi Chris,

I really like the way you've painted your figures, they look great. Maybe I should start using your method, although maybe your eyesight is better than mine!! I suppose base coating in black means that you can  outline  the details on the figures such as around the pockets, belts etc ,rather than doing it after the main coat has gone on. Your method seems alot easier. How long does it take you to paint a figure?

Rich

Hi, Rich,

thing is, with my method (and it's not really mine, I first read about it in an issue of FSM in the late 1990s, where some guy had used it on the 1/48 figures you get with the Revell ProModeller 1/48 B-25), you don't really need good eyesight, the dry-brushing does it for you. In any event, I tend to take off my glasses for detail work, and just hold the model up close! You're right about the outlining, sorta just happens automatically, so long as you don't dry-brush too hard.

As to how long it takes to paint a figure, well, as with most modelling, most time is taken up waiting for the paint to dry. You've really got to give the base matt black enamel coat (best sprayed on) at least 12 hours. I'd say it takes a couple of days to paint a simple figure, but I normally paint them at the same time as I'm doing something else, so no extra time is used in painting the figures at all.

Cheers,

Chris.

Chris,

Do you dry brush in the flesh as well or just the uniforms?  Tell me more about the "Games Workshop method".  Is there a reference for that somewhere? 

Thanks

Dave

Hi, Dave,

yes, I dry-brush the flesh as well. I find that, in this scale and over a black basecoat, tans work better than flesh tones. Here are a selection of articles on Games Workshop figure painting techniques.

Cheers,

Chris.

Just tried this method on a couple of pilots for my lads hawk. I did them quickly , just waiting for the paint to be touch dry, but they've come out OK. My 8 year old son thinks I'm fantastic..."you're really clever daddy...."

Rich

Cheers,

Chris.