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I need help with my figures...really!

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  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: New Mexico
Posted by johncpo on Wednesday, August 8, 2007 1:55 PM

From an old Navy Chief Petty Officer to the MSgt. Greetings,

 As a modler in 1/35 scale for armor and figures, 1/48th for WWII Navy and some USMC aircraft, I have to admit that over the past 40 some years I have finally come up with a solution for figure detailing and painting that is simple: practice...

So here goes.

1. I use Tamiya and DML WWII figures exclusively, no other manufacturers produce the high quality details that make or break a good military figure for the money. With that in mind, scrub the figure parts in warm soapy water with a green scouring pad and rinse, this removes all of the oils found in plastics.

2.) Airbrush or handbrush on a primer color, I use acrylic hobby paints which are the brand found in the craft sections of WalMart or Hobby Lobby, the colors all match military colors and after finding a color chart to help noticed very little difference in shades. Acrylic paint can be thinned with water, BLUE windshield wiper fluid or Isopropyl Alcohol, in any case use the thinner to mix about 50/50 when using an airbrush. Dry with  a hand-held hairdryer set on LOW Heat. The paint will dry to a smooth finish, it's like a poor man's paint drying booth for Tanks and such.

3.) Paint the face colors first, using darker shades for the underlying details and then lighter shade for the skin which is most exposed, any shades from dark brown up to light tan and of course you use whatever shade is suitable. This can be done with paint brushes and the eyes I leave barely visible. In the case of tank crews, simply cover the eye area with the goggles if provided in the kit! I do.

4.) The primary way to detail paint is to attach all of the belt accessories and such to the body, include the helmet, etc. Attach as desired. Paint the separate parts first, then attach. After all the primary colors are painted on (the basic uniform colors)  dry with the hair dryer thouroughly.

5.) Next, the fun part and the details come out. Mix flat black paint with water until fairly thin, apply to the entire figure and let the wash get into all of the parts of the uniform, belt, etc. and the face. Dry the entire model with the good old hair dryer again. Pick out a fairly flat semi-ridged paint brush and using a very small amount of the next-lightest color to the one used as the base color, apply the paint in fast stroke motion over an area to bring out the detail, say in the folds in a shirt pocket, this method is known as "dry-brushing" and after time you will get really good at it.

6.) The advantage of using Acrylic paint is the fact that if you make a mistake and we ALL do, the ease of covering it or washing it down with water is very good. Practice on some older figures that have not been painted yet and see.

The best of luck,

GMC John M. Staehle, USNR (Ret.) 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 7:32 AM

Do a search at http://www.Armorama.com for tutorials on figure painting. There are several detailing different media.

 

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

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tacoma WA
Posted by gjek on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 12:38 AM
Thanks, there were about 5 of them that I could use.  Make a Toast [#toast]
Msgt USMC Ret M48, M60A1, M1A1
  • Member since
    September 2005
Posted by Kykeon on Monday, August 6, 2007 9:46 PM

Books, books, books......you can never have too many books. Well, actually you can, just take a look in our house......Shock [:O]    My wife works for a publishing company. Wink [;)]

 Osprey Publishing has a whole line of figure books, from the general overview to modeling specific figures. I own a whole bunch of them. There are many other titles on how to build and paint figures as well. Kalmbach Publishing also has several titles to choose from.

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=C9232~ser=MAN

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S1370~ser=MAN

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=C9216~ser=MAN~per=2

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=T132X~ser=MAN

http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/12240.html

http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/12136.html

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tacoma WA
I need help with my figures...really!
Posted by gjek on Monday, August 6, 2007 1:18 AM
 I build 1/35th kits and am happy with my skills with the kits themselves however, my skills with the figures come up shortDisapprove [V].  What I am looking for is a GOOD how to build and paint resourse for figures. I really don't want to work with largre nude figures. I need help with the smaller military figures. I have some TANK figures that I haven't touched for fear of screwing them up. Please help me!!! ( First you have to admit you have a problem Banged Head [banghead])  Thanks, Greg.
Msgt USMC Ret M48, M60A1, M1A1
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