Step by step 15th C medieval soldier (1 Viewer)

joesgis

joesgis

2nd Lieutenant
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Sep 26, 2007
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Hello and Happy New Year to all!

I'm starting a new painting project and thought it would be fun to share how I paint a miniature. (You can see a figure I just completed in the diorama and collections sections under the thread "Joe's collection".)

The new project is Medieval Forge kit # B-54-006 featuring a 15th Century Bohemian solider. The scale is 54mm, and the medium is resin. The casting is extremely crisp with fine, sharp detailing throughout. It should be fun to paint! Today I completed all of the prep work which includes: removal of sprue remnants, sanding/polishing of mold lines and inconsistencies in the casting (this figure needed very little rework in that regard), washing of parts to remove any mold release agents, drilling of feet and base for installation of brass stabilizing pins, primer coating, and lastly a dry assembly to check all joins and to determine if any areas required epoxy putty for part transitions. This figure is so well engineered and cast that it requires no fitting modifications. I hope Medieval forge keeps producing 54mm figures, because their sculpting and casting work is fantastic!

I will add images as I move through the painting process. I can only paint on the weekends, saw there will be gaps between updates, but I will see this project through to the end and will post photos of several stages involved in bringing this figure to life. I hope you enjoy the process!
All the best,
Joe



 
I hope 2021 has been good to everyone so far!
I think I forgot to mention in the opening that the paint medium is acrylic. I've made good progress on the figure and took some photos. I always start with the face. Once I get some color on the face I feel like it animates the figure, and I really feel motivated once the figure begins to come to life. The face is not completed. There are still transitions to feather in, and the eyes and eye sockets need some dialing in. The forehead is in progress, but for the most part I was pleased enough with the facial progress after battling with the eyes to move on to other elements. After spending so much time on one area I find it helpful sometimes to work on other parts of a model so I don't get tunnel vision. It keeps it fresh and exciting, and it's just more fun that way if the model allows for it. So I moved on to the padded body armor I also worked a lot on the garment with many points that covers the upper chest and shoulders. Lastly I base coated the chain mail coif.

The areas that have been painted are not complete but are well on the way. There are still color transitions to smooth out and other details like stitching to emphasize. I have to say again how impressed I am with this casting. The details are so intricate that it's really amazing. I usually paint metal figures. Metals figures can't hold the kind of intense detail a resin figure can. Of course resin is much more brittle and fragile though. It is not uncommon to find broken parts in your resin kits as I did with this one.

I've used flash for the photos, but flash is very harsh for miniature photography. It wipes out most subtle color shifts, shadows, highlights and delicate work. But these photographs are not intended to flatter the figure but rather to completely illuminate it.

I'll pick this up again next weekend. There's still much to do including gloves, leggings, armor, belt/straps/fasteners/buttons, buckles, scabbard, chain mail coif, pouches, boots, the shield, and the weapon (which I've noticed is broken, and I will need to repair it). Then I will complete the assembly and do the final touch ups. When it's all done I'll base the figure unless I decide to use it in a diorama.

Thanks for looking in and be well everyone!
Joe







 
Last edited:
Very interesting Joe - how do you typically choose what colors you will be using?
 
AJ82 said:
Very interesting Joe - how do you typically choose what colors you will be using?
Click to expand...

Hi AJ,

Thanks! Selecting colors for a figure is a fun process for me, and it's why I prefer painting figures that are not associated with relatively fixed uniform colors. I prefer painting medieval foot soldiers, barbarians, Vikings, etc because they can be painted in any colors you wish within reason. For example, this particular has a lot of padded armor. This material can be painted in a range of colors like the buff colors I used, or greens, off whites, oranges, etc. There are many leather articles on this figure, so these can be painted any way you like- dark brown, aged/faded, light brown, dark green, rust, etc. The tights/leggings can be a whole range of colors from yellow, cream, various greens, deep red, brown, orange, blue, etc. Just think of Russian barbarian figures or French or English men-at-arms, and how the same figures are often painted completely different. I like that kind of freedom. But the key is all the colors need to be harmonious with one another. So I think of this figure as having an autumn color scheme. I really enjoy working in this spectrum.

So most of my color selections come from what I think will look nice on a given figure after I have studied the sculpture and the garments/articles/accessories. Sometimes I might look at Osprey photos or figures from my collection for ideas. The box art is often a good guide too (but in this case the photo is black and white). Usually the box art has a finely painted example from a decorated artist. I sometimes study the image(s) and try to figure out what he/she did to make it look so good.

I plan on hitting it hard the next chance I get. It has been a very fun figure to paint so far. I love all the tiny, precise details. When you start adding color to them the figure really begins to take shape.

Thanks for your interest,
Joe
 
Here's my first update today, 1/09, with more to follow later...

These photos show the latest progress which includes painting of the knee armor, wrist armor cuffs, forearm sleeves (I might change this color), and base coating layers of the leggings. I'll be back later today with more pictures....

Joe





 
this is an interesting thread...

I have 4 Russian sent EK Castings...

2 Samurai and 2 Vikings...

I am intimidated due to my poor painting skills...

I love tutorials and hope you help me overcome my fears of starting on them...
 
Update 2 on 1/09:

Here I've completed highlights and shadows on the leggings, painted the undershirt in green tones, and started on the boots. I took a break from the figure and repaired the ball and chain flail and progressed on the painting of it as well.

There will be a new update tomorrow with more work on the boots and chain mail. I will also be working on straps, buckles and on the pouch on his side tomorrow.

After that I will repair and paint the scabbard, finish painting the flail, paint the shield, separate pouch, and a thin line around the chain mail coif facial opening. After that I will do final corrections and touch ups to the face and other areas, and then complete the assembly. I will also base the figure too.
Joe





 
mikemiller1955 said:
this is an interesting thread...

I have 4 Russian sent EK Castings...

2 Samurai and 2 Vikings...

I am intimidated due to my poor painting skills...

I love tutorials and hope you help me overcome my fears of starting on them...
Click to expand...

That's awesome Mike! I'd be glad to assist any way that I can!
It's just like anything else....we get a little better every time we try it.

Joe
 
These photos show base painting of the straps. This figure has a lot of straps and buckles. The buckles have been painted. Some of the straps have metal tips, and they have been painted as well. I also did more work on the chain mail. I repaired and painted most of the scabbard and the flail, but I didn't photograph those. But you will see them next weekend when I install them on the figure. Then I will be down to painting the shield and final clean-up painting (fix over-painted spots, smooth out any harsh color transitions, and final adjustments to highlights and shadows. Joe



 
Hello and thanks for checking in.
Here's the 1/17 update:
Today I worked on the accessories for the figures. The photos below show:
- Painting and attachment of the large bag on the rear of the figure. There are still two tiny brass loops for the ties to be painted as well as some seam work to b done.
- More progress on the flail assembly has been made.
- Painting of the scabbard has begun.
- Painting of the shield front and back has been completed. I researched some Hussite shield designs and combined some of those ideas.

Tomorrow I will finish the flail, scabbard, and assembly of the figure. Then I will do more work on the face and perform final touch ups throughout. Then I will base the figure. I hope to complete the entire project tomorrow. I will try to post final images at the time or soon thereafter.
Enjoy your weekend!
Joe











 
I completed the figure today and will have a series of photos mid-week after I've completed basing it. Thanks for checking in- photos of the completed piece to follow Wednesday night. Have a good week! Joe

 
1/20 final update: I completed basing the figure today and hope you enjoy the photos! I will be posting additional photos under the path heading: dioramas and collections>collections>Joe's collection. Thanks to all who have checked into this thread, and I hope you found it fun and interesting! Joe













 
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