Tips on painting Tradition of London (1 Viewer)

[WeekendWarrior]

I want to try my hand at painting glossy figures. I have a set of FIW/AWI models en route from Tradition of London. Does anyone have some advice on painting glossy figures? I have no idea where to start as paints, glossy finishes, etc.

 

[theBaron]

I use a good primer on my figures, like Tamiya's Fine Surface Primer. Rustoleum's primer is good, too, but Tamiya's primer has a finer grain to. But a good primer helps your finish coats adhere better.
You don't have to use gloss paints, neccesarily; you can use matte colors and then use a gloss coat to seal everything. I use water-based acrylics more and more, because they go on thin and don't obscure fine details. Then I seal with Future aka Pledge Floor Covering, which is an acrylic liquid. I've also started using Future to make tinted glazes to apply over the finish colors, for additional shading.
I also use Tamiya acrylics, which are alcohol-based. They must be thinned for best use, and I use Tamiya's own thinner for that.
With my water-based paints, I like to use a wet palette,which is basically a container with a sponge, and a piece of permeable paper over it. You put the paint on the paper, and the water in the sponge thins the paint, let's you blend colors, and keep a batch of paints fresh from one session to the next.
Water-based acrylic also dry relatively quickly, which means you can work faster.
For enamels, I use a ceramic palette and mineral spirits.
Remember, too, that if you're not happy with your results, you can always strip the figure and start over. Practice, practice, practice.
I hope that helps!
Prosit!
Brad

 

[Obee]

I want to try my hand at painting glossy figures. I have a set of FIW/AWI models en route from Tradition of London. Does anyone have some advice on painting glossy figures? I have no idea where to start as paints, glossy finishes, etc.

I paint all my figures the same, regardless whether they are wanted to be gloss or matte by using the right coloured paint, and then finally give a top coat of gloss or matte finish.

Reason is that some colours I use only come in one style of finish (matte or gloss) so I select the colour not the finish. I also will use satin finish, and apply a final top coat as required.

John

 

[Poppo]

I use a good primer on my figures, like Tamiya's Fine Surface Primer. Rustoleum's primer is good, too, but Tamiya's primer has a finer grain to. But a good primer helps your finish coats adhere better.
You don't have to use gloss paints, neccesarily; you can use matte colors and then use a gloss coat to seal everything. I use water-based acrylics more and more, because they go on thin and don't obscure fine details. Then I seal with Future aka Pledge Floor Covering, which is an acrylic liquid. I've also started using Future to make tinted glazes to apply over the finish colors, for additional shading.
I also use Tamiya acrylics, which are alcohol-based. They must be thinned for best use, and I use Tamiya's own thinner for that.
With my water-based paints, I like to use a wet palette,which is basically a container with a sponge, and a piece of permeable paper over it. You put the paint on the paper, and the water in the sponge thins the paint, let's you blend colors, and keep a batch of paints fresh from one session to the next.
Water-based acrylic also dry relatively quickly, which means you can work faster.
For enamels, I use a ceramic palette and mineral spirits.
Remember, too, that if you're not happy with your results, you can always strip the figure and start over. Practice, practice, practice.
I hope that helps!
Prosit!
Brad

Very interesting. But I have never seen a single photo from you: maybe I wasn't lucky, but it seems to me that you have never published a single pic of your work, Why? Did I miss something? Why don't you show anything?)

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Hi Brad,
I liked your explanations, interesting.
I have also seen your albums, great sets of Prussian, Russian and British soldiers...seems you like Obee are real fans of the 7 years wars and the related period...
Cheers
A_C

I use a good primer on my figures, like Tamiya's Fine Surface Primer. Rustoleum's primer is good, too, but Tamiya's primer has a finer grain to. But a good primer helps your finish coats adhere better.
You don't have to use gloss paints, neccesarily; you can use matte colors and then use a gloss coat to seal everything. I use water-based acrylics more and more, because they go on thin and don't obscure fine details. Then I seal with Future aka Pledge Floor Covering, which is an acrylic liquid. I've also started using Future to make tinted glazes to apply over the finish colors, for additional shading.
I also use Tamiya acrylics, which are alcohol-based. They must be thinned for best use, and I use Tamiya's own thinner for that.
With my water-based paints, I like to use a wet palette,which is basically a container with a sponge, and a piece of permeable paper over it. You put the paint on the paper, and the water in the sponge thins the paint, let's you blend colors, and keep a batch of paints fresh from one session to the next.
Water-based acrylic also dry relatively quickly, which means you can work faster.
For enamels, I use a ceramic palette and mineral spirits.
Remember, too, that if you're not happy with your results, you can always strip the figure and start over. Practice, practice, practice.
I hope that helps!
Prosit!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

Very interesting. But I have never seen a single photo from you: maybe I wasn't lucky, but it seems to me that you have never published a single pic of your work, Why? Did I miss something? Why don't you show anything?)

I have pictures all over the forum, and I have a gallery. You need only look.

 

[theBaron]

I paint all my figures the same, regardless whether they are wanted to be gloss or matte by using the right coloured paint, and then finally give a top coat of gloss or matte finish.

Reason is that some colours I use only come in one style of finish (matte or gloss) so I select the colour not the finish. I also will use satin finish, and apply a final top coat as required.

John

Yeah, I've wound up with a Farbkastl, as the Austrians call it, for the same reason. For many years, I bought a paint for the specific color, instead of mixing them. So I've got enamels, acrylics, oils, and some lacquers, all using various solvents, from water to isopropyl alcohol, to mineral spirits or lacquer thinner.

Over the past few years or so, I've started using water-based acrylics more. I already used them with my scale models, and as I got familiar with them, and with mixing, I've started using them more, especially more than my old gloss enamels. As you say, the final step is a clear coat. With my scale models, that's a matte lacquer (DullCote), and with toy soldiers, it's Future (Kleer).

Prost!
Brad

 

[WeekendWarrior]

I'm pitching into my Northwest Frontier figures with a fury. I've started using a new paint-on gloss. Unfortunately even when I thin it, it goes on with a slight white haze. Should I revert to my standard spray on glosscote? Is there any fix?

 

[Hazebrouck]

I'm pitching into my Northwest Frontier figures with a fury. I've started using a new paint-on gloss. Unfortunately even when I thin it, it goes on with a slight white haze. Should I revert to my standard spray on glosscote? Is there any fix?

I've had similar problems and have had to strip the paint off and start again. I have found that some types of paint (acrylics and metallics in particular) react with gloss coatings. I have had the paint haze, go milky and in the case of metallics the paint has run.

It can be a bit of trial and error. Humbrol Glosscote doesn't usually react with Humbrol enamel paints, if that is of any help. Another factor I have found is humidity. I prefer to apply a thin coat of Glosscote on a warm day after the figure has warmed in the sun.

Scott