I have a ton of 54mm figures from various manufacturers, i.e. Call to Arms, AIP, CTS, Barzo and Hat. I have a 3 year old grandson who is the light of my life. I love the little guy and he is already showing an interest in what he calls "Pa's soldiers." Whenever he comes to visit, we dump out all over the floor several boxes of figures from various periods. He is now able to look at a figure and tell me what it is. My goal is to hand these down to him, but I would like to paint them to add that special touch. Teaching military history was never so much fun! I have seen some tips and plan to purchase a book and watch some YouTube vids, but for a quick question...is there a stock color "out there" for paining the flesh of ancient Celtiberians, Numidians and Carthaginians, etc? I would think more on the brown to dark brown is what would be appropriate. Any advice would be much obliged.
want to try painting 54mm plastic figures (2 Viewers)
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Mirof
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Are you going to paint "matt" or "glossy" ?
"glossy" paint with Humbrol, make a mix wihe flesh and brown glossy
or idem with matt colours than apply varnish coat glossy ( also Humbrol )
" matt" humbrol flesh matt, let dry, take oil colour brown, paint over it and wippe with a sponge, the recessed parts will stay dark, cheeks, nose, chin, etc are automaticaly highlighted
Best
"glossy" paint with Humbrol, make a mix wihe flesh and brown glossy
or idem with matt colours than apply varnish coat glossy ( also Humbrol )
" matt" humbrol flesh matt, let dry, take oil colour brown, paint over it and wippe with a sponge, the recessed parts will stay dark, cheeks, nose, chin, etc are automaticaly highlighted
Best
planning on matte...thanks.
I would go with acrylics easy to use and just wash your brushes with water....solid block painting is all you may need to do.
Ancients are fun to paint...and that's the important thing!
WOW! That looks amazing! I hope to get to that level some day.
theBaron
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If you're planning to give them to a 3-year-old, you might want to consider finding paints that won't hurt him if they are ingested. Also, if he's only 3, I wouldn't worry about painting them at that point, but just give him the figures and let him play with them as they are. As he gets older, I'd think about introducing him to the concept of painted figures, and even then, I'd keep it simple. If he's going to play with them, the paint will quickly wear off. If you haven't already, though, I'd introduce him to the idea by painting some with him. Let him watch you do it, and then let him try. But again, I would definitely get paints that aren't harmful if swallowed.
Prost!
Brad
Prost!
Brad
I was planning to give them to him when he is older. Along the lines of a passed down heirloom. What would be some good acrylics to begin with?
theBaron
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Myself, I use acrylics from a range of makers, from Andrea and Vallejo to craft store acrylics. Andrea and Vallejo both have flesh colors such as you're looking for, from light flesh through a darker tan or olive. But more important than the finish colors is to wash the figures, to remove all grease--warm water and a couple drops of dishwashing liquid, or SuperClean, which I use--and to prime them with a good primer. You want to get the best chance of paint adhering.
Prost!
Brad
Prost!
Brad
Fitzgibbon
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My son started his art career painting cheap plastic toy soldiers with me on the weekends - he was just 5 when he began. We upgraded to military modelling and tried competition with Games Workshop. He excelled at line drawing and went on to do a degree in Graphic Design. He has more recently returned to his line drawing in the field of tattooing. Your son won't be three for long and may want to be more "hands on" - it can be fun and also very rewarding. Enjoy :salute::