Quick and (not so) Dirty 6mm Painting was >>--> Re: [DSII] Heresey

A very quick method I've used to good effect required an airbrush:

All sprays are done using an airbrush and acrylic paints. Enamel paints
can be used, if you REALLY enjoy that tipsy, slush-headed feeling.  I've
only used it with monochrome schemes, but I don't see why applying the brush
between a couple of steps wouldn't work.

I mount my micro-scale tanks on little nail heads while painting, or
I'll tape them to a box with 2-sided tape, but I miss some nooks and
crannies that way. Nails is the best. I try to use nails that fit between the
tracks on tanks, or between the wheels on vehicles. Infantry I paint on the
sprue then clip off and mount on a base.

Basecoat with a darker shade of the color that you really want. Priming isn't
critical when using an airbrush as long as your using good paints.

Spray from directly above with a brighter color than you want. Apply enough of
this color to balance out the darker color to the actual shade you want. This
acheives a very effective and subtle "highlights on top,
darks in the recesses/undersides".  Painting only from above is critical
in this step or you might as well be basecoating it again. Be careful not to
apply enough paint in a single pass that the model begins to appear "wet".

If you're going to paint on a camo pattern or pick out details with
brush/airbrush/markerpens do it now.  If using paint, water down the
paint a bit extra in order to give the edges of the color a "feathered" edge
instead of stark lines, unless that's what you're after, that is.

After applying camo, decals, etc, "dust" the miniature from above with a very
light color with an airbrush. White or gray for most colors, though if you're
painting dark browns a light tan color may work too. You want just a slight
dusting that will highlight raised areas, bring
the brush-work together by highlighting across the shades yet not
changle to overall color of the model. I water down the paint I'm using a lot
for this step.

After that, clearcoat and dullcote the models and you're done.

Note:  Don't try this with a spray-can.  The droplets of paint are too
large coming out of a spray-can and you'll wind up with a splotchy look
to the model... Which might be a valid technique... but not the point if
you're wanting to try what I wrote above.

> On Thu, 2002-04-04 at 18:08, John Atkinson wrote: