As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/

[Painting Miniatures] What colour is the best colour to paint your miniatures?

15657596162101

Posts

  • MegaMan001MegaMan001 CRNA Rochester, MNRegistered User regular
    I bought a new, 10 dollar, single action siphon airbrush to try priming with Vallejo primer for my return to painting in maybe..15 years?

    Used Vallejo Gray primer with a few drops of Thinner / Flow Improver and once I remembered how to use an airbrush I'm really happy with the results. Super fast to get multiple thin coats on quickly and I can do it in doors without asphyxiating myself.

    Going to let them cure for a few days before jumping into base colors and washing this weekend.

    Feels very, very good to put paint on miniatures for the first time in so long.

    I am in the business of saving lives.
  • GnomeTankGnomeTank What the what? Portland, OregonRegistered User regular
    edited March 2019
    Purple
    Brainleech wrote: »
    GnomeTank wrote: »
    Khraul wrote: »
    Jumped on the bandwagon and grabbed a bottle of vallejo gunmetal and of burnt iron.

    The more non-citadel paint I pick up the more I realize that the reason I rely so much on citadel stuff is that the base/layer/drybrush/etc paint system they have takes the brainwork out of choosing which paints to use.... sadly I think it's also a crutch keeping me from getting better with paints in general.

    I stick to citadel paints because I don't want to do the extra step of color matching. If I'm painting Ultramarines (which I currently am), I know I can just grab Macragge Blue and Calgar Blue and those are the blues I want. I don't have to color match them, and hope they are exactly right, only to find out two of my models look slightly different because XYZ's color matched "ultramarine blue" isn't quite the same as Macragge blue.

    I really wish Citadel would do something about their paint bottles though. They suck. Why a company with their resources hasn't just moved to dropper bottles yet I'll never know. I hate to fall back on the old "it's to make more money because your paint dries out faster" thing, because I don't find most humans in a company actually think like that...but it does boggle the mind.

    I am probably one of the few people who doesn't mind the citadel bottle it's better than the generic flip top ones. I don't like dropper bottles mainly because of how I learned to paint.
    I know their paint system is confusing as hell and I feel it's to miss sell paints or sell paint bundles. It doesn't help people tweak their take on the color of certain armies or characters when you look online. {an example of this was pre youtube I had no idea how necron monoliths were painted I thought it was green and a ton of wash it didn't help one of the people I found was doing this and using a ton of tissue/tape}


    But it's turning spring once more all I have to do is find the base/stand for my light and I back in business painting!

    We can quibble about how their standard paints are bottled, but in my opinion the Air line ought to be in droppers. Having to poor paint out of the standard citadel bottles in to an airbrush cup is annoying. I've got a method down now where I waste minimal paint, but it's a huge pain in the ass. And I haven't had great success transferring to droppers myself. Pain to transfer and I had some strange color separation issues with one of the paints (that doesn't seem to happen in the original jar).

    GnomeTank on
    Sagroth wrote: »
    Oh c'mon FyreWulff, no one's gonna pay to visit Uranus.
    Steam: Brainling, XBL / PSN: GnomeTank, NintendoID: Brainling, FF14: Zillius Rosh SFV: Brainling
  • BrainleechBrainleech 機知に富んだコメントはここにあります Registered User regular
    In airbrushes it was my horrible summer and being unable to paint and how I sat waiting all fall and winter for the temp to get to comfortable so I can. I kind of want to get an airbrush for primering and large basecoats/models
    I just don't like the look of airbrushed stuff though I find it kind of meh as I see it too often on eldar armies and have not been impressed

  • MegaMan001MegaMan001 CRNA Rochester, MNRegistered User regular
    Brainleech wrote: »
    In airbrushes it was my horrible summer and being unable to paint and how I sat waiting all fall and winter for the temp to get to comfortable so I can. I kind of want to get an airbrush for primering and large basecoats/models
    I just don't like the look of airbrushed stuff though I find it kind of meh as I see it too often on eldar armies and have not been impressed

    https://www.amazon.com/PointZero-Single-action-22cc-Siphon-feed-Airbrush/dp/B004KNHGHS/ref=sr_1_26?keywords=siphon+airbrush&qid=1551847155&s=gateway&sr=8-26

    This is what I used for priming tonight. No fuss, no muss. You just mix up a big jar of your favored primer and get at it. This combined with the ubiquitous Hobby Lobby 40% coupon for a compressor will have you priming with an airbrush for $50.

    I am in the business of saving lives.
  • StragintStragint Do Not Gift Always DeclinesRegistered User regular
    The few times I used my airbrush have ranged from bad to great for me.

    When I was going for a sort of neon orange on my Infinity models I had a lot of trouble getting them all to be the same color, I also didn't really do thin coats and ended up putting too much on each layer. All vallejo paints.

    My T'au came out a lot better but even then I feel like the layers were a little too thick and the Pathfinders have streaks on them and I'm not sure why but I think the airbrush may have started to clog. I used vallejo gloss primer and the color shift from green stuff world.

    For the skull base I did for my Wulfen I had a pretty easy time. Airflow improver really helped with getting GW paints through without clogging but I felt like I was using too much paint for the small amount of painting I was doing and I was also using a dropper to pull paint out and put it in the pot. I also had some seriously chunky ceramite white.

    I think so far my two imperial knights have come out the best. I think they look awesome and I'm really happy with the vallejo colors I used, grey surface primer, burnt iron base, and gunmetal base over that. Right now I'm still working on details with GW paints but so far I'm pretty happy with it which I'm usually not.

    I do need to start using these GW paints though. I have almost 100 different colors and I barely use them though I also barely paint. Luckily my brother likes painting his stuff up so for now they are being used.

    PSN: Reaper_Stragint, Steam: DoublePitstoChesty
    What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable? ~ Mario Novak

    I never fear death or dyin', I only fear never trying.
  • GnomeTankGnomeTank What the what? Portland, OregonRegistered User regular
    Purple
    I couldn't go back to not using an airbrush for priming and base coating. The smoothness it can apply a prime or base coat with is just phenomenal. I've only recently started to use it for things like blending and highlighting...but for me the priming and base coating is worth the price of entry alone.

    Sagroth wrote: »
    Oh c'mon FyreWulff, no one's gonna pay to visit Uranus.
    Steam: Brainling, XBL / PSN: GnomeTank, NintendoID: Brainling, FF14: Zillius Rosh SFV: Brainling
  • valhalla130valhalla130 13 Dark Shield Perceives the GodsRegistered User regular
    Purple
    I have used my Sotar 20/20 four times. The first time it worked great. The second time it was okay.

    And every attempt after that has not gone well. I can not seem to keep paint from drying in it as I use it and I spend more time cleaning it.

    asxcjbppb2eo.jpg
  • KhraulKhraul Registered User regular
    Purple
    GnomeTank wrote: »
    Khraul wrote: »
    Jumped on the bandwagon and grabbed a bottle of vallejo gunmetal and of burnt iron.

    The more non-citadel paint I pick up the more I realize that the reason I rely so much on citadel stuff is that the base/layer/drybrush/etc paint system they have takes the brainwork out of choosing which paints to use.... sadly I think it's also a crutch keeping me from getting better with paints in general.

    I stick to citadel paints because I don't want to do the extra step of color matching. If I'm painting Ultramarines (which I currently am), I know I can just grab Macragge Blue and Calgar Blue and those are the blues I want. I don't have to color match them, and hope they are exactly right, only to find out two of my models look slightly different because XYZ's color matched "ultramarine blue" isn't quite the same as Macragge blue.

    I really wish Citadel would do something about their paint bottles though. They suck. Why a company with their resources hasn't just moved to dropper bottles yet I'll never know. I hate to fall back on the old "it's to make more money because your paint dries out faster" thing, because I don't find most humans in a company actually think like that...but it does boggle the mind.

    Changing bottle styles would be a huge manufacturing chain logistics cost for basically zero benefit. It's not like there'd be a huge market share increase if they changed bottle types, and they'd have to foot the cost for changing the bottling process, shipping, labelling, new display racks for stores, etc. It's probably just cost prohibitive to change the whole process when people are still buying the current pots.

    Bnet - Khraul#1822
    Gamertag - Khraul
    PSN - Razide6
  • KhraulKhraul Registered User regular
    Purple
    How does a siphon airbrush differ from a gravity feed with regards to priming? Easier/harder to use? Different coat quality?

    Why do most sites recommend a gravity fed brush?

    Bnet - Khraul#1822
    Gamertag - Khraul
    PSN - Razide6
  • RenzoRenzo Registered User regular
    Khraul wrote: »
    How does a siphon airbrush differ from a gravity feed with regards to priming? Easier/harder to use? Different coat quality?

    Why do most sites recommend a gravity fed brush?

    From my limited understanding, gravity feed lets you use lower pressure since the airbrush doesn't have to create a vacuum to pull the paint up.

  • MegaMan001MegaMan001 CRNA Rochester, MNRegistered User regular
    Khraul wrote: »
    How does a siphon airbrush differ from a gravity feed with regards to priming? Easier/harder to use? Different coat quality?

    Why do most sites recommend a gravity fed brush?

    My personal take is that gravity fed is much easier to control especially at super fine spreads like with miniatures. Siphon fed needs higher pressure to pull through paint out so it's hard to get a smooth spread in super narrow painting.

    I also prefer a dual action trigger so you can adjust the amount of paint on the fly without stopping to adjust the nozzle.

    I am in the business of saving lives.
  • Gabriel_PittGabriel_Pitt (effective against Russian warships) Registered User regular
    A different, worse colour
    Khraul wrote: »
    How does a siphon airbrush differ from a gravity feed with regards to priming? Easier/harder to use? Different coat quality?

    Why do most sites recommend a gravity fed brush?

    Because gravity fed just lets the paint the flow out of the pot. It's a simpler process, with less parts, and for miniature painting, it's a much easier to use one. The siphon really doesn't offer any advantages.

  • StragintStragint Do Not Gift Always DeclinesRegistered User regular
    I used a siphon feed to prime my imperial knight models. It didn't go bad, it was pretty easy, not really any issues until it started to clog but that is probably because of the primer. After I did that I used the gravity feed for the base coats, I do like the gravity feed more. More control.

    I haven't gone back to painting my knights yet. I painted most of the details on the skeleton gold and was working on the weapons and then I was going to do a second coat of gold but I just haven't had the drive to do it.

    PSN: Reaper_Stragint, Steam: DoublePitstoChesty
    What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable? ~ Mario Novak

    I never fear death or dyin', I only fear never trying.
  • KhraulKhraul Registered User regular
    Purple
    Thanks everyone... I'll stick with my grav feed.

    Bnet - Khraul#1822
    Gamertag - Khraul
    PSN - Razide6
  • KhraulKhraul Registered User regular
    Purple
    Follow up question... I keep seeing people talking about adding windex to their paint for airbrushing, and occasionally brush.. uh... brushing...


    ...why windex?

    Bnet - Khraul#1822
    Gamertag - Khraul
    PSN - Razide6
  • McGibsMcGibs TorontoRegistered User regular
    edited March 2019
    A different, worse colour
    It's readily available I guess (and probably a lot cheaper than artstore flow-improver)? All it does is lower the surface tension of the paint/water mix, allowing it to flow better.
    Plus it smells nice!

    McGibs on
    website_header.jpg
  • KhraulKhraul Registered User regular
    Purple
    Hmmm well that's both weird AND useful

    Bnet - Khraul#1822
    Gamertag - Khraul
    PSN - Razide6
  • MegaMan001MegaMan001 CRNA Rochester, MNRegistered User regular
    Windex is a great improver as stated above and I've never had issues with it changing my colors.

    Vallejo Flow Improver more or less does the same thing

    I am in the business of saving lives.
  • Dr_KeenbeanDr_Keenbean Dumb as a butt Planet Express ShipRegistered User regular
    Purple
    I have heard that ammonia is not good for the metal components in a airbrush. I have personally seen no evidence of this.

    I still opt for vallejo airbrush thinner and cleaner, but 'ammonia bad' could just be a lie perpetrated to sell those exact products.

    PSN/NNID/Steam: Dr_Keenbean
    3DS: 1650-8480-6786
    Switch: SW-0653-8208-4705
  • Gabriel_PittGabriel_Pitt (effective against Russian warships) Registered User regular
    edited March 2019
    A different, worse colour
    Ammonia tends to get chemically reactive when you combine it with water (that's why it makes a good cleaner) and will attack brass, copper, zinc, and a couple of other soft metals IIRC. It wouldn't surprise me if brass is a common component in certain types of fittings and internal parts, and so that could cause problems.

    Gabriel_Pitt on
  • BadablackBadablack Registered User regular
    Ammonia is bad if you just soak your airbrush in it for days, briefly running it through won’t hurt.

    That said I always use ammonia-free glass cleaner. Stuff smells nasty.

    FC: 1435-5383-0883
  • valhalla130valhalla130 13 Dark Shield Perceives the GodsRegistered User regular
    Purple
    Is there anything I could soak my airbrush in, in an ultrasonic cleaner?

    I've heard Simple Green will cause major problems for a Sotar.

    asxcjbppb2eo.jpg
  • manjimanji Registered User regular
    night lords sniper i just finished.

    PAOLlL4.jpg?1

  • NipsNips He/Him Luxuriating in existential crisis.Registered User regular
    Purple
    That is a very aggressive looking sniper rifle!

    Also, does it count as a rifle if you can point it at something, and the end of the barrel touches the target? :P

    JXUBxMxP0QndjQUEnTwTxOkfKmx8kWNvuc-FUtbSz_23_DAhGKe7W9spFKLXAtkpTBqM8Dt6kQrv-rS69Hi3FheL3fays2xTeVUvWR7g5UyLHnFA0frGk1BC12GYdOSRn9lbaJB-uH0htiLPJMrc9cSRsIgk5Dx7jg9K8rJVfG43lkeAWxTgcolNscW9KO2UZjKT8GMbYAFgFvu2TaMoLH8LBA5p2pm6VNYRsQK3QGjCsze1TOv2yIbCazmDwCHmjiQxNDf6LHP35msyiXo3CxuWs9Y8DQvJjvj10kWaspRNlWHKjS5w9Y0KLuIkhQKOxgaDziG290v4zBmTi-i7OfDz-foqIqKzC9wTbn9i_uU87GRitmrNAJdzRRsaTW5VQu_XX_5gCN8XCoNyu5RWWVGTsjJuyezz1_NpFa903Uj2TnFqnL1wJ-RZiFAAd2Bdut-G1pdQtdQihsq2dx_BjtmtGC3KZRyylO1t2c12dhfb0rStq4v8pg46ciOcdtT_1qm85IgUmGd7AmgLxCFPb0xnxWZvr26G-oXSqrQdjKA1zNIInSowiHcbUO2O8S5LRJVR6vQiEg0fbGXw4vqJYEn917tnzHMh8r0xom8BLKMvoFDelk6wbEeNq8w8Eyu2ouGjEMIvvJcb2az2AKQ1uE_7gdatfKG2QdvfdSBRSc35MQ=w498-h80-no
  • BadablackBadablack Registered User regular
    Run him as one of the new primaris snipers and that gun will look about right for the damage it puts out.

    FC: 1435-5383-0883
  • manjimanji Registered User regular
    its anvil's finest. it comes with a muzzle break barrel if you wanna go full robocop. i never understood why apart from a few recent raven guard models conventional marines weren't allowed sniper rifles. loyalist word bearer dude from the HH books has one and he's awesome.

  • NorgothNorgoth cardiffRegistered User regular
    Purple
    I came home yesterday to find my wife had used one of my kolinksy sable brushes(a games and gears one) to clean the filter on the dryer.

    So if anyone wants to be a character witness at my trial...

  • Dr_KeenbeanDr_Keenbean Dumb as a butt Planet Express ShipRegistered User regular
    Purple
    Norgoth wrote: »
    I came home yesterday to find my wife had used one of my kolinksy sable brushes(a games and gears one) to clean the filter on the dryer.

    So if anyone wants to be a character witness at my trial...

    "How do you know the defendant?"

    "Uh... he paints little plastic wardollies on the internet?"

    "Death penalty it is!"

    PSN/NNID/Steam: Dr_Keenbean
    3DS: 1650-8480-6786
    Switch: SW-0653-8208-4705
  • EchoEcho ski-bap ba-dapModerator mod
  • AsherAsher Registered User regular
    I have been painting the Shadespire warbands! this is really giving me my painting mojo back. Got these guys a week ago and I've managed to carve out enough painting time to get Steelheart's Champions done. Garracks Reavers are also 80% of the way there.

    iOKOqXJ.jpg?1
    JqOcNoO.jpg?2
    C2R6PKh.jpg?1
    6Lgj7By.jpg?1

    Had heaps of fun painting them, and doing the little conversions too. Of course I'd forgotten how good my camera was at finding all the little flaws and bits I've missed and need to touch up, so I guess there's more to be done ... :P

    I put models on Instagram now: asher_paints
  • Dr_KeenbeanDr_Keenbean Dumb as a butt Planet Express ShipRegistered User regular
    Purple
    90's throwback paints demand a 90's throwback paintjob. Based on the 2nd Edition Cadians.

    Vd0w3cqm.jpgr38mZKbm.jpg

    PSN/NNID/Steam: Dr_Keenbean
    3DS: 1650-8480-6786
    Switch: SW-0653-8208-4705
  • DarkewolfeDarkewolfe Registered User regular
    Purple
    Asher wrote: »
    I have been painting the Shadespire warbands! this is really giving me my painting mojo back. Got these guys a week ago and I've managed to carve out enough painting time to get Steelheart's Champions done. Garracks Reavers are also 80% of the way there.

    iOKOqXJ.jpg?1
    JqOcNoO.jpg?2
    C2R6PKh.jpg?1
    6Lgj7By.jpg?1

    Had heaps of fun painting them, and doing the little conversions too. Of course I'd forgotten how good my camera was at finding all the little flaws and bits I've missed and need to touch up, so I guess there's more to be done ... :P

    It's a recurring question but what did you use for your bronze metal? I really dig that.

    What is this I don't even.
  • BadablackBadablack Registered User regular
    Stormcast have the usual GW problem of the official paint scheme being pretty mediocre compared to all the alternatives. That looks way better than the usual gold.

    FC: 1435-5383-0883
  • Dr_KeenbeanDr_Keenbean Dumb as a butt Planet Express ShipRegistered User regular
    edited March 2019
    Purple
    You know what cataphractii need? More rivets.
    TurWMfsh.jpg

    Dr_Keenbean on
    PSN/NNID/Steam: Dr_Keenbean
    3DS: 1650-8480-6786
    Switch: SW-0653-8208-4705
  • AsherAsher Registered User regular
    Darkewolfe wrote: »
    Asher wrote: »
    I have been painting the Shadespire warbands! this is really giving me my painting mojo back. Got these guys a week ago and I've managed to carve out enough painting time to get Steelheart's Champions done. Garracks Reavers are also 80% of the way there.

    iOKOqXJ.jpg?1

    Had heaps of fun painting them, and doing the little conversions too. Of course I'd forgotten how good my camera was at finding all the little flaws and bits I've missed and need to touch up, so I guess there's more to be done ... :P

    It's a recurring question but what did you use for your bronze metal? I really dig that.

    Cheers! It's a pretty simple recipe.

    Basecoat Balthasar Gold
    Wash down with a brown wash
    Wash just the recesses with watered down Rhinox Hide
    Repanel Balthasar Gold
    Gentle Highlight with a 50/50 mix of Balthasar Gold and Mithril silver (not sure what the new version is, but the lightest silver they make)
    Edge highlight with pure silver
    Then go back and add chipping and scrapes if you want.

    Badablack wrote: »
    Stormcast have the usual GW problem of the official paint scheme being pretty mediocre compared to all the alternatives. That looks way better than the usual gold.
    I know right. Literally every other colour scheme looks so much better. The Lions of Sigmar are bronze and Purple and that looks amazing. I would have done them if a friend hadn't already.

    I put models on Instagram now: asher_paints
  • CalicaCalica Registered User regular
    Badablack wrote: »
    Stormcast have the usual GW problem of the official paint scheme being pretty mediocre compared to all the alternatives. That looks way better than the usual gold.

    I wonder if that's intentional, to encourage people to come up with their own schemes.

  • BrainleechBrainleech 機知に富んだコメントはここにあります Registered User regular
    edited March 2019
    Calica wrote: »
    Badablack wrote: »
    Stormcast have the usual GW problem of the official paint scheme being pretty mediocre compared to all the alternatives. That looks way better than the usual gold.

    I wonder if that's intentional, to encourage people to come up with their own schemes.

    I like this paint job for the stormcast
    j06eekvno6nt.png
    The anvils of the heldenhammer


    But I would try to get that dull slivered look as shown in one of the art pieces

    t99y3bpq77k4.png

    Brainleech on
  • Dr_KeenbeanDr_Keenbean Dumb as a butt Planet Express ShipRegistered User regular
    Purple
    Calica wrote: »
    Badablack wrote: »
    Stormcast have the usual GW problem of the official paint scheme being pretty mediocre compared to all the alternatives. That looks way better than the usual gold.

    I wonder if that's intentional, to encourage people to come up with their own schemes.

    It's because it's super easy to reproduce, especially for a new painter. The fact that it sells $30 cans of spray paint doesn't hurt either.

    Though everyone knows the Celestial Vindicators have the best scheme.

    PSN/NNID/Steam: Dr_Keenbean
    3DS: 1650-8480-6786
    Switch: SW-0653-8208-4705
  • RenzoRenzo Registered User regular
    The stock Stormcast color scheme is what got me interested in painting Stormcast in the first place. It's a good application of classic color theory.

  • Halos Nach TariffHalos Nach Tariff Can you blame me? I'm too famous.Registered User regular
    It's taken me, like, a month to paint five of these suckers, I hate doing wings, and I still have fifteen more to do, but progress is progress!

    7wpfden50wrq.jpg
    cq5quvtva3lw.jpg
    r7pl554h6iyf.jpg

    The red splodgy wings doesn't show up very well on camera cos it's all glossy, but it's mostly just to visually distinguish them from the alternative weapon build if I'm running both Heartrenders and Lifetakers on the table.


This discussion has been closed.