the purpose of this thread isn't to be a tutorial, you can check on youtube channel to find excellent tutorial videos about how paint figures, here i just want share my first experience about collecting and paint figures scale 1:72.
first of all, choose the goods to collect.
we've a huge assortment covering all historical periods, personally i prefer what was between 1850-1945.
this site is the place to check and have previews about the figures made by the several manufacters : plasticsoldierreview.com
once chosed what buy, you have to search in interent what are the cheapest retailer for your country.
i've been luck to find two internet retailers near where i live, so i contacted them and i could retire personally the goods; the human relationships remain a good point in make business and ask further discounts; anyway i would warning about shops beacause they seem apply, for the most, the same or more expansive price than what an internet retailer can however reserve. if you can visit dedicated fairs about wargame or anyway where they sell toy soldiers, i know they're excellent places to make great business, usually the goods are sold like in a clearance sale.
here a couple of the several retailers you can find in internet, they've good catalogues and cheaper prices :
https://www.drumandflag.co.uk/
https://www.michtoy.com/
(i'm collecting several boxes about the period i'm interested in. i like products made by Strelets, Hat, Caesar, Italeri, even if i have yet to find a retailer that suit me for Strelets goods ! )
moving on my first experience in painting, i'm going to show step by step the phases of my work (i meet everybody have to rich this topic to come forward with own knowledge, notions, advices, suggestions).
1. unboxing the product and remove the single pieces
what needs : TILE NIPPER
2. remove impurity from the single item
what needs : TOOL FILE, CUTTER
(i prefer use the cutter lightly around the part to remove)
3. wash the items
what needs : DISHES SOAP, TOOTHBRUSH
(i left the items in a soapy water for a long while before rinse them with clean water)
4. leave the items dry for a night
5. paint the figures with primer
what needs : PRIMER, DISH as palette, BRUSH FINE TIP, PINCER to take the figure)
(i don't use primer in spray because i prefer make this step manually)
(i choose the white because i think is the best base we can apply to a model, details of the figure stand out)
(more than an hand of primer to well cover any part of the item)
6. paint
what needs : COLOURS, DISH as palette, BRUSH FINE TIP, PINCER to take the figure, CUP of water, RAG to dry brush)
(exist lot of tones and colours by several brands, me, because one of my retailer paint with it and i readed excellet reviews about, i choosed - the army painter - and i bought just the essential : black, white, red, blue, yellow and gun metal because it give a different effect than grey on the weapons)
(i use a magnifying glass just to check the details of the item before paint, i can do the job quietly by the naked eye)
(i paint the part of the items by colour i prepar before, there's not a rule but continue retouching)
7. correct the item from smudges and mistakes and retouch the details
(i've no photo at the moment for this stage, i'll post in a second moment or editing this post, show my ability isn't the purpose of this thread; feel free to comment, share experiences, hijack the topic with your works or collection, i'm not the subject here but our passion)
8. cure the highlights and wash the items with quickshade
[i will update this post, if i'll have the permissions to do it, with other photos, step by step i continue this job]
first of all, choose the goods to collect.
we've a huge assortment covering all historical periods, personally i prefer what was between 1850-1945.
this site is the place to check and have previews about the figures made by the several manufacters : plasticsoldierreview.com
once chosed what buy, you have to search in interent what are the cheapest retailer for your country.
i've been luck to find two internet retailers near where i live, so i contacted them and i could retire personally the goods; the human relationships remain a good point in make business and ask further discounts; anyway i would warning about shops beacause they seem apply, for the most, the same or more expansive price than what an internet retailer can however reserve. if you can visit dedicated fairs about wargame or anyway where they sell toy soldiers, i know they're excellent places to make great business, usually the goods are sold like in a clearance sale.
here a couple of the several retailers you can find in internet, they've good catalogues and cheaper prices :
https://www.drumandflag.co.uk/
https://www.michtoy.com/
(i'm collecting several boxes about the period i'm interested in. i like products made by Strelets, Hat, Caesar, Italeri, even if i have yet to find a retailer that suit me for Strelets goods ! )
moving on my first experience in painting, i'm going to show step by step the phases of my work (i meet everybody have to rich this topic to come forward with own knowledge, notions, advices, suggestions).
1. unboxing the product and remove the single pieces
what needs : TILE NIPPER
2. remove impurity from the single item
what needs : TOOL FILE, CUTTER
(i prefer use the cutter lightly around the part to remove)
3. wash the items
what needs : DISHES SOAP, TOOTHBRUSH
(i left the items in a soapy water for a long while before rinse them with clean water)
4. leave the items dry for a night
5. paint the figures with primer
what needs : PRIMER, DISH as palette, BRUSH FINE TIP, PINCER to take the figure)
(i don't use primer in spray because i prefer make this step manually)
(i choose the white because i think is the best base we can apply to a model, details of the figure stand out)
(more than an hand of primer to well cover any part of the item)
6. paint
what needs : COLOURS, DISH as palette, BRUSH FINE TIP, PINCER to take the figure, CUP of water, RAG to dry brush)
(exist lot of tones and colours by several brands, me, because one of my retailer paint with it and i readed excellet reviews about, i choosed - the army painter - and i bought just the essential : black, white, red, blue, yellow and gun metal because it give a different effect than grey on the weapons)
(i use a magnifying glass just to check the details of the item before paint, i can do the job quietly by the naked eye)
(i paint the part of the items by colour i prepar before, there's not a rule but continue retouching)
7. correct the item from smudges and mistakes and retouch the details
(i've no photo at the moment for this stage, i'll post in a second moment or editing this post, show my ability isn't the purpose of this thread; feel free to comment, share experiences, hijack the topic with your works or collection, i'm not the subject here but our passion)
8. cure the highlights and wash the items with quickshade
[i will update this post, if i'll have the permissions to do it, with other photos, step by step i continue this job]
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