discussion I hate figures (no matter what scale)

[Guest]

As I mentioned in 'latest acquisitions' I want to learn how to paint figures, including and starting with a larger one (120mm, 1:16 scale). I got this one free as the subscription 'gift' from Military Modelling Magazine.

Well, there isn't a lot to it and to be honest, it doesn't go together so well either but I sat and carved plastic away at the joints until it all blended together then started painting.

I have to say that in my blind enthusiasm for the subject, I thought it was going reasonably well. I even took the gamble of adding the decals over the moulded on detail for badges etc in the hope that good old Microsol would melt the decals into the moulded detail, which it did, quite nicely. I knew that painting the details would be well beyond me.

So, thinking it was turning out not too bad, I decided to get a couple of pics to see what it really looked like, even though there was a bit of touching up to do (like the belt buckle).

Ahhhhh well........ back to painting school, the poor chap looks terrible. remember that this figure is about 4 3/4" tall so there is no excuses.

So, what do I do guys? I was going to strip this off and start again but I would not have the decals. I may still do this just to use it as a practice part. I do have another figure, the 1:10 scale Airborne trooper landing but am a bit reluctant to start it until I have found out how to improve on the painting.

I have been looking in books, magazines and even Youtube but, although it makes sense when you see it done, when I come to do it, it all goes pear shaped. Really need help on this guys......

 

[Guest]

I think you're being a bit hard on yourself Graham, I think it looks pretty decent, admittedly i'm no figure painter but i'd be pleased enough with that.

I've seen some great tutorials on youtube for weathering figures though should you want to delve deeper.

 

[Guest]

Hey graham,

take a look at this site mate, out of this world. Aces of Iron Productions, Inc.

Andy

 

[Guest]

Sorry to hear your troubles on this Graham, Im working on the 1:16 Rommel, if you need any specific tips I will do my best to try and help.

This is stage 1 of his face,the base colour can take some time it will need about another 4 or 5 hours work,when the base colour is how you want it then we can try and bring it to life, with different tones and sunburn etc.

I am a slow painter, and this base colour took me about 2 hours.

Dont give up Graham, I find I do figures better if I do a little bit at a time, inbetween waiting for primer to dry etc, you could try having it as a side project, inbetween your other projects.

 

[Guest]

WOW, Ray, you never sease to amaze me mate.

Andy

 

[Guest]

Thank you Andy, Graham have you tried oil paints for the face, there superb for blending and give you plenty of working time, and so easy to correct if you make a mistake.Please dont bin the figure, if your not happy just strip it and start over.

 

[Guest]

I`ll tell you what mate I think you`ve got the face and hands looking very nice to me thats the hardest bit done , and your detail painting looks spot on , remember what we see is nearly twice as big , maybe lighter dry brushing and weathering would help on the uniform and jack boots but thats a blimming good effort for your 1st time with 1/16 scale mate I`ll tell ya

Richy

 

[Centurion3RTR]

Looks good to me Graham, i like it mate. I'm like Ray when it comes to figures, little bit at a time works well.

Have fun, John

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Andy, that link is superb. I gave downloaded the PDF and will study it this evening.

Ray (ya bugger) your post has underlined my misgivings about my ability to do this, that is one really great face. It is also what I strive towards. I am not being hard on myself guys, mine is rubbish compared to Rays (the git) lol. I know it, and you know it so the idea is to move on and get it right.

I have not really gone far enough with oils Ray. I have tried them but I am impatient and not good at visualising colours. I read somewhere of a flesh mix using oils that consisted of about eight colours including red, green and blue!!!! I cannot 'see' colour mixes in my mind to get this right, I did try and ended up with a diarrhoea brown (and you know how many shades that comes in, well I got them all). Is your 'Rommel' painted with oils? I see that oils are used on the site that Andy provided the link to so much looking at is due. I will strip the figure down I have done but I am not sure how far I will be able to disassemble it without damage as I rather oddly (for me) used superglue to stick it together. The main thing is getting the head off and getting the helmet off which I believe is Gator glue so it may give if not too much has found a bonding surface.

I am a tad disappointed as I had spent five days playing with my little man to finally get him erect with a nice shiny helmet but, it turned out to be four and a half inches of disappointment...... actually, that does sound familiar.........

 

[Guest]

Graham, whats the costs involved with this sort of kit? Looking at this thread and the link supplied I might give this a go. Looks fun.

 

[Guest]

Single figures that Tamiya and Dragon do at 1:16 retail between £8 and £15, Some of these will have basic equipment, but you have to be careful as to what you get. There is a Dragon kit where the box art depicts two soldiers (US WWII) firing a 60mm mortar. In small print on the box it says "figures not included" you just get the mortar.

It is an interesting scale though as Tamiya, Dragon and Trumpeter have some fine figures from Romans up to Gulf war and some quite nice ones can be got between the £9 and £12 mark and, if done properly, represent quite a number of hours painting rather than building into what can become a bit of an obsessive side to our hobby.

Having said that. If you venture into specialist resin figures (1:16 is the same as 120mm or there abouts) you can pay as as much as you want. There are some amazing figures that go for between £50 and £100.... I need to get a few Tamiyas under my belt before I tackle something like that.

if you shop around, it can be an economical if slow to do sideline and can teach a lot about painting and (in my case) learning new swear words...........

 

[Guest]

Verlinden do quite a few 120mm figures which are resin and range from £12 to £30 odd quid , its worth a look on ebay just to get an idea even the cheaper ones look stunning

( what have you started Graham I`m tempted to try one myself now LOL )

Richy

 

[Guest]

Sorry Richy lol

 

[Guest]

Glad to help Graham, i just downloaded the PDF too, i didnt see it, i was so engrossed with the step by step tuition.

Andy

 

[Ian M]

I am a tad disappointed as I had spent five days playing with my little man to finally get him erect with a nice shiny helmet but, it turned out to be four and a half inches of disappointment...... actually, that does sound familiar.........

That is so wronge in sooooooooooo many ways LOL!!!

Graham. Do not dispare! Your efforts are pretty good. I am pretty shite at figures, Well faces. I have done a few in oils, and they get the best results. As for the uniforms, Have you ever considered your air brush?

Sounds a non starter, granted. However its a trick of the light. Spray the figure in the main base colour. Say German uniform green for the jacket. Then find or mix a lighter shade. Spray this in a downwards direction, and you will hit all the highlights. Mix a darker tone than the base and spray upwards. That will catch the shadows. Then a quick wash in the deep folds. Then a dry brush of an even lighter shade to pick out the ridges.

I did this on my Russian fishermen in the volga dio. They turned out ok. and they where a bit smaller that that gigantic 1/16 figure you have. (that might of worked in my favour).

A bit about faces. Skin is translucent. All those loverly shades and couours you see are in or under the skin. One techniqe I have seen is to paint the face in colours you might not think of. Blue or brown for the five O'clock shadow area, purple for the lips, Deep red on the cheeks. Once you have coco the clown and its dry, then you start on the skin tones, Thin translucent coats and build them up untill the freaky colours are nowt but a hint under the 'skin'.

Right thats that I'm off to read that link.

Ian M

 

[Guest]

I am a tad disappointed as I had spent five days playing with my little man to finally get him erect with a nice shiny helmet but, it turned out to be four and a half inches of disappointment...... actually, that does sound familiar.........

Just to let you know i genuinely very nearly sprayed coffee all over my screen and keyboard, thanks Graham

 

[Guest]

Don't know what you mean????????

Anyway, believe it or not Ian, the jacket and trousers were airbrushed in Tamiya Dark Grey and Field Grey (just realised that the helmet should have been Field grey not dark grey according to the illustration on the box (no instructions as such with these kits). However, it looked too good, if you know what I mean, and that is when it went wrong. I did use an oil based wash and tried to get 'shape' in the colour by using the dots of oil paint to fade the overall colour and wash. It is all my fault, I just over egged the pudding as far as the uniform goes. The main thing is getting the face right though. If the flesh is wrong, nothing will save it.

I know I say I am disappointed, and of course I am. However, I see it as a learning thing and that is why I am posting it as a failure. As can be seen above, it has already introduced some very constructive discussion on figure painting and I hope there is more to come.

Good news is, I have just bit the bullet and pulled it all to bits and I have it back to where I started with nothing damaged. So I will try out some Model Strip and try to get it back to plastic. Shame to lose the decals but hey ho, should have waited until I made sure it was OK.

 

[Guest]

Graham, dont let this hiccup put you off,with all modelling its a learning curve, mine is no better than what you did, maybe you just see something in Rommels face that you dont see in yours.

Im glad you didnt bin it, I have seen your builds on other models and damn it man the skills are there.

You only need 3 oils, white,burnt sienna and yellow ochre to mix for the base coat, then deeper additions of the oils to change tones.

Maybe a "1:16" face figure with oils"tutorial maybe of help, I have many 1:16 figures to do so have faces to do which I can start from scratch an do an indepth tutorial, if this would help I wold be more than happy to start one.

The git....AKA Ray.....lol

 

[Guest]

That's a brilliant first go (funny how the moulded figure never looks like the box art) and you should probably keep it as it is, that way you can see your progress when figure number two stands beside it. Now then, light, look at yourself in the mirror at different times of the day and see just how the ambient light changes your appearance. I for instance look best about 8pm at this time of the year......The available light changes the way we look enormously. With regard to Ian M's comments about weird colours, take a look at some old masters work and you'll soon see that they used bizarre colour mixes that we don't even notice!

 

[Guest]

Its so easy to over complicate face painting, good thing about oils is when you have your mix ready I dab a touch on the back of my hand, I find it gives me an idea if its to light or dark.Good points there Kelly, problem is I think I look my best in the mirror at 3 in the morning and with a belly full of Stella......I always find the Stella makes me look great...lol