Gunfreak wrote:Can I ask for the colors you used on the reds?
In order to answer this correctly, I need to explain my fastpaint method to you...
My method is based (mostly) on the use of inks and reversing the usual paint process.
A. First the model is undercoated grey (cheap spraycans) and then the undercoat is "inked" with thinned acrylic purple. I have no pics of the process being used on WSS figures, but these Afghans will do just as well:
grey primer applied
Figures "inked" with thinned acrylic purple
You might also undercoat in black, if you really, really like heavy contrasts or if you are painting figures in full blank metal armour (you can then drybrush the metal on the black primer, but that's a well known thing).
B. Next, the whole figure is drybrushed in white. Do this carefully and evenly: it will determine the quality of your highlights and shades!
Figures drybrushed with white
C. The figure is then inked with ink in the corresponding colours (for WSS mostly red, blue, grey or green - all available "from the shelf"), creating an instant and automatic shade (even for hands and faces). With some inks, you might need two layers (which is the case with red) but with others (skin) you need only one layer and the ink must be thinned a lot (I use water). The result involves no further shading or highlighting: that's were you gain time, because when you shade or highlight, there is always a considerable risk to touch areas painted in other colours...
This is the end result:
After some practice, you can reduce your painting time to 50% or less (the less colours involved, the greater the time gain). The Afghans have a darker complexion than European troops, so the flesh ink used for European faces must be thinned
a lot (you'll have to try out that one to see what result fits your needs, but it is at least 3/4 water).
In case of white clothing (e.g. pants, white coats), I do not use ink but cover these (after B.) with a layer of Valleyo Grey Shade. Muskets, bayonets etc are painted in acrylic (instead of inked) as are most of the facing colours of the uniforms, simply because this is a simpler option than mixing inks to obtain the correct shade
.
Make sure that the inks you use are water resistant! This is my pallet:
Winsor & Newton Calligraphic inks
GW inks
Vallejo inks
FW Acrylic Water-Resistant Artists Ink (30 colors, including light grey!)
Acrylic paints from Coat d'arms & Vallejo (but others might do just as well).
I have at least six brown inks of different manufacturers, but they all vary in colour, so it's well worth investing in these.
Hope this helps.
Rudi
