After a gap of 15 years I have returned to the hobby and have just bought some Front Rank WSS figures to create my first Allied Battalion (Brandenburg-Prussian).

I don't think my painting skills are going to be anything near as stunning as those shown on this site so I will need all the help I can get, hence my interest in Army Painter 'Quickshade'. As I am a novice can someone please explain the difference between a 'Dark Tone' Quickshade and 'Badab Black' Wash for example?

Mike.
Wiltshire UK

Have no idea what Badab black wash is but the differecne between washes and Quick Shade are (as far as I know) as follows:

A Wash (either Acrylic or Enamel based) is a thin liquid shading that will run into the lower areas of the model and define the higher areas by creating a shadow.

Quick Shade is a stained varnish type liquid - quite thick which gloass varnishes the figure as well as providing the above effect. It also takes much longer to dry and is highly glossy.

I use it and then Matt varnish and highlight afterwards these days.

Hope this is helpful

The biggest conversion since Saul of Tarsus.

Mike,

On a serious note, if it weren't for Quickshade, I don't think I'd be painting at all. It gives a good wargemes standard of finish and, should you try it, I'll bet you'll be showing off a few battalions here in next to no time.

Regards,

Jim

Badab Black is one of the new GW washes
They really are very good

I'd second valleyboy here - If you're new to the wash/shading thing you could do a lot worse than pick up a couple of pots from GW.

Personally I use the Devlan Mud as my wash as it tones skin, webbing, etc as well as shading the creases and lines on your figures and gives them a slightly weathered, campaigny look.

It has helped my rattle thru my lead pile in next to no time and does give an excellent wargames std finish to just about everything. It does still need varnished on top to complete the figure - I have been using a couple of coats of the GW matt stuff, simply because its readily available in my locale. My figures are in general painted with a mix of Vallejo and GW colours.

At around £2.50 a pot - if you find you dont like that method, you havent shelled out for the more expensive Army Painter product.

Hope this helps

Thank you all for your advice. I shall try out the new GW Washes first and if they don't create the effect I am looking for then I will move on to Army Painter. As 'The Emir' says, at £2.50 per pot (compared to £18.00 for Army Painter) I have nothing to lose.

My order from 'Front Rank' for my first WSS Brandenburg-Prussian Allied Battalion has arrived and the figures are stunning. I also ordered some Kolinsky Sable brushes from 'Rosemary & Co' which have also just arrived and they are beautiful. The service from both companies was faultless.

Oh well, it's all down to me now. I certainly wont be able to blame the materials I'm working with for my painting results.

Happy Christmas everyone.

Mike.
Wiltshire UK