Text Box: How I Paint VAST Numbers of Wargames Miniatures in a Short Time Part 1 Text Box: This is a simple “How-To” I have geared it to a web hosting, but plan on offering a full feature CD to include video and lots of examples.  I want to offer this on my website here for all those who would like to paint 100 figures in a day…with good results!  Text Box: Let me first tell you a little about my painting experiences.  First off, I had a full-time wargaming figures painting company for 12 years.  I started this business after I had been painting figures for 20 years.  Since I had to earn a living, I had to develop methods that lent themselves well to mass-production.  Yes, I learned these from the school of hard knocks.  Let me save you those lessons and loads of time!   Now, I KNOW there are many ways to paint figures.  By all means do NOT think that I have all the answers, but I have made experiences over the years and will gladly share these.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Text Box: Some Simple Rules Rule #1: Make it a habit of not making mistakes. Rule #2: Select figures that are right for this method Rule #3: Keep your work area organized Rule #4: Don’t start working unless you can paint figures in this batch  from primed to finished. Rule #5: Good enough is good enough.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

                                                                                                                                                         

 

 

Text Box: Rule #1: Make it a habit of not making mistakes               This sounds strange, but if you follow this rule, you will not have to redo figures all the time.  The methods I developed for mass production painting evolved from my lesson of not missing any step.  That way I DID NOT miss a strap or an emblem somewhere.  Follow the step-by-step method to avoid mistakes.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

                                                                                                                                                               

 

Text Box: Rule #2: Select figures that are right for this method               I have a host of recommendations on particular figures for a given period.  I deliberately would select figures that have a good look and lend themselves well to my methods.  Email me for suggestions for a period.  

 
 

 

 

 


 

                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Rule #3: Keep your work area organized               An orderly area is an efficient area. You can get more done if you know where things are, such as your glues and particular paints.  Each person sets up his or her work area differently, and that is alright.  Just stick with the set-up. 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

                                                                                                                                                          

 

 

Text Box: Rule #4: Don’t start working unless you can paint the figures in this batch from primed to finished   This method I discuss works best (well, at least in my experience) if you can really focus on your work.  Even if you do not need to make a living at painting figures, you can be most productive if you concentrate on your goal for this batch.  I normally recommend only 24 figures in a batch to start with.  After a while, you will be doing 100 or more in a given work session! Text Box: Rule #5: Good enough is good enough.               Believe it or not, most people want the perfect figure every time.  If you want that, then only focus on one or two figures and make them perfect.  HOWEVER…. If you want mass production, you have to ask yourself “at what point is a figure good enough?”.  One good test is to hold a figure out at arms length.  Does it look acceptable?  Then that is good enough.  In fact, you can tell who paints a lot of figures and who does not when you see people at a show looking at figures…  those who hold the figure at arms’ length are usually the ones who appreciate this method.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

                                                                                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: SO… here we go The following slides show a step-by-step method I use. Feel free to email me if you have questions. Info@outlandgames.net  

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

                                                                                                                                     

 

 

 

Text Box: Getting ready Find some Craft sticks, the ones that are wide… not Popsicle sticks. Get some cheap white glue Have your work area ready     Text Box: Here is the first step of my black primer method.  I chose Minifigs Bavarians for my 1870 collection.  These figures lend themselves well to painting quickly and are nicely cast.  After cleaning what little the flash there is off the figures, use white glue to glue them down on tongue depressors.  Note that the figures are roughly at the same angle, where one can reach in there between them with a brush.  Usually this means about 8 foot or 4-6 mounted for 15mm.  For 20mm you can glue on 8 foot and 4 mounted. Text Box: See how these 15mm horses get glued down.  All at the same angle, rider less at first.  Then, once dry, use super glue to paste down the riders.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Text Box: Another view of the figures before spraying with flat black primer. 

 

                                                                                                                                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Here I lay down the dried sticks.  This way I can get at them with a minimum of touching.  This allows me to get at all angles with the spray. Text Box: The spray can with figures on sticks, all ready. Text Box: How I hold the can:  Spray all the figures well, leave no silver at all, if you can help it.  Watch out: you can spray too much, and  cover all the details up…  Do not go crazy! Text Box: See how I have covered the figures?   Let them dry, do the other side, then stand up the sticks and spray from all angles.  You should be able to cover 95% of the figures.  If you miss some nooks and crannies, do not worry.  I have a fix for that.  Text Box: These only look shiny because of the camera flash.

   

 

 

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