Painting tartan in 10mm

[d_Guy]

In looking at Kev's highland command group in this thread:
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,13593.0.html
The tartan is great.

I am wonder how folks here approach painting tartan. I paint a lot of it without much success.
I have tried both ink and paint lines with as much success as I have painting faces - none.
I have also tried an impressionistic approach, staggered blotches of paint but that ends up looking like the figure just completed a 12 hour shift in a paint factory!

Does anyone have a more satisfactory approach, some simple trick?

[FierceKitty]

I draw it with indelible markers.

[kev1964]

I find the best way to paint tartan is start with a very dark green, then mix 60% of the green with 40% white, paint 5 squares in a 5 dice pattern then a dab of blue in the middle of those then a black cross through the middle, this works well for black watch, a red or yellow line if you want cameron etc. Small crosses look better on 10mm figs, hope that makes sense.


kev

[Fenton]

Paint squares?. In all honesty I don't think I would able to do that.

[d_Guy]

Kev - thanks!
But I'm with Fenton - squares - I dont think I can do that either - those "blotches" I mentioned were suppose to be squares 

I've looked at you tutorial thread also - and very helpful - but while I suspect practice has perfected your skills - you also seem to have natural gifts that many of us simply lack! While I realize this is like asking Michaelangelo about hammers and chisels and an explainations of their use, what sort of brush do you use for the squares?

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Not done in 10mm but in 15 I use a dark green base colour with thin yellow lines painted on, since most military sets are dark.

IanS

[Techno]

I draw it with indelible markers.

I read that as INEDIBLE first time....(And thought, "What ?")

Cheers - Phil.

[d_Guy]

I draw it with indelible markers.

Fierce, do you mean marker pens like these:
http://www.jetpens.com/Drawing-Pens/ct/1675

Or actually something like Sharpie markers - which - in desperation - I actually tried once with less than satisfactory results.

[kev1964]

I dont mean perfect squares  , but from a distance with the lighter green and then the cross in the middle, from a distance it looks sort of square ish  . I use an o brush for the small jobs.
Well it was an 0 when i started but it has lost a few bristles  . Give it a try , it's only practice. The blackwatch one is a good one to practice on as it's mostly dark colours so dosen't show mistakes as much.


kev

[d_Guy]

Thanks again, Kev, I'll give it a try - the cross in the center may be a key - but that will be interesting to attempt at my skill level.
Honestly what you accomplish with an O brush is pretty amazing. I use OO at that level but still no joy!
But as you said it's only practice - shoot some of my tartan has six or eight coats of the base color 

[Sandinista]

looking good at arms length is what you are aiming for, no one plays holding figures to their nose 

Cheers
Ian

[Techno]

...... no one plays holding figures to their nose 

What about when you paint them, Ian 

Cheers - Phil

[John Cook]

You might find this guide useful at http://www.angelfire.com/tx/ToySoldier/tartan.htm

[paulr]

Thanks, bookmarked

I suspect I might be needing it when Pierre the Shy's Jacobite project kicks off

[Orcs]

Personally I just use either of the following

Vallejo  26135  Campbell Tartan
Vallejo 26136 MacDonald tartan



Sorry I can't believe that no one had said this