Painting Competition Discussion thread!

[Matt J]

Some interesting comments made particularly about the sculpts.

If I was to enter with a view to try and win I'd select one of Clib's ranges (and have done), yes the sculpting is excellent but so are many of the ranges done by Phil and the other sculptors, the big difference is size. Clib's are easily 20% bigger in scale than Phil's for example, bigger scale more detail, more opportunity to display ability. Then the increased number of poses also makes any base more dynamic.
and always, always only enter once per category!

Allied WWII vehicles for NWE I think suffer next to German ones painted in 3 tone or ambush camo schemes as they simply look rather dull in comparison. Again Brits in khaki don't jump out compared to German camo smocks.

True but its a painting competition, historical accuracy isn't relevant (or shouldn't be!).

That's not a bad idea and something we could look at doing.  We could produce a small set of figures (5-10 maybe) that could be assembled into a mini-diorama, supply a base for them as well, and then pop it on the website in the run-up to the next competition.  As you say, folks would then have the same items to work with and the end pieces could be judged depending on what each person did with them.

This idea I like! 

[petercooman]

No sour grapes at all. Deserved winners. But it is interesting that we get to see the votes. Lots of entries with a fair amount of votes. Proves once again that tastes differ. (Wich is a good thing)

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

You voted for yourself?
Of course. Wouldn't you?

*hangs head, apples sackcloth and ashes
I voted for your dragon by the way. You Need to be more confident about your own stuff
Awww thanks, appreciate it!  

[petercooman]

Nope i wouldn't vote on myself. I only vote on the good entries 

[petercooman]

Some interesting comments made particularly about the sculpts.

If I was to enter with a view to try and win I'd select one of Clib's ranges (and have done), yes the sculpting is excellent but so are many of the ranges done by Phil and the other sculptors, the big difference is size. Clib's are easily 20% bigger in scale than Phil's for example, bigger scale more detail, more opportunity to display ability. Then the increased number of poses also makes any base more dynamic.
and always, always only enter once per category!

So i can blame Phil for my failure? COOL     

[Matt J]

Yep 

[Matt J]

Don't get me wrong, Phil's stuff is brilliant and very detailed and researched (just painted some ancient spanish - hanging rings on back of Caetra!) But they are dead on 10mm and show proper human proportions.
Clib's are amazing, detailed and also a joy to paint but are probably knocking on 12mm and are more in style of modern wargame sculpts which allows for more room for detail.
Also Clib's ranges have several sculpts will Phil will have 2 at best because Leon is tight  .

[mollinary]

I am not trying to rank sculptors, merely painters. It is a painting competition after all. If everyone had to paint the same figures, one would have a better opportunity to rate simply the painters' skills, rather than those combined with your own interpretation of  those of the sculptor. I am not trying to sow confusion (honest!),but simply to reduce the competition to something which focuses solely on the skills of the painter. Leon's Idea of having a set of figures produced solely for the competition is brilliant, and opens up the possibility a new route to vignettes which otherwise might never make the casting queue. 

[SV52]

The idea of set figures is interesting but may lack appeal if set in only one period.  I can't see an ancients enthusiast choosing to work on WW2 and vice versa.  It could end up a closed competition for many.  

Also as has been said, some of the figure ranges have been around for ages and no way match the splendour of the current crop, closes down the competition again.

Just saying.

Perhaps limiting the number of entries per head to one per category; if they are in the army section, same figures can't appear anywhere else.  Produce more variety?....discuss...

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Easy answer!
Seriously,  we have five mixed figures.
Ww2 infantry, ancient Greek, awi infantry, all turned to stone by a fantasy medusa, with a hummer parked next to it. Covers all the bases, literally!!!

[petercooman]

You forgot mounted!

[mollinary]

Perhaps one set for each category? Votes for preferred set, only the most popular produced if a minimum commitment to buying a set is reached. The incentive of them being in the competition might spur us all on.  I know I would love an ECW vignette!

[petercooman]

Don't get me wrong, Phil's stuff is brilliant and very detailed and researched (just painted some ancient spanish - hanging rings on back of Caetra!) But they are dead on 10mm and show proper human proportions.
Clib's are amazing, detailed and also a joy to paint but are probably knocking on 12mm and are more in style of modern wargame sculpts which allows for more room for detail.
Also Clib's ranges have several sculpts will Phil will have 2 at best because Leon is tight  .

No need to preach to me , just recceived an army of Phil's carthaginians with some spanish allies (heavy cavalry and celtiberians) and an army of republican romans.  

Great sculpts! Will enjoy painting those!

[Nick the Lemming]

Perhaps one set for each category? Votes for preferred set, only the most popular produced if a minimum commitment to buying a set is reached. The incentive of them being in the competition might spur us all on.  I know I would love an ECW vignette!

That's a great idea. Little vignette scene for each of several categories (you could change them around each year too, so a WW2 German HQ one year, a WW2 British artillery HQ another year, some dug in WW2 desert Italians in a third year, etc). Packs with half a dozen to a dozen figures or so in them that could easily be used to enhance existing ranges so they'd sell outside of that competition too. Could even do some (like the ECW personalities pack / civilians pack) that would be perfect for objective markers too.

[Leman]

It always seems to come down to WWII, and I just don't get it. Does someone have a massive stock of khaki, olive and grey paint to get rid of?

[skinade]

That's a great idea. Little vignette scene for each of several categories (you could change them around each year too, so a WW2 German HQ one year, a WW2 British artillery HQ another year, some dug in WW2 desert Italians in a third year, etc). Packs with half a dozen to a dozen figures or so in them that could easily be used to enhance existing ranges so they'd sell outside of that competition too. Could even do some (like the ECW personalities pack / civilians pack) that would be perfect for objective markers too.

ay up, i've been trying to reply to the idea of a given set of figs but my computer might be oopsing

[Nick the Lemming]

It always seems to come down to WWII, and I just don't get it. Does someone have a massive stock of khaki, olive and grey paint to get rid of?

I just grabbed that as an example, since there's a WW2+ category. For earlier periods you could have an ECW vignette like the one with the preacher, a Roman testudo, an Egyptian chariot with a broken wheel, an Indian elephant with howdah and skirmishing footmen accompanying, an Austrian Napoleonic grenadiers storming a bastion, etc. 

[skinade]

ay up and now then , how exciting would it be to get a bag of goodies from pendraken not knowing whats in it (just figs/vehicles etc) for cash . Let pendraken decide what we get , same time , same post.very level painting field

[skinade]

ay up and change of subject . on-line crit of entries . them fantasy elves , wow , colours or what , both figures and base . And giess ww1 tank ,the mud and slush - yep

[xccam]

Not sure having 15 identical entries in each category will be as much fun as painting, and viewing, the varied collection from the 3,700 sculpt range Pendraken have. I thought it was great to see all the different sculpts chosen.