Advice sought

[Nirnman]

Having been inactive in the hobby for quite some time, when last active I mainly used home made rules and  soft plastic figures that's how long ago it was. I have recently found time to resume my interest. To date I have re based some 15 mm ACW figures (based for Johnny Reb III and never actually used)  to give two corps (One union and One Confederate) for use with Civil War battles and am painting a company of 8th army and DAK for PBI rules again in 15 mm scales. The June issue of Wargames Illustrated article on the league of Augsburg Williamite wars in Ireland has piqued my interest in another period. I was initially considering doing it in 15mm but found it and an another old period the 'WSS/Marlburian' both available in 10 mm from Pendraken. now I am ( as the psychologists would  say conflicted (no pun intended) which period do I do?  My real wargaming period was Marlburian using Peter Laing 15mm figures (I still have the Spanish army I put together sitting forlornly in an old Fishing Tackle box in the loft somewhere) and am sorely tempted to go for this period. However it my be just my Northern Irish/Ulster-Scot's roots are drawing me to the Williamite wars (especially at this time of year lol)  The crux of the matter is this 1) I have never painted, let alone seen any 10mm figures before I came to this site. 2) I will probably have to raise both sides for whichever period I elect to do as I have lost contact with old my previous wargaming colleagues and don't know what periods or scales they currently game with. therefore price is at a premium as well as the fact that space is a governing factor too (I only have a 6X3 playing surface available. The 15mm WW2 period is probably an aberration on my part as it requires a 4x4 playing area but I had no figures and the Peter Pig rules and ready made company packs were too tempting after considering the costs of the  currently popular 28mm figures that seem to be in fashion for this period. I'd love to afford to do THe War of the league of Augsburg in 28mm but it is beyond my pocket and will probably remain so. Therefore could someone advise me re 10 mm scale ease of painting basing etc, I find that even 15mm can prove tricky enough with magnifiers and basing is a messy business.
thanks in anticipation

[fsn]

Strangely enough, a goodly proportion of us (we that throw our car keys in the Pendraken party hat) seem to be aging and dim of sight. I 'm never been a great painter, but I surprise myself at what detail I can pick out of the castings. To be fair, I've not really done horse and musket, but I have a couple of ACW armies that are half painted and I'm reasonably happy with them. Painted with acrylics.

I think 10mm is  a scale that does benefit from viewing from a distance - that's my excuse anyway.

I can't comment on base sizes, as I don't use a published rule set and hence are free from the petty diktats of some inferior intellect.

In short, I find Pendraken figures a joy to paint, the ranges are excellent (just lacking some very important post WWII items) and even with my meagre ability they make a brave show.

[Techno]

A very warm welcome to the forum Nirnman.
Cheers - Phil (You don't want advice from me regarding basing and painting the wee chaps......There are lots of folk here that are far better qualified in those subjects !)

PS....You'll get used to fsn.....He won't be happy until a certain tank is released.

[Leon]

Hi nirnman, welcome to the Forum.  There are some great pics in the Painting section of what can be achieved by all painting abilities.

[kev1964]

Hi Nirnman ,

I have not painted many 15s or 20mm , i mainly paint 6mm but have been painting 10s for a few months now and they are a joy to paint. I find that you can paint them quite quickly to a good  wargame standard, say 40ish figs per day ( with my aging eyes ) but the quality of pendrakens figs also   allows you to go to town on the painting if that's what you want.
They are also excellent value for money in my opinion, especially the army packs, and service here is also excellent. I would suggest getting a sample pack and trying them to see how you go, you will be pleased with the quality of the sculpts. As for table size you can get a shed load of figs on a 6x3, i have painted Naps, WSS and now doing LoA which i think is my favorite period so far. As for basing, i am about to go for 6 inf / 3 cav on 30 x 20s. Hope this is of help,

kev

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Unfortunately my eye sight is good, but I recommend block colour, ink wash highlight with original colour, then highlight lighter if needed, follow with piping on a number oo brush. Base sand, pva, ink, highlight, pva, flock works wonders.

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[Nirnman]

thanks for the welcome. I have seen a lot of fantastic paint jobs on this forum and am positively drooling at the prospect of getting away from union blue, confederate grey/butternut and desert khaki lol.
to be honest I started a project in 15mm SYW for the imagination of Ruritania and its opponent (so long ago that I can't remember the other nation's name lol ) I have several infantry battalions each based for Knoeig Kreig rules but not the square bases as in the rules three figs in a line per base four bases making a battalion they have never seen service as that was when I dropped out of the hobby. what I relly want is a quick straw poll if you had too decide between War of the league of Augsburg and Marlburian WSS what would you choose?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Very simple, LoA are sculpted by Clib, they are beautiful, buy them.

[Nirnman]

Yes I saw those figs and they are terrific. As I stated drawn to the period at this time of year because live in N Ireland lol but was never keen on pike and shot warfare how do you shelter the shot by the pike against cavalry on a table top?

[petercooman]

I wont say anything about painting excpt that these models allow for a great deal of detail without using magnifiers, they are great to paint up. I am however a WW2 freak so most of my painting is in the form of khaki and greenish colours, so some difference with what you will be painting. I have some ACW though :p

For the basing i will however say that i love working with vallejo dark earth texture colours, wich is pretty easy to paint on and highlight once dry. Then just pva some static grass/flock on and finished!

example:

[Nirnman]

Have never used the Vallejo texture paint always used to use own mix of polyfilla, sand and paint. now using four step process, 1. polyfilla, 2. pva glue and sand, 3. paint and drybrush,and 4 Apply static grass with homemade applicator made after seeing a Utube video. must try some texture paint once period and scale decided upon. I like last hussar's figures especially the numbers as when last did Marlburians the battalions had 48 figures each

[Ithoriel]

Hi Nirnman, as a comparative newbie here I'm not sure if I'm one of those referenced as "aging and dim of sight" but the description certainly fits!

I find that the smaller the figures the less detail you need to paint to make them look good. The problem with many of the photo's on this site is that they are taken as if you were looking at them from a distance of about four inches instead of from the four feet that's more normal when actually playing. That said, some of them look worryingly good even from four inches away!

I prefer the smaller sized figures so as to get more figures on a base without breaking the bank and they really aren't any harder to paint.

It is however surely a sign of incipient madness that I am thinking of adding to my 20mm, 10mm and 6mm WW2 Eastern Front armies with a 1:600th scale version too. "Nurse! Nurse! I can't paint properly, I'm stuck in my jacket ... and it feels like the arms are on backwards!!"  

[Nirnman]

I  was almost tempted to try WLOA in 28 mm after seeing the pictures in June's wargames illustred but my scots heritage wouldn't justify the expense that's why looking at alternatives. only wishi had time and cash to do both WLOA and marlburian in 1omm the scale lends itself to big battalions

[TinyTerrain]

Hi,

Up until a couple of years ago I was a confirmed 28mm and 15mm freak, and I mainly played WW2. I found Pendraken, and tried my hand at 10mm, and dare I say I sound 10mm quicker and easier than 15mm to paint. So much so I ve not painted any 15mm for about 18months now, and more importantly have branched out and have had a crack at AWI, Ancients, and more recently 100 Years War forces as I ve got more and more confident as a painter:

You can see a few examples below:







Advice for what it is worth, is paint in block colours, wash with GW Sepia wash or similar, highlight with the original colour and then lighten up slightly and apply a final highlight. Basing is similarly simple, mixed sand and a bit of grit, dont paint it just wash with GW Sepia, apply a thin layer of Vallejo Buff to larger stones, add flock, a couple of bushes and your done.

Theres plenty of help out there on the forum, just ask.

Oh and dont forget the mantra, paint the unit not the miniature 

Cheers,

Craig
Tiny Terrain Models

[TinyTerrain]

Just remembered, I undercoat in white and go bolder (in terms of colours) than I would in 15 or 28mm. I think of it a bit like turning up the contrast on the telly, it just help them pop of the table a bit!