How many figures do you usually paint at the same time?
I thought by unit would be a good way, at first. I started off with a unit of 8 cavalry and
that went well. I am currently working on a 30 man unit of Grenadiers and I'm feeling a bit
overwhelmed. It seems like I am getting very far when I paint each day.
Any tips or tricks for getting the job done without losing your mojo?
I paint 10 at a time
It varies from one project to another, but to give some examples:
ACW
One unit for me is 32 models on 4 bases. So i paint 32 at a time.
ww2
usually all at once, because i distribute them afterwards and stick them to bases. Easier to do all at once, so i can mix and match to get as many different poses on each base.
For skirmish games.
As many as i want at the time i paint, but will usually do 50/50 for both armies, to keep the force sizes consistent. (i always do both forces for my games)
Sometimes I paint a single figure/ model. Sometimes two or three units.
If it starts to feel like a chore because I'm doing too many at once, I'll concentrate on part of the group.
So, in answer to how many at once - as many as I feel comfortable doing at that moment.
It's a hobby, not a job, so I just go with the flow.
Today I have a unit of twenty 28mm figures, eight units of twentyfour 6mm figures and fifty markers based on coins covered in pebbles.
I paint a little bit on each every day.
I sometimes have more than this on the go at any one time.
I tend to paint in large batches, 81 cavalry on the go at the moment.
I set sub goals, for example I've just finished dry brushing the uniforms and will move onto the horse's manes and tails next. I won't worry about what is next until they are done.
Doing something every day, if you can, gets you there in the end ;)
I have also found a painting diary on this forum helpful with maintaining motivation, if not always focus ;)
I tend to go with batches of about 30 foot at a time - I find this the best balance between too many and getting overwhelmed, and too few to see the results.
But the key is to go with what works for you, if 8 cavalry is good, then I'd try about 15 infantry at once.
I tend to do one or more units, so recently that has been an Napoleonic Austrian infantry regiment (144 figs) whilst now I'm on the cavalry and doing a couple of regiments at a time (32 or 48 figs).
That gets turned around in a week generally.
I do an hour or so most weekday evenings - one or two colours or 'things' across the whole lot and then at the weekend a concentrated stint to finish, base and prep the next batch.
Usually about 50, two units.
This many...
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/Tudors/C650B976-A2AD-4FEE-87E3-F73D32211ABC_zpsbnmszc32.jpg) (http://s214.photobucket.com/user/madlemmey/media/Tudors/C650B976-A2AD-4FEE-87E3-F73D32211ABC_zpsbnmszc32.jpg.html)
I paint in batches of 20 to 30 figures any more and I find it to difficult
Take care
Andy
Having recently painted up some additions to a couple of units, AWI riflemen, I would suggest doing complete units as a minimum
Even with good painting notes it was "interesting" getting the extra stand to blend into the unit. I suspect it would be even harder for more uniform units.
depends on what I feel I can handle at once. For instance, the SYW Austrians units I just finished I painted two units or a total of 28 figures. The most I ever tried at one time were 84 ACW Union figures. Those were easy as they were all the same. The more details or colors I need to use the fewer figures I paint at one time.
Hi,
I find doing them by unit. I am painting British AWI so this is relevant to that only. I am new to 10mm and found doing 6 stands of 6 figures works. I can go from 0 to based and finished in one sitting. The technique I use which helps keep me on track and makes me feel like I am making progress is to pick a colour or uniform part and do that. so I would do the white, so I start with the base grey and then the white highlight, I would do the trousers, undershirts, belts etc. Once the white is finished pick the next colour and go. I have some posts up called my First 10mm. all of these were one in a couple of days.
hope this makes sense and helps.
cheers
Depends upon the rules sytem I'm using. So for BKCII, it might be 9 stands of infantry at 4 figures per base. For Honours of War, more likely 2 bases at a time, with 8-10 figures per base.
Don't dispair Alex, I don't think Obsidian realises yet just how quickly he paints. What he does in one sitting takes most of us weeks ;)
One......
About once every two years. :'( :'( :'(
Cheers - Phil
Depends on the scale and type. 6mm blocks -up to 30 blocks of infantry and 15 cavalry; individual 6mm figures then by unit i.e. 24-30 infantry or 9-15 cavalry. For 10mm its normally about 9 cavalry and up to 30 infantry if irregular of maybe more if regular. Haven't painted any 15mm for ages but if I remember it was about the same as for 10mm. It's been literally decades since I painted a 25mm so I would say about 3 or 4 cavalry and no more than 10 infantry.
I have a small collection of strips of wood to stick my 10mm figures to when painting, maybe half a dozen strips, so I fill them up & paint them - possibly 30-odd at a time. I have added another half dozen bits of wood, but I stick to one load at a time, 60+ figures would be too much at a time!
Vehicles I tend to paint either individually or a couple at a time (especially if it's multiples of the same model, but as I game skirmish that's quite rare).
Up to 100 a week, depends if I am working, and the scale, obviously 6mm take less time than 10, which are quicker than 10's etc. Having said that I've had two Britsh WSS btn waiting for over 3 months.
IanS
Ok on to the next question. For those that paint about 30 per batch. How long does it take you to finish them?
I'm about a week into my 30 SYW Grenadiers and I probably have about another 2 days left to finish them.
I'm pretty pleased with how they look :)
(http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab221/alexmacphoto/1DE27471-6B3A-48C4-8F0E-759DF96CDBC9.jpg) (http://s866.photobucket.com/user/alexmacphoto/media/1DE27471-6B3A-48C4-8F0E-759DF96CDBC9.jpg.html)
The lads so far.....
About a week and a half per batch, plus three nights to base them!
Again - depends on scale and detail. 7 yrs war take longest, followed by regular ancient armies.
IanS
How long?
I have a 28mm unit of 10 figures I started before my older boy was born - he's 30 this year!
I got a 48 man 6mm unit that arrived last Friday and just needs base edges painted and varnish applied.
I timed myself when I was painting some 6mm blocks. It worked out at about 10 minutes per infantry block of ACW whereas it took as long as 13 minutes per samurai block. Cavalry took a little longer at about 12 mins for ACW and 20 mins for the samurai. I painted a 6mm 48 individual figure Macedonian phalanx in about 2.5 hours. This does not include undercoating or basing. Most 6mm will fir quite comfortably in between those times.
In 10mm -if the painting mojo is in the right place- I can comfortably turn out a unit of 30 peasant/militia infantry in an evening.
Unfortunately I've lost my bl**dy mojo and can't remember where I left it!