How many at a time?

Started by fsn, 14 October 2023, 08:48:51 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

fsn

I'm currently engaged in no fewer than 4 (repeat 4) painting projects: Napoleonic Swedes, Napoleonic Ottoman, Marlburian and Bishops' War Scots.

Normally I paint one unit at a time. For Napoleonics, these are typically 60-75 infantry figures; 40 cavalry. Obviously the Austrians made a nonsense of this, but the Bishops' Wars infantry units have worked out to be 96 figures. Plus a mounted officer. Plus (for the Scots) two small artillery pieces with 2 crew, a pack horse and a horse handler - total 107 figures on the paint table at a time.

Next up is the 2nd battalion of a Swedish regiment -  a mere 60 figures. If I do the full regiment that is 121 figures.

I am contemplating painting the bigger batches. The upsides are that overall time painting will be less, more consistency of the paint job, and quicker getting through the lead mountain.
 
The downside is being faced with 121 grey trousers to paint at one go.

 :-\
Lord Oik of Runcorn (You may refer to me as Milord Oik)

Oik of the Year 2013, 2014; Prize for originality and 'having a go, bless him', 2015
3 votes in the 2016 Painting Competition!; 2017-2019 The Wilderness years
Oik of the Year 2020; 7 votes in the 2021 Painting Competition
11 votes in the 2022 Painting Competition (Double figures!)
2023 - the year of Gerald:
2024 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

Steve J

I have about 16-20 figures per battalion/regiment for my games set in the 18thC & 19thC, so paint one 'unit' at a time. I find that dependent upon the level of detail and variety of colours used, I can finish said 'unit' in a day, spread over 2-3 sessions, of an hour or so per one.

For WWII a slightly different approach in that I do the infantry platoons and support units, with command stands, at the same time, so I can finish a Company in a few sittings, which allows me to get them onto the table in relatively short time.

Glorfindel

I can only cope with 5 at a time.   Battalions are conveniently pack size (30 figs)  :D .   Takes about 40 mins per batch and keeps me coming back.

fsn

Quote from: Steve J on 14 October 2023, 11:05:00 AMI have about 16-20 figures per battalion/regiment for my games set in the 18thC & 19thC, so paint one 'unit' at a time.
I am very lucky in that I can spend as much time as I want painting, and have a dedicated painting space. I will manage a big unit at the weekend, or two-three days through the week.

Painting bigger units reduced those pesky overheads of changing paints, washing brushes etc, etc. This is particularly notable if I'm doing say silver, and it's just sword blades and bayonets that need doing.

QuoteI can only cope with 5 at a time. 
:o
Lord Oik of Runcorn (You may refer to me as Milord Oik)

Oik of the Year 2013, 2014; Prize for originality and 'having a go, bless him', 2015
3 votes in the 2016 Painting Competition!; 2017-2019 The Wilderness years
Oik of the Year 2020; 7 votes in the 2021 Painting Competition
11 votes in the 2022 Painting Competition (Double figures!)
2023 - the year of Gerald:
2024 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

fsn

Quote from: Steve J on 14 October 2023, 11:05:00 AMFor WWII a slightly different approach in that I do the infantry platoons and support units, with command stands, at the same time, so I can finish a Company in a few sittings, which allows me to get them onto the table in relatively short time.
That's pretty much the way I do it.
Lord Oik of Runcorn (You may refer to me as Milord Oik)

Oik of the Year 2013, 2014; Prize for originality and 'having a go, bless him', 2015
3 votes in the 2016 Painting Competition!; 2017-2019 The Wilderness years
Oik of the Year 2020; 7 votes in the 2021 Painting Competition
11 votes in the 2022 Painting Competition (Double figures!)
2023 - the year of Gerald:
2024 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

Orcs

I generally find one woman at a time is enough.  :) More than one is exhausting , occasionally it can be fun to have another one in a parallel existence. However this comes with complications......... OOPS sorry wrong Forum!!!!

I try to paint in batches of around 30, more than than it gets boring. I try to finish a project before going onto another, but as you know when something shiny slips into view  ...... Also I often move between periods on changing batch so that I don't get completely fed up with Khaki, Red etc. Just don't get me onto painting horses.  A batch of horses is almost as welcome as an ex-wife at a wedding.  :D
 
The cynics are right nine times out of ten. -Mencken, H. L.

Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well. - Robert Louis Stevenson

fsn

QuoteJust don't get me onto painting horses.  A batch of horses is almost as welcome as an ex-wife at a wedding. 

With you on that one.

(Unless it's the ex-wife's wedding, in which case it can be a hoot.)
Lord Oik of Runcorn (You may refer to me as Milord Oik)

Oik of the Year 2013, 2014; Prize for originality and 'having a go, bless him', 2015
3 votes in the 2016 Painting Competition!; 2017-2019 The Wilderness years
Oik of the Year 2020; 7 votes in the 2021 Painting Competition
11 votes in the 2022 Painting Competition (Double figures!)
2023 - the year of Gerald:
2024 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

kustenjaeger

When I retire [~15 months] I aim to paint units of 32-36 per session.

Edward

Leman

As age creeps on I have moved from painting a battalion at a time to painting about half a dozen figures at a time. I find it more motivating to have a base or two of figures done and the need to do the next batch or two to complete the unit.
The artist formerly known as Dour Puritan!

jimduncanuk

For 10mm I would paint about 30 or so at one time.

For Warmaster 10/12's I would paint one unit at at time.

For 28's infantry 12-16 and cavalry 9-12.

In all honesty I may well have three or four batches of the above on painting sticks at any one time as I am a bit of a butterfly unless painting to someone else's time schedule.
My Ego forbids a signature.

John Cook

For my current Peninsular War project I am doing a division at a time.  I'm painting the British 3rd Division at Talavera at the moment comprising 439 figures.

Ithoriel

Struggling to motivate myself to paint at the moment. One colour on one figure is an achievement.

Lots of board and computer gaming but no tabletop stuff.
There are 100 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who can work from incomplete data

streetgang

My units are typically 24 infantry or 12 cavalry. I paint a unit at a time, mounted on popsicle sticks (6 infantry per stick or two cavalry on half a stick). Often, I paint one stick complete as a "test" if it is a uniform I haven't encountered before.

I should get in the habit of seeing how much time it takes, but I don't. I usually take about a week to paint a unit, and it's often in numerous 15-20 minute opportunities. Real life responsibilities, laziness/motivation, and high-maintenance dogs prevent me from sitting at the paint desk for longer sessions than that.
2015 Painting Competition - 2 x Winner!
2015 Painting Competition - 2 x Runner-Up!
2021 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!
2022 Painting Competition - 3 x Winner!
2022 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!
2023 Painting Competition - Winner!
2023 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

fsn

Lord Oik of Runcorn (You may refer to me as Milord Oik)

Oik of the Year 2013, 2014; Prize for originality and 'having a go, bless him', 2015
3 votes in the 2016 Painting Competition!; 2017-2019 The Wilderness years
Oik of the Year 2020; 7 votes in the 2021 Painting Competition
11 votes in the 2022 Painting Competition (Double figures!)
2023 - the year of Gerald:
2024 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

Matt J

Currently just painting my North Koreans, 25 bases of infantry about 170+ models. I'm doing these in one batch, up to face and hand highlights, then uniform highlights, then belts/bags, then cap badges and buttons. Laborious but gets the project done effectively.
2012 Painting Competition - Winner!
2014 Painting Competition - 3 x Winner!
2014 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!
2015 Painting Competition - 2 x Winner!
Beep