karpouzian Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I'll be getting the paint sets soon (as soon as the rpm is out, anyway), and I was wondering what people suggested doing for painting practice pre-March. I'm pretty awful when it comes to painting, so I started on some of my son's little green army men... Not really enough detail to get decent practice. I'd like to get a good cross-section of figures without paying much as I'll be getting way more minis than I could ever paint come March. Just something cheap to help me practice different techniques before I'm actually painting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Inner Geek Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 There are some bones already released. You can't get much cheaper, and they are a good representation of the material you'll be painting on in March. I'd just order some from the Reaper site. Well... I live pretty close, so I'd just drive down and pick them up. But if I lived further, I'd order some off the Reaper site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buglips*the*goblin Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 That's pretty much it, really. Bones are cheap, Bones are what you're getting in March, can't get much more perfect than that. It'll get you used to the material and, as I'm discovering in the Ogre community WIP, that can't be underestimated as a factor. Paint behaves a little differently with Bones. Not necessarily in a bad way, but if you practice on other materials in the meantime you may have to unlearn some stuff when you start doing your March Bones. So the cheapest logical solution is to do some of the existing Bones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exwilly Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 do buy some current bones and that is a good start. and with the army men start practicing blocking out the base colors in each area and test thinning out the paint(more thin layers are always better then one thick layer). and try some techniques on them. remember practice doesn't make perfect but it sure does help only perfect practice makes perfect but you cant be perfect without making mistakes and learning from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CashWiley Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Sounds like you already have paint and brushes, so yeah, buying some Bones sounds like the thing to do (hint: buy the Ogre Chieftain and join the group WIP!). You could also consider the Learn to Paint kits, I just bought one of those myself with the intent to work through all of them over the next several months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubbdog Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Actually, I think painting those green army guys that don't have a ton of detail is a great way because you can always practice painting the details in. You can practice highlighting and shading and other techniques that are easier on more open areas than they are on tiny fiddly bits. That way you are learning to walk before you learn to run. Learn brush control, keeping a good point, paint consistency (what level of wet or watery works best for you), how much paint to put on your brush at once, eye to brush coordination, etc... You dont need overtly detailed models to work on those things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atramagus Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 If you like gaming you could also consider purchasing some board games that come with a LOT of figures - games like Mansions of Madness, Descent, etc... all come with a large number of figures that brings the price per mini down considerably, possibly even under the cost of bones minis. A lot of them won't be as nice as bones, but you'll get a lot of mini's to practice with, and you'll have some fun games to play as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankthedm Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Just something cheap to help me practice different techniques before I'm actually painting...Horrorclix can be had real cheap, like a dime a figure . Plenty can be had for cheap if you are looking for practice and a few can pull double duty for fantasy minis with some creativity.You'll need a hobby knife to remove them from the 'clix' base if you are using them for games with 1"/25mm bases. http://www.miniature...asc&order=price Also heroclix hase some cheap figs too. http://www.miniature...asc&order=price The paint can be removed from the older heroclix by scrubbing with acetone*, but if you are just practicing, just wash them with dish soap, optional primer coat, then paint. *http://www.reapermin...oclix-paintjob/ Note that this was from before heroclix started using clear plastic on figures. Horrorclix came out afterwards as well and uses a LOT of clear plastic I have not tried to strip any of the newer ones and I suspect acetone will wreck clear plastic. Also Miniature's market clearance section has some cool stuff in it currently. Usually a ton of cheap stuff in the collectable miniatures section too. And of course free shipping if you go hog wild and get a $100 worth of stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer_Engel Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I really can't recommend plastic army men for paint practice; The plastic they're made of doesn't take paint well, which would tend to defeat the object. So, yes, if you're living somewhere where bones are generaly available, get some bones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pally Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 You could make Halloween decorations, using garbage, and paint that. xP You can't get much cheaper than free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthulhu Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Get a board game like Last Night on Earth, Descent, or something else that has a ton on minis. That way you have the game and the minis to practice on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recruittons Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I would recommend picking up the Wrath of Ashardalon D&D board game. Looking over the contents, there are some really fun minis to paint in there! (The otyugh, drake, and dragon especially) Descent is also a great minis game that I recommend whole-heartedly. Tons of fun to be had there and some awesome miniatures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atramagus Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Get a board game like Last Night on Earth, Descent, or something else that has a ton on minis. That way you have the game and the minis to practice on. I would recommend picking up the Wrath of Ashardalon D&D board game. Looking over the contents, there are some really fun minis to paint in there! (The otyugh, drake, and dragon especially) Descent is also a great minis game that I recommend whole-heartedly. Tons of fun to be had there and some awesome miniatures. See, multiple votes for the board game idea. Join us... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Inner Geek Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 See, multiple votes for the board game idea. Join us... I just painted up some Talisman figures... that's a board game. So, one more vote. Though I still think Bones is the best answer to the original question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recruittons Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Bones is a good answer if you want to take it sloooow, which is a very good thing. You can buy only as many as you need and you won't feel bad for not finishing them. When you buy a board game, you really have to commit to the idea of doing them all. If it were me, it would drive me nuts having a half-painted game set of minis. At least with Bones, you're not as pressured to finish them all. On the other hand, getting a board game is very cost effect on a per mini basis. You're only paying ~ $1.50/mini (depending on the game), so you'll have plenty of fodder to last you a while. Bones are cheap, board game minis are cheaper. Sorry if I'm not being helpful. I hate just picking a side and arguing it. I much prefer thinking through both options of a choice and building them up until one stands taller on it's own merits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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