Tuesday 27 April 2010

Slow, slow, quick, quicker

When I started my ImagiNation project last summer my intention was to paint one unit a month. Not an unreasonable aim, and for a few months all went well. Then other things got in the way; not least other wargame projects. American War of Independence, 6mm Napoeonics, Crossfire WW2, Samurai (why!!)
Anyway I needed to get back to the wars of wine and cheese.

Now, I don't get that much free time to paint but I wondered just how quickly I could get a unit painted. Not in a ridiculous vallejo-fest marathon but with a steady 45 minutes or an hour a day.

So last week I began on a new unit for the Duchy of Fromagere using the nice Zvezda Swedes. A total of 54 foot. I think Zvezda are making the best 20mm plastics at the moment. (These are in fact about 24mm) with almost no flash and cisp features. I bought four boxes of these but will need a couple more boxes to get units of suitably matching figures. There are three pikemen in the set but these will make splendid standard bearers. The only downside is that there are only three of the first rate grenadiers in the box. Perhaps an attached company will accompany a regiment.

The aim is to paint simply with the three feet rule in mind and with the intention of the magic wash with the tinted acrylic floor wax to finish off. So no shading in the paint job in the hope that the final wash will give a bit of depth.

Tuesday: wash the little devils in warm soapy water and remove from sprues. 45 minutes.
Wednesday: glue down to a few lengths of wood 30 minutes (all times approx)
Thursday: spray with white plastic primer 15 minutes

















Friday: thick light blue wash, the colour of the coat and breeches, 40 minutes.














Saturday: day off.

Sunday: gaiters, muskets, hats and shoes. During the first football match so just under two hours.

Sunday: straps, hands, faces and facings, another couple of hours







Monday: I completed the white hat lace, an hour.

So a little over seven hours so far and I suspect another couple of hours to furtle up scabbard, hair and other bits then the final coat of Klear. Should be done by Saturday with perhaps ten hours all told.(tbc)

4 comments:

  1. The "Future" wash should give you a good 3' shading and serve to pick out the facial details and the fingers. I use the same technique on my 28mm metal SYW imagi-nation figures.

    Jim

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  2. That's very good going I reckon, those Zvezda Swedes look really good models too.
    I'm looking forward to seeing the finished unit.

    Cheers,

    Paul

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  3. The real key to getting units done is to consistently do "something" each day. And these look to be coming along nicely.


    -- Jeff

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  4. Dispersion "Acht! Gross malheur!" the bane of many a wargamer... yet not -and by far- the worst way 'The Real World ™' can interfere with our hobby...
    Good to see you back to the tricornes!
    The 'wash' technique is remarkably efficient.

    Cheers!
    Jean-Louis

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