Practicing on a couple of figures.

[Leon]

I'm not a good figure painter Tony,but yours are looking pretty good!

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Thanks Leon and I sure hope they get better but more than likely not because I don't paint them often enough.
I'm not a show person and they're good enough for placing on my SPG's for scale at least.

Thanks Again buddy
Tony lee

[John Everett]

Also look into getting some heads from Hornet. They're expensive (about $2.50 each, sold 5 in a set) but unsurpassed in quality. They will absolutely improve your painting on faces.

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

John i've already got two or three packages of them that I bought five years ago when I painted my first figures but never used them because I did'nt want to waste them on learning.
I figured if I could get pretty good results on a not so good kit figure I would be ahead of the game,know what I mean Vern?

Thanks
Tony lee

[deafpanzer]

Looking real good!!! You are getting there. Now have fun painting details on the uniform... my fav part since it is the easiest. LOL

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

I started on one last night Andy,the guy with the matching uniform. I don't know what I did wrong but I think I didn't add enough white to the oil mix and the jacket came out too yellow.
I'm going to try and save it this morning,I hate to strip stuff and start over:-S that's why I like to paint several at a time that way at least one will be usable.

I put the oil palette in the frig last night and i'm waiting for it to get to room temperature before starting.

Thanks for your input bud
Tony lee

[jsteinman]

Progress!

One thing to keep in mind is that all uniforms are not, well uniform in color. In a group of figures some should be faded more, others dirtier, and some newer!

[deafpanzer]

COOL! You are building experience while you are at this. It is the only way you can be real good. Just like you and your marriage... you have been married for like 40 years maybe longer? It just get better and better!

[Tobi]

You're getting there. Practice, practice, practice!

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

John am I on "Candid Camera" because that's what i've been doing all day,working on the jackets
Desert uniforms are as bad as Field Gray when it comes to colors and shades,here's my efforts for the day:







Pants tomorrow I hope.
Thanks Guys
Tony lee

[Tobi]

The good thing with Afrika Korps uniforms is, they can vary from sage green over khaki to sand to almost ivory. 
There is definitely no "correct" color 

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

I read the same thing about Field Grey/Gray so I did the same to the pants today. I think I worked the shading too much because it seems to have melted into the base color. They're in the dehydrator right now and I read that when dry the shading will show up better,we'll see I guess.

I don't want a lot of contrast but I may have been too conservative???






Looking for comments and suggestion Please and don't worry about hurting my feels,I don't have any.
Thanks
Tony lee

[TRM]

Sorry I missed most of your progress Tony...but then again, "no feelings", no worries I suppose! I am far from knowing all the ins and outs to the fig-thang, but it does appear you are on the right track! Just like SPG's, each on gets better and better each time you do one. I understand where you're coming from with the "cartoon" look. While I appreciate the shading and contrast, I can see why it can turn some off with it. Simple is always good my friend! With the oils, I wouldn't be afraid to possibly add a couple of thinned washes to the faces to just bring out definition. I have used anything from Van Dyke to Rose tones. If they are to filter consistency, you can apply some and easily add more if you want. Eyes have always been a trouble spot for most. In this scale it is tough to see the whites of anyone's eyes. I was told not to use white, but just off when possible, and not to be afraid to make the irises wider rather than try and pin point. Uniforms look pretty good if you ask me! I love to airbrush as much as I can...heads separately and will try and change up the tones on the uniforms either with adjustments in the paint or washes after the fact.

Jumping back for a sec, I know you have the AM heads and plan on working with some higher end figs in the future....with these styrene offerings, I typically take some sprue and glue it to the necks, sanding them down to size after they dry. It make a little handle to stick into something or hold when working on them...and with a quick drilling out of the shoulder area, makes the necks appear more realistic (to me anyway)

Keep doing what you're doing! Practice can only make things better! If you have the chance, check out a couple videos from Dave Younquist on YouTube...he is under Last Cavalry. Some are long, but his approach is simplistic with excellent results. He uses only acrylic, but the methods can be translated into oils easy enough!

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Sorry Todd i've been watching videos

I plan to use filter/washes when all is said and done but there's still details that need paint first. I dried them in my dehydrator for three hours tonight but the lights and darks are going to need working on tomorrow,I guess I was too conservative but that's not a problem to solve.

The good figures are pretty rich for my wallet but I already have a stash of some decent figures in my hope chest and the Hornet heads.

I'm not givin up,it's not my style my friend.

Thanks for the come back bud
Tony lee

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

I enhanced the shading but not to the other end of the scale but maybe midway,they're in the dehydrator right now and plan on getting them knocked out today.


Tony lee

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Well I didn't get as much done as I planed maybe tomorrow will finish them up??




Tony lee

[TRM]

Personally, I don;t think there is anything wrong with that! From the left, 3,4 and 5 looks fantastic!

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

I call that breaking even Todd and not bad for a duffer huh?


Tony lee

[M1Carbine]

Tony - they are comming along nicely buddy.

Bob

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Hey Bob maybe I can earn a 4 out of 6 with a filter and a detail wash.


Thanks old friend
Tony lee

[Leon]

I'm really liking the color variation in the jackets Tony! Your defo on the right track.

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Well guys I think i've done all the damage I can to these unless you can spot anything that needs attention.



Thanks for your help
Tony lee

[TRM]

Very nice Tony!! I think you're spot on if you ask me! Sufficient detailing without over doing the contrast!! Well done!!

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

Thanks very much Todd. The pant colors didn't go as well as expected but there will be others with Field Gray uniforms to work it out on.

Thanks again much appreciated buddy.
Tony lee

[Leon]

Very nicely done Tony!

[deafpanzer]

They really do look great!!! And it is only your second attempt... impressive! You nailed it with the red piping on the should boards. Sometimes the details on plastic figures can be weak in that area but good news they sell photo etch just for shoulder boards too. LOL

[tonylee-Rest In Peace]

I sprayed them with clear flat today Andy and they look even better if I do say so myself.
NO picture but you'll see them again when they mount up.

Thanks Everyone for pushing me to stay with it.

Uncle Tony