Sunday 6 September 2020

Flats , a way in...

One of the Virtual Wargames Club chaps ( Paul Robinson) is working on some SYW flats and has produced some beautiful work with them. He seems to bring out their beauty and animation. Readers of this blog will remember I purchased some prepainted ones during lockdown. I also purchased quite a few unpainted. Today I looked them out-

They are Late Scandinavian Bronze Age. I am entranced by them. For example the figure cutting corn is so simple but so incredibly well animated he seems to almost come to life.
I have not put brush to tin for a couple of reasons. Firstly they have incredibly fine flash on them and I have an aversion to little metal bits fearing they will get into eyes or under skin. There is so much I don’t know how to tackle it safely and sensibly. Secondly I am a mediocre painter and am quite happy to admit it. It hasn’t stopped me enjoying the hobby and my efforts on occasion. Yet with these figures I am filled with a sense of not diminishing them with my efforts and the need to do justice to the figures. Any thoughts?

18 comments:

  1. If you don't want to fully paint them but just look at them.
    One way to bring out the detail is a fine wash with a darker colour.
    or 'pewtering' painting overall with Acrylic and then wiping it off fairly quickly with a cloth or kitchen roll. It brings out the engraved detail.
    https://manoftinblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/26/home-cast-antique-and-gilt-paint-finishes/

    Alternatively whhttp://www.intflatfigures.org

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  2. Those really are beautiful figures and I can see why you're so entranced. I'm not sure how you'd get round the fine metal waste. I guess people who handle metal alot must use latex gloves to avoid absorbing too much through the skin (?)

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    1. Trying different ways today of dealing with the flash with some success.

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  3. I second the suggestion for the washes. They are beautiful as is, but a dark wash would bring out additional details. And yes, Pauls' SYW flats are stunning.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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  4. That should read "Paul's. . ."

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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  5. I've filed, whittled, sawn, cut and scraped so many toy soldiers (inc some antiques containing lead) without proper care and protective gear over the decades that I like to think I have an excuse for any idiosyncrasies, memory lapses etc.

    The factory painted flats were very basic paint jobs but still attractive but by all means just go with a wash and varnish if that pleases you or a basic painting with umber overwash. etc.

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  6. Every 1000 mile journey starts with the first step. Maybe start with one figure and see where it goes from there?

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    1. A few figures on the go as a representative sample.

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  7. Flats are a challenge , getting the shading right I think is the thing . A wash of say light brown would help bring this out and I would start on the simplest figure first to give it a go .

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    1. I have selected some simple ones today and worked on them.

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  8. I usually paint one side of the figure at a time .

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    1. Strangely I found it easier to do both as it sort of naturally worked round them. I will give your one side a go too.

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  9. Those are exquisite figures. Scandinavian Bronze Age - would that be the Bog People? Same culture? Something I know nothing about, but the figures are so evocative of everyday life.
    I second Mark's suggestion of using a simple wash and see if that works.

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    1. Bog folk tend to be a tad later more Iron Age. These are the mound people of P. V . Glob’s book of the same name. It is a fascinating book easily available second hand.

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    2. I shall have a look for Glob, sounds fascinating.

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