Saturday 21 August 2021

Painting matters

 A few months ago or so I bought some exquisite 28mm 18th Century figures. I bought them on a wave of enthusiasm and l was not disappointed on their arrival. However when I attempted to paint them it was a disaster. Unlike me they are slim and delicate and the paint job was demoralising to say the least. They  were popped away and not forgotten about, instead they reminded me of their presence swelling the lead mountain which was too big already!

In the past I have got help finishing armies for wargames shows and happily buy second hand painted figures, especially old Minifigs. However l have never used a professional painting service. I guess l felt a bit guilty, a bit of a cheat in contemplating such a course of action. Wrong response l know! However the Virtual Wargames Club introduced me to folk who happily get figures painted professionally. So after a long think l came to the stark conclusion that these purchases would lie unused by me to be passed on to a n other upon my demise . So l have taken the plunge , sent them off and look forward to seeing them when finished. This will probably be a one off or a very occasional thing to do but it ensures the figures will march forth one day soon.

This week l have flitted between 15/18 mm centaurs and dryads, 54mm sportsmen, repairing a flat artillery piece with a lolly stick and trying a few civilians. A little pottering, fun and it has moved a few projects forward a tiny bit. We shall see what the day holds on the painting desk...

28 comments:

  1. You have my sympathy as I'm currently struggling to maintain momentum painting some lovely but elegant figures. I suspect you will have yours back before I've finished the first nine and I've many more to go.
    Stephen

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    1. Keep going Stephen it will be well worth it...

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  2. Peter Young, Donald Featherstone and Peter Gilder all had others paint their figures.
    Now Alan Gruber too.
    Forward with the other greats!
    My excuse anyway.
    Ronnie

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    1. I’m in good company then, what else is to be said.

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  3. For some people, painting the figures is a part of the hobby they enjoy very much and that's fine. But others - including myself - find painting a chore and would rather spend time researching, creating rules and scenarios and playing, and that's fine too! There's no reason to feel guilty about employing someone else to paint your figures. That's what I've done with my 10mm early 19th century Red and Blue ImagiNations armies, putting in the time I would have spent painting on other activities I do enjoy (and am better at). The result is that I have two armies that are far better painted than I could have achieved, completed (which I might well have lost heart and failed to do) in a shorter time and I have helped the painter earn a living.
    My only regret is that I didn't do this years ago!

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    1. Wise and thoughtful words on the hobby Arthur. I like painting certain figures but know my limitations, it will be good to use the time I would have struggled with the 18th Century figures on more productive projects.

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  4. Lets remember that HG Wells didn't paint his own, and remember the pleasure of opening a box of factory painted toy soldiers by Britain's, Crescent, Elastolin, Marx, etc...

    Its a hobby, not a competition. Enjoy the bits you enjoy.

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    1. Very true! If it’s good enough for Peter Young it is good enough for me!

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  5. Any pictures of the 28mm figures that you mentioned above?

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  6. Think it has been the cost that has stopped me using painting services .

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    1. That was the same with me particularly in the past but now l feel it is a luxury which I can just about afford from the war chest.

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  7. Hi Alan,
    Whilst I've never had anyone paint up my figures for me -I have painted figures for other gamers- I found that painting the figures for other people although interesting it was not very profitable - lots of hours for small monetary returns- the same also went for the building models I made for customers...now in retirement I don't do anything for anyone - just my own stuff. Hope your Painter does a good job for you. Cheers. KEV.

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    1. Thanks Kev! Doing your own stuff works well for you, great. You produce some splendid buildings and figures.

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  8. I buy all of my figures painted these days - or printed, as the Paperboys and their Wofun plexiglass equivalent. While I've always enjoyed building plastic kits, painting them was a hassle and I just slapdashed them onto the table. Being able to play right away is a plus!

    I've been lucky to obtain some at least of my armies for free from other wargamers; I hope to receive some Spanish Civil War figures soon from a sometime member of my local club.

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    1. I flit butterfly like from project to project and back again. I can’t seem to tackle big hobby projects just wee ones these days. The paper boy/ plexiglass figures work so well.

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  9. No shame in using a painting service, hope they turn out well!
    btw I once chatted on social media with Julian Humphreys of the Battlefields Trust, and he said that as a youngster he painted figures for Donald Featherstone!

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    1. Thanks. I am beginning to know/face my hobby limitations and try to only tackle the potentially achievable. There are enough hassles without adding to them. I enjoy the creativity of the hobby including painting and conversions but am glad I asked for help with these...

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  10. Yep, nothing wrong with getting minis painted by someone else. I do like to paint minis, but I like painting for the fun of painting interesting and fun minis, many of which may never land on gaming table. I'd certainly be tempted to send minis off to be painted if I wanted a bunch for a particular game, for example, and didn't have an interest in painting them myself (and if I could afford to pay for the painting).

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    1. It works well with particularly challenging figures especially Lace Wars uniforms and also Tartan. I tried but it wasn’t worth the hassle.

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  11. I concur with Ronnie! I’ve had some moments of feeling annoyed and a little hopeless toward prepping and painting figures lately. I only have time to choose either making more figures or playing with the few I have!

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  12. Hi Alan, I can only add my support to most of the other replies here. I began paying other people to paint my figures soon after I got my first job! (A long time ago...). I am no painter or modeller, my joy is in reading, researching and gaming as Arthur1815 said. Once you build up a good relationship with a reliable painter you can rely on you never look back:)

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  13. Thanks Anthony, I guess I wish I had started earlier too with hindsight but l have begun now. It has been really interesting to read the comments left here , as of course it always is.

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  15. Hi Alan,

    just a thought. You could always give me a call if you want some figures painted. I won't promise anything, because I prefer to paint stuff in which I'm interested at that point in time. But I'd be happy to have a crack a some of your figures if you wanted, and to any style you preferred.

    My latest efforts are over on mylittlewargame blog.

    I'm sure Ross might be happy to help out too.

    cheers,
    Tom

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