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I see a lot of times those lines on the side of tau helmets. How do people keep painting those so well and how do I paint those too?

I paint mine with an incredably fine brush, it just takes time and patience, for that little extra detail.

If you would like, I can show you a pic of how small the brush is.

What I do is one primary line which is the longest, then follow it up with another line along side it merging with the last. But make this one shorter.

Sorry that wa a really bad explanation. hopefully someone can fix you with a better description.

@ Wolf - Bloody good explanation if you ask me. Not sure you could make it any clearer.

I paint a rough set of stripes, then touch up around them. This is (IMO) probably one of the easiest ways to do it. Instead of painting the stripes to shape, you're now sort of 'cutting' them into form.

Flashman wrote:@ Wolf - Bloody good explanation if you ask me. Not sure you could make it any clearer.

I hope that wasn't a hint of sarcasm

Wolf wrote:

Flashman wrote:@ Wolf - Bloody good explanation if you ask me. Not sure you could make it any clearer.

I hope that wasn't a hint of sarcasm

Nope, no sarcasm intended. Genuinely thought the painting tip was a good one

@ Dakka, perhaps we should have a sarcasm orkmoticon? (I tend to use the confused, rolling eyes one for this purpose)

metallifan wrote:I paint a rough set of stripes, then touch up around them. This is (IMO) probably one of the easiest ways to do it. Instead of painting the stripes to shape, you're now sort of 'cutting' them into form.

I do this.

I have one of those thin small brushes, but my hands shake too much to ever fill in fine details flawlessly the first time so I don't bother trying. After I touch it up you can't tell the difference.

Use a fine brush to paint two strait lines then touch them up with the armor color. I find thats it is very difficult to get a perfect rectangle so I just try to follow the curve of the armor and always make the lines slightly longer than I want them so I can use the side of the brush to cut off the top of the line to make it strait. Also don't go strait for the color you want make the lines with a slightly darker color then paint over that with the color you want (scab red to blood red); if its the standard tau color you don't really need to do this.

phillosmaster wrote:

metallifan wrote:I paint a rough set of stripes, then touch up around them. This is (IMO) probably one of the easiest ways to do it. Instead of painting the stripes to shape, you're now sort of 'cutting' them into form.

I do this.

I have one of those thin small brushes, but my hands shake too much to ever fill in fine details flawlessly the first time so I don't bother trying. After I touch it up you can't tell the difference.

Try spacing the lines out a little further when you paint, and gradually close the distance between them as you improve. Nothing says you have to have 2 or 3 lines for the Sept' marks. Just as long as they have a clear Sept' designation, that should be enough. Practice on that first. Also, rest your hands on something solid when you paint details. This will help you control shaking. I like to kneel down in front of the counter/table I'm painting on and rest my wrists on the edge of the table. Makes the ol' feelers nice and steady.