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So let's say you're painting a squad. 5 guys or so. You've got them primed and basecoated. Now it's time to get in there and do all the detail work. Something like a half dozen different colors need to go in various places. How do you approach this?

- Do it by color. Work up some black and hit all the models in all the places they need it. Then the next color. Then the next.

or

- Do it by model. Get all colors you need on one model at a time. Then move on to the next.


I do the former, but I feel like maybe this causes me to lose a little focus. When I'm constantly switching between models I feel like maybe I get a little careless and work too fast; and then I tend to have large gaps of time before I pick anything up again.

How do you guys do it? Suggestions?

Rank and file get done 3 to 4 at a time, assembly line.

Characters get singled out for one on one time.

It depends what it is. With Guard, I tend to do an entire infantry squad in one go, as per option one, simply because that way I can get 10 guys to tabletop quality in 30-40 minutes. With marines, I do everything one at a time, taking at least an hour for each one.

I do it model by model. I guess that makes it all a bit slower in progress, but at least it feels not too much like an Victorian manufactory... and each model is unique (even number and name them, plus giving them their own heraldry...). Well, I guess that depends rather on the army and the number of figures. I guess, if I'd do Ultramarines I'd go by squad...

For repeat models (i.e. troops, in the more general sense), I tend to do small batches of 3-5 models. Method is closest to the first option, but I tend to forget some details (or haven't decided on/want to vary their colors), so it's frequently as much "part by part" as it is "color by color." I end up revisiting a number of colors, sometimes several times over, and every model gets a final, individual once over that usually results in a bit more painting, before I call the lot done.

I'm a slow painter (in terms of both time spent actually working and the rate at which I finish models, breaks included), though, regardless of whether I'm working on one model or a batch of ten. If you think your method is burning you out, it's worth trying to change things up, if only for the sake of experimentation.

I go by color and/or parts. Marines are straight forward, 10 guys at a time basecoat. Then those same 10 get black "blocking" (bolters, aquilas, hoses, etc.), followed by details then finish. For Imperial Guard, I'll pick out something like all Las Rifles one session, Pants + Camo the next....