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Well gents,
I just got done doing the black on all my marines. Took forever and my neck is killing me, so how does everyone else paint to prevent physical pain or ache? I try to not hunch over but its tougher to paint...

Thanks in advance.

I paint laying flat on my bed.

All kidding aside, I too hunch over and basically make a tiny ball over my desk. The key is to take breaks and get up and move around periodically.

A low chair and a tall desk.

Look up Ergonomics. Plenty of good guides and instructions.

Basically you want a surface that doesn't cause you to lean down as much so a tall desk works. Try to keep your knees at a 90 degree bend, not sticking out or tucked under. Try to keep your arms in a comfortable condition. Light is a key thing too. You want the lighting to make it so you don't have to squint or lean in to close and not too bright so that it strains your eyes. Also take lots of breaks. Try to use a little bit of paint and then walk away when it's done.

It may seem like a joke, but this type of stuff is actually really important. It's a hobby you're going to spend a lot of time on and this kind of thing can affect your hobby and job.

I tend to paint with my elbows on the desk, my forearms close to vertical and holding the model close to my face. I try and have a lot of light shining over my shoulder at the model. I see a lot of question marks painting with their wrists on the table and all hunched over but that is just terrible, if you want to paint with your wrists on the table get a shorter chair or higher table so you bring the model to your face not your face to the model.

Have a look at watchmakers desks, that gives you better posture while painting. I just rest my elbows on the table rather than having to buy a higher table or shorter chair, lol.

I got a kneeling chair because I tend to slouch or lean - this enforces better posture for me.

It is uncomfortable as hell for a while on your knees, but gets better when you get used to it (obviously).

I find that the most important factor for posture is light - decent light at a place that is comfortable will stop you from chasing it.

I have a high backed office chair that I sit back in with my feet up on a low padded stool. My desk is to my right side with a daylight bulb behind me over my shoulder. I hold the figure I'm painting. I don't stoop over my desk and don't get any aches or pains.

When Converting I'm over my desk and feel it in my back eventually.

Get a magnifyer with a full spectrum light. people pooh pooh it, but it werked fer me.