Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

How do you highlight imperial vehicles? I'm using a normal brush, no airbush, and I'm puzzling as to how to highlight these things. The panels are so large and flat that I'm struggling to think of where to put these highlights and what technique to use to get them there.

I'm painting a land speeder but I've had similar problems with rhinos.

there are 2 ways:
Use the edge of the brush & run it along the edges or
Use soft watercolour pencils & do the same.
If you want variation in tone across the flat of the panel, it can be done with a paint brush but it would take you ages if you wanted a good result. Or it can be done with an airbrush. The technique is called zenithal shading.
An easier way is to using weathering - add scratches & then dry brush on some dust / dirt / mud /soot.

You can use a circular brush like the artis opus D series or if you want a cheap version, a make up brush. These can be used to stipple both panel lines, and then your highlights, and when done with care and patience can almost replicate an airbrush effect.

Yea it can be daunting at first because there is do much flat area and you feel you need to do something with it, but if you force it, it'll just look horrible.

Simply use a wash, but only in the cracks recesses, being careful with it.

Then edge highlight.

So basically the flat areas are simply left as one flat coat, but believe me it'll look better than you think once done.

If you want more variation you can only then add dirt/damage/corrosion.

For example some brown wash around the feet/tracks looks good. With a fine sponge (the ones you used to get in the blister packs work great) try lightly sponging on some brown, or even silver on the occasional edge to make it look like the paint got scraped.

By slowly building this stuff up your vehicle will start to look great.

If you want some weathering/wear and tear for the larger, open panels, you can try using a sponge.

Get a porous sponge, dab it in the color that you want the damage, dry it a bit so the paint is gummy, then scrape it across the hull. For less extreme wear, put less paint on the sponge.

Definitely try it on on areas that aren't super visible first. It's a reasonably quick method, but can come out messy if not done right.

Get a large mop or filbert brush for gradients on large panels/surfaces.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paintbrush
Here's a guide on what each types of brushes are called.

As for where to highlight, one technique I like to use is to take a picture of it in well lit room. If you want to go for a dramatic highlight, add a spot light at angle of your choice. The picture will flatten the object and help you identify areas that naturally catch light, whether natural or artificial lighting depending on your case. Remember, miniature painting is all about exaggeration and contrast - it's less about making it look more "realistic" as the object you're painting is actually real object.

 Danielle Rae wrote:
How do you highlight imperial vehicles? I'm using a normal brush, no airbush, and I'm puzzling as to how to highlight these things. The panels are so large and flat that I'm struggling to think of where to put these highlights and what technique to use to get them there.

I'm painting a land speeder but I've had similar problems with rhinos.

I do a simple dry-brush with a large old brush that is now dedicated to that purpose, but always start with a very dry brush will the very little paint. When you apply it, it should appear like a dust at the edge of your raised areas. I do it on the base coat (the colour that the majority of the tank will be when finished). It is quick and works quite well and if you make a mistake and put on too much, you can paint over the area with your base colour and try again. For examples just look at my Necromundian Imperial Guard Army Log.

Hope that helps,

CB

Several things.

1.) Edge highlight
2.) pin wash recesses
3.) Preshade/Zenithal Prime from Rattlcan it then use thin glazes
4.) Try using Filters
5.) Just get an airbrush and panel shade.

I'm no expert painter, in fact I'm quite a novice, but I dry brushed my Landspeeder and Whirlwind to get what I'd call a tabletop quality finish: