Unpainted vs Partially Painted

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**Willnaut**

Ok so I'm the kind of guy that spends quite a bit of time on tabletop units so that they look good. That being said, I sometimes have to field un completed models. Is it better to paint all the models assebly line style so the all have some color or to finish each completely before moving to the next?

**Quanar**

This is pretty much entirely dependant on the person.
Some people will paint one colour on an entire unit (10-20 or larger in horde armies) before going back for the second colour. Some will take smaller groups (5 ish) and assembly-line them until finished before moving onto the next 5 (in theory, depending on painting speed, your first model will be dry by the time the 5th is done). Some will go one-by-one.

**Ss5fenix**

I usually primer in large batches by using trim tape on a box top, put the tape upside in rows and fit as many as you can while still getting good coverage. After that ill sit down with 5 models and paint them assembly line, like the above said. That way i dont get bored and i feel accomplished when i get a group done, even if i have 100 more to go.

**Lord Rogukiel**

For me it depends on the squad, but I usally do a mix of both.

For basic units such as eldar guardians or tac SM, I'll probably basecoat the lot then finish them off one by one. For smaller units which aren't base troops, so elites, fast attack and such forth, I'll probably paint them one by one.

Something I also do for plastic part infantry, is to assemble the legs torso and head first, and paint those completely before adding the arms and weapons. I find it easier to paint the detail on the model that way.

**mottie85**

I also have had trouble resolving what to do with this issue. I'd like to have a systematic approach that works for infantry and vehicles. I'd also throw in the issue of unassembled vs. partially assembled models. I think it must be impossible to have a one-size-fits-all approach to every model. Like you, I like my models to look good when they are done. Some of my partially painted tac squads do not have arms glued on yet. But I don't know where to begin with the Landspeeders. I clipped everything from the sprue, but I haven't been able to get any further than that. I just sit and stare at the pile of bits not knowing where to begin assembling or painting. Perhaps I should search the forum for a building/painting LS tutorial...In short, I feel your pain. Here's to not sacrificing satisfaction in the final appearance of your models.

**Necroshea**

As for me personally

Assembly line gets things done faster

Individual painting makes things prettier

Oh also I just can't make myself paint vehicles. I don't know why but after painting my second vendetta I just cannot make myself put brush to chimera or leman.

**ChiliPowderKeg**

I may be a bit confused over dudes missing their special weapons or ravenous bases of doom but if you're not being a that guy about it then its perfectly fine to me

As contrast I do prefer my dudes to be painted and throw in newer guys to replace older, more mistake ridden or practice pieces

**Kaldor**

Willnaut wrote:
Ok so I'm the kind of guy that spends quite a bit of time on tabletop units so that they look good. That being said, I sometimes have to field un completed models. Is it better to paint all the models assebly line style so the all have some color or to finish each completely before moving to the next?

Well, I paint a lot with an airbrush, at least for base coating. So assembly line is pretty much mandatory.

But I also think that assembly line painting allows you to keep a consistent look across the entire army. The downside is that it takes a bit longer to finish each model (although really, not much longer at all. And in the end you save a lot of time) and that it can get boring just painting one colour on one part of a model a dozen times. I like to mix it up and have a couple of projects on the go. Usually a squad, and something else like a vehicle or a character, so I can grind away trying to get the squad finished, and when the boredom gets to me I can put them aside and work on my vehicle.

**Trondheim**

I basecoat them black or white depending on the army. Then I do all the rank & file first before I move onto SC and Elites and such. But yes assembely line gets things one fast and one by one makes for extra shiny HQs and elite untis.

**-Loki-**

I've only ever had a fully painted army on the table I think once, back when I did Salamanders in 3rd. I got everything painted, played a game or two, and then bought a new unit which never got finished.

To my group (with the exception of one player), fully painted armies just don't happen. One in our group just doesn't paint, and his stuff is gradually painted by my brother. My brother aints his own stuff, but not quickly. I paint, but at an apallingly glacial pace. My brother has a friend who generally gets stuff painted quicker than the rest of us, but his stuff is... less than table quality. He basically throws the base coat on, does a white highlight, picks out some details, and calls it a day.

**cox.dan2**

I do assembly line. Doing each Ork in a horde would take forever. Vehicles and HQ are exceptions.

Black Spray paint-then each color. That way if I use an not-fully painted army it at least looks coherent.

**-Loki-**

cox.dan2 wrote:
I do assembly line. Doing each Ork in a horde would take forever.

I wish I had the patience to assembly line. I tried it - I can't. I paint in 10-15 minute sessions for various reasons. Getting something worthwhile done on 10 models in 10 minutes, at the slowass pace I paint, just isn't conducive to assembly lining.

So I have a unit of Gargoyles on my desk, getting painted 1 at a time, while bigger projects like monstrous creatures get done at the same time.

**juraigamer**

I would rather see a whole army that's partially painted than a fully painted army with one unpainted model.

**danpieri**

It depends on the numbers.

Right now I am painting 20 Cadian and 15 Catachans, and adding extra color to my vehicles.
With the troops, its paint flesh tone on all. Paint base color for uniform on all. Paint darker color 1 on all. Paint darker color 2 on all. Paint details and highlights on all..

With more individual figures, like my advisors, I will do those one at a time until complete.
With my vehicles, its what ever one I have to move to get other stuff usually.

**shamroll**

My painting style is a box at a time. So I paint my Termagants 12 at a time, Carnifex 1 at a time, Genestealers 8 at a time, etc. My army tends to be a mix of fully painted units and primed units but it makes me feel like I'm making progress.

**Dark**

Well, I paint mine individually, even troops, so I can achieve a somewhat acceptable tabletop quality.

A friend of mine, with his necrons, is happy with silver spray can and black wash en masse.

**Willnaut**

Thanks all. I'm definitely going to try harder with forcing myself to get used to assembly line. The problem I have with it is that I generally just paint whatever I feel like and get bored doing the same thing for more than 30 minutes

For example, I may start out with a sergeant, get the armor based in red, then move on to paint a rocket launcher or jump pack. I guess a follow up question would be which you would prefer to see on a tabletop.

**-Loki-**

Willnaut wrote:
Thanks all. I'm definitely going to try harder with forcing myself to get used to assembly line. The problem I have with it is that I generally just paint whatever I feel like and get bored doing the same thing for more than 30 minutes

Then don't force yourself to assambly line paint. Stick to it, paint one model at a time, and don't rush yourself. Try to paint something every day, be it simply layering a colour or managing to sit down longer and bash out a whole model. Completed models will add up over time, and after a few months you'll notice you've got a lot painted. You'll also learn better prush control when you're not forcing yourself to rush through painting a bunch of stuff you don't feel like painting.

The key to enjoying painting is finding out what you enjoy about painting. It seems like you know how you like to paint - keep painting that way. If you force yourself to do something you don't enjoy (ie assembly lining) just to get it done faster, you'll find all it's doing is making you not paint at all.

**Greenizbest**

As an Ork player, I generally paint the boyz in groups of 5. I will paint all their skin and then say "These two will have black pants, this one will have gray, this one yellow" etc. and that helps me to break up the uniformity of the army. That being said, a group of five probably takes me a day or two. For HQ choices or models with a lot of details/colors, I do them one at a time.

Vehicles are kind of intimidating for me. I've yet to even put primer on my Battlewagon.

**SoloFalcon1138**

I used to be really really picky and paint my models slowly and completely. As I now have several armies in varying states of paint, I have to realize that I will never have a golden daemon army. I just need to paint the damn things so they look cool.

**-Loki-**

SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
I used to be really really picky and paint my models slowly and completely. As I now have several armies in varying states of paint, I have to realize that I will never have a golden daemon army. I just need to paint the damn things so they look cool.

This is something else. Realise what you can do and be comfortable with it.

If you are always thinking your stuff isn't good enough, you'll never get it painted, because you'll never feel enthusiastic about getting another 'sub par' model done. Just paint. You'll learn technques as you go and get better as you go.

**Plumbumbarum**

A question for people that take it slowly - do you wash a model with water each time you paint it, i,e. first day was basecoat, 2 days on a table and before you start detailing

**-Loki-**

I wasn't even aware washing a model with water was a thing. I paint very sporadically. I've had an Infinity model on my table right now that was at one point of completion for about a month before I went and did a little work to it. I didn't wash it, just started painting it again.

I assume you are asking this maybe due to dust buildup? Just try not to keep them somewhere they can get dusty. Mine usually sit in an army case until I get to them.

**Plumbumbarum**

-Loki- wrote:
I wasn't even aware washing a model with water was a thing. I paint very sporadically. I've had an Infinity model on my table right now that was at one point of completion for about a month before I went and did a little work to it. I didn't wash it, just started painting it again.

I assume you are asking this maybe due to dust buildup? Just try not to keep them somewhere they can get dusty. Mine usually sit in an army case until I get to them.

Yep dust buildup, fat from fingers etc. I wash the model if it waits longer than a week or is touched a lot but the idea of washing a throng of gants or that Trygon AGAIN is what makes me clench my teeth. Guess I'll better relax a bit about it from now on.

**Willnaut**

I hadn't ever thought to wash the model with water. I usually wipe them off. The only things I wash off are resin or metal models to remove the residue because otherwise the paint peels.

**RayND**

I have never heard of someone washing their models under the faucet once they've started painting. I usually have very clean hands so I don't leave fingerprints on my electronics, but you shouldn't be touching the model anyways. I still do it sometimes though, because it's easier to rest a finger on a helmet or shoulder than it is to grab a base. Normally, people suggest you stick the model to the top of a paint pot or have some kind of movable clamp arm that will hold the model for you.

To prevent dust from getting on your inactive models simply cover them. Lester Bursley suggested this in one of his videos where he talked about making an assembly line stand for painting out of PVC pipe, and to prevent dust from getting on the models, he simply drops a big sheet of saran/plastic wrap over them. I just leave them under a tent made from the plastic bag that 25mm bases come in since dust tends to settle straight down and won't sweep in from the sides.

**Plumbumbarum**

I'm pretty sure I read it somewhere when I was starting with painting models, might have been some perfectionist or pro painter maybe can't say now. As for touching I play games between painting sessions so this is rather unavoidabe. I washed models with water and soap, entire units of gants or stealers to only paint a quarter or less, play a game or two and repeat, wash, dry, paint three models and cry. Thanks for answers btw.