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Made in us
Shas'la with Pulse Carbine



Los Angeles, CA

So I've been collecting a few armies since getting back into the hobby 4-5 years ago and I've got large Tau, Necron, and Tyranid armies. I'd like to think I can paint fairly well, but I have the problem of thinking I need to make every single model as good as I can! This also makes me think of how many years, if not decades it'll take for me to actually get my armies done! Very daunting. I mould-line remove and clean them all, so they are all ready for painting heh.

Also, since I want to do extra well on the larger models, I have a growing amount of large models that are in a few pieces like the Tau Stormsurge, new Archaon, and a few others. This is my least favorite part! I'm itching to build them all to use them as well. Do you think using very small dots of super glue to finish them and then gently unassembling these few parts once I'm able to find time to paint them would be ok?

Any tips or advice for this kind of feeling? Hopefully this didn't come off as too whiny. I'm also wondering if others have felt this way.

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Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Nottinghamshire

It's okay to feel this way. Your first step to tackling this is to decide what you ultimately want. If you want an army or two to play with that ultimately looks good, then make a list, work down it, stick to that, and finish one army list at a time.
If you want to play now, there is absolutely nothing stopping you from painting and assembling to a three colour TTS, and then get this: Working on one squad at a time to bring it up to scratch. It's what I do, out of necessity. I've been slowly popping a squad out of the box and giving them a few hours' love each week. But in the meantime, gaming and enjoying the models.


[ Mordian 183rd ] - an ongoing Imperial Guard story with crayon drawings!
[ "I can't believe it's not Dakka!" ] - a buttery painting and crafting blog
 
   
Made in us
Never Forget Isstvan!





Chicago

I have that feeling as well where all my models have to be to their best. Its one reason I do not play horde based armies, in reality its just getting yourself to sit down and paint. Also deciding how much time you want to spend per model, like for nids don't spend a lot of time on the rank and file otherwise you will go crazy.

Ustrello paints- 30k, 40k multiple armies
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/614742.page 
   
Made in au
Incorporating Wet-Blending




Sydney

I know that feel matey, what got me over it was painting an already assembled model for someone else (from the borrow thread). Realistically i couldn't get all the mold lines, and couldn't possibly do a perfect job of it due to the assembly (it was a carnifex).

With those constraints, the end result was still quite good, and the dude was happy with it.

Pick up some cheap assembled units you don't care about, paint them as best as you can, see how you feel at the end. Perfectionism is a function of procrastination, force your way through.
   
Made in gr
Longtime Dakkanaut




Halandri

What I find helps is to plan the steps I will make to paint my models before I start.

It is much easier to be disciplined in how much/little attention to give each model if you have a step by step process to follow. This also helps makes your squads appear more uniform as each model should be painted with similar colours/techniques.
   
Made in us
Utilizing Careful Highlighting





at the keyboard

Just don't get discouraged! You CAN do it! Ok, it might take a while, but hey, now you're all set up for the zombie apocalypse and you won't have to worry about running out of models for years. This is what I tell my hubby when I need to make a new purchase!

as others have said, get an idea of a playable force that you want to work on first, make a goal - three colours, table top standard, 'hey at least it has a basecoat!' whatever. Then each week or month, work on it. You can, as the Buttery one mentions, go back and do more work on them.

Make a thread or a blog. Not only will you get useful critiques, you will be happy to see your progress as you go.

I also like to keep my finished models near where I can see them. If you can enjoy looking at them, it makes it more rewarding to do them in the first place.

Just remember to write down what colours you're using, either in your thread, blog or in a notebook! Especially if you're working over a long time, you *think* you'll remember... but yeah, not so much, usually.

Have fun and happy painting

   
Made in au
Grizzled Space Wolves Great Wolf





Feeling overwhelmed? Welcome to wargaming, where the grey mountain grows faster than it shrinks
   
Made in au
Incorporating Wet-Blending




Sydney

I REJECT THE NOTION OF THE EVER ENCROACHING GREY

I am not buying ANYTHING until I've made a serious dent in what I've got already. THIS TIME FOR SURE!
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Nottinghamshire

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Feeling overwhelmed? Welcome to wargaming, where the grey mountain grows faster than it shrinks
Speak for yourself. Mine gets smaller and I don't even paint it.
I just trade it in for slightly less grey.

...Well, that's actually more depressing than positive. But hey, less to do!


[ Mordian 183rd ] - an ongoing Imperial Guard story with crayon drawings!
[ "I can't believe it's not Dakka!" ] - a buttery painting and crafting blog
 
   
Made in gb
Dakka Veteran





Scotland

I have the same problem so I can't help you out but I do sympathize. I worked it out that at my current rate of painting it'll take me two years to paint all my Tyranids and that is just one army of my every increasing pile of models.
   
Made in ca
Ancient Venerable Black Templar Dreadnought





Canada

May I suggest airbrush or colored paint rattle cans for block painting.
I went to airbrush to remove the grunt work elements and more time for detail brush painting.
Just a suggestion, I would never got the IG/AM 100 grunts in one go done otherwise.

A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.
Napoleon Bonaparte 
   
Made in us
Shas'la with Pulse Carbine



Los Angeles, CA

All great tips everyone, thanks! I think I may take the advice and start a blog/thread and start doing my most played combination of each of the three armies I have in 3 colors and then go back to adding detail later.

What do you all think about my idea of adding very small amounts of super glue to "finish" building my larger models that I've left in 3-4 pieces and then when I get to painting them, gently getting them apart?

6400 Pts
4300 Pts
3200 Pts
2600 Pts

3080 Pts 30k
2460 Pts AoS Chaos Grand Alliance
2680 Pts AoS Sylvaneth 
   
Made in au
Grizzled Space Wolves Great Wolf





It can work, though in some cases I might feel like its a bit of a gamble if the glue holds too well and you can't get it apart (things like sockets).

I often superglue bits to a bit of sprue when I'm airbrushing them then snap them off when I'm done to glue the model together properly, but I'm careful to make my attachment points small so they're easy to break off.
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut





Noctem wrote:
So I've been collecting a few armies since getting back into the hobby 4-5 years ago and I've got large Tau, Necron, and Tyranid armies. I'd like to think I can paint fairly well, but I have the problem of thinking I need to make every single model as good as I can! This also makes me think of how many years, if not decades it'll take for me to actually get my armies done! Very daunting. I mould-line remove and clean them all, so they are all ready for painting heh.

Also, since I want to do extra well on the larger models, I have a growing amount of large models that are in a few pieces like the Tau Stormsurge, new Archaon, and a few others. This is my least favorite part! I'm itching to build them all to use them as well. Do you think using very small dots of super glue to finish them and then gently unassembling these few parts once I'm able to find time to paint them would be ok?

Any tips or advice for this kind of feeling? Hopefully this didn't come off as too whiny. I'm also wondering if others have felt this way.


im right here with you except i havent got a few armys hanging around. i would absolutely not assemble any centerpiece models because you want to paint those and only those (imo) the best you can. paint troops like GW does but most importantly, convince yourself models only have to look good from a foot or two away. anything else will cause you to take a year to get it all done. I might have it even worse than you in that, i cant seem to finish models that are not plastic kits. I attempted to paint eldar warlocks the other day and was super super upset with all the mold problems, oldschool crappy sculpting. that eliminates so many models for me lol.

I believe, and this might not be true for you, my desire to paint every model perfect is that when people look at them, I want them to know how good I am or at the very least understand its only "unimportant multiple of a model" paintjob. Is that egotistical? maybe but thats the same reason i buy my clothing and go to the gym so if im wrong I gota start changing a lot of stuff irl lol.

base wash rebase edge highlight and take your time on the HQs and dragons/large monsters/tanks

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2016/01/06 04:41:05


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Made in ca
Roaring Reaver Rider






I had, still do have if I'm being perfectly honest, a great amount of un-built and un-painted models. I understand the desire to do the best job you can on every single model and it wasn't until 2015 that I was able to take a step back and break that habit.

For my rank and file grunts I definitely aim to do them well but I won't necessarily cry if my edge highlighting isn't as neat as it could be or if my washes gave the exact look I wanted in every recess. I make sure I don't miss parts or steps, that will drive me nuts, but I don't supply the time and finesse that I normally dedicate to characters models. This was a hard thing for me to accept but the alternative was never seeing my pile of un-painted models shrink, and that was a scarier thought than having models that aren't painted exactly to the standards I'm capable of.

I found a few things to keep myself motivated, hopefully they help you too.

- I made a project log here on Dakka and I try my best to keep it updated as much as I can. The comments and advice from other users is some of the best motivation I could ever ask for. It also has the added benefit that if you ever feel down about getting stuff down you can browse through it and see what you have gotten done, it's surprisingly good motivation.

- I keep all my painted models on a shelf displayed in one of my living rooms. I keep anything un-finished in boxes tucked away out of sight. When you see what you've done on a daily basis but none of the stuff you have yet to do it really helps keep a positive attitude and the desire to paint more to add to your display.

- I choose a project to do typically one unit at a time, even if the plan is to do an army up (I did 1750 of Eldar in 2015) I'll only bring the current squad up to my work table and leave the rest hidden. I did my jetbikes in batches of three, rangers in a batch of ten, vypers in batches of three and war walkers in batches of three. I alternated with these units so constantly working on one unit didn't get tedious, ten linemen aren't bad to do and three small vehicles at a time is manageable. If I'm doing something larger like a rhino I'll do it all on it's own, even if I have more than one to do.

- If you can split up what you work on so you're not working on one faction at a time. I burned out on Eldar and left my last 250 points un-painted cause I couldn't bring myself to do that scheme any more, I'm now working on Dark angels and after that will be some tempestus scions. Having said that I'm already excited to get back to finishing up some more Eldar so this little side-project break has done wonders for my motivation on that front. I also have a tendency to "borrow" an unpainted miniature from a friend from time to time and give it a "special" paint job before returning it. Some times just doing something silly on a single model can lower the stress of getting your "to do" list done. Getting to really go wild with those purples, pinks, neon greens and leopard print patterns can do wonders for your motivation.

- Not everyone can do this because real life gets in the way but I try to paint for atleast 30 minutes every night. I have a permanent station set up so literally all I have to do is sit down and start working. Not having to set-up and tear-down every time really helps avoid procrastination. Getting in the habit of doing just a little bit every night takes a while but once you do you'll notice that you won't burn out on a project so quick and things will get done faster than you think. It won't feel like you worked that hard because you didn't put in hours long stretches in single sittings. 30 minutes also isn't too hard to find, I typically do my painting right before going to bed, it's relaxing.

- If you can, gather your friends for painting nights. In my group we get together now just as often to paint as we do to play. Quite often two of us will have a game while the others paint and we take frequent breaks from painting to go see how the game is, stretching is important after all! Where we paint and play is all in the same area so we can all chat whether we are playing or painting.

- Most importantly just try different things out and see what you enjoy most. At the end of the day you need to make it fun for yourself.

I can't say much to the idea of putting a model together and tearing it back down to paint. I either put it together and get it done or play with it primed until I get it done or it stays un-assembled and un-playable until I finish it. If I'm really eager to play with a specific model then I bump it up on my priority list and get it done ASAP.

Hope this helps and best of luck getting your jive on for the 2016 "to do" list. May your plastic grey pile disappear by December

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/01/06 04:47:44


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Made in au
Furious Raptor




Sydney, Australia

I feel your pain - I used to be in the same situation. It's not a great place to stand!

I would resist the urge to assemble the models you need to leave separate for painting - because they look unfinished, and therefore can't be used "just this one time unpainted" on the table, it will motivate you to finish them.

I'd also second (third?) the notion to basecoat everything (at least everything that is fully assembled) just to get it on the table, then go back and highlight/detail at a later stage. That way you're playing with your army, getting to know what works, what doesn't, and it will motivate you to put the effort in to finish them. Perhaps a lucky shot on the last turn tipped the game in your favour from that particular unit? They get highlights!

I also find that using "interesting" models to reward myself gets me through the bulk of the troops. If I paint my Khorne CSM squad, then (and only then) do I get to paint their champion. If I paint the rest of the Cultists, then I can paint the Rhino. Once I've painted the Rhino, that's the whole army aside from the warlord... So I can sit down and lavish attention on him whilst not feeling guilty at all of the more mundane troops I'll need to do next.
   
Made in ca
Ancient Venerable Black Templar Dreadnought





Canada

Noctem wrote:
What do you all think about my idea of adding very small amounts of super glue to "finish" building my larger models that I've left in 3-4 pieces and then when I get to painting them, gently getting them apart?
I would suggest a few things:
-Where it is logical to do so like with weapon swaps, turrets etc. use rare earth magnets to hold it together so it keeps your options open and gives better access for painting.
-Pin the parts so they can hold position and you still have the option to glue it down when done (stronger join too!).
-Combination of both above: pins and magnets, usually for big heavy parts or those big resin Forgeworld models that need to be broken down for transport.
-Use blue-tack to hold it in place, I did that for my Valkyrie for the cockpit, I wanted to play with it but did not want to glue it shut just yet. It does not seem to leave a residue and I use it for masking on occasion for painting.
-Lower your standards: if it is hard to paint, it is hard to see, so not that important to get at, right?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/01/06 15:12:33


A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.
Napoleon Bonaparte 
   
Made in gb
Lord of the Fleet






 Talizvar wrote:
-Lower your standards: if it is hard to paint, it is hard to see, so not that important to get at, right?

Exactly - knowing when something is good enough is crucial to speeding up.
   
Made in ca
Guardsman with Flashlight




Victoria

Do you enjoy painting the act of painting, or do you more enjoy looking at the finished result? If you really do enjoy painting, then a decade to complete doesn't sound too bad; that's a decade of painting, after all.

Otherwise, would you rather play with a beautifully painted army, or a competitive one? If you would rather play with a pretty army, gather a smallish point army of models that can be painted coherently. Maybe opt for higher point value units. The finished product will give you the satisfaction of finishing something that looks good. If you would rather play competitively, don't worry about painting, do it on your own time; little by little.

And always refer to the engineering mantra:
 Scott-S6 wrote:
- knowing when something is good enough is crucial to speeding up.


Noctem wrote:
I mould-line remove and clean them all, so they are all ready for painting heh.

Good. A tedious but mandatory step.

Edit:
Noctem wrote:
What do you all think about my idea of adding very small amounts of super glue to "finish" building my larger models that I've left in 3-4 pieces and then when I get to painting them, gently getting them apart?

No. Don't cut corners. Do it right the first time.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/01/06 16:21:25


 
   
Made in us
Maniacal Gibbering Madboy






I have been there myself many times. Probably the hardest lesson to learn is "good enough to play with'. I am a semi decent painter, and have won a handful of favourite army awards, but I still utilise techniques like dipping, and crackle paint for bases, just to knock things out and let me move one. I find a good motivator for me is attending tournaments. I want to make sure unit XX is painted for it, so I knuckle down and focus on just that unit to get it done by the deadline. Something else that can really help is to try and scale down your focus. So you have three armies. Pick one, make an 1850 point list (or whatever is standard for you), put everything else away, and just focus on that for 5 months. Just that list, minor tweaks, but learn the list, and just paint it. Your target could be to get the whole list to being blocked out and washed in that time frame, or with your nids, blocked, dipped and matte varnished. Set an achievable goal, plan around it, and stick to the plan.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, the best lesson I ever learned: If you are struggling to get the paint brush in to touch part of the model, you probably can't see it, so ignore it.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/01/08 00:24:49


 
   
Made in fr
Perfect Shot Ultramarine Predator Pilot





France

Noctem wrote:
I'd like to think I can paint fairly well, but I have the problem of thinking I need to make every single model as good as I can!

You sir should try skirmish games.
It won't really help for your huge armies. But it's really refreshing, both painting-wise and gaming-wise. Painting around 5 models for a real full format game really allows to take all the time you want, try new technics and so on. You don't have to rush because you still have like 30 identical models to paint after the one you're working on.

My P&M blog : http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/406869.page
! Go watch my gallery !

 
   
Made in au
Crazed Spirit of the Defiler




Eye of Terror

the thing to remember is that there no rush take your time

My large scale warhammer/kings of war Blog of the Brass and Rot legions:
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Made in au
Grizzled Space Wolves Great Wolf





 Talizvar wrote:
-Use blue-tack to hold it in place, I did that for my Valkyrie for the cockpit, I wanted to play with it but did not want to glue it shut just yet. It does not seem to leave a residue and I use it for masking on occasion for painting.
That can be good advice if you plan to paint something soon, I wouldn't use blutac as a long term fix though (if I don't plan to paint something for several months).
-Lower your standards: if it is hard to paint, it is hard to see, so not that important to get at, right?
Just depends whether you intend to have them viewed up close. Something like an Archaon you're going to want to put the effort in to it.
   
Made in au
Synchronized Devabot





kb_lock wrote:
I REJECT THE NOTION OF THE EVER ENCROACHING GREY

I am not buying ANYTHING until I've made a serious dent in what I've got already. THIS TIME FOR SURE!


Oh my god. This^
100% can relate to.

 
   
Made in au
Elite Tyranid Warrior





Brisbane



kb_lock wrote:
I REJECT THE NOTION OF THE EVER ENCROACHING GREY

I am not buying ANYTHING until I've made a serious dent in what I've got already. THIS TIME FOR SURE!


Hahaha... Thanks for the laugh .. Good luck, sir! I gave up a 15 year smoking habit (6 years now!) easier than resisting the plastic crack!! :-P


Get your models on the table and looking good!


My Armies: Dark Angels: 4500 points - Hive Fleet Verloren: 7500 points
 
   
Made in au
Incorporating Wet-Blending




Sydney

I haven't set any real hard goals on it yet, but knowing that I can't buy more has really spurred me on to actually getting things painted.

We're all going to make it!

Also Kr00gZ, I've been quit for good now for about 4 years, after a 15 year habit too. Good job on your 6 year pin!
   
 
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