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Made in es
Fresh-Faced New User






Hello, everyone!

I just submitted a first post -dealing with burning topics such as chalky layers and a man's inability to follow the Citadel Colour guidelines- where I also included a brief history of my life, so I will take the liberty to recycle some of that to draft this introductory post.

I have recently resumed painting, after a life long hiatus... I painted during my teens, and have resumed it now in my early forties (call it a mid-life crisis, call it looking for something to do during lockdown). My skill never went beyond "moderately sucky", maybe because I'm not particularly "artistic", or because I never really persevered (I'm not sure why... it's not like I needed the time to date girls). Let's see how it goes with 30 more years under my belt, a full time job and a daughter, and a dwindling eyesight.

Jumping back on the mini painting train has been quite a ride... Back in the day I learnt basing, washes and drybrushing, and that was it (Never learned to thin my paints, ooops!). So upon my return as prodigal son, I was surprised to discover such a rich landscape of techniques: layering, wet blending, edge highlighting, zenithal highlighting, glazing... so many tricks! And don't get me started on new tools and materials (I'm loving the wet palette, and contrast paints sound moderately interesting, but do you really need a special paint for drybrushing? Jeez!). I am now trying to catch up, avidly scouring the many available sources online (and trying not to bite more than I can chew)

My main interest is miniature painting, with a strong focus in WH40K (I do love the setting and the lore). I do not think I will have time to play -nor anyone to play with, specially under COVID 19 conditions- anytime soon, but I'd love to do it at some point in the future -maybe with my daughter, during the all too brief window where she will be old enough to play but young enough not to be embarrassed by her dad. I do like boardgames as well, so I hope to be able to paint those minis too and not make an embarrassment of it.


   
Made in ca
Junior Officer with Laspistol





London, Ontario

There is a "small scale" version of 40k called Kill Team. Not quite the same rules, but a box or two of minis is all you need for most teams. Many teams have a decent build from a single box, like Tactical Marines (Loyal and Chaos), Ork Boyz, Grey Knights, Custodes. Even Necron Immortals can make a passable team from a single box, especially if you have some bitz to customize into "counts as" other things.

Most Xenos need 2 boxes to really field effective teams. Tau want a box of Pathfinders and Stealth Suits. Necrons are strongly improved by adding Lychguard to a box of Immortals. Tyranids probably want Warriors and some Gaunts.

So if those models pique your fancy or your daughter's, then Kill Team is small scale and quite affordable.


I'm also fond of a new-ish game called Godtear. It uses fantasy minis on a Hex board, and is again quite affordable, especially if you can get a discount from a local game store.


I'd say contrast paints are focused on people trying to get armies ready fast, that are less concerned about "pretty" but some paints, like the flesh paints, are better in a single coat than I can do with multiple paints. And putting contrast over metallic paint can really boost the "fantasy / sci-fi" look of otherwise plain steel. I find the darker colors are less effective than the lighter colours, but that's just my opinion.

Welcome back to the hobby!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2020/10/16 21:08:17


 
   
Made in gb
Crazed Spirit of the Defiler




Newcastle

A lot must have changed in 40k for you, I'm guessing you were last involved in 2nd edition? No later than 3rd anyway

Youtube is awesome for painting guides and techniques. These days the challenge is to NOT go overboard with advanced techniques; the models are so much bigger and more detailed it's very easy to come up with an elaborate paint scheme that takes forever to actually do. I shy away from models that aren't predominantly one colour because of that

Hydra Dominatus 
   
Made in pl
Horrific Hive Tyrant





Yeah, dakkanauts is valid. Welcome on board!
   
Made in es
Fresh-Faced New User






 greatbigtree wrote:
There is a "small scale" version of 40k called Kill Team. Not quite the same rules, but a box or two of minis is all you need for most teams. Many teams have a decent build from a single box, like Tactical Marines (Loyal and Chaos), Ork Boyz, Grey Knights, Custodes. Even Necron Immortals can make a passable team from a single box, especially if you have some bitz to customize into "counts as" other things.

I almost got it for my birthday this summer... but I had given conflictive info to the missus, so she got me the WH40K Elite Edition Box instead, which I was also interested into. Definitely in my radar.

I'd say contrast paints are focused on people trying to get armies ready fast, that are less concerned about "pretty" but some paints, like the flesh paints, are better in a single coat than I can do with multiple paints. And putting contrast over metallic paint can really boost the "fantasy / sci-fi" look of otherwise plain steel. I find the darker colors are less effective than the lighter colours, but that's just my opinion.

I may be looking into them in the future, but for the time being, I've got enough on my plate.

Welcome back to the hobby!

Thanks!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 Snake Tortoise wrote:
A lot must have changed in 40k for you, I'm guessing you were last involved in 2nd edition? No later than 3rd anyway

I actually never really played WH40K, only Space Hulk and Blood Bowl. So I'm not particularly shellshocked by the changes in gameplay... and I have kept reading the lore, so I was more or less up to speed. Guilliman's return, tho... I didn't see that one coming!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2020/10/18 17:55:54


 
   
Made in nz
Strategizing Grey Knight Chapter Master





Auckland New Zealand

Hi,

Welcome to Dakka

IceAngel wrote:I must say Knightley, I am very envious of your squiggle ability. I mean, if squiggles were a tactical squad, you'd be the sergeant. If squiggles were an HQ, you'd be the special character. If squiggles were a way of life, you'd be Doctor Phil...
The Cleanest Painting blog ever!
Gitsplitta wrote:I am but a pretender... you are... the father of all squiggles. .
 
   
Made in de
Charging Orc Boar Boy





Germany

 Manowl wrote:
Hello, everyone!

I just submitted a first post -dealing with burning topics such as chalky layers and a man's inability to follow the Citadel Colour guidelines- where I also included a brief history of my life, so I will take the liberty to recycle some of that to draft this introductory post.

I have recently resumed painting, after a life long hiatus... I painted during my teens, and have resumed it now in my early forties (call it a mid-life crisis, call it looking for something to do during lockdown). My skill never went beyond "moderately sucky", maybe because I'm not particularly "artistic", or because I never really persevered (I'm not sure why... it's not like I needed the time to date girls). Let's see how it goes with 30 more years under my belt, a full time job and a daughter, and a dwindling eyesight.

Jumping back on the mini painting train has been quite a ride... Back in the day I learnt basing, washes and drybrushing, and that was it (Never learned to thin my paints, ooops!). So upon my return as prodigal son, I was surprised to discover such a rich landscape of techniques: layering, wet blending, edge highlighting, zenithal highlighting, glazing... so many tricks! And don't get me started on new tools and materials (I'm loving the wet palette, and contrast paints sound moderately interesting, but do you really need a special paint for drybrushing? Jeez!). I am now trying to catch up, avidly scouring the many available sources online (and trying not to bite more than I can chew)


My main interest is miniature painting, with a strong focus in WH40K (I do love the setting and the lore). I do not think I will have time to play -nor anyone to play with, specially under COVID 19 conditions- anytime soon, but I'd love to do it at some point in the future -maybe with my daughter, during the all too brief window where she will be old enough to play but young enough not to be embarrassed by her dad. I do like boardgames as well, so I hope to be able to paint those minis too and not make an embarrassment of it.




Welcome back, and enjoy the hobby. Don't worry about "painting techniques" changing over the time. If your main goal is to get a mini looking good on the table, from 2 meters away, and with "dwindling eyesight", basic colors plus washes plus drybrushing plus MAYBE some little blending from a darker to lighter will definitely suffice. Just have fun!
   
 
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