Painting Models

I have recently gotten back into miniature gaming. What is miniature gaming? I'm glad you asked. It is where you play a game by moving little toy soldiers around on a table using a tape measure or ruler and fight using rules and dice/cards like in a board game. These games come in all genres, from sci-fi to fantasy to steam punk. But, one of the major problems with this kind of game is that the models are generally supplied unpainted and unassembled. So, in order to have a good looking force, the models should be painted (and assembled). So, find yourself some good glue, some small paint brushes and several shades of your favourite colours of paint and lets go.

Step 1: Cleaning the Model
This is where you cut the model out of any plastic sprues and get rid of any excess stuff left from the molding process. It is a good idea to wash your models to get rid of any excess stuff that may have aquired during the molding and shipping process. Resin models, in particular, are prone to having a "release" agent on them. This agent helps them slip out of the mold easily, but coats the model meaning that any paint applied may flake off.

Step 2: Assembling The Model
This is were you good glue comes in. Some form of super glue is a good idea, particularly when gluing from one type of material to another. Often, when gluing a model together, gaps will become apparent between pieces. These gaps should be filled with an epoxy resin and shaped to make the gaps disappear while integrating seamlessly with the model. This is a very difficult thing and something I do only in the direst of situations.

Step 3: Priming
Get some spray primer from your local hardware store and prime your models. The most common colours for priming are white, grey and black, but you can experiment with other colours and use these as your base coat. Make sure to coat the model completely, from all angles, but not to spray to much on. You don't want to lose the detail of the models to the primer.

Step 4: Painting
Paint your model. A quick google search will give you thousands of websites telling you how to paint your models. My preference is to let simple colour schemes with bold colours rule the model and let the browns and greys take up the detail work like belts and scabbards.

Step 5: Basing
Here is where you can use your wood glue. The simplest method I have found to base a model is to get some beach or aquarium sand and glue this to the base. Then, this area should be painted to look like what ever you want the model to be standing on. Another simple yet effective method is to take some scraps of cork and glue them to the base. This can then be painted to look like rubble.

Step 6: Sealing
This is the final step in getting your model ready to play. Spray a sealer on it. The exact nature of the finish you want will depend on your model. A shiny finish works well on your knights, but may not be so effective on rogues. This will keep the paint on your model from wearing off.

And now your model is ready to play with.

Goonius Maximus