Thursday, May 31, 2012

Painting Miniatures Declassified - Priming Models

Last post I laid out the painting process.  Over the next few posts I wanted to talk a little more in depth on each of those steps.  Today I wanted to take a minute to talk specifically on how to prime your models.


Why?

- Well...Have you ever walked on a sheet of ice?  Your feet are slipping on the ice because you don't have traction with the ground...Friction isn't there to give you that traction.  The ice is smooth...much like the surface of your model...whether that model is plastic or metal it is pretty smooth.

- Priming your model first is like throwing salt or sand on a sheet of ice.  Primer gives a slightly rougher surface and helps the paint adhere better.  If you don't use primer then your paint has a much greater chance of rubbing off at the slightest touch.

How?

- There are lots of different methods and colors you can use that work effectively.  These break down into 2 main camps...Brush-on or Spray-on.

    - Brush on.  Here you use a brush to apply your primer.  There are many different types of brush on primers "specifically" formatted to be a primer and to stick to bare plastic/metal.  They also help make a surface that is "rougher" than plain paint so your follow-on coats will stick better to the model. It is easier to get it on too thick and clog detail, but you can be more precise on where the paint goes and get better coverage.  Thinning the primer helps...but too much and you can run into trouble and not get the benefits you are looking for.  Can you use "regular", paint that is not a specific primer as a primer?  Yep, in fact that is what I do.  A TRUE primer does make a better bond with the metal/plastic of the model and a good surface for the paint to adhere.  A regular paint adheres OK, and will survive normal handling once varnished and sealed.

    - Spray on.  This is where your airbrushes and spray cans fit.  Airbrush offers more control than a spray can.  You need good ventilation for the spray cans and special equipment for the airbrush.  You also don't leave brush marks when you use a spray on primer.  This is important if you want a smooth finish on vehicles where you have large flat areas where brush strokes cant hide.  Both take a little more prep time than using the brush on method but require much less drying time.  I use an airbrush for bulk priming...things like vehicles, infantry mounted as teams on a base, etc... This justifies the additional set up time in my mind.

    - Compromise.  For my infantry that I base individually for painting, I use a mix of the 2 methods.  I brush on black Vallejo thinned to 1:2 (paint:water) and get good coverage...and then I blow off the excess paint.  This forces the paint into the deeper recesses of the model. and leaves a nice thin coat of the paint on the model and acts as a primer for the next coat.  I came up with this technique when I was watching a history of airbrushes somewhere and saw that the first airbrush was some guy blowing paint off of a stick onto the canvas.  This hit me at a time my airbrush was acting up and...VIOLA!  The rest is history.   The first ever posted video in the Painting Miniatures Declassified series is HERE and it covers this priming technique.

- Colors.  This is a touchy subject and there are many diehards in 4 main camps supporting their favorite.  The main color choices are basecoat, black, white, or grey. The key is what effect do you want to acheive with the primer....do you want it to be your basecoat?  Help in shading/shadows?
Make colors brighter?

    - Basecoat.  Here, you use a color that will be your base coat and you shade/hi-lite from there.  The benefit here is that you save a step in the painting process by combining your prime and basecoat.  Slight downside in that your shadows/shades don't show up as well.

    - Black.  If you use black as your primer, your colors appear darker and you have to build up additional layers of paint to get that "brighter" color.  This is very helpful if you have shadows or deep folds that need to be darker.  I tend to use black primer for the vast majority of my work.

    - White.  A white background will make colors brighter...it does tend to make it more difficult to create shadows and shades in the folds/deeper sections of the model.  I will use white if the force will have brighter colors and where I need shade/shadows I will paint that area black first and then build up colors from there.

    - Grey.  Not my favorite.  Its in between black and white and, in my opinion, it doesn't have the benefits of both.  Sort of like drinking luke warm water...bleh.

Experiment with the effects of the different primer colors and methods.  One great thing about our hobby is we ALWAYS have some extra models lying around that we can play with and experiment on.  Have fun and Happy Painting.

Again the link for the video on Priming :  Priming Video

***********EDIT************

Based on a conversation in the WWPD Forums, I wanted to make it clear to the reader, especially new/inexperienced painters, that a TRUE primer, as I mentioned above, does make a stronger bond with the model and is preferable.  I have been using regular paint as a "poor man's" substitute because I didn't like what was available to me at the the time when I came up with the "compromise method" of brush-on/blow off excess I described above and in the video  (close to 10 years ago now) .  The conversation in the WWPD forum got me to thinking about looking for a TRUE Primer that will fit my needs.  It has been 10 years afterall.

What are "my" needs in a true primer...first and foremost is what I discussed above regarding the needs for a primer...something that bonds to the model and gives a base from which to build paint from (any TRUE primer will do this) but something that still gives me control and preserves detail.  Finding a primer that I can use the "compromise method" of brush-on/blow off excess method should give me that.  10 years ago I didn't get that from spray can TRUE primers and the available brush-on TRUE primers were a pain.  Not sure why I didn't see and try this earlier, but Vallejo makes primers, in different colors as well, in their handy-dandy-easy-to-use dropper bottles. Going to try these out and will give a report back.

As I say in almost every tutorial...EXPERIMENT and don't be afraid to try something new.  Everything is has its costs and benefits.  Its weighing what you get out of it to what you lose and the only way you know for sure is to experiment. 

Monday, May 28, 2012

5th SS Wiking Panther Platoon

Been a while since I posted some of my work.  Just finished my Panthers for my 5th SS Wiking force...finally got fine lines with the airbrush down enough where I could try this camo scheme on my Panthers.  I have 1 platoon of 5 tanks and the Command Section with CiC and 2iC.

The platoon:








1st Section Leader:






2nd Section Leader:







1st Section Wingman:







2nd Section Wingman:






Company Command Section


CiC:







2iC:






The platoon is from the Battlefront Panther A Platoon Boxed Set, the CiC is from the Panzer Kanonen Box Set (love this model ...and the Panzer Kanonen dice)...the 2iC is a Panther A from a blister pack.

The scheme is based on the posts by Tomwise that are now stored at Bard's Abode  .  I used my airbrush for all the camo and then used brush for the other details followed by pigments.  I like to base my vehicles and am seeing that they sit to high on all the turf I use, so I will be rebasing and making better tread tracks for the tank to sit in...that should lower it make it look a lot better.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Operation Sealion BatRep 2

After out failed breakthrough attempt into London, we supported the attacks into Gloucester. As we were consolidating our position we hear a rumble in the distance. The Americans are Counterattacking. They have got us flat footed. The bulk of my force was pushing forward, now they will have to hurry with haste back to this sector. Who is that standing up in that jeep?  


"BINOS!!!! Quickly!!!!!"


Mein Gott......".Headquarters....this sector will be the main assault for the allied counterattack. How do I know?"


"Because HE is coming straight at me...Who is HE? Patton...."


Battle was 1750 points and the mission was Counterattack...with the Germans as the Defenders.




Link2Edition US Tank
  • HQ: M4A3E8
  • 1st Platoon: 2 ea M4A3E8, 1 ea Jumbo, 1 ea 105mm Sherman
  • 2nd Platoon: 4 ea M4A1
  • 3rd Platoon: Rifle Platoon (2 sections)
  • 4th Platoon: Armored Recon Platoon (1 Section)
  • 5th Platoon: M18 Hellcat Platoon
  • 6th Platoon: AAA Platoon (1 Section M15/M16)
SonBae 5th SS Wiking
  • HQ: 2 ea PzIVH
  • 1st Platoon: 4 ea PzIVH (Oak Leaves Panzer Kanonen)
  • 2nd Platoon: 3 ea Panther (Knight's Cross Kanonen)
  • 3rd Platoon: Gepanzerte Panzer Grenadier Platoon 3 squads
  • 4th Platoon: 4 ea 8 Rad (Proxied with Schwimmwagen)
  • 5th Platoon: 2 ea SdKfz 10/5 2cm (Armored AA)
  • 6th Platoon: Rocket Launcher Battery (1 section 3 guns)















SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

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The Battlefield...the Gloucester countryside


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After everyone set up


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After setup another view


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After the Americans Spearhead move











UNITS IN RESERVE
Link2Edition US Tank
SonBae 5th SS Wiking
  • Panthers in Ambush
  • PzIVH Platoon
  • 8 Rad Platoon
  • Panzer Grenadier Platoon
  • AAA Plt













DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank: The Americans set up with everyone in view of Patton to gain a Spearhead move...and they move up....close...too close...we can smell them now


SonBae 5th SS Wiking: We will keep the Panthers in Ambush and put the Nebelwerfer section on the table along with the Command element. In Hindsight I should have also put the PanzerGrenadiers on the table (and lost their half tracks for the game) and put the Command element with the Ambush and the Reserves











TURN 1

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Americans knock out the Command Element...but take casualties from an Airstrike!


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HS129B3 (Disguised as a Typhoon) rips up the 1st Tank Platoon


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Hellcat Security Section heads over to cutoff the Area where the German reserves will be coming from











COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank
  • 1st Tank Platoon DESTROYED
SonBae 5th SS Wiking
    - CiC & 2IC Destroyed













TURN 1 SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank: US push forward and take out the Co and 2IC PzIVHs!!!


SonBae 5th SS Wiking: Nebs drop on the lead Tank platoon  and bail one tank....A flight of 2 HS129B3 comes in and targets the 1st Tank platoon with the Easy Eights....one plane gets knocked down in defensive fire from the AAA tracks, but the remaining plane NAILS 3 tanks...breaks the platoon and forces the CiC to jump tanks!


Panthers pop from ambush along the hedgerow and WHIFF shooting on the 2nd tank platoon











TURN 2

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Panthers pop from Ambush and whiff shooting at the 2nd Tank Platoon...but Hellcats hit!


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View from the Allied Main Line











COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank
  • 1st Tank Platoon destroyed
  • Hellcats Destroyed
SonBae 5th SS Wiking
  • CiC and 2iC Destroyed
  • Panther Platoon Destroyed














TURN 2 SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank: Hellcats pop and take out the Panthers...2nd Tank Platoon advances on the Nebs and takes out all 3...2 of them with MG fire...despite them being dug in!  Infantry advances on the objective


SonBae 5th SS Wiking: PzIVH Platoon arrives and advances....8 Rads and PzIVH platoon destroy the Hellcats!  Aircraft arrive and target Infantry...but no kills.











TURN 3

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PzIVHs and 8 Rads push forward


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COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank
  • 1st Tank Platoon destroyed
  • Hellcats Destroyed
  • 1 Infantry Stand
SonBae 5th SS Wiking
  • CiC and 2iC Destroyed
  • Panther Platoon Destroyed
  • Neb Plt
  • 2/4 8 Rads













TURN 3 SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank: US consolidates on the objective...CiC takes out 2 8 Rads.  2nd Tank Platoon MGs the Neb Platoon Leader


SonBae 5th SS Wiking: Panzer Grens arrive...PzIVs and 8 Rads try to take out US AAA...and only bail the 37,mm track.  Airstrike goes in on the infantry with guns blazing....had 8 stands under the template and only kill one.











TURN 4

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Germans continue to push on


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Infantry in the open!!!!











COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank
  • 1st Tank Platoon destroyed
  • Hellcats Destroyed
  • 1 Infantry Stand
SonBae 5th SS Wiking
  • CiC and 2iC Destroyed
  • Panther Platoon Destroyed
  • Neb Platoon
  • 3/4 8 Rads













TURN 4 SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank: Infantry try to dig in....to no effect.  CiC takes out a third 8 Rad.   2nd Tank Platoon moves to counter the PzIVHs


SonBae 5th SS Wiking:  Move everybody towards the objective....Airstrike whiffs again.











TURN 5

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Plane Down!


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COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank
  • 1st Tank Platoon destroyed
  • Hellcats Destroyed
  • 1 Infantry Stand
SonBae 5th SS Wiking
  • CiC and 2iC Destroyed
  • Panther Platoon Destroyed
  • Neb Platoon
  • 3/4 8 Rads













TURN 5 SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank: Just gotta hold though this turn...Dig in attempt fails, but AAA shoots down the Airstrike!


SonBae 5th SS Wiking: Go for broke...Need to kill 2 Platoons.  No way I can reach the objectives.  Try to take out AAA Plt with PzIVHs...whiff.  Air Strike on Recon Stands...gets shot down.











TURN 6

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The aftermath











COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank
  • 1st Tank Platoon destroyed
  • Hellcats Destroyed
  • 1 Infantry Stand
SonBae 5th SS Wiking
  • CiC and 2iC Destroyed
  • Panther Platoon Destroyed
  • Neb Platoon
  • 3/4 8 Rads













TURN 6 SUMMARY
Link2Edition US Tank: Allies hold objective on turn 6 when the go live...Victory!


SonBae 5th SS Wiking: Just not fast enough to contest objectives
Micheal played a great game and used Patton like a pro...never risked and that Spearhead and making everyone he can see Fearless paid off in spades.

Should have deployed the Panzer Grenadiers at the start and put the CiC and 2IC in Reserve.  SEVERELY miscalculated how long it would take to move from deployment area to the objectives.  Lesson learned I hope!








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