Today I decided to start adding basing texture to some of the figures. I knew that I didn't want to use the Vallejo "Dark Earth texture" for the Paras, so I decided to make up a batch of my own homebrew version:
It's quite a simple mix: one 300ml tube of brown acrylic frame sealant (£1 from Poundland), 20 spoons of bird sand (£1 for 1kg from Wilko) and a bit of water. I did some tests on a few bases:
L to R: untouched; drybrushed; drybrushed and washed; drybrushed, washed and drybrushed; washed and drybrushed |
When the paste had dried (it took about an hour) I did a few tests - you can see the results above. It gives a good texture, dries quick and hard and above all is incredibly cheap (about £1.20 for nearly 500ml; the Vallejo stuff costs £8 for 200ml). The bird sand is quite large grains - for a texture like the Vallejo paste I'd need to use finer sand. For different colours, I could use the white frame sealant and add paint to get the colour I want.
Once that was made, I cracked on with adding texture to bases. Over the space of about 3 hours I got all of these done:
Strontium Dog figures |
Warlord, 1st Corps and Foundry Paras |
Artizan (and a couple of Warlord) Paras |
I've also got some more stuff on my dining table (the only free space available at the moment).
A bit of a mix |
Jeeps with antennae added |
In addition to that, I've glued a lot of SYW Russians onto painting sticks:
These have been moved up the painting queue as there are seven regiments that are needed for our August Bank Holiday refight of Kunersdorf which I don't currently have in my collection. I've taken the decision to paint all nine regiments that I don't have; there are also a few extra figures which I might paint as dismounted dragoons. This will, of course, mean a delay to beginning to paint the Paras (well, I might squeeze in a test figure or two to try out painting schemes).
I've also been assembling some MDF terrain over the past few evenings. I need to get a couple of bits and bobs to finish tarting up a couple of them, so no pics for now.
The coming week promises to be very busy with getting everything primed.
Good to see you've been busy Tamsin.
ReplyDeleteTamsin,
ReplyDeleteWith all this stuff to paint... don't you except some holidyas ?
:-)
I always try to cut down the stuff I prep at one time, as I tend to be unwilling to face painting such a lot!!
ReplyDeleteAll power to your painting arm!!
My gosh you have been productive - I feel very slug-like now!
ReplyDeleteYou've been a busy lass. Well done! Look forward to seeing your paras.
ReplyDeleteLove the thoroughness of your research Tamsin, well done.
ReplyDelete@ Ray - cheers! :)
ReplyDelete@ L'Empereur - as I'm sort-of-early-retired every day is a holiday! :)
@ Herkybird - different ways of working. I just find it easier to have (almost) everything prepped and primed so that I can just crack on and if I get fed up painting one project, I can quickly grab something from another project to paint as a refresher :)
@ Miles - thanks! But you've been working on (and finishing) all that terrain, whereas I'm just prepped and primed figures! :)
@ Curt - cheers! The Paras may be a little while - SYW Russians have to get done first :)
@ Michael A - thanks! Research? Are you referring to the different washing/drybrushing on the bases? :)