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Paint
Tools
There
are many tools of the painting trade. But they can be whittled down to
the bare necessities to be able to supply you with a good range of painting
implements. I think that the basic ones are:
Working
Area: To be able to
paint effectively and with minimal 'stress', a large, clean working area
is ideal. It can range from many different things. Such as a desk in your
bedroom, to the dining room table (if mum and dad will let you). You should
be within easy reach of all your painting materials, and most important,
you need to be comfortable. You will not get good results if you you are
constantly having breaks to stretch your back muscles from bad posture.
Just make sure that your working area is around the level of the bottom
of your rib cage. It works for me. If you can get your hands on one, an
adjustable height chair can be the best thing since sliced bread. Once
you have set it to a desired height, you won't need to constantly change
your posture.
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Light
Source: The next important
item on the list is your light source. If you can place your table near
a window that lets in a lot of sunlight, then this is the best. But, if
you are like me, and paint around the clock, then the sun isn't going to
always be there for you. So a desklamp is going to be needed. Light that
is produced from ceiling globes just doesn't cut it. There are many types
of lamps on the market. The best type to get are the ones that have moveable
parts so that you can move the lamp where needed. The lamp that I have
clamps onto the side of my desk, and is made up of arms and springs. I
can place the light where and when I want to, so I can't complain, really.
The idea of the light source is to be able to see what you are doing, obviously,
but it will be no good if the head of the lamp is in your way. The best
place to position the head is about 2-3" away from your forehead. This
is mainly so you don't look like you have been to Hawaii for a holiday.
This way the light will be shining directly onto what you are trying to
paint. Any other position and you will only cloud your miniature in shadows
(you may aswell paint in the dark).
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Newspaper
or any surface covering: To
protect your work area from paint and water spillages, some type of covering
will be needed. As I constsantly buy the local paper, I have an abundance
of paper protection, not to mention some reading while I wait for the paint
to dry. But you can also use an old table cloth, folded a few times to
be able to soak up any moisture, butcher's paper, or if your really desperate,
mum's favourite party dress (just kidding!!!). You should always keep your
paints and washing water on the paper, just in case you knock them over.
Better to be safe than sorry. A good trick is to have a wad of paper that
you are working over, say 20 sheets. That way, when the top few become
to congested with goop, you can just slide them out, and use the next few
layers. Just save a few papers from the recycling bin, so that you don't
run out.
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Brushes:
Now for the interesting stuff. Brushes. What do I use, I hear you ask?
Well, I think it comes down to your own personal taste and methods. Brushes
come in all different shapes and sizes, so the choice can get a bit hectic.
I prefer round brushes, but I know that other people prefer flat ones for
specific tasks. But I seem to get away with it anyway. The main sizes that
I think you should look out for are 3/0, 5/0 and 10/0. The higher the first
digit, the smaller the brush. 3/0 are good, large brushes for painting
your base and undercoats (see The Basics). 5/0
sized brushes are good for putting paint on reletively large areas, like
Space Marine armour and large clothing areas. They can be a bit more precise
than the 3/0's. Finally, the 10/0 is a very good fine detail brush, and
you should use them for just that. The most common use for my 10/0 is painting
eyes on miniatures. They can get the pupils just right (so long as my hand
wants to play steady for me). You can also use them for painting intricate
patterns and designs that you invent yourself, such as chapter and craftworld
badges, icons, text, whatever you like. Just make sure you've been off
of the coffee for atleast 24 hours.
To maintain a
good life for your brushes, there are a few things that you should remember.
Never immerse the brush so that the bristle clamp gets paint on it. If
you do, over time the base of the bristles will become clogged and cause
them to spread. You want to keep them forming a point. Keep your brushes
upright in an empty jar or cup when you are not using them, so that they
are not in contact with another surface. If they are, the bristles will
be bent and out of shape the next time that you go to use them. When cleaning
your brushes (see Water Recepticle), make sure it is
done thoroughly. Most of all, don't run the brush head through your fingers
to wipe away excess water. Use a tissue, or paper towel of some kind. Place
the bristles on their side and drag them 'back', across the tissue, giving
a slight twirl as you do so. That way the bristles will form back into
a point and you won't need to touch them. Just stand them back up in your
jar or cup. Most hobby stores supply these brushes, and if in doubt, go
to your local GW store and buy them there (amongst lots of other goodies).
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Sharp
Craft/Hobby Knife: To
be able to remove miniatures and vehicle parts from their sprues, you will
need this device. WARNING: Never cut towards yourself, or towards another
person. Direct the blade away from your body and downwards, and make sure
that you control the cut. KEEP YOUR FINGERS OUT OF THE WAY!!! When removing
models in this way, always make the last cut in a place that will not be
seen when the model is complete. So if, for example, I was to remove a
Space Marine from a sprue, I would leave the tabs at the base of the model
until last. As the model may tend to move around after cutting several
tabs, the last cut can be a bit messy, and may scar the model. Leaving
the last cut at the base, it can be done without having to worry about
the 'look' of the model, as it will be under the base when complete.
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Needle
Files: No, not Needle
Sniper Rifles. Needle Files! These aren't a neccesity, but make the process
of cleaning mould lines and flash (bits of lead that just don't belong
on the model) a whole lot easier. Needle Files come in all shapes and sizes,
just like brushes, and you can usually find one to fit into that nasty
hole to clean it up. Again, most hobby stores should sell them, individually
or in packs of varied shapes. They can be worth every penny. I know mine
are. I show what Needle Files are used for in the Preparation
section. Below are a few different types of Needle Files and a miniature
for comparative size.
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Water
Recepticle: To be able
to clean your brushes from paint, you will need a clean glass or cup of
water. Just make sure that the water IS clean. If you leave it too dirty
for too long, you will find that the disgusting colour of it may enter
your paint, in some horrible fashion. Yechhh!
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Mixing
Palette:Some times you
may want to paint your miniature a certain colour that you just don't have.
This is where the palette comes into the picture. An old bread and butter
plate or an old, clean tile from a demolished bathroom or kitchen can be
ideal. All you need to do is transfer some of the paint from your pots
to the palette, and stir. Just make sure that you clean your brush between
pots. The best thing about a palette, rather than the newspaper, is that
the paint will stay wet for a longer period. NOTE: Try and keep the palette
out of direct light from your desklamp, other wise it will be dried up
before you get to use it.
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Old
Paint Pots or Cork Pieces:What
ever you do, don't throw away empty pots of paint. They are ideal for mounting
your miniatures on while you paint them. Just stick them on the top with
some Blue-tac, or other poster mounting product. That way you can keep
your grubby mits off of your miniature while you are painting it. Until
you have emptied your first pot of paint, corks from bottle tops, or craft
stores do the same job. They are just a little bit lighter than a pot,
so be careful when you put your miniature down so it doesn't fall over
and chip your fantastic paintjob. |
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