Model Armour

Alex, about how long does the retarder give you, at the ratios you use, before the paint dries?

Matt

It depends on how many layers of paint use apply over the top of the original wet layer, so after 2 or 3 layers of shade and 2 or 3 layers of highlight it gives between 1 and 2 hours before it get a little sticky. If it's just the one coat of paint mixed with 40% retarder and 10% water it can take all day to dry. It makes quick work of painting shade and highlight as long as you know where you want to put the colours, the jacket took me about 40 mins and was not fully dry for about 6 hours.

Alex.

Alex - splendid stuff and a bit of a revelation about using this technique on armour

I have some of the Vallejo retarder - is it worth bothering to use or would you go straight for the others?

Rob

I'm going to the art supply store TODAY and look for retarder.

Is there any special trick you're using in painting the eyes? I've always found that to be the most difficult part.

Will you also be including your techniques on light colored uniforms, such as winter gear?

Rob, the Vallejo retarder is good but it is quite thick and will need to be thinned. Mix it in with the paint first then thin it out. I would use either flow improver or the Vallejo thinners, not just water, as using too much water will break up the pigmentation of the paint too much.

Alex.

Jonny,
For eyes I paint the socket in with a very dark brown then fill it in with and off white before adding the iris and a heavier upper lid, it is important to make the lower lid closer to your base flesh colour otherwise it gives the mascara wearing look. Below is stage by stage that includes a bit too much detail for 1/35th scale but will give you the idea.



Eyes are pretty tricky, particularly the right eye for right handed painters like me as I paint the white outwards towards the temple. If painting the eyes is really troublesome you don't always have to paint them in. I have seen good faces ruined by dodgy eyes, the picture below shows the 2 figures I recently finished, one with eyes the other without.



For now I am just going to be doing the 2 Russians and Wittman but I'm sure winter uniforms will feature in the future. I have Wittmans Tiger to paint before I move onto the next project.

Alex.

Thanks Alex and thanks also for the mini SDS on eyes that will help my 1/16 Feldwebel when I've plucked up enough courage

Rob

A quick SBS of the trousers in pea dot camo. Only the base colour has been painted using wet blending. Since it is not at all practical to apply the camo pattern wet on wet I have done it using conventional techniques.

Colours used are Vallejo English uniform, US Field drab and German camo black - 4:3:1 for the base colour. Military green and black - 3:1 for the dark green patches. Sunny skin tone, Salmon rose and English uniform - 4:2:1 for the light patches. Reflective green for the mid green. German camo light green, military green and sunny skin tone - 3:1:1 for the light green.









Additional highlights added to the finished pattern by using Vallejo light grey wash mixed with Vallejo yellow ochre and Vallejo Glaze medium. For the shadows Vallejo sepia wash was used.



The now finished figure after application of some Archer dry rub decals and the details painted.




Alex.

Great stuff Alex.You make it look so easy I hope you`ll submit this article as a Feature when you have completed it

Hi Alex
This gets better.
As Yngve say's please make this a feature as it is well worth it for future ref.

Shaun