Help for a newcomer!!!!!

[hellhammer09]

Hi guys,
   I'm a newcomer so I need your help for this fantastic hobby.
        First of all sorry for my english, if you don't understand something feel free of asking me clarification.
   I'm not new in the hobby of painting and wargaming with miniatures, in fact I started playing Warhammer since 2007. After 7 years I come to the conclusion that I'm not a really good painter, and I need a more balanced set of rules, so I decided to start with Hail Caesar and play with 10mm miniatures. I love the sight of a huge army on the tabletop!!! And I read on the internet that 10mm miniatures are simpler to paint than 28mm.
   I think I will start with two army: one of Republican Roman and one of Carthaginian, but I need some advice from you.
   First of all the tool of the hobby: treating with metal model I think I only need files and a hobby knife. Do I need also a cutter? What type of tools do you use??
   Then I need paints. I hate GW paints because are really expensive and they dry really fast. I have some Vallejo paints, and I think they are great; but I have in my mind the idea of try the "The Army Painter" range. There are not too much colors, they are cheap and the review on the internet are positive. Have you got some experience with this paints? (I don't want to use the dipping method, only their range of colors). And again, what color do you use for primer? Do you prefer black, white, or maybe grey??
   Last, but not the least, the basing materials. 10mm miniatures are smaller than 28mm so I suppose that flock, static grass and hobby sand are different. What type of material do you use? And where do you take it? Can Vallejo textures be useful?

At the moment is all, but I'm sure that I will have tons of question later.
Meanwhile thank you for all!!!!

[Fenton]

Firstly welcome to the best forum on the internet

For cleaning models I just use files and a hobby knife for taking of some of the larger amounts of metal that you sometimes get on the base of the figure..Cleaning them is the same as cleaning up 28mm metal figures


Personally I use Vallejo paints as I like them , I have also used AP paints which I like except the yellow which is probably the worst yellow I have ever used but I might have just have got a bad one

The use of Primer is going to be trial and error to see what you like

Personally I use a grey with a thin black wash over the top to bring out the detail but I have used black in the past and that works just as well. One note I would make is that I wouldnt bother with hobby primers, car paint primers that you can buy work just as well

I also use the same flock and sand as I would on 28mm , I dont think you can notice the difference. People says the the Vallejo Pumice is good but I haven't used it myself so couldn't really comment

I am sure others on here will have other recommendations, but I am sure you will have more enjoyment painting these than you did 28mm

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I agree with Fenton.

[paulr]

Welcome, I also agree with Fenton. I haven't used Army Painters dipping approach but use washes instead to get shadow effects

Feel free to ask for clarification on our answers 

[rim66]

Agreed as well. I'd only add that, with smaller figures, I tend to go 'brighter' with colours to make them stand out a little more and especially as I use a wash method, which does take colours down a little. For the wash, I use Army Painter dips but the bottles not the tins, I dilute it with water and washing up liquid (to help the flow) and apply with a brush. I also don't tend to use a black undercoat as, again, it can take the colours down. I mainly use Vallejo and some Army Painter and am happy with both - I find all yellows a problem as they just don't cover, especially black undercoats. Any other questions or help needed, just shout out!

Good luck,

Richard
Monty's Wargaming World
www.montyswargamingworld.co.uk
Blog:    http://theratreport.com/
EBay:  http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/rmor2212
Flickr:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/101018826@N02/

[fsn]

Firstly, may I extend a warm welcome to the Forum, Cadet Hammer. You will find the we (the molars in the Pendraken skull) are on the whole a friendly bunch However, some of them may be a little less than totally acquainted with reality.

I am not a great painter. I use Revell and Tamiya acrylics because they are locally available to me. I don't use GW because I refuse to paint my British Paras in "Giant Bogey Green" or whatever.

Somewhere on this forum is a thread about "how I paint" which is very entertaining and useful. There are lots of other threads about basing and so on, from people who produce better results than I. 

For ancients, I undercoat in grey or white, then apply a dark wash to highlight the detail. Being old and half blind, this is very useful. I use black or brown ink diluted with water as a wash. I use bog standard flock and sands for basing.

[Techno]

A very warm welcome to the forum hellhammer.
I think Steve's (Fenton) comments just about say all that's necessary for the time being.
Definitely try 'experimenting' with the primers to see which one best suits your style of painting.

Your English is far more than understandable !!

Cheers - Phil

[Sean67]

Welcome to the forum Hellhammer.
Your best bet would be trial and error I use a black undercoat . I paint using most paints G.W. Revell aquacolour and Vellejo as well it just depends on what colour I'm trying to acheive. I use a wash on my 10mm figures as well.
Regards
Sean

[Chad]

Welcome to the forum.

Tools - Very much depends on the quality of the figures you buy. I find with Pendraken a file and knife do the job, to smooth the bases and nip any casting sprue. I know of one 10mm manufacturer where you need pliers to make the figures stand upright on the base!

Primer - I always use white although in the past I have tried grey. Personally, I think you have to be a very good painter to use black primer, in particular using dry brush techniques (I have never mastered that technique). I agree that you should try all of them on sample figures and then stick with what you like best.

Paint - I use Vallejo in the main. They have a good range and some excellent washes.

Best

Chad

[Hertsblue]

Welcome to the forum, HH. The blue pills are in the cabinet by the door. Don't take more than one a day or you'll wind up with fsn syndrome!

As far as painting goes there's not much to add to all the other guys. You might find this helpful.

http://www.pendraken.co.uk/FileBin/AndyMacPaintingGuide.pdf

[Orcs]

High HH

Welcome to the Forum

Primer the choice is yours, Grey, White, Black.  they all have thier own advantages.  The only GW paints I use are the ones I have been given or bought at boot fairs.

I find Vellejo paints are good for colour choice, but they appera to be a bit "soft" and easily rubbed off before they are varnished.  I think that Coat D'arms are excellent for price and not drying up.

I also use artists acrylics in tubes - particuarly for bases or terrain. Buit They are fine for figures as well, just need thinning down quite a bit.

I base all my 10mm with pva and sand. I have bought short static grass 2mm from railway shops as this looks a bit better than the the normal length stuff, but I am probably a bit finicky.

Look at some of the many blogs of the forum members - ;lots of good techniques and advice.


Enjoy the forum, as FSN says - sanity is optional  

[Leon]

Hi Hellhammer, welcome to the Forum!

[Luddite]

Welcome Hellhammer.

Choosing 10mm and Pendraken is a good start on your road away from GW mate.  

OK...

After 7 years I come to the conclusion that I'm not a really good painter

So what?  As long as they look ok on the tabletop, you're not going for a Golden Demon here.  

and I need a more balanced set of rules

Indeed.

And I read on the internet that 10mm miniatures are simpler to paint than 28mm.

They are very forgiving, but you do need a different approach to painting than with 28mm.  In general, paint the colours a shade brighter than you normally would.  The little chaps need a bit of brightness, especially if you're planning to use colour washes.

What type of tools do you use??

Hobby knife, needle files, pin vice, and clippers.  Its all you need.

"The Army Painter" range.

Never tried them myself so can't comment.  However, £20 for a pot of woodstain varnish seems a bit extreme to me.

what color do you use for primer? Do you prefer black, white, or maybe grey??

Depends on the model to some extent but i use brown for almost everything (http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/in-grim-darkness-of-far-future-there-is_6440.html), and occasionally black (http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/dystopian-wars-into-blazing-sun_05.html).  NEVER grey or white.

Last, but not the least, the basing materials. 10mm miniatures are smaller than 28mm so I suppose that flock, static grass and hobby sand are different. What type of material do you use? And where do you take it?

I use builders sand mixed with dried sandy soil i picked up locally, together with a bit of static grass and flock.  The basing for 10mm with that mix looks like this...

http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/something-lot-more-orc.html

At the moment is all, but I'm sure that I will have tons of question later.

Ask away!  You'll get good advice here.  

[hellhammer09]

Thank you all guys, I'm touched from your replies!   

First of all thank you for all your advices, blogs and photos!

So summing up I think I will use vallejo paints, I have just some of them and I will complete my palette with about 15 new pots. I don't know Coat D'arms color and unfortunately they are not available at my local store, but I promise I inform myself about them (they seem cheaper than Vallejo!!! Coming from GW world everything seem priceless  ).

Your English is far more than understandable !!

@Techno: I think this is the first time I listen this sentence from anyone  thank you!

@Hertsblue: very good tutorial, thank you very much!

NEVER grey or white.

@Luddite: You are the only one who don't recommend white or grey but brown and sometimes black. Can I ask you why?
[really good orcs army, congratulations!!!]

So one last answer. Seeing photos on your blogs I saw two "different schools" of basing: one putting miniatures on a certain number of base to form a unit (warmaster/hail caesar style), the other one instead is creating a sort of "mini diorama" on a unique base (see the Luddite's photo, or Heraitoi wargames roman army). I cannot decide which one is the best. I'm afraid that the second method doesn't seem "massive" and that it can cut down the reality of an hypothetical battle, not giving the opportunity of changing the formation of the unit.

So what do you think about this?

Meanwhile thanks again to you all!!

[Fenton]

Coat D'Arms are the original GW paints that they got rid of when they found a different supplier

The numbers of figures on the base s going to depend on the rules your using.