I can't believe I'm about to ask: Painting Minis

So I just got Descent and the girlfriend loves playing it... but she's interested in painting the minis. I've looked into a bunch of tutorials online and I think I've been able to parse out most of the basics, but every guide I find is either way too in depth, or way to abstract to be a definitive guide.

So if anyone has experience and would like to type up a sort of middle ground, or if anyone could link me to something I'd really appreciate it.

What I'd REALLY love, however would be a shopping list. Most of the guides I see are for painting pewter figures, but of course descent is plastic, I'm sure this changes the types of paints I'd need, but I haven't the froggiest idea of what works and what doesn't.

The best tutorial I found was on brushthralls. It was novice enough for me to understand but got into slightly more advanced techniques as well.

www.brushthralls.com/tutorials/index.php

Directed you to the wrong part of the site--here's the one I looked at.

www.brushthralls.com/pre-painting-prep/m...-101-the-basics.html

I've been painting minis for the better part of 20 years, but lately have been cutting waaaay back (see man-child thread for reasons).

Anyway, for what y'all want to do I'd forgo all the expensive stuff. Casual painters don't need to spend the cash for Golden Daemon quality work (GD being the highest painting prize in the GW hobby). You just want some color on your pieces that look of table top quality, and probably in a reasonable amount of time.

I suggest dipping.

Basically, it only requires base colors (I suggest using a white primer as the dip will darken the colors a bit. The white will counter this to a degree.) then dipping the model in a dark, water based wood stain. Minwax is best. You can get it at Home Depot or what not for about $5. Get cheap brushes too, as the dip is *very* forgiving (another reason first time painters should do it) and fills the gaps you leave or the lines you cross. Being a protective stain, it also acts as a sealant against chips/scratches. However, I spray a light coat of sealant using Testor's Dulcote to cut the shine from the dip and add an extra layer. The only thing you may want to spend a little coin on is the paints. I'd suggest using GWs.

Here are two tutorials on it:
www.dysartes.com/model/painting/Dipping1.php

www.librarium-online.com/forums/painting...g-tyranids-more.html

And some models I have used the dip technique on in the past:

Khorne Blood Bowl
Nurgle Blood Bowl
Blood Bowl Personalities

The biggest thing you need to know about your Descent pieces is that they will need to be washed in warm soapy water before applying the primer. Plastic minis are cast with some thin slimy film which keeps them from sticking to the mold. This needs to be completely cleaned off for the primer/paint to take.

Good Luck, and I can field any questions you may have.

Also, I remembered this article.

utini420.blogspot.com/2008/08/descent-gw-washs.html

GW has put out some washes that folks are going nuts over. Washes are basically watered down paints. Anyway, with the success folks have had with dipping over the years GW has changed the consistency of their washes to be more dip-like. They settle in the recesses creating a shaded area while lightly coloring the raised bits giving a highlighted look.

This actually may be the way for y'all to go, as I think you'll only need to buy the set of washes for $18 and be good.

So very awesome. Thank you.

Even so, I'd go cheap material first until she decides she actually likes it. The hobby can be very expensive and a huge time sink. I wouldn't recommend going all in unless you've tested the waters.

For the record, I use cheap craft brushes and my minis look fine. So long as you take care of them they'll hold up. If not, they're cheap enough to buy a new set. I think mine are like 5 for $4 at hobby lobby.

Vallejo puts out some good paints if you don't want GW's, but again buy the wash set or a basic modeling paint set and see if y'all like it.

Painting minis (particularly large amounts like in Descent) can be a lot like the Mitch Hedberg pancake joke. All exciting at first, but by the end you're %$&#ing sick of it.

I haven't painted minis but I have painted figures as part of my models (although I never quite got to the level of painting eyes and stuff....Not that patient). But to echo what everyone else said, get a good detail brush. For paints, I use Tamiya but that's mostly because of my models and Tamiya is nice enough to reference them in the instructions. Acrylics are nice because you can use water. But the best thing you can do is the wash.

Take either black or brown, place a drop in some water (you want it fairly well diluted) and then paint it on normally. It doesn't take to the outer parts but it does pool in the low lying areas and brings them out nicely. You would use black for this. Brown is good for doing mud and stuff.

I agree with keeping it cheap until she decides if she really wants to go all the way (an interesting sentence if taken out of context). Also, if she ever tries dry-brushing she will prefer cheap brushes, since that process quickly destroys them.

One other tip.

The bases on plastic boardgame pieces are terrible for flocking (sand, grass, rocks, etc to add texture). They're way to soft and that stuff eventually breaks off as the pieces get bent. Bad idea.

Here's a really quick way to have your bases look good. Being set in a grey slabbed dungeon. Paint the whole base black, dry brush with a similar shade of grey as the board (with some black showing through), then wash/ink with either brown or black. (also paint the edge of the base the color the mini should be. Red rings for the red minis, etc so you can tell the creatures apart. having entire bases red or various colors look like everyone's standing on a skittle). Anyway, doing the base, dry brush, wash will add depth to the base while still allowing it to hold up to play.

I used this technique on my FoD minis that you can check out in the catchall section. Of course I used shades of brown instead of greys to better fit the FoD gameboard.

ubarose wrote:

I also suggest finding out why your girlfriend wants to paint the minis. Does she just like color in the game, in which case the quick dip or wash might be the best way to go. Or is she interested in the activity of painting the minis.

Oh it was one of the first questions I asked. It's about the actual act of sitting down and painting them more than adding color to the game I think.

Jack Hooligan wrote:

Painting minis (particularly large amounts like in Descent) can be a lot like the Mitch Hedberg pancake joke. All exciting at first, but by the end you're %$&#ing sick of it.

Oh I kinda figure that's going the case. The last thing I want is a half set of painted minis and a half set of unpainted/half painted minis. I'm undoubtedly going to buy some mini's just to practice on/paint up for fun before I even touch the descent minis.