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The Last Alliance

Version 1.1 25/03/02

Introduction

This page has general painting tips and guides that can be applied to any miniature, such techniques include dry brushing, layering, basing etc...

Dry Brushing

This is a technique that is commonly used for applying detail to chainmail and the like, and is an alternative to washing, in this chase. Dry brushing can be done by first covering an area in a base colour. In the case of chainmail this would be a black base coat over the whole chain mail area. Once this is completely dry, add a small amount of the colour to be dry brushed onto a brush (in the chainmail instance it would be 'Chainmail' coloured paint). Wipe of most of the paint on a piece of paper. Lightly brush the paint over the area so that the paint is only applied to the raised detail. This should leave the crevasses in the base colour.

Washes

A wash is a technique to apply shade detail to an area. A wash can either be a specialised paint such as a Citadel Ink Wash, or some normal paint thinned down with water. You can apply a wash to chainmail as an alternative to dry brushing. First, the base coat is applied to the detail area. In the case of chainmail this would be a shade of silver. Next either use Black Ink or watered down black paint and apply over the detail area. This colour will run into all the crevasses and leave the raised area exposed. Washes can also be applied to flesh areas to give the skin more detail and tone, clothe areas etc...

Layering / Highlighting

Layering is a technique to give a more three dimensional look to an area that is covered in one colour of paint. It is a process of building up the shades of colour, with the darker shade in the crevasses and recesses up to the lighter shade on the raised areas. If you wanted an area to be mid blue, you would base the whole area in dark blue and allow to dry. Next paint the area in the mid blue required avoiding the crevasses and allow to dry. Finally paint the raised areas in light blue. The more shades of the colour you use the more smooth the transition from shade to shade will be, careful not to over do it though.

Basing

base This a guide on painting and decorating the bases. It is by no means the definitive way of doing it, as there are many other ways.
The base is given two coats of Bestial Brown. Once dryed the top is lightly covered in PVA glue. Green flock is sprinckled on in patches and then cork chippings covering the rest of the base top. Cork chippings can be brought from model railway shops and give a nice gravel effect. Once this has all dryed patches of PVA glue are appliced in places and green static grass sprinckled on, shaking of the excess.