"20mm SCW and the "Magic Dip"" Topic

Having read the Workbench article "Phil does the Magic Dip" I thought to myself "Nice paint job, great article, but I can never paint like that…". Then I began to wonder if others felt the same way.

I'm a very average painter, I give myself a 5 out of 10. 6 if I'm inspired. The closest thing I've done to "getting fancy" is using a black wash (of my own making). That is until I got brave and tried Minwax Polyshade. I like it. I think it makes my figures look much better. And it's so easy, I don't dip, I brush.

So, I decided to take before, during, and after pictures of some minis I'm painting. The figures are from Irregular Miniatures, they are 20mm Spanish Civil War Militia. I took a picture of each mini just block painted, then after being "Magic dipped". Then again after spraying them with Testors Dull Coat.

Here is the link:

link

I think the example works best if you hit the slideshow button in the upper right corner, I have the pictures arranged to show them in the finishing process.

The Polyshade color I use is "Classic Oak". I hope you'll agree that the Dip turns my "5" paint jobs into at least "6" paint jobs. I also hope it inspires people who've been reluctant to try Miniwax to give it a shot. It really is very easy to do, and it does enhance the finished product.

Dave

I like the effect you're getting.

I've just been trying the army painter gloop followed by Dullcoat – the mix of smells is intriguing when spiced up with a little styrene solvent. The results I am happy with, though it's not universally applicable. It worked fine on some plastic Victorian infantry and some Foundry celts but I do not intend to use it over pale blue. The key advantage is speed.

Thanks for going to the trouble of posting that. Your are right that it does improve the look of your figures.

Tom

They do indeed look very good.

It looks good but I have a hard time seeing a noticeable difference. Is it a very light shade you're using? Perhaps it's just the photo effect.

Pretty sure the shade I'm using, "Classic Oak" is one of the lightest…..

I use Tudor Satin, a bit darker, and like the way it looks.

Ironically, my 20mm SCW figures from Hotspur/HPC were my 1st experiment with the Dip. I've used to almost exclusively since.

I use brown artist ink with mine (mainly Hotspur/RH), it really shows up the detail on shirts, putees etc.
Ilike dip coat etc but use it on bigger figs.

Some advice that might help.

You paint ok, here are some advice that might help you.

Buy GW:s set of washes. They are great for spicing up figures.

When I paint skin, I first paint Vallejos medium skintone and then highlight with Vallejo flesh. The highlight is simple, I put one stroke down the nose, a dot on the chin and a triangle on each cheek. Hands are the same, Medium skintone and one stroke down the back of the hand and a small stroke on each finger. Then you wash hands and faces with GW:s ogre flesh. It gives some depth and "blends" the colors.

When you paint clothes use two colors, one "base color" and a lighter color as highlight. After that I apply a wash of suitable color from GW. It gives you three shades without much trouble. The highlight isnt difficult at all, just a few strokes here and there, on the thighs, on the back of the calves and on the largets folds of clothing.

I use the GW washes too. For skin I've used talarn flesh foundation (GW) and Dwarf flesh highlights after using black wash for the recess details. Overall on my Germans I used Devlan Mud as the main wash. I think you are definately on the right lines with your new approach. I too had to take the plunge as using drak washes was so off the wall to me!