"15mm EIR Painting Advice Needed" Topic

Hello. I am diving in to 15mm (and Romans) for the very first time. My miniature painting to this point has involved 25/28mm ACW and WW2. I wouldn't say I've mastered, but feel I have become efficient in multi-shade painting, using washes, and using coatings like QuickShade. To this point I have always primed in black, but have a friend that's suggested priming these 15mm OG Romans in brown so to use the brown as a basecoat for the face, arms, legs, sandals, and pila. Can anyone offer any advice on this method and maybe even a guide. Thanks a bunch.

I use black, white, grey and brown undercoat, dependant on the finish I want to achieve. The lighter the undercoat, the brighter the overall look.

Raglan

I use a rust colored primer and was very happy with the results.

I was thinking rust/RIO primer too. Any pics?

I do not. Sorry.

I've done that before but found that rust colored primer is too red. Try to get primer that is more brown or just prime figures with simple darkish brown paint using brush. Your friend gave you good advice.

The is no need or advantage in using a different technique for 15mm than 28mm. Priming in black works very well in 15mm and if that's what you think you are proficient at, it would be the best starting point in 15mm. Experiment, change for advantage, simplify maybe … but don't just change because the figures are a different size (I use substantially the same technique on 54mm and 6mm and the feedback seems positive enough ….) …

Phil

I think my friend suggested the brown primer because for Romans (and many ancients for that matter) it can eliminate a basecoat in many areas (pila handle, leather, flesh, boots/sandals).

For smaller scales lighter primer colors will give you a brighter over all finish. You don't want your 15mm stuff looking to dark and dull.

I've never primed in gray or white. My question is, how to deal with the areas of shadow that with a black primer would get left un-painted (i.e. area between the neck guard/cheek protector and between the the chest and shield). Do these areas get sloppily painted black before doing anything else? I may try priming black but painting a white basecoat on the tunic and shield before getting the final coat of red.

Some of my Early Imperial Romans (Chariot figures) … I undercoat the steel in thinned gunmetal (later highlighted silver) but otherwise the figures start with a black Humbrol undercoat before vallejo acrylics and selective minwax/ronseal tints. I don't think the colours look dull. So wouldn't waste time doing a white undercoat.

Just my experience.

Phil

Phil,

I don't think they look dull either. They look great. What line of figs are those? Transfers or hand-painted shields?

Thanks TigerJon .. They are Chariot Miniatures from Magister Militum and the shields are painted by hand. The ranges you favour also look great.

Although I had to cut some corners, I did do a good job on the shields I think – but I posted the pics mainly to illustrate that vallejo acrylics show up fine in this scale over a black undercoat. Shake the bottles well to ensure they are fully mixed and don't overload the brush. Everyone had a slightly different experience, it seems, but I have not had any trouble getting a bright opaque colour.

Good luck.

Phil
Ancients on the Move

Phil,

Outstanding work on the shields! Are those 15s? 15 or 28, very nice painting. What Vallejo Red do you use?

15s

The red is just called 'flat red'

Cheers

Tigerjon,
Did you get my post on your other thread about the shield transfers before it dropped of the front page?
regards
Paul F

Paul,

I did. I have decided to go with VVV. I like the idea of water slides (I used B Company transfers for my 28mm 2nd Rangers and 101st AB and the process worked very well). Thanks.

-Jon