"Finishing minis: Quickshade & Testors lacquer" Topic

Hello all.

I've been trying out two things that are new departures for me: using Quickshade to bring out detail, and protecting my figs with lacquer.

I've tried it all out on a unit I'm not too precious about, some 15mm AW miniatures British Peninsular troops (my main area currently is 6mm Russia 1812 Napoleonics).

Here's my favourite of the pics I've just posted on my blog:

The blog post (there are two actually) is here:

link

I've painted the figs as the 30th Regt, or Cambridgeshire, for a bit of fun, as that's my local town, and I'm toying with a scenario of a local sort…

I've got some AB Polish lancers, and I really want to go to town on those. This unit is my 1st 15mm unit since stopping over 20 years back, and is helping me get back into shape… I hope!

Cheers

Seb

Welcome back to a great hobby.

Try to ignore the banal banter if you can. TMP has many good contributors who will generously help others who have constructive questions.

Re QS; do you use acrylics or enamel paint? My experience is mostly with enamel paints but my suggestion is applicable to acrylics as well.

Before you apply any of the three shades make sure that your figures are completely dry usually 48-72 hours. Even though the paint appears to be dry, the paint (particularly enamel paint and any metallic paint) will continue to give off varying degrees off gases, which will react to QS.

So, after letting my figures completely dry I generously apply QS and then wiping the brush dry, I go over the figures picking up excess pooling of QS. As stated I let dry thoroughly. If you don't let them dry thoroughly the metallic paint medium will bleed onto the rest of the non-metallic coloured portions of the figure.

If you have figures with a lot of metallic paint or wish to be extra cautious you could spray the figures with a gloss varnish before applying QS.

You do not need to apply a varnish over top of QS as it dries to a hardened glossy varnish that will protect your figures from chipping etc.

Also, if like me you do not like the glossy effect of QS, you could apply Testor's Dull coat for a good matt finish.

Some folks do a Gloss overspray first (for maximum "ding" protection), then the Testors Dullcote to tone things back down. Might be worth trying on figures you think will get LOTS of game time, if you're thinning down the QuickShade at all.

Great painting, too, BTW!

Nice work! Out of curiosity, which tone did you use for your 15mm; light, strong, or dark?

Thanks folks

Iron Duke: I use enamels exclusively at present, and yep, I let them dry for a minimum 24 hours before applying Testors. And yes, like you I don't like the gloss finish after Quickshade. Hency appliying a coat of Testors to these figs. I can't find anything on the spray can saying what finish the Testors is, but I think it may be ''dull coat' (or dullcote?).

Mr Canuck: thanks ;o)

Kevin: I used the Dark Tone. It brought out detail nicely, but the figues looked very dull afterwards, as can be seen on another page of my blog:

link

(you have to scroll down quite a ways!)

… so I went back in with some red on the tunics and some gray on the trousers, to bring back the zing and brightness.