"Painting black uniforms - help?" Topic

I want to paint up some Crusaders – I was wondering the best way to do this. Typically I use a white base coat and then dip as I have time constraints.

Would I do a black primer and highlight or dry brush with Charcoal grey?

I am open to any method – please share.

I prefer Vallejo paints – just FYI

I have painted around a hundred Black Brunswickers and Prussian Leib Hussars, both of which are clad in black, and various other black minis. This is my quick way of doing it.

1. Prime black (I actually use Rustoleum Automotive – Dark Gray)
2. Vallejo Model Color Black Gray on all parts of the uniform that you want black
3. Black wash. I started with badab black which I ran out of. So I made my own out of about 20 drops of VMC Black and equal parts water and liquid floor wax
4. Highlight with thinned down VMC Black Gray

This is quick an easy, and when you're doing a hoard of men like in Napoleonics it looks good. Make sure you matte varnish them afterward because the wax will leave them with a shine. I have used the same technique with blending and VGC Stonewall gray added on a few "showpiece" paint jobs and you get a similar effect but it takes a lot longer.

Pat

Thanks!