"What is the VERY LAST thing you do?" Topic

I just finished up a German motorized infantry platoon and as I sat there doing the VERY LAST step, it got me wondering…what is the very last thing you do before a figure/unit is done (excluding spray with Dullcoat).

For me, I paint the edge of the bases an olive green. It sort of identifies the figure as mine (it's not a grass green). But it also tells my brain STOP! This one is done.

What do you do?

My last steps …to give to each unit (I made Infantry Battalions (380 or so figures), Cavalry Companies (180 or so), Artillery Companies (12 cannons and 120 gunners or so)… the ranks (officers and NCO)…in their uniforms…

Yes, I paint the officers ranks in their shoulders straps (smile).

NCO in the arms is much more easier…

Then I put them "in parade" untill the next unit occupy their place…

In that moment they go to quarters (plastic bag with zipper)…

Amicalement
Armand

Bayonets or swords. That's my "They're done" step.

Gluing finished figures to finished bases, or flocking bases for figures already on bases.

Painting/flocking bases is the very last, or sometimes the final clear coating spray. Isn't that the norm?

If it's purely figure painting, then weapons are usually the last item I paint, and I start with the big areas and move to the small areas, so typically rifle barrels, bayonets, sword blades, spear points will be the last item. Then I can sit back happy, say, "le voila, ca c'est fini," and open a beer or pour a dram.

Flocking the bases is last.

Final detailing step. Depending on the paint scheme that is blacklining, pinwashing, or edge highlighting.

Then base treatment.

Then gloss varnish, 1 or more layers.

Then matte varnish.

Then spot-brushing any shiny bits with gloss varnish.

My last painting phase is drybrushing the base of the miniature.

After this step, I add grass, write the soldier's 'census' code on the reverse of its base and matt varnish. All of these is usually made in groups of 20-80 miniatures.

Photo of the unit for blog/personal records.

I look the figure over to see if I missed anything.

Attach self adhesive magnetic strips to the bases.

Finish my JD

Basing the figures. That's what I use as my, stop with this one and move on, trigger. I've always done the bases last.

Like Winston, bayonets and swords, and then a warm fuzzy feeling until I look at the lead pile.

I generally slop an extremely thin black wash over the fig. I rarely high-light, nearly always block paint, and the wash takes the edge off the colors and adds depth. Really. Been doing it for decades.

Extremely thin wash, if it puddles too thick, I rinse it off again. You'd think you couldn't see it, but there's a definite effect.

Flocking is the last step for me.

Matte spray, with Dullcote. Before that, flock the bases.

Basing is my last step (Flocking)

As with you, extra, painting the edge of the base. But for real toy soldiers--those with regimental distinctions--and tanks in microscales, I've been known to print out the regimental designation or the tank model on a really small font, glue it underneath the command stand or the vehicle base, and then give it a protective coat.

Flock the base (done after matt varnish applied by brush) then photos and send a pic to Robert Avery for the lardies painting challenge..

Flocking the base is my last step.

Breathe a deep sigh of relief …

Basing, including flocking, then two coats of varnish, semi-gloss and flat.

Like EC, I "ring" the base edge.

I consider sealing and grass flock post-production, the latter may take place days after the mini is officially "done". I do them in batches, as weather (sealing) or mood (grass, which I enjoy for some reason) permits.

Also, I consider the paint job on the minis themselves (not the basing) "99%" until I give them a final check, which I often put off until the next session. Tired of looking at them, can't see the forest for the trees, all that. Then they get signed off for basing, etc. I suppose that's the real "done" for me.

Adding static grass if appropriate, if not then the last dry brush of the base texture. With planes the last phase is the matt varnish.

I consider the dip the last step. Basing is a separate activity that may happens years after the painting is done.

Dullcote.

Flockin' like Dokken.

Damon.

Flocking

I'm the same – painting the base. On my WWII figures, each figure is identified by platoon, squad and individual on the base. Most other figures just get the base painted.

Flocking

Bayonets or swords. That's my "They're done" step.

I'm with Winston, this is my last step.

Xin

Painting the base's edges and then the final dullcoat spray. Then I pour myself a ice-cold beer while the dullcoat begins to dry and then move them off the workbench onto the table to properly dry overnight.

Cheers and good gaming.
Rod Robertson.

After spraying my figures (already mounted on bases) with Dullcote, I go back and apply by brush clear gloss varnish on any bits that should be shiny--metal, polished leather, etc.

Put them on a shelf because I can never decide on a basing convention that I like.

A blog post.

Putting a last sealant layer of varnish on my flock.

Deep sigh…

Happee!

Either putting the flock on the base or painting a dot(s) on the rear of the base to identify the unit from a distance.

Last steps:
Grass flocking, flowers and long grass tufts.

Before sealing, as the absolute last step, I touch up the black on the bases. Then after sealing, I go back and touch up all the things I missed here and there and noticed while sealing.

adding Leadbears Tufts to the base… then a quick squirt of Artists Matt Lacquer. (which is usually satin). Then black edge the bases for neatness. I usually use a thick black felt tip marker, and it can run, so it comes after the Lacquer. I only put base markings on my ships. (and even then, not the Langton Napoleonics, which are much too pretty to have the detraction of labels.

I'm in league with Sundance and robert piepenbrink.

The last thing I do is turn the base over, sign and date the piece, and if room, add a unit descriptor. I then add gloss varnish to prevent rubbing off the data. It is a matter of satisfaction when playing a game to look at the dates units were completed.

Paint the edge of the bases black.

David F Brown

The last step is actually tufts (silfors).

The last steps go like this.

Touch up bases, they are done first before painting the figures.
Paint edges as necessary.
Stick on felt to base bottoms.
Dull coat.
Static grass.
Tufts. Clumps. Etc.
Final dull coat.

Sometimes I'll do the tufts after the last dull coat. The key thing is to dull coat the static grass so it doesn't shed off. You can dull coat the silfors but you can end up with little beads on them like morning dew.

I'm doing singly based skirmish figures so my very last step (after clear coating) is to stick name tags on the slotta base sides or labels with names or number/letter IDs on the bottom of the flat bases.

The very last thing is basing (which in some scales can take as long as painting the the figures/vehicles).

However if just talking about painting in larger (15mm and up) scales, then fine detailing after the last drybrush – usually shoulder boards, highlighting metal and that sort of thing.

Largely depends on the period really. The very last major thing I usually paint is the hats, as along with the flesh, the hats are the most visible thing.

You exhale and your eyes dilate.

line them up in parade formation ,in front of the rest of whichever army they are joining and give them a rousing speech welcoming them to (the army of which they are now a part ).
Talk to their commander and mention one or 2 of the enlisted by name .
Have my local priest bless their colors . Then invite the officers into the HQ(my wine cellar ) for a well deserved round of drink -

Why are you all staring at me ????

I was going to say "flocking the bases and a quick spray of Dullcote." Instead I may just have to adopt grtbrt's tradition. Especially the wine part.