"Block paining ACW Union Troops" Topic

I have used block painting for my limited painting over these past few years and am satisfied with the results. I spray the figures with with a base of the main color (i.e., Napoleonic British are sprayed red, Mounted knights are sprayed plate metal, etc.) and then go make an hit the areas that are another color with the appropriate color, finally hitting them with a dip. It gives me a reasonable result that meets my 3 foot rule. My issue is what spray paint primer should I use for my ACW Union troops? I am asking for color and manufacturer recommendations. I typically use Army Painter sprays and their dip shade but their blue doesn't look right to me. Any thoughts on what to use is appreciated.

Note: Being TMP, I know that some folks will feel the need to give me their advice as to other painting techniques, etc. While I appreciate their expertise, which I know far exceeds mine since I am not a skilled painter in the least, I have no intention of changing the way I paint since it works and it's fast. So please; the ask is for recommendations of what color blue and manufacturer of spray would you recommend to use as my base spray?

Edit: Oops, on the title but perhaps it is a Fruedian slip as I find painting a pain.

I think most painters using the same, or close to the same, technique would use the color that's the closest match to the troops trousers.
Bob

I'd almost say to use a color that matches the jacket when it is the primary garment on the figure otherwise as Bob stated do the trouser colors. I use Vallejo so I do not know a spray color to use.

I do this for all my 10mm Union troops – prime in the "jacket" blue. Unfortunately, I use the Army Painter's old Navy Blue, which they (annoyingly!) took out of production a few years back. I'm down to my last couple of bottles …

But, I have heard that Tamiya AS8 Navy Blue is a good match.

By the way, Army Painter's Uniform Grey is perfect for CSA priming.

Cheers,

Christopher

What scale figures are you painting? You'll want a lighter blue of they are 6mm than 28mm.

If you can't find a spray that looks right to you, you could try this: spray with a medium blue. Touch up the details. Wash the jacket either with blue ink or make a Union Blue wash. Then dip as normal.

Extra Crispy: Good question. I have 242 Union figures in 28mm to paint and a further 900 in 10mm. I'm doing the 28mm first.

For the 28mm look at Valspar Royal Blue spray paint. Once dipped I think it looks like a good blend between realistic (nearly black) and dark blue.

link

Do black and then drybrush the lot with a navy blue. It's an extra step – but it also saves you from blocking in the black packs and straps so I think you're well ahead of the game using black.

Union jackets are dark. Like for Napoleonic French – stay away from medium/sky blues on coats. You could almost get away with a dark gray dry brush.

Perhaps the easiest solution, if a little more time consuming. Buy the blue paint you want in a bottle, grab a brush and slap it on! Actually this can be quite fast and neatly avoids missing bits, as spraying can.

Another option is to buy an airbrush and applicable paint, then spray with that.

Here's some great examples of Union without using sky blue coats:

More here: link

Take a look at the 4 chaps at bottom right. There is definitely variance in both trouser and coat colour. This feels authentic to me. So you could get away with a few cans of best matches and allow a little variety among the ranks.

Vallejo do a blue surface primer "625 Ultramarine" which I think might be passable with a black or dark blue wash over the top.

Having now tried this on 15/18mm figs I don't think it works, the ultramarine colour as a base looks wrong to me.