"Ship Painting" Topic

On a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high), how would you rate your skill at painting ships for wargaming?

Probably a 4 or 5 for small scale such as 1:2400 and a 7 or 8 for larger sizes that would go with 15mm or 25mm figures.

Jim

negative 1

Depends on scale and time period.

1 at best

Don't paint ships or do naval wargaming.

I never know how to answer questions like this – I always feel 'you' are bragging or being self-deprecating no matter how you answer. I've been painting ships for many years and I think I have a good handle on it but there is always someone who is better that hopefully you can learn from.

Probably a range from 5-7. I've had a fair bit of practice but usually end up falling well short of the 'best' I could do because I have to paint 20+, not 3 or 4.

5-6 with a very occasional 8-9. VERY occasional.

I think my Age of Sail ships come out looking pretty decent. The painting is alright but the rigging really makes the ships stand out.

1, and I'm being charitable.

In my preferred 1/2400-1/6000 scales, pretty good say and 8 or 9. 1/1200 Langtons – not so much as my rigging skills suck at the 1-2 level.

I really liked that Joe!

I paint 1/700 scale naval ships. They are ok. Just done for gaming purposes. I was given a load of Japanese some British a 1/700 scale ships done by a master modeler who passed away. They are works of art!

Thanks.

I super-detailed a bunch of Thoroughbred ironclads and screw steamers. Rigging, davits, ratlines, lots of etched brass aftermarket parts. And if you really want an honest answer, they generally were 9's.

In this tiny, insignificant niche of our tiny, insignificant hobby, I rule.

For wargaming, probably an 8-- for serious naval modeling, probably closer to 3.

I would say about 6

What does a quick 1 color spray can job rate as?

I'm with khanscom:

For wargaming, probably an 8-- for serious naval modeling, probably closer to 3.

My work is technically okay (decent brushwork, reasonable accessorization), but the output varies in quality. Sometimes I make really nice stuff with only a few flaws. Most of the time I make decent stuff with a few flaws. Too often I do a good job and then later find a picture that shows me I chose all the wrong colors. Once in a great while the end result looks like crap and I have to start over. The worst is when I work really hard to add lots of depth and subtle shading and weathering, but from a few feet away it might as well be a spray-can job.

- Ix

I game with the smaller naval miniatures because I am a poor painter (maybe a 2 on Bills scale). Spray em gray and add a wash. No fancy sea textured/highlighted bases either.

Recently bought some AoS ships and am considering using a technique posted by another TMPer who bought printable ship files and applied them to the sides of the ships. Gonna look better than anything I can do.

This?

10!

Joes Shop -- that looks great! If I could paint ships like that I might do some naval gaming!!

John Leahy: thanks!

Custosarmorum: thank you. That was a present for a friend. So, I went all out. But, the basic process I use is the same whether it's a one off or a batch. I use an air brush for priming (white) and base coating.

A brush is used for deck and details only. I think the key is the contrast between the hull / superstructure and deck.

Most deck colors used are too warm – too much yellow and not not enough gray so the deck pops out of proportion to the base color.

I use LifeColor Sand which has a gray tint to it and blends well with all base colors. Details are always painted with a lighter version of the base color.

I'm taking that deck paint color idea and ordering some! I have several US Navy cruisers to put together and paint.

Thanks.

John

John: LifeColor makes several sand colors – I should have listed the number.

It is UA019:

link

I layer it on lightly like a wash.

R'/Joe

Thanks for the info Joe! I appreciate it.