"Painting quality of your armies" Topic

How well painted do your minis have to be before they wage imaginary war on the tabletop?

A. Painted? Who has the time or inclination to paint? Or the disposable income to get them painted by a "professional painting service"? Yeah, they're painted alright. They're grey or black, aren't they?

B. They're painted to "average table-top quality," take from that what you will. All I care about is to get the minis on the tabletop as quickly as possible with the minimum amount of fuss.

C. I take the time to lovingly paint each and every one of my minis and give them the attention that they require/deserve. Even though I'm not a "Golden Demon" caliber painter, I am proud of my work and would say the painting level is unquestionably a cut or two above average by any objective standard not solely my own.

D. Only the very best for me! Each figure or model is a miniature sculpture, a work of art if you will that cries out for justice to be done to its every feature and detail. All my miniatures are therefore painted to truly "Professional" or "Showcase" quality either by myself or a professional painting service at a small fortune. If people aren't ooh-ing and aah-ing over my exquisitely painted miniatures then they're not done right.

I would say C.
However there a much better painters out there. Also a few true artists.

B+

I Did know a player who actually did believe in grays and blacks. He said that you're looking at the armies from such a high vantage point, that they would look to be grays and browns and blacks.

You are missing a category: I will buy only High-quality painted figures, or commission such, But not to the professional or showcase level, I'm satisfied with wargame quality.

D

The quality of my armies varies. Most are painted pretty well but some of my early attempts at painting…not so much. It was a learning curve. Perhaps a ‘C' right now but age is certainly having an affect.

B for most. Some go to C.

B with a couple at C and one at D that someone else did for me

A and B. I may have 1 or 2 that reach the C level, but probably not.

Massed troops tend to be B, with some commanders, crews, unique figs etc C, and occasionally certain figures are a D if I'm motivated enough to really make something stand out.

B, C, & D.

I think I'm more or less a C. I can't say that I "lovingly paint each figure" when I'm doing a squad or platoon of troops in armored space suits, but I do pay attention to each one, once I get to the details (like gear and insignia) and drybrushing.

B. But as a solo gamer, I can lie to myself and claim C.

(B+C)/2

I Did know a player who actually did believe in grays and blacks

inlgames.com/grey.htm

B/C I'm happy with my painting.

I would say B+ to C-.

I'd go with B+ to C-. Everything's covered. There's shading--washes and drybrushing--as appropriate. There are flags and musicians whenever I can get away with it. But they're wargame figures, not collector's pieces or dioramas.

I'm good with B+/C- I try to get a lot done, but feel like my figures are reasonably well painted.

B for me.

B with a very rare C.

LT

A to C.

C

Strong B heading into C territory for the 25/28mm Horse & Musket era armies. Mostly solid B for the 25/28mm ancients. WWII and the 20mm large collection a strong B as they are mostly plastic.

B

C & D

B for the most part. A few are C.

Varies a lot as I have from 2mm to 54mm. Almost all are below the standard I painted for others (about B- to B+) with a few in that range so say C-B.

The problem in scaling is that what is seen as a 'good wargames standard' varies a huge amount.

Having seen stuff I'd have been ashamed to admit to painting described as 'brilliant' by the guy buying them at a show and other figures I'd have taken a long time to paint to that standard described as 'OK' I don't rely on what other people describe a paint job as.

I think that people should judge their own standards by what they want. So long as they are painted and the owner is happy with the job I see no issue with calling them 'wargaming standard' even if I wouldn't be proud of them had I done them.

I'm quite happy to admire stuff better than mine without feeling the need to emulate it or to feel that it belittles my efforts in any way.

Understanding that everything is subjective and trying to be honest probably mostly D I would say.

Christopher

B To me they are just fine. I just don't have the skill to do the super job on figures.

B+/C.

The mounted staff officers are a definite C.

I've seem some professionally painted figures that are a definite B- but that might be what was requested or available at a given price point.

B to B+

B

C

On occasion a B+ most often a C to C-.
Never an A nor a D.

D – all I do is paint and no longer game. But organize my models as units, etc. = "Game Ready" per se.

Always be prepared …

B+ for the individual figure and C as a group.

B/I don't paint 'em to win beauty contests. They get handled to fight,and likely get knocked around some.

B for troops, C for individual characters/creatures or if the figure inspires me.

This sums up mine for the last 30 years.

link

B – these are wargame models, not works of art for closeup magazine photo shoots

B. I'm with stecal.

I plan on gaming with every one of my figures, painted, before I die, and my family bins the lot! Cheers!

B+ – standard but decent job on rank and file, extra work for the command stands

B, but think those Film Noir figures are tops

B\C – a fellow club member who does some very nice work gave me a 6 of 10 on some basic Armenian javelinmen with minimum detail (hems on tunics and sleeves, plain shields with bosses). Presuming 5 to be average that put them a bit above.

I have done a bit more detailing with some Scyth cavalry and others since. Perhaps a 7 or even an 8.

but think those Film Noir figures are tops

Yes, like a good old B&W movie.

As I expected, most of the responses are either B's or C's (or a combination of the two). While D is ideal in a perfect world and in our dreams, it's virtually impossible to achieve due to the time and/or financial requirements it would take. And many of us have large armies to boot.

As for me personally, it's unequivocally a solid C.

B for most troops.
C and sometimes D if I'm inspired for some showcase miniatures like leaders and vignettes.

Probably a safe C-.

but think those Film Noir figures are tops

Merci. I enjoyed doing that, but found the "fifty shades of grey" painting to be more challenging than my regular painting. The challenge may be part of the enjoyment driver. Besides film noir and cowboy movies, they are also great for 1920's Cthulu games where the unnamable horrors are in colour.

Yes, those B&W figs are amazing !!!! !!

I have occasionally wandered into D territory for small units that are really detailed but in general, B for troops, and C for individual characters.