John the OFM | 28 Mar 2021 4:57 p.m. PST |
I don't care what. Single paint. Or base coat plus wash plus dry brush. Or a super expensive "triad". I have fortifications and log cabins and so on. They just don't look right. |
Frederick | 28 Mar 2021 5:05 p.m. PST |
Good question – I use a brown basecoat and then a grey wash over it |
KSmyth | 28 Mar 2021 5:14 p.m. PST |
How about burnt umber with Ceramcoat Sand Dune dry-brushed. The latter is a gay-tan that should bring out the detail just enough. Cheap options too. |
robert piepenbrink | 28 Mar 2021 6:01 p.m. PST |
Usually alternate grays and browns if the miniature has enough texture to justify it--base, drybrush, wash until it looks more or less right. |
Old Glory | 28 Mar 2021 6:55 p.m. PST |
Most trees are actually grey, not brown. Russ Dunaway |
Tortorella | 28 Mar 2021 7:16 p.m. PST |
I agree with Russ, but I think everyone is more or less on the same track here. I use a dark base coat, black or burnt umber, then dry brush on a mid grey, then another dry brush coat of light grey. This should mostly cover the base coat and give some texture. Stockades, blockhouses, fences etc made from wood all would bleach out in the sun. I use inexpensive craft paint, there are a ton of colors, dries fast. My advice would be to find a surface to practice on until it looks right to you. Dry brushing is the key to giving it that weathered look. |
Zephyr1 | 28 Mar 2021 8:39 p.m. PST |
Yes, find a tree trunk of the color you want, then paint some swatches on it to match… ;-) |
Oberlindes Sol LIC | 28 Mar 2021 8:53 p.m. PST |
I do pretty much the same. I recently did some plastic palm trees like this: Gray primer for a basecoat. Dark brown wash. Lighter gray dry brush. Wash and dry brush again to make it look right. |
jwebster | 28 Mar 2021 9:38 p.m. PST |
Some great ideas Definitely craft paints I recommend varying the colors, get a few similar craft paints. Also some light green for areas that might have some moss, particularly on the roofs |
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART | 29 Mar 2021 4:43 a.m. PST |
Along with the greys, try a wash of of green mixed with white. Most trees in new England have various types of plant growth along the bark. You don't have to 'see' the green but it will affect the overall feel/look of the bark. Tend towards the white. In any case, chocolate brown always looks false. A concrete grey with highlights and washes gives the best feel. |
79thPA | 29 Mar 2021 6:06 a.m. PST |
I use a brown with a grey dry-brush. |
The Tin Dictator | 29 Mar 2021 9:20 a.m. PST |
John, I use cheap craft paints for all my terrain. I've had good results for trees and/or wooden buildings by using a burn't umber base coat and dry brushing with Folkart "barn wood". |
Col Durnford | 29 Mar 2021 10:35 a.m. PST |
Yes, Barn Wood is one of my favorites. It's almost like they planned it to look like old unpainted wood. :) |
ZULUPAUL | 29 Mar 2021 11:25 a.m. PST |
Flat black base & dry brush with medium grey then a highlight with lighter grey. |