Ganging up on Tank Figure Painting

[Herr Dr. Professor]

After something of a hiatus, I got back to the figures today. I have chosen to attend to the FAMO figures first, as they are crude and so, better for further practice (there's never enough practice). After the priming, I have put on a sloppy first coat of Vallejo Basic Skin Tone 70.815. The figures now look hideous. There's no need to be concerned at this point, as I will have to build up at least one more coat of Basic Skin Tone before turning to other skin colors.

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[Model Builder 4]

I thought it worth a mention to the skin tone paint set that I use, it's not a cheap set but I bought my one about 7 years ago and it's still going strong.
I know many people make their own mixes for skin tones but the reason I opted for a pre mixed set is that I'm coloured blind so making my own mixes can come up with some questionable results
The set comprises of 6x17ml paints which can be used to build up the tone you are after or mixed together to make your own, if you struggle with colours like myself this could be the answer

Cheers, Lee.

[MonsieurTox]

I thought it worth a mention to the skin tone paint set that I use, it's not a cheap set but I bought my one about 7 years ago and it's still going strong.
I know many people make their own mixes for skin tones but the reason I opted for a pre mixed set is that I'm coloured blind so making my own mixes can come up with some questionable results
The set comprises of 6x17ml paints which can be used to build up the tone you are after or mixed together to make your own, if you struggle with colours like myself this could be the answer

Cheers, Lee.

That a set I have been lurking at for some times now after watching some videos of guys painting 1/16 figures with it. I may finally buy it if you say it's good.
I've never painted figures so far (and I have several 1/16 crew figures in stock). I'm watching this thread with great interest!

[ColemanCollector]

I thought it worth a mention to the skin tone paint set that I use, it's not a cheap set but I bought my one about 7 years ago and it's still going strong.
I know many people make their own mixes for skin tones but the reason I opted for a pre mixed set is that I'm coloured blind so making my own mixes can come up with some questionable results
The set comprises of 6x17ml paints which can be used to build up the tone you are after or mixed together to make your own, if you struggle with colours like myself this could be the answer

Cheers, Lee.

That a set I have been lurking at for some times now after watching some videos of guys painting 1/16 figures with it. I may finally buy it if you say it's good.
I've never painted figures so far (and I have several 1/16 crew figures in stock). I'm watching this thread with great interest!

Yo Model Builder 4 and Monsieur Tox! Misery--and HDP and ColemanCollector--love company. Please join us as we dive into figure painting. I'd be interested in seeing those kits in action!

Mike.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Unfortunately, I, too am somewhat color-blind. I have used Vallejo sets and bought Vallejo flesh-colored paints separately, but that Andrea Color looks promising, too. I will be checking around to see if the Andrea Color set is in my price range and available here in... HOLD EVERYTHING! I see that Andrea Color paints are readily available: and one place is Noble Knight Games, right close to a dear ones house.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I added a second and third thinned coats of the Vallejo Basic Skin Tone to these figures. Two lessons:
1) I used too dark a primer this time. (I know some people use black.)
2) These figures are looking more and more crude as I work with them. I keep glancing over at the two Airborne figures and wishing for such nice detail: it makes painting work so much better.

So here's a step from hideous to just pretty bad:

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[Herr Dr. Professor]

Given some time today, I took another step: the eyeballs. I do not paint eyes white or even cream: I left them in the light Basic Flesh Tone. I dipped sandpaper-sharpened tips of round toothpicks in the eyeball color, touched it to a piece of paper towel, then nervously touched the tip of the toothpick in the eye (not mine, the figure's) to place the eyeball. With cotton swabs and water close at hand, I was able to quickly clean off my mistakes and start over.

After I settled for the best I can do with eyeballs, I mixed Basic Flesh Tone and Dark Flesh to create a bit darker color. With a 4/0 brush I carefully swiped above and below the eyeballs, to trim the eyeballs above and below (a more natural shape, especially when eyes are in bright sunlight) and, at the same time, to darken the area around the eyes. I used the same mix to slightly darken immediately below the noses, chins, and cheekbones, where there would be a minimal shadow in daytime sunlight. I kept these effects subtle, so they hardly show in the photo below. I could go back and be more dramatic, but I hesitate because I have one more step that usually has a dramatic effect when seen in person. More later on that...

The exception is on the female, the Wehrmachsthelferin. In this case, I used diluted Basic Flesh Tone and 70.803 Brown Rose to create a blush to her face (which is hopelessly unshaped on the figure) suggesting delicate skin that has been out in the sunlight.

I will next have to face (all puns intended) the eyebrows and even eye lashes. I will be all paint, as in these figures, the former are not well-defined and the latter non-existent.

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[tankme]

Must be a little uncomfortable having a pole in that location...

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Just ask Polyphemus.

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[Herr Dr. Professor]

I have turned to the women first to complete, but there is still some ways to go. I take her to be a Luftwaffe Nachrichthelferin. I am using:
Williamson, Gordon. World War II German Women's Auxiliary Services. Osprey/Bloomsbury. 2012. ISBN9781780965840.
In addition, a quick internet search yields dozens upon dozens of photos of these women and their uniforms.

I am working to give some kind of detail to the nearly blank oval shape of her sculptured(?) face.

Eyes:

• Vallejo 70.841 pupils of Andrea Blue dots touched on with a sharpened round toothpick.

• Vallejo 70.983 Flat Earth for eyebrows, again with a sharpened round toothpick, an arc dotted on and then connected (with plenty of tries and quick "erasures" using clear water).

• Then the same color for her hair (much easier).

• Vallejo 70.927 Basic Skin Tone 50/50 with Vallejo 70.927 Dark Flesh using a 4/0 brush to trim off the tops and bottoms of the eye sockets, cleaning up the eyebrows and reducing the roundness of the pupils.

• Vallejo 70.803 Rose Brown with 4/0 brush for her lips (cosmetics were allowed only minimally, so I am guessing no floozy red lipstick. )

• Vallejo 70.950 Vallejo for her satchel and shoes

• Vallejo 70.816 Luftwaffe Uniform WWII for her jacket and skirt

The last three steps, especially, require going back and forth among the Skin Tone, Black, and Luftwaffe Uniform to touch up "lines" among them, especially since these lines of separation are almost absent on this figure, making one sometimes "freehand," between the skirt and legs or jacket and hands or satchel, etc., etc., etc.

The next step will be a clear coat to protect what is painted so far. Then comes the yellow piping on the cap and collar and silvery wings above her right pocket ( ). I don't know if I can come up with any of the other markings on her uniform, but I have not yet given up.
After those steps, there are yet more to come.

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