Cartoony orcs. Got an idea, need some tips

[GraveRisen]

I'm about to dive into a massive fantasy orc army. The entire army is orcs and orcs only. Not a single goblin model. Aaaaaand I have 170 models to paint. So I want to do somethnig quick and simple, but something that pops, so here's what I'm thinking....

Prime black
Airbrush basecoat of Snot Green on all skin
Airbrush on thraka green
somehow highlight skin with goblin green, possibly the airbrush
edge some muscles with goblin/rotting.

I'm curious how to pull off the goblin highlight though. I was thinking of airbrushing it on (I have a dual action pasche, fairly basic one). But I have no clue or experience of how to airbrush on a highlight. Am I better off dusting it on from a distance/angle? or using a very fine nozzle and doing it manually?

 

[QuietiManes]

If you do it from a distance you won't highlight the orc, you'll cover the orc. Airbrushing the basecoats and then switching to a paintbrush for the highlights/details/etc is probably the most time effective solution. Unless you are really experienced and comfortable with your airbrush.

You can try practicing on paper or dollar store colouring books, making little lines, daggers and dots...lots and lots of them (you need a small nozzle and thin/flowing paint, low PSI, little trigger movement and get the tip of the airbrush right up close). Then you can judge if you have the control and consistency to make it worthwhile using the AB to highlight. If you aren't quite there yet, just keep going until you're ready, it shouldn't take too long. Also, just keep in mind the 3 dimensional surface and how huge the tip of the AB is compared to those tiny figures...I.E. all the places it might not fit into to properly highlight your orcs.

 

[freakinacage]

i'd go for grey undercoat

doing a large amount, i would airbrush the highlight. a fine spray, water it down and just dust it. you have a load to get through so you can afford to build it up slowly. then you can edge highlight. then do the details

 

[finn17]

If I were to tackle a massive orc army and was aiming at tabletop standard I'd dip 'em. It would save hours and hours...

 

[supervike]

It pisses me off that some peoples 'dipped' miniatures look better than ones I've worked for hours on!

 

[GraveRisen]

If I were to tackle a massive orc army and was aiming at tabletop standard I'd dip 'em. It would save hours and hours...

I have promised myself to never, ever, EVER dip an army for as long as I paint. Ever. Besides, they wouldn't look like cartoons then

I just picked up a fine detail nozzle and needle today so I may do some practice with that tonight. If I can even get the muscles roughly highlighted to approximately what they should be, I can use a brush for some quick touchups with washes.