Enameled

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Dedwrekka

New member
I\'m trying out some new techniques and working with new things, and I was wondering, has anyone tried using enamels? I know that it\'s not going to win me any awards or anything, but I thought it\'d look great on Space Marine armor, weapons, ect.
Also, anyone have any tips for using them?

Thanks for any help rendered.

~The little black square.
 
Einion

Einion

New member
Originally posted by Dedwrekka
I know that it\'s not going to win me any awards or anything, but I thought it\'d look great on Space Marine armor, weapons, ect.
Click to expand...
Why not? Works great for a couple of the best historical modellers and endless numbers of trackheads :)

Einion
 
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Mordac85

New member
I\'m just starting back into this but I used to use enamels extensively and I think some affects were probably easier w/them than it is to achieve w/acrylics.

It can\'t hurt to try and you never know you may be starting a new trend.
 
L

lupine

New member
hey,

I used enamels for my minis when I was a kid. Now, my kid uses acrilycs to paint his minis.
There was a sale recently enamel paints for fifty cents a bottle so I got a whole range. I have been using them and it is a very nostalgic paint smell.
I enjoy using them and they make some awesome effects. if you are doing glossy armor (like sci fi ceramic armor) you can use the paint as is. Likewise the metalics are cool.
One tip for color blending is that you can apply the base coat(s) (with no thinner) let it dry then come back with the next coat color mixed with some thinner. The thinner will turn some of the dry coat will become paint again and the blending becomes pretty sweet. If you repeat the process several times with progressive colors the effect is exponential.
Also, if you can create cartoon effects like \'glowing\' eyes. I did some for an Orc Assassin that I am very pleased with.
Also (if not mixing) remember to use the thinner as your rinse water when you want to switch colors and take your time making sure all the paint AND all the thinner is completely out of your brush before starting the new color.

Just a newb who likes minis and enamel trying to be helpful. not intended to sound expert-like.

good luck and enjoy!
 
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Dedwrekka

New member
Originally posted by lupine
hey,

I used enamels for my minis when I was a kid. Now, my kid uses acrilycs to paint his minis.
There was a sale recently enamel paints for fifty cents a bottle so I got a whole range. I have been using them and it is a very nostalgic paint smell.
I enjoy using them and they make some awesome effects. if you are doing glossy armor (like sci fi ceramic armor) you can use the paint as is. Likewise the metalics are cool.
One tip for color blending is that you can apply the base coat(s) (with no thinner) let it dry then come back with the next coat color mixed with some thinner. The thinner will turn some of the dry coat will become paint again and the blending becomes pretty sweet. If you repeat the process several times with progressive colors the effect is exponential.
Also, if you can create cartoon effects like \'glowing\' eyes. I did some for an Orc Assassin that I am very pleased with.
Also (if not mixing) remember to use the thinner as your rinse water when you want to switch colors and take your time making sure all the paint AND all the thinner is completely out of your brush before starting the new color.

Just a newb who likes minis and enamel trying to be helpful. not intended to sound expert-like.

good luck and enjoy!
Click to expand...
Actually you answered my next question before I even asked it lol. I was going to ask how the heck I get it to stop sticking to my brush!:eek:

I\'ve actually already started working with Testors enamels and I\'m finding a lot of good uses for it. For one thing, I can use it as a guide for shading/highlighting my minis with acrylic (or whatever GW uses). The enamel shines right where I should paint the Highlights, and gets darker where I should shade it.
 
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Mordac85

New member
A thin wash of thinner and gloss black can also give some good shading or make some details pop (like dragon scales). Combining flat and gloss can also give a good matte finish.

I also noticed Testors has some flourescent acrylics that may be useful for eyes or other small highlights. So many possibilities, so little time.
 
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Modderrhu

New member
Originally posted by Einion
Why not? Works great for a couple of the best historical modellers and endless numbers of trackheads :)
Click to expand...
Trackheads?!? LOL Had my dad still been around, he\'d have worn that title on his forehead. lol Classic.

I almost emvy you, Dedwrekka. I don\'t have the courage for enamels, but I do know how amazing the metallics can be - shining like a bloody mirror. Acrylics just don\'t touch enamels for metallics.
 
Einion

Einion

New member
Originally posted by Modderrhu
Trackheads?!? LOL Had my dad still been around, he\'d have worn that title on his forehead. lol Classic.
Click to expand...
:) Our brethren in the historical-modelling field: trackheads and propheads. I wonder what they call us?

Originally posted by Modderrhu
Acrylics just don\'t touch enamels for metallics.
Click to expand...
Or lacquers, don\'t forget lacquers :)

Einion
 
PaintMonger

PaintMonger

New member
Some companys make gloss acrylics for those who want shine without the oil mess. Testers, Pro Modeler and Tamiya used to. (I\'v been out of the loop for a while) They tend to be a bit harder to work with though. A bottle of clear gloss acrylic is great for adding a bit of shine, just remember to apply it AFTER the matt sealer.
 
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Ogrebane

Active member
I doubt you\'ll start a trend. Smelly stuff for cleaning brushes dont think I\'ll ever use em, but hey we all started from there so good luck
 
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vincegamer

Active member
Back when I started, all there was was Testors enamels, and you applied them with a plastic-bristled brush.
I used them extensively for the model car kits I used to build. Did some minis in them of course, but I\'ve since stripped almost all of those (and stripping enamel is a real pain).

I never though back then to thin the paint. That may have made things totally different.
I haven\'t used enamels lately, though I have experimented with painting with nail polish to get a super high gloss and some interesting colors. There\'s this great metallic purple I\'ve used and it paints very smooth and shiny though clean up is tricky.
 
mickc22

mickc22

Granddad!
Originally posted by petey
Originally posted by Einion
Hehe, no, minis done in oil paint will be the next big thing I swear!

Einion
Click to expand...

you\'re joking yeah? Some crazy frenchmen already do that :D
Click to expand...

I did the torso of my Shaggoth in oils it was time consuming but very rewarding
 
PaintMonger

PaintMonger

New member
Many large scale military modelers use artist oil paint which is very diferent than alkyd based enamels. I\'v never used it my self but it definatly has attractive attributes. It takes a long time to dry so blending is easyer. However it is kind of thick out of the tube. they must thin it with turps to use on small scale minis like 28mm.
 
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cookster

New member
Damn, i might have to break out my old - very old- testors. I might give the oil paints another go too. Thanks for giving me something to do!
 
Infidel Castro

Infidel Castro

New member
I\'m going to have to dig out an old White Dwarf mag from back in the day. A Scot fella called something-Fraser had some work showcased in Eavy Metal and the work was entirely enamel-worked. They were gobbos and they were shit-hot. I\'ll scan them in and show you if I can remember to do so. Really lovely, vibrant and colourful work. Very well layered too.
 
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minimaker

New member
Being an ex-trackhead I\'ve used enamel for quite a while. Also for figures.
I think that with the introduction of miniatures a lot will have been painted in enamel too. In any case, when the miniature painting hobby started to grow in France they did a lot of painting in different media. In the stores you\'d find expertly painted figures in enamel, acrylics as well as oil and alkyd paints. The French dragon magazines issues 1-3 or so (1991/92) had a series of articles in which all three were discussed. I just had a look but can\'t find them right now. They also had articles in which different media were used for different parts.

I think the advantages of enamel are that the paint is thinner, matt is very matt (well, if you have Humbrol at least) and I think also a stronger adhesion. Rub and buff paints are available which is good for metallics. Dissadvantage is the use of thinner so it\'s not the best when you\'re working in a small space like your bedroom.
 
Infidel Castro

Infidel Castro

New member
Right-o, I\'m not sure this is all the work I\'ve got by him, but this is a good example of what I\'m sure is enamel painting:


FraserGray.jpg



Even now, all these years on, his work is excellent. This is from WD115, 1989. That\'s crazy! There was another fella from Italy, and I hope I ain\'t confusing the pair of them as their work is very similar. If I\'m wrong, someone please tell me!
 
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