How to Paint a Model

I enjoy both RPG games and painting. Since I took up RPG gaming, it has bugged me that I do not have any painted 3d models. I decided to try and paint some myself. Here's how I paint 3d models

Supplies

What you'll need:

• Hot glue gun
• A dowel, wine bottle cork, or coffee stirrer/popsicle stick
• Primer
• Paints - I use Citadel paints for models
• Art brushes

Optional:

• Air gun
• White glue
• Sawdust, and/or sand
• Small rocks

Step 1: Priming the Model

To make the painting easier, I hot glued a dowel to the base of the model to act as a handle. You can use coffee stirrers, popsicle sticks, or even a wine bottle cork.

Once I have something to hold on to, I prime the model. Priming helps make the paint stick better. To prime the model you can use a spray can, but you can get a cleaner more even coat with an airgun.

Step 2: Base Coat

After the model has been primed you can begin the base coat. This can be the most time consuming part of the paint job.

To start the base coat you choose a part to begin. Paint the model section by section till they are all appropriate colours. You can go over parts with the right colour if you accidently brush some of another colour on it.

Step 3: Layers, Wash and Highlights

The base coat has now been completed so now we go on to the layering. You can a add as many layer as desired till you get the right colours.

For the wash and highlights you can use a larger brush than used for the base coat and layering because it doesn't require same precision.

Since I like the colours from the base coat I go right on to the wash and highlights without layering. For the wash you can either mix your own or use a premade wash. You brush the wash over your model allowing the paint to get in to the details in the model. The was will really bring out all the details in the model.

To make your own wash you choose dark paint and dilute it with water till it has the consistency of water coulour paint. It should be very dilute that it will run easily but with enough pigment so that when the water evaporates it will bring out the shadows on your model.

You do the wash before the highlights it will remove the glossiness of the wash especially if you have an oil based wash. To do the highlights you will you a light grey or white. After applying to the brush dab the brush on a scrap piece of paper till their is only a very small amount on your brush. Once their is only a tiny amount of paint, dab the paint lightly over the parts you want to highlight. Make sure you don't add do much paint or get the paint into the cracks. Make sure you only highlight the parts that stick out and will get hit with light.

Step 4: Terrain (optional)

To make the base of the model more interesting you can add terrain to it.

Spread a thick layer of white glue over the entire face of the top of the base. The coat of glue does not need to be consistent. You can add fake grass, sand and/or stones. Sprinkle the grass or sand over the glue till it is completely covered. Tap the model on its side to remove the excess.

To make the fake grass just blend sawdust till it is very fine, using a blender. Add green paint to the sawdust till it is consistently green but not so much paint that it will fuse the sawdust together.

Once you are done painting the model you can spray on a protective layer on it. This is especially wise if it is not for personal use.