The Player's Forum

Want to start painting some of those pewter figures you've had piling up for years (don't deny it, you know you have them stashed all over the place); then you've come to the right place. We have some handy tips for you on what to buy and what you have sitting around your own house that can make your painting life easier.

Let's start with what to buy. I'm assumming that you have the figures, so you'll need some paint (duh!). Your local gaming shop should sell paint and brushes. Some shops even have starter painting kits which are a good investment. Buy extra white and black paint and make sure you buy a selection of "metal" paints (such as gold, metal, and bronze). You may even want to pick up some colors that you don't feel like mixing every time you need it, such as leather, flesh, and purples, pinks, oranges and browns. Look at your local arts supply store for addition paint brushes, I suggest having a full range of sizes, you never know what you might need. Also, you may want to pick up some additional empty paint bottles to hold colors you hand mix in large quanities.

It is also very important to buy some primer to coat your figures in (a grey dull finish is what you're looking for) and a top coat (I like my figures to shine, so I get the super glossy stuff). You should be able to find both of those in a spray. Also, grab some super glue and nail polish remover.

Look around your house to find, or save, the following:

Cardboard Soda Boxes: Cut up to make excellent painting bases.

Pot Pie Plates: Make great mixing trays. Easy cleanup, too. When the paint dries, it peels right up.

Popsicle Sticks: For mixing.

Small Sharp Knife: For removing extra pewter from edges (or killing anyone who doesn't like you're finished figure.)

Set up a work area. Make sure you have a desk light or something that you can use to position the light source directly in your work area. I also used a shoe box to prop my figures on to bring them closer to eye level. Use the super glue to glue your figure to one of the cardboard bases (You'll remove the base when you're finished painting.) Once your primer has dryed you'll be ready to paint. Place your dark colors and shadows first. Then you'll lay the regular color, followed by the lightest colors and reflections. It's easiest to paint in layers like I just described.

Some Pointers:

Eyes: The flesh of the face should go down first. Dab the entire eye area in white. Use one stroke in the center (up and down) for the color. Use black to paint the pupil in the center of the color area. This part should be round. Then place the finest spot of white towards the upper right of the black area. Use the flesh color to go over the areas of the eye that extend to the face. Shape your eyes with the flesh color. Remember, the color part of the eyes should NOT be round. If you paint it that way, it will look like the figures eyes are popping out...it won't look natural.

Hair Colors: Try a bit of gold when you mix hair colors. I always mixed up tons of blond hair paint and saved in one of those empty bottles I told you to get (or save the ones you use all the paint from).

                          Blond Recipe: 2 parts Yellow          Dark Red Recipe: 2 parts Brown
                                                 1 part White                                           1 part Red
                                                 1 part Gold                                            1 part Gold

                          Brunette Recipe: 2 parts Brown
                                                      1 part Gold

Nail Polish Remover: Use the remover if you need to get rid of a paint color. Or, if you want, coat your figure in the remover and set on fire. Umm.....make sure you have an extinguisher nearby, and don't blame us if your house burns down. It's just an idea...not a very safe one at that. (I know someone who used to do that to his storm trooper metal figures and they looked really cool!)

Okay...that's it, those are the tips!!! Hope they help. If you'd like answers to any questions about painting, just use the email address below. Or, if you have painting tips you'd like to share, submit them to the forum....after all, that's what it's here for!