Strong tone ruined my army

by **zedeyejoe** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:13 am

Bought it and binned it. Seriously, one effort and it went in the bin, for the same reasons you describe.For 30 odd years of painting I made my own 'dip' (wood varnish and colured with paint for the job in hand) and thought Army Painter would be a shortcut. Like as to a TV dinner, this stuff is to a real meal. Not as good, so I have gone back to mixing my own.So you are not alone.PS being a cautious soul, I tried the Army Painter on a couple of spare figures, rather than a unit. With any new product, I do a bit of experimentation first.

by **Guest** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:55 pm

Biggus Dickus said:

Have to say when i first saw this product i was extremely interested....it looked like it would speed things up for me as i have a vast amount of painting to do.But unfortunately after using it on several of my units i was left feeling gutted. it ruined the paint job left horrible pools of brown over the lower regions of the figures and made everything extremely shiny.So it ruined some Gladiators from North star and a unit of Spartans including Leonidas from Crocodile games, at which point I binned it. I have reverted back to Games workshop washes, can't understand why anyone would use it having experienced it.it's put me off the whole range of products, I'm not impressed....am i alone in this?Shambolic results.

Just try and take some of the "ruined" figures and speay them with matt coating, maybe it changes everything! They do look quite rough before they get the coat of matt clear...I know!

Biggus Dickus said:

Have to say when i first saw this product i was extremely interested....it looked like it would speed things up for me as i have a vast amount of painting to do.But unfortunately after using it on several of my units i was left feeling gutted. it ruined the paint job left horrible pools of brown over the lower regions of the figures and made everything extremely shiny.So it ruined some Gladiators from North star and a unit of Spartans including Leonidas from Crocodile games, at which point I binned it. I have reverted back to Games workshop washes, can't understand why anyone would use it having experienced it.it's put me off the whole range of products, I'm not impressed....am i alone in this?Shambolic results.

by **grant** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:05 pm

I find it very interesting that people are either in the "love it!" or "hate it!" crowd - very polar, not much in the middle.

by **Colonel White** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:46 am

I am very sorry that some of you are indeed having problems with this product.As I have stated before I have had over 4 years experience with this product since I was presented with a can to do a review for an internet company.Here are some bullet points on the way I use the product and some examples of my armies that have been painted with this product are on display in Brian's shop in Bolton. If I am not there Brain will be happily point them out.Any way if anyone wants me to expand on any of these points please ask.1. Prepare miniatures as normal ( wash in soapy water to remove release grease etc.)2. Prime the miniature in White or Grey . Black will leave minis far too dark unless you want black horses for example.3. Base coat minis in slightley brighter shades of your chosen colour. Thin your paint down to allow some of the primer to show though. These will act as highlights later in the process4. With a neutral colour such as light beige for example Very LIghtly dry brush all of the model.This will give further highlights.5. After painting leave the model for at least 24 hours.6. Apply the shader with a Brush. Do NOT DIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!7. Leave the model for about 3 mins and then with a second brush dampened with either brush cleaner or thinners, remove excess shader particulalry were it has pooled8. Revisit the models again if necessary and repeat point 7 .9. Leave the model for again 24 hours.10 . ApplyTesters Dulcote if weather is suitable for spraying or apply by brush Daler Rowney Soluble Matt Varnish for Acrylic paints( available from Hobbycraft or other artists shops)11. Leave the model again for at least 10 hours.12. Base the model as normal13. YOu may want to aplly a gentle brushing of MIG PIgments with desert sand or any of the other very light shades for a dust deserty look for example for a final effect.14. Be proud of your painted miniature! Wink

by **zedeyejoe** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:38 am

Colonel, nice example of how to use 'dip' but for me the big question is which product to use. Before this ready-made product came along, I made my own. I had been hoping that this new product would be better than my self-made version, I was disappointed.Advantages of the home made version:Cheaper, make it to whatever shade you desire, does not make the figures look 'shiney', easier to work with (better flow).In fact when I see the TV adverts saying how good their varnish is, I think 'some day I must write and tell them what I do with their stuff'.

by **Guest** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:24 am

grant said:

Biggus Dickus said:
Hi Everyone and thanks for the feed back.Firstly I dipped them and then tried using a brush, shook them tried to wipe off the exces but I guess I'm not doing it right. I didn't use the matt vanish, didn't realise i had to!!!!I guess I'm an old dog who has trouble with new tricks...I failed dismally to get it to work.Clearly this works for a lot of other people, the photos of your results are amazing but I struggled, I guess I can only do washes!
Just give it a go again. Good sized brush, really get it on there, try to get the blobs off, chill - I always feel like a five year old has painted my stuff until the next day! And then yep - the matt varnish. I use Testor's Dullcoat. I used to be a wash guy, and still do sometimes - but I buy the big Vallejo tubs (huge pots of black and sepia/dark brown). Great wash, I swear better than GW. Almost made me switch permanently from Army Painter. But I choose the army and the method now. Keep trying! It will work!

Hi, I'm a 'wash man' too. I am interested in your comments about Vallejo tubs? Could you give a link to product or be more descriptive please. I am assuming these give the same effect as GW new range of washes?CheersScott

by **Biggus Dickus** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:21 am

Hi, I'm a 'wash man' too. I am interested in your comments about Vallejo tubs? Could you give a link to product or be more descriptive please. I am assuming these give the same effect as GW new range of washes?CheersScott

Hi Scott, I have had the Vallejo tub of black wash for a few days, can i just say it's huge!!! it works superbly well dries flat/matt and it goes a long way and isn't going to run out any time soon!!!i'm using the Vallejo umber brown 15ml bottle in place of my normal citadel brown (Devlan mud) wash and it is very good.Citadel washes are nice but pots small and expensive......I've now changed to Vallejo.this is where i got mine http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VALLEJO-.....588d8caf4a Umber brownhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vallejo-.....5888e3c72a I'm so impressed a may start moving into their paints too.hope it helps

by **BigMike** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:20 pm

Col Whites' point about dulcoating is a good one too -I've just dulcoated my first Perry Medieval brigade and it's gone from looking good - but a bit shiney - to looking first class in 10 minutes! I'll post pictures tomorrow when i get my camera back!

by **Guest** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 5:57 am

Biggus Dickus said:

Hi, I'm a 'wash man' too. I am interested in your comments about Vallejo tubs? Could you give a link to product or be more descriptive please. I am assuming these give the same effect as GW new range of washes?CheersScott
Hi Scott, I have had the Vallejo tub of black wash for a few days, can i just say it's huge!!! it works superbly well dries flat/matt and it goes a long way and isn't going to run out any time soon!!! i'm using the Vallejo umber brown 15ml bottle in place of my normal citadel brown (Devlan mud) wash and it is very good.Citadel washes are nice but pots small and expensive......I've now changed to Vallejo.this is where i got mine http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VALLEJO-.....588d8caf4a Umber brownhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vallejo-.....5888e3c72a I'm so impressed a may start moving into their paints too.hope it helps

Many thanks for that.CheersScott

by **dukeunique** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:09 pm

well dude thanks for sharing this information