Tips for Painting 12mm White Metal Figures

1. Use a pair of wire-cutters / toe-nail clippers to remove any large sprue / casting posts, etc..

2. Use a mini-file or emery paper to remove any ‘flash’ (casting mould lines). A Dremel electric rotary tool is very helpful but be care is required!

3. Clean the figures. Wash in soapy water, rinse well, and allow to dry - this removes any grease from the casting process.

4. Straighten all parts - guns, rifle barrels, etc.. Using a spoon with gentle pressure can help.

4. Temporarily glue the figures onto sticks. Use a ‘soft’ glue that can later be peeled off later (like UHU). To mount the figs, use 1.5mm thick plastic card cut into 7mm x 120mm strips, but wooden ice-cream sticks or doctor’s tongue depressors are excellent.

5. Prime figures with mat black paint. Some people use spray cans of primer. Some people like to use mat white, but for most, mat black is better. If you miss any main part when painting, white undercoat screams out, while black simply looks like shadow!

6. When the figs are dry, begin painting proper. A medium size brush with fine point is ideal.  Tiny brushes are okay for fine detail but don't hiold much paint!  Paint at least platoons of 8 figures at a time.  I use and recommend acrylic paints.  I find Vallejo model paints excellent, but mainly use Humbrol enamels for metal finishes.

7. Let each coat dry before applying next colour.

8. Paint any skin - faces, hands, etc.. (Later, you may need to come back and touch up any over-painting of skin areas).

9. Paint from base up, one colour at a time, starting with boots, pants, coats, vests, etc.

10. Paint all other major parts - back packs, rifle buts, blanket rolls, etc.

11. Paint fine detail - Use a fine brush for belts, trims, facings, etc.

12. Touch up mistakes - hands, faces, linings etc..

12. Paint silver or brass parts.

13. Apply colour wash to the entire figure to increase the depth of recesses and hidden details - Use a watered down ink, very thin. Dark brown works well. Use a large brush and quickly flood the entire figure with the wash from the head down, allowing it to run off freely - don’t over-brush! Don’t touch the figures again until they are fully dry!

14. Dry brush figures with light colours (try a little white!) to highlight raised detail.

15. Paint the bases - I prefer dark green.

16. If you intend to regularly handle the figures, e.g. for war-gaming, spray the completed figure with mat varnish to increase the durability of the acrylic paint.

Viola! You are now ready for gaming!

Please mail me with any comments / suggestions.

Mehusla 2008