White primed Perry plastic unit, regiment no 44 Bellegarde GW apothecary white wash , liquatex black and brown ink and agrax earthshade under the flesh, even after all the kaiserlicks I've painted I'm still not sure which is the best method! I can't remember if I have anymore white primed Austrians still to do, if so I will try ogryn flesh wash on the faces as the agrax/ flesh highlight turned into a lot more work than I usually do with black and left me with something not as good which is disappointing.
Usual colourful flagpole and facing colour
Just finished Swords around a throne, I thought it was an excellent and very readable book, thorough and accessible, admittedly a bit dated when it comes to race etc but I guess that's to be expected in someone born in 1911 but overall a really good read.
So I've painted three units of Austrians in Jamaica, primed black, white and grey, here is a sample of each I wonder which one you prefer? I know which I do, but answers on a postcard or you can leave a comment! Next up some Austrian cuirassiers to try and even up the arms race!
All the best
Iain
You continue cranking out Austrians at a rapid pace! Me? I prefer black undercoat.
ReplyDeleteI do! I'm with you on the black undercoat!
DeleteBest Iain
Impressive! While each unit looks good to me, I think the gray-primed unit is the most preferable. That's probably because it most resembles my own approach to painting white-coated units. A light gray undercoat followed by white (almost a wash) highlights. Wish I could crank 'em out as rapidly as you manage though. Eager to see how you tackle your Austrian cuirassiers. I too have about 14-16 (Eureka SYW Saxon) cuirassiers waiting in the wings after the current Croats are glossed and some terrain suggested on their bases. Might need to borrow a few tips from you as I have found these a real challenge to get through hence painting the 30 figures in two batches with a break to work on something else in between.
ReplyDeleteKind Sunday Regards,
Stokes
Thanks Stokes! Having followed your meticulous work on your Croats, it makes sense that you prefer the grey, as I eschew highlights and use the colour as a highlight, I think I prefer black for my rather more impressionistic ( read that as slapdash!) style, Having said that , for the Hungarians I am leaning more towards grey, I hope my Austrian cuirassiers do not disappoint!
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Another unit done and another very nice one, I use black more often than not but sometimes grey and very rarely white for undercoating, push come to shove black for me. Looking forward to seeing your work on the cuirassiers when you get round to them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donnie, I think we are similarly aligned, I just used the white priming to try out the contrast colour if I'm honest!
DeleteBest Iain
Fantastic work Iain, you have been very productive. All three basecoats work well, and could see evective uses for all three undercoats.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave, fair point!
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Great work Iain, now I have the Spanish I can hold off on Austrians for a good while 🤔
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt, yes you can practice your white uniforms on them!
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Great additions to the Austrian army, Iain!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Dean!
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I like the middle one has a grubby campaign look
ReplyDeleteThe black undecorated? Yes I think I agree with you Nick!
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You are certainly getting through the painting whilst in the Caribbean Iain!
ReplyDeleteNot sure which of the three I prefer, although I normally undercoat everything black, then very dry brush white to reveal all the detail, and that's how I did my own Austrian troops.
I know what you mean but I think on balance I'm going to go for black!
DeleteBest Iain
Beautiful work Iain!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michal!
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Great work Iain, and another vote for black undercoat. It seem to allow a bit more definition to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lawrence, yes I think the definition and speed appeals to me most!
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The black undercoat does provide the most contrast, and I guess probably reads better on the table. I do agree that all 3 options work, and it's probably mostly a matter of taste as to which one someone might prefer.
ReplyDeleteI have been using a black undercoat, with a heavy white drybrush over that, on a lot of my minis for a long time now. I like that it provides shadows and also tends to hide more "sins" in my painting. The main downside, is it can tend to make the minis darker overall.
Entirely agree that it is a matter of taste, I also agree that hiding my sins is a benefit, although that might just be my Roman Catholic upbringing!
DeleteBest Iain
Great looking troops Iain. I'm gonna buck the trend. I quite like the grey.....
ReplyDeleteThanks Ray, you would! Your not on your own but no takers for white I notice!
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Wow, they look fantastic. I always tend to prime black, even if the main base colour of the mini will be white in the end. I have tried grey too for such cases, but I'm only comfortable with that for large areas. In general terms I find black more soothing to provide shade effects on those areas where the brush doesn't reach!
ReplyDeleteThanks Suber, I like the covering a multitude of sins that priming in black allows!
DeleteBest Iain
Your painting on your Austrian infantry look great - awesome!
ReplyDeleteAs for primering I also use matt black for Napoleonics but I use dark or light gray for white Napoleonic uniforms ie Austrians, Saxons, Westphalians etc. and I spray matt brown for my ancients miniatures,
Thanks Phil, interesting, I was thinking about priming brown for grenzers?
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absolutely! I would prime your Grenzers brown - have a look at my 28mm Old glory 2nd edition Napoleonic Austrians
Deletehttps://15mm25mm.blogspot.com/2015/11/napoleonic-austrian-army-1809.html
Lovely result on your landwehr, I might have to do that unit too! Also your Saxons look great, I can't bring myself to do the old school 18th century style Saxon army for Wagram, I'm tempted to do a small 1810 Saxon army and use it to stand in for it's earlier incarnation!
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Iain,
ReplyDeleteMore great looking Austrians . You have both technique and style going for you here. Ob the table id the next best thing.]
Joe
Thanks very much Joe!
DeleteBest Iain
if the sample of each prime method is the last picture, then I prefer the first base. Having said that, I always prime in black. 😁
ReplyDeleteThe red facings? A vote for white primer at last?!
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They all look great to me Iain. My inclination is towards the white. However, it's whatever works for you. Plus, in the heat of battle I'm not sure that many gamers will be worrying about the primer used.
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard, it's a personal preference, with a diverse range of answers, for me I agree they all work so then it comes down to which one is the most efficient use of my time and it's on that basis that I'll go for black in future!
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