I have been painting war game figures for quite a long time now. I have leamed and discovered some good techniques and thought MWAN was the perfect place to pass them on.

For the painting tray, the best thing I have found is an oak cabinet door about 12"x24". It has trim all around so it stays flat, and small stuff won't roll off. The most important thing is a heavy coat of varnish, so water base paint won't stick to it. You can get the door at kitchen stores or were new homes are going up. Just talk to the builder to see if any cabinet doors have been replaced, and he may just give you an old one.

Next you need a bright light. A soft white bulb about 150 watts in a table lamp, and a 100 watt over your shoulder will expose the eagle on a 15mm old guard cuff button. This will keep the painter from squinting his life away too. I keep my paints in a wooden box, with a drop of the color on top of the bottle for easy identification.

The majority of my paints are acrylic and some are oil base. Any brand is fine, some of the craft paints are excellent and cheap as dirt. I always prime my figures with flat black spray paint, and let them cure over night. If you use plastic figures, the primer will stiffen them up a bit, although you still need to wash them first.

After the priming, take 50 or so troops and the colors you need for this sesson only. Put a dime size drop on the side of your tray and paint. After two or three evenings I am ready for the final coat. Take some black paint and clear water. Mix three parts water to one part black, and coat your figure. If it's too dark add water and vice a versa. This will out line belts buckles etc. When your troops are mounted, take some cheap hair spray and spray the brigade. Let dry and spray with matte finish or whatever is your preference. Hair spray is one of the hardest substances known to man (maybe not) and will protect the finish of your army for years.

Some final tips: Always mount the cavalry with five minute epoxy before painting. After painting a few armies your tray may get a little gamey. Take a putty knife and scrape it clean. The varnish on the door will let the paint come off easily.

Related Article
Beginner's Guide to Painting Miniatures

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