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Blog Sleepy corner

Just A Skink said:
Nice work @JTSleep. How do you like the Vallejo XPress colors? Have you used any Contrast or similar to compare?
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That is a tough question.

First of all, I use those paints more as glazes than slap it on and let it pool in recesses as intended. Preshading really helps with this as deep point are black already making illusion of shadows.

I have 6 of GW contrast paints from their first range (I think they changed the formula since then) that I used extensively, but that was way back and I can't compare them objectively. I painted entire Soviet army with them, but I was still learning how to use them best and painted on white primer. Right now, I am still using them for bases. Aggaros dunes for fantasy and historics, Wyldwood for sci-fi (except those orcs, where I still used aggaros).

Xpress colours were highly anticipated from my side and as soon as they dropped, I bought about 10 to try them out. Sad to say, I had not used them too much. I think I painted two test models with them, then used purple on Tyranid weapons (because I wasn't satisfied with AP purple) and orange for Tyranid bases. Overall they felt a bit chalky and less fluid then AP. I am not saying they are bad, they just don't fit my painting style mentioned before, bacause they leave brush marks when used as glaze.

As for AP, they are my go to paints. I still use their first edition that is obsolete now. Those paint had reactivation issue, where no matter how much time passed, when you touch them with something wet, they lift up from model. I am so used to this (and found ways to minimize it, or prevent it) that I actually sometimes forget about it.
Like couple of days ago, when kiddo asked me to paint him 3d printed alpaca toy he got on farming exposition. I finished it, let it dry and didn't notice that kiddo was stuffing fingers down his throat. Couple of minutes later, better half was not pleased when kiddo's hand were colour of that Alpaca's sweater.
Reactivation can also be used to better blend colours together as you don't have to race back and forth between colours to do wet blending. But all of this only applies to initial speedpaint range. After they released 2.0 edition, I tried couple and they do not reactivate (good) but they dry too fast and even faster when in thin layers (like I do), leaving brush marks.

All and all, I really like my original speedpaints, through trial and error, I mixed them to get almost all the colour I would like (almost... Looking at you, british WWII uniform) and for now, I only use GW contrasts for bases, because I have them on hand anyway and I have bad experience with reactivation on lip of base.

J.Logan said:
I can give my own answer to that... I make extensive use of Contrast and similar (especially when doing a mass of similar models, like an entire army ¬_¬ )... I rank Xpress highly. Army Painter Speed Painter I find the weakest of the three... though at this moment I believe Speed Painter is the only one with metallics. And personal preference or no, I will always grab every contrast-like flesh tones for the variety (Speed Painter is also the only one that has actual dark-toned African American skin tones... I'll give Army Painter the points for the variety compared to the competition).

So, order of preference: Xpress, Contrast, then Speed Painter. Any other alternatives... can't really say (I've heard Green Stuff World have their own version, not tried any)
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Interesting that we have basically opposite opinion. :D

I also bought (I think) 5 speedpaint metallics to try them out. They are nothing special, but I have couple of AP Fanatic range metallics soon to be tested. I am looking forward to it.
 
JTSleep said:
I also bought (I think) 5 speedpaint metallics to try them out. They are nothing special,
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Agreed. But when painting a bunch of warriors in chainmail, being able to slap on the broadsword silver metallic speed paint was a nice quick solution that let me move on quickly.

JTSleep said:
Interesting that we have basically opposite opinion. :D
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Haha. Different people have different experiences with the same paints. Outside of AP's speed painter range, my opinion on AP lies on bleh, followed by "tastes awful". Yes, I'm a brush licker...

At my local fls, half of them cannot stand army painter as a brand, where the other half are divided between those who swear by them, and those who are apathetic.
 
J.Logan said:
Outside of AP's speed painter range, my opinion on AP lies on bleh, followed by "tastes awful". Yes, I'm a brush licker...
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See! There we can agree :)
My "standart painting" to go paints are Vallejo. I bought couple from AP warpaints range and was dissappointed.

I was only talking about contrast/speedpaint/xpress kind of ranges.

And as for brush licking, I am a gentleman. I tend to invite each new brush to dinner before first licking. :D
 
Little progress on exhibition "how to make mini".
Marines are assembled and two that get additional treatment are primed.
IMG_20241022_172448.jpg

I also prepared a little something to present different basing materials. Sorry for czech on notes. Bottom row is raw look, top row is painted look. Left to right are:
Sand from sandbox, woodland scenics crushed coconut, blended ikea cork coaster, vallejo texturing paste and citadel texturing paste.
IMG20241021131155.jpg

I also painted a bit of Riptide, but I didn't take pictures.
 
I did it! Half a year in making (clipped few pieces of the sprues), now assembled!
IMG_20241028_215423.jpg

Also, those halftracks received quick basecoat and even quicker basic camo.
IMG_20241025_153809.jpg

Along with them, I airbrushed Tiburon Tank green.

I also preshaded last pathfinders to be done, second stealth suit unit and unit of kroot hounds. If everything goes well, I should be able to finish Riptide tomorrow.

- Q - said:
The purple and green work so well together!
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Thank you, it was really lucky pick. :)
 
Ripitide with all options is done!

I love how it turned out and one part of me want another one, while another part don´t want to go through it again. :D

IMG20241029103146.jpg IMG20241029103227.jpg IMG20241029103245.jpg
 
- Q - said:
That is so cool! How many people are expected to attend the exhibition?
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It is small village club and advertising is almost nonexistent (I know about it for 4 years and two of those I found out after it ended :D ), I would say about 200 total. But I was told that 3 kids that joined modellers club after last year did so because they saw wargame minis. :)
 
JTSleep said:
It is small village club and advertising is almost nonexistent (I know about it for 4 years and two of those I found out after it ended :D ), I would say about 200 total. But I was told that 3 kids that joined modellers club after last year did so because they saw wargame minis. :)
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That is a decent turn out and it sounds like a pretty amazing event!
 
Well, expo is over. All and all, about 120 people attended over those two days. I was there today to show some painting techniques.
But since it was so small, I mostly helped only fellow modellers that were sitting next to me, kid painting his first 15mm scale minis and girl painting her first diorama (average mini painter, but she is best papercraft modeller, I've ever seen)

In meantime, I managed to paint all remaining pathfinders and second turret.
IMG_20241103_194554.jpg

Those three grenade launchers will be divided between all units and replaced by normal pathfinders later.
 
JTSleep said:
I mostly helped only fellow modellers that were sitting next to me, kid painting his first 15mm scale minis and girl painting her first diorama (average mini painter, but she is best papercraft modeller, I've ever seen)
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They had a good teacher!


JTSleep said:
In meantime, I managed to paint all remaining pathfinders and second turret.
img_20241103_194554-jpg.156420
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Awesome!
 
JTSleep said:
I found awesome sci-fi saurians that might be great for use as Tau auxiliary race!

Not my models below:
View attachment 156493

I might do pleasant & useful and use them as fire warriors. :)
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I like... I very like...Can't go wrong with sci-fi saurians.

JTSleep said:
Not my absolute best, but those 5 dirty boys were sitting preshaded in my drawer for 8 months now, so I just forced through.
View attachment 156665

View attachment 156666
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I... think them objectively well painted. But I can't say I like because Nurgle! Hate Nurgle! Burn the disease! BURN IT ALL! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

download.jpg
 
J.Logan said:
But I can't say I like because Nurgle! Hate Nurgle! Burn the disease! BURN IT ALL! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!
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I am now tempted to take a picture of my whole Nurgle collection, just to tease you :D
 
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