My Sad Story

[Carlin]

I love Board Games, I love Miniature Games and I love miniatures. I hate unpainted miniatures I just feel they are incomplete. I own a lot of unpainted miniatures so I hired some one from the web to paint some of my miniatures (some limited edition ones in the collection too). The guy stopped replying to my e-mails (it's been 5 months now) so I'm guessing I'm not going to see my miniatures or money again.

I'm sad that I lost some of my valuable collections and money. So, I come here again to ask for help. Is there a simplified step by step guide telling me what I would expect to do to paint my miniatures? I want to see if the process is not too complex for me and if I am able to do it. Everything sounds intimidating it feels like something I will never be able to do correctly and there's the risk of damaging my miniatures.

Any quick guide to help me what to buy exactly to paint my miniatures in a good quality (I hate most of the painted miniatures done by amateurs and if I end up with such a result I'd rather have unpainted ones).

I want to give it a try but I don't know where to begin and I don't have a lot of spare time (hence forced to hire someone to paint my minis). I thought hiring someone would be time/cost effective but ending up having my money and miniatures stolen proved the opposite... So, maybe it's about time I'd give it a try.

 

[Wag1809]

It's not that hard

Let me start off by saying that it sounds like you got a real raw deal. If the guy didn’t want to paint your figs he could have at least returned them to you, even if he kept your money.

In terms of painting the minis your self I would just jump right in and start. If you are looking for guides I know that CMON has some in PDF format and that Games Workshop sells How to Paint You Miniatures books.

In terms of damaging your figs I wouldn’t worry too much. If you don’t like the paint job on a metal fig it’s easy to strip off the paint and start again. I use a product called Simple Green and it dissolves paint and primer without damaging my metal figs.

 

[skraaal]

I would agree with what Wag1809 has said entirely.

Unfortunately there is no guide out there that will just turn you into a Master painter, the only way to become good at something like this is to try, practice and practice then when your relatively happy with yourself keep practicing d(^_^)b.

In regards to what to buy, unfortunately these things are subjective and individual. Some people like to use GW paints, other's rather use P3 etc again it's all down to just giving it a go and seeing what works best for you.

Good luck and happy painting!

 

[PegaZus]

Unfortunately, you're a complete amateur (me too, and I've been "painting" a while), and your results will probably be amateurish as well. Only one thing to do:

I'd suggest just jumping in, but try keeping it simple. Start with just blocking in the base colors, and getting that up to a nice tabletop standard. If you're worried about getting a crap paint job on that expensive mini, go to some game stores and root through the clearance box to get some stuff that you don't mind not looking professional. Professional paint jobs are going to take practice.

Oh, and don't go to a craft store and buy paint from there. The pigment is just not fine enough. You probably don't have to go all out and buy a full set of paints, but get the colors you're wanting to use.

Other than that, go through the tutorials here on-site, and possibly look through the WIP section of the forums. And if you're brave enough and open to suggestion, start a WIP thread yourself. Of course, if you can find someone around you that already paints, that'd probably help out most by sitting down with them and getting tips.

And if all that sounds like too much trouble, hire someone well-known to do your commissions. Lots of people here do it, and we can publicly shame them if you get screwed. Or just let Liz and Ms. Pony at 'em.

EDIT: Oh, and one last thing. Send a letter to the guy asking that they return the stuff. You never know. Maybe he got hit by a car and has been in a coma for the last five months. Or moved, and lost his internet, etc. All it'll cost is a stamp, and that's a pittance to what it sounds like you've spent.

 

[supervike]

Painting your own minis, (at least in my opinion) would be much more gratifying that having a stranger paint them for you. Even giving minis a quick 'table top' type paint job often looks better than most companies 'pre paint' jobbies, and it really doesn't take all that long. There is a time committment, obviously, but I think you'd be surprised at the 'nice' job you can do with just a bit of effort.

However, that said, you'd still have to buy paint, brushes, primer, and all the goodies that go with it. If you're still interested in getting folks to paint for you, get references first, if you can....then only send a few at a time. I'm willing to bet there are plenty of folks on this site would be willing to paint for a price.

Lastly, I complete agree about the sending the letter to the deadbeat. I'd also make it certified as well. Good luck to you!

 

[Dragonsreach]

I own a lot of unpainted miniatures so I hired some one from the web to paint some of my miniatures (some limited edition ones in the collection too). The guy stopped replying to my e-mails (it's been 5 months now) so I'm guessing I'm not going to see my miniatures or money again.

Going to ask a few questions here:
Does the guy have a serious online presence/reputation? If so you can name and shame as long as you remain accurate in your story you've nothing to lose.
Was he recommended by someone reputable? Ask them to interceed as guilt by association can harm reputation.
Is he still trying to sell his services as a commission painter? If needed hit up how he advertises his services.

Now having stated that you are rightfully hacked off about the items my point of view is that you have several options:-
Physical registered delivery letter (notorised copy held by yourself) insisting on immediate return of YOUR Property and Money within X days.
If no response after X days state that you will be forced to take steps to escalate this into a legal issue. Then do it, even if its just a letter from a lawyer it may be enough to scare the cr*p out of him enough to pull his finger out and return your property.

But don't let this one A**hole put you off commissioning painters.
There are a lot of good Painters on CMON who do commissions and are reliable.
Cherry Pick those miniatures you would want a specific high class work doing on them and contact painters who's work you like the look of.
I can recommend generulpoleaxe, for two reasons:-
1: he's good, in fact better than his pictures on here really show.
2: he lives within a mile of me so if things go "pear shaped" he knows I can turn up on his doorstep with an ex-royal marine who has a tendancy/penchant for fast and effective violence. lol

 

[No Such Agency]

If you're worried about getting a crap paint job on that expensive mini, go to some game stores and root through the clearance box to get some stuff that you don't mind not looking professional. Professional paint jobs are going to take practice.

One caveat.... don't go TOO cheap. Even a practice paint job will go a lot better if it's on a miniature you like and are interested in. All of our workbenches are covered in unfinished projects that we realized we didn't actually like.

 

[Rodnik]

Just to state what Dragonsreach has already covered---
Don't let one goober put you off commission painters. And yea..as long as the story was accurate and factual, I would certainly, and publicly, voice my dissatisfaction.


That aside.....get a paintbrush and some paints and put your butt in the chair and some paint on the pewter....

 

[supervike]

Going to ask a few questions here:
2: he lives within a mile of me so if things go "pear shaped" he knows I can turn up on his doorstep with an ex-royal marine who has a tendancy/penchant for fast and effective violence. lol

Only an Englishman could make implied threats sound so polite.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Only an Englishman could make implied threats sound so polite.

Just call us 'Croup and Vandemar'

 

[generulpoleaxe]

Only an Englishman could make implied threats sound so polite.

that's England mate, in scotland they bitch you up then give you the reason lol

 

[cfwheeler58]

If you send me your name and address via PM,
I will be happy to send you an assortment of
metal minis for you to practice on.......

Mike ( Dragonsreach ) can vouch for me
(with or without his henchmen )

 

[Dragonsreach]

Mike ( Dragonsreach ) can vouch for me
(with or without his henchmen )

Vouchsafed.
(The henchman is currently occupied sorting out scallies around Blackpool..............On a Bank Holiday. Methinks, I foresee some "stress relief" in his future!)