Figuring It Out, 1/48 RAF Pilot

[enghui]

The ICM figure from the Spitfire MkIX has been painted!Thanks to Capt Kirk I know how to make oil paints flat.Spray a flat coat on it....I would have never done it if I didnt think it possible if he didnt tell me.

the best part of this figure is he seems to be very happy.ICM have done a good job molding it.Not showing his legs because of the blue tack. Please input what I can do better as I would like to move on to some Phoenix Follies after this

[beachbum]

A nice overall finish Enghui. The details of the pockets and the sweater and flight jacket are nicely fleshed out. Talking about "flesh" which the Phoenix Follies will have in abundance and in contrast to the pilot you will have less challenge painting the folds there as well.

Seriously though if there were any teeny suggestions would be to discharge the paint from your brush before slapping on. This makes it more tedious as you have to regularly load it up with paint given the lower coverage. However, letting your tip of your brush touch a paper towel or tissue paper to discharge some of your paint will prevent too thick coats or a pooling of paint as seen on the left upper arm of the pilot. When working with darker colors what brings out the features or details is mostly the highlights and the reverse is true for lighter colors where emphasizing the shadows brings out the details. As for painting eyes, its depends on the scale. At 1/35th or smaller you can probably avoid it by darkening the area directly under the eyebrows if you wish but at the larger scales you will need to paint them in. Besides of all the features in a figgie's face its often the eyes that gives the most realistic look and character to the overall figure.

As a sidenote I reckon if you are working on 1/12th or 1/9th follies then airbrushing will be the way to go which you very good at. However, if its the 54 mm. follies we are referring to like those from Andrea then its handpainting. Minimize or avoid altogether dry brushing if you are handpainting. As you know with oils its all about blending and with acrylics its layering.

Btw the pilot matches up nicely with the Spit.

[PoohBear]

Ah. Handsome looking chap you got there. The eyes could maybe do with a wee bit more attention, me thinks.

Would like to view him in person

[enghui]

Thanks Herr Beach, I will remember to dab the brush next time.He did have eyelids but like you said the thick paint kinda filled them in...I was struggling a bit with the eyes but I ve redone them and they look a little bit better now.

Thanks Pooh, noted on the lack of eye detail, you might say "Eye, Eye! captain!)
I will bring him maybe to HHQ on the next event.

now where were those bare naked ladies?

[PoohBear]

Pardon moi but, you're the captain, Herr Captain

Thanks for taking the trouble to repost.

There appears to be some red blotches around the neck and lower jaw line? Hope he's not suffering from hormonal imbalance

[enghui]

Thats shrapnel wounds.....a 1/48 scale Fw190 got too close