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Final Touch-ups???

 


A little more than two months in with these 15 Croat figures, I spent an hour and a quarter at the painting table early yesterday evening scanning each one carefully for any tiny areas that might need touching-up.  As I mentioned in a previous post, at this point, these are things that only I might notice, and I suppose it would make good sense to simply hush and get on with applying the 2.5 coats of gloss.  That step will allow me to move on to applying my unofficial but no less striking flag (designed by David of Not by Appointment) followed by the minor terrain on the bases.  After all, who among us can actually see the earring worn by Private Gulyás?  

Made ya look! 

So, after a final once-over later this morning (it's 9:45am here currently) that's the plan.  Shiny, shiny, shiny.  

Now some figure painters out there might scoff.  Some don't bother with a protective coat after painting has concluded.  Others opt for matte, or even a satin finish.  Here in the Grand Duchy, I prefer the glossy Gilderesque way of things although I eschew his boat varnish.  Gotta hang on as long as possible to the few working brain cells left, you know.  Hey, man. . . 

I've always opted for medium or high gloss, acrylic from Liquitex, which gives a similar effect.  The lingering influence of Peter's (with Doug Mason, Phil Robinson, et al) wonderfully large units of Napoleonic infantry, cavalry, and artillery as featured way back in those early issues of Miniature Wargames 40+ years ago.  In particular issues #6 and #7.  As much a part of "the look of the thing" as anything else and a continuing influence on how I approach the hobby.

Hey, when you're in a comfortable rut, why bother climbing out?  

-- Stokes

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