i dont get how to do it. do you use templates for it
how
For what?
40 minutes ago, thespaceinvader said:For what?
Painting and modification, obviously.
painting a ship
The few I've done where free hand with citadel paints, and sharpie pen for extra small lines. I know some people airbrush
Mostly people use brushes or airbrushes and specialist miniature paint, sometimes masking tape. Specific techniques might use templates but not often
1. Strip paint.
2. Spray with basecoat.
3. Paint basic colours.
4. Drybrush and/or ink/quickshade.
5. Finebrush final details.
6. Magnetize the peg.
7. Spray with satin varnish so paint won't chip or wear off.
10 hours ago, Fenn Rau said:i dont get how to do it. do you use templates for it
xwingminiaturespainting.com
Might help.
2 hours ago, hilux said:1. Strip paint.
2. Spray with basecoat.
3. Paint basic colours.
4. Drybrush and/or ink/quickshade.
5. Finebrush final details.
6. Magnetize the peg.
7. Spray with satin varnish so paint won't chip or wear off.
Step 1 isn't really necessary.
Take a adhesive tape, stick template to a miniature, take a brush a paint it as close to a template as you possibly can? Or transfer the template with a pencil?
@Fenn Rau Obviously there are a lot of people here willing to help you learn what you want to know, but you've got to give us more information.
For starters which ship or ships are you considering painting and what do you want them to look like when they're done?
11 hours ago, thespaceinvader said:Step 1 isn't really necessary.
I'd say it's the competent and confident painters who don't need it. I'm neither and skipping it nearly costed me all the work spent on re-painting my Deci.
Stock paintjob is neat indeed, but even the thinnest layers of paint do stack up eventually. Especially when you repaint with bright colours (Ushabti Bone + Ceramite White in my case), you need a layer of primer and probably more than one layer of basic colour. There are few things in this hobby more frustrating than spending hours on a model and then being forced to re-work it due to an omitted simple prep-step. 15 minutes soak in Dettol and a 30 second brush can save you a load of hassle. Just sayin' 
6 minutes ago, hilux said:I'd say it's the competent and confident painters who don't need it. I'm neither and skipping it nearly costed me all the work spent on re-painting my Deci.
Stock paintjob is neat indeed, but even the thinnest layers of paint do stack up eventually. Especially when you repaint with bright colours (Ushabti Bone + Ceramite White in my case), you need a layer of primer and probably more than one layer of basic colour. There are few things in this hobby more frustrating than spending hours on a model and then being forced to re-work it due to an omitted simple prep-step. 15 minutes soak in Dettol and a 30 second brush can save you a load of hassle. Just sayin'
*shrug* I've never felt the need and I don't really consider myself competent or confident.
I've also yet to succeed in actually getting much paint off an FFG model beyond the wash.
All of your replies have Ben super helpful thanks
Masking tape. Allows for some easy template usage + you can cut your own out of it if you want.