This is my first time painting any miniatures, and I didn't want to break the bank with the more expensive model paints. So I went to Hobby Lobby and got some Folk Art acrylics. Then I ordered a Citadel shade set from Amazon, and I also picked up a bottle of Lahmian Medium for thinning the acrylics.

Big thanks to Sorastro, without whose videos I wouldn't have known where to start.

They look great! Nothing wrong with using "craft" paint. All of my minis are cheap craft paint and Army Painter washes.

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/profile/276443-shieldwolf72/

Agreed! Washes are the one thing that might be worth splurging on. Flesh wash especially does great adding some instant depth.

Nice job on the AT-RT units. They look solid and I look forward to seeing the rest of your troops. Sorastro is an excellent resource and this amazing community offers alot of inspiration.

I only use craft paint as well from Hobby Lobby and Michaels. I prefer to use "Satin" paints since when they dry you really don't notice brush strokes and they are pretty much table ready. I also find that when using white, a white wash inbetween coats gives me the best results. Check out my thread to see the results.

On 12/4/2018 at 7:34 PM, C3POFETT said:

Nice job on the AT-RT units. They look solid and I look forward to seeing the rest of your troops. Sorastro is an excellent resource and this amazing community offers alot of inspiration.

I only use craft paint as well from Hobby Lobby and Michaels. I prefer to use "Satin" paints since when they dry you really don't notice brush strokes and they are pretty much table ready. I also find that when using white, a white wash inbetween coats gives me the best results. Check out my thread to see the results.

Can you tell me what you mean by a white wash between coats?

3 hours ago, BigBadAndy said:

Can you tell me what you mean by a white wash between coats?

I water down a white "satin" finish paint and use it just like nuln oil over white painted surfaces. I apply it and carefully spread it around the painted white surface and allow it to dry. This actually helps eliminate visible brushstrokes. I do this with other colors I use especially with flesh tones.

It is a bit more time consuming but the results speak for themselves. You would be hard pressed to find brushstrokes on my painted white Stormtroopers, Snowtroopers or Scouts.

Get a giant bottle of matte acrylic medium at AC Moore/Michael's/etc. (same kinds of place that sell the paint) and you will be able to make lots of your own quality washes. Liquitex inks are also very helpful for this.

11 hours ago, TauntaunScout said:

Get a giant bottle of matte acrylic medium at AC Moore/Michael's/etc. (same kinds of place that sell the paint) and you will be able to make lots of your own quality washes. Liquitex inks are also very helpful for this.

I have a large Liqutex matte acrylic medium that I do use occasionally for deeper colors but prefer a mostly water to white satin paint mix for white painted surfaces. It is the same technique I used for white washing furniture for a Southwestern look. I let it "pool" over the entire surface and it dries leaving no brushstrokes. It requires leaving the miniature in tilted positions during drying since there are no fabric creases in armor and it achieves that smooth clean white trooper armor I am looking for.

@BigBadAndy I hope that was detailed enough and helps.

14 minutes ago, C3POFETT said:

I have a large Liqutex matte acrylic medium that I do use occasionally for deeper colors but prefer a mostly water to white satin paint mix for white painted surfaces. It is the same technique I used for white washing furniture for a Southwestern look. I let it "pool" over the entire surface and it dries leaving no brushstrokes. It requires leaving the miniature in tilted positions during drying since there are no fabric creases in armor and it achieves that smooth clean white trooper armor I am looking for.

@BigBadAndy I hope that was detailed enough and helps.

They also sell it in gloss and mixing the two should produce satin. I only bring it up because it is probably several 10's of times cheaper than Lahmian Medium.

Edit: I misread you. Water and white satin paint should be pretty cheap too!

On 12/7/2018 at 6:06 PM, C3POFETT said:

I have a large Liqutex matte acrylic medium that I do use occasionally for deeper colors but prefer a mostly water to white satin paint mix for white painted surfaces. It is the same technique I used for white washing furniture for a Southwestern look. I let it "pool" over the entire surface and it dries leaving no brushstrokes. It requires leaving the miniature in tilted positions during drying since there are no fabric creases in armor and it achieves that smooth clean white trooper armor I am looking for.

@BigBadAndy I hope that was detailed enough and helps.

Yup, I got it completely. I may well try it. Your minis look great.

I don't know what it is about the guys on the AT-RT, but i really like their pants. What color is that?