Anyone else have trouble with that pesky, final 10% or so of painting, particularly the last 2–5%? The urge to do just another little touch-up. Am I satisfied with the way that I painted those figures? It's far worse now that we have the ability to take close-up digital photos. They make something that looks okay to the naked eye look pretty ordinary. Can be deflating, if you let it.
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The fleet of smaller ships, painting completed and varnished. Jolly little boats in the foreground (I made two more of reduced size (at left), brigs and cutters in the next row, English frigates next, followed by Spanish frigates and merchant ships and finally the French frigates.
*This* is the distance to photograph these from, as you will see below! |
So it has been with bringing these 1/3000th ships to completion. Combined with the reluctance to do the final touches, the weather conditions have not been especially conducive to painting much of the time, I have wanted to do more prep. of land forces, or simply distracted myself with other activities (hobby-related or not).
Finally, this week I have had the combination of perfect conditions for painting and the drive to get these d@mned ships off my painting board—the small ones at least. I completed the final touch-ups, discovering in the process that I had less to do than I thought (until I saw the photos...). Last night I completed the rigging on one ship. One only, but I now have a bit of a 'system' to use.
Anyway, a few photos will demonstrate, summarise.
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English frigates. Nominally (left to right): 'Indefatigable', 'Anson', 'Shannon', 'Leonidas', then a couple of merchant ships, but I reckon that I'll call them frigates for my purposes. The photo brought out a bit of brown paint blemish on the sea/base of one of the merchantmen—ahhhhhh! 😳😢😀
The 'sea' is some material that my wife brought home as it was surplus and destined for the bin. Good on her! |
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A closer view of the same (order mixed up).
This time the 'sea' is the second piece of material that Dawn brought home for me. I'll use one of these new pieces for Tellicherry 19th November 1791. |
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| French frigates. Nominally (left to right): 'Poursuivante', then two scratch-built ships (which I did not associate with named frigates) and 'Hermione'. The scratch-built one carrying number 25 is completed. Absolutely, definitely, I am not messing with it any longer! |
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| Spanish frigates. Nominally 'Santa Clara' (left) and 'Mercedes' (right). |
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| Merchant ships. |
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| Brigs. |
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| Cutters. |
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| The new ship's boats at left and previous attempt, which I'll keep for if I ever want to represent a larger long boat, at right. The photo is okay in preview mode, but don't expand it or you'll see them for the 'blobs' that they are. |
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| The rest of the ships awaiting the (dreaded) final 2–5%. Spanish at left, French in the middle and English at right. |
I know what you mean about the tyranny of digital photography, James....and the smaller the scale, the worse it is, I have found, since starting on my 10mm project....the main problem being, the detail is there on the 10mm figures, but I can't see it....or paint it accurately...but once I photograph them on my phone, they look like 30mm figures and you can see all the "errors"!
ReplyDeleteI really don't think I would have the patience for all those ships though, so very well done you!
Your 10 mm figures look wonderful Keith!
DeleteYep, remembering 'what the wargamer sees' is always good advice. I try to paint one level on from that, but talent and intention do not always match.
You are generally first in with comments Keith and always encouraging, thanks.
Great work James, and that final 5% of any project is often the most difficult. The thing I find mist annoying about photos is when you get them all out for a few pictures, pack them away and then notice the tiny flaws. I will go back and touch them up, but can't be bothered dragging them all out again and retaking the photographs. I dare say though that we are more attuned to noticing our own tiny errors than others are.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lawrence. It's beaut to receive such encouragement from one as skilled and prolific as you. We are our own greatest critics aren't we? We other's efforts far more; probably because we appreciate what it takes to get a unit to table!
DeleteGreat looking ships, very difficult to be disciplined, especially in a hobby?
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain. I need to be disciplined or at least driven if I am gonna get to half of what I aim to do, haha!!
DeleteAll look great to me. Perhaps we should only photograph from the gamers position relevant to the table, as that's how we'll view them.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, sometimes good enough is "good enough."
Sage and wise council Richard! Yes, 'wargames standard' is my target (and the limit of my ability).
DeleteDigital cameras do that awful smearing with a textured background/surface. One has to set up photos properly to get the best effect. Roger over at 'Great Northern War Gaming & Other Projects' has been playing around with light boxes to photograph his units. I think that it would be worth while copying his approach, or at least using a white sheet and lamp for photos outside of a game.
the last 5% of the paint job requires 20% more effort than the previous 95%.... just gota muscle through. 😁
ReplyDeleteThanks Stew; too true.
DeleteI like to begin with loads of figures (ships in this case) on the go, but pare it back to just a few at the 'business end'.