DDM Guild Repaint: March 2009

Megan Smith, a valued community artist and Chapter Master in Brisbane, Australia, brings us the second in her series of monthly DDM Guild Repaints. Up this month: the Drow Assassin From Demonweb.

Explanation and General Instructions

Megan Smith writes:

I really liked getting monthly repainted minis from Organised Play (when we actually managed to get them in Australia) and would like to keep that going for the DDM Guild. However, as we don’t have WotC’s vast resources, or Chinese factory labour, the repaints will be done by each Chapter that wants them. I’d suggest that the Chapter Master ask for volunteers – painting skill is not a requirement, and it should only take about an hour of your time to do 6-10 minis.

It will always be a common mini; the person doing the painting is welcome to use their own spares or to collect a mini from everyone who wants a repaint. You will need to paint enough for everyone in the group to have one, and if you can do a couple of extras to hand out to other people as advertising for the guild (or to give to the shop you play at) that would be great.

Each mini will use 1 or 2 paints (only one of which will be new). I’ll be using (and testing my instructions with) Games Workshop’s Citadel paints because they are very available in most places. If you don’t want to spend the $3.50 or so a month, I would hope that the recipients of the minis would be happy to take turns supplying the paint.

If you already own suitable paints, it’s not a requirement to use exactly what I suggest, but I’d recommend it, as I will have checked that one coat gives the coverage we need and that the wash (if we are using one) goes over it smoothly.

You’ll need a brush—a size 0 round will work for all guild repaints—but if you’d like to be able to do washes faster, get something bigger, like a 2 or 3. Natural hair is generally better than synthetics, but anything that’s relatively soft will work fine.

For the painters out there (and also the non-painters, I suppose), we are aiming for WotC factory quality in the paint jobs, so they are all the same and are fast to do. So, just do the steps outlined (ie. Resist the temptation to paint the eye, or do a quick highlight on the cloak, etc).

I’ll put a thread up in Crafter’s Corner on Hordelings each month, so that if anyone has questions, or needs assistance, s/he can get it. If you don’t have a DDM Guild Chapter near you, feel free to make a repaint for yourself … and while you are at it, make a few extras to give to your FLGS (glue them to Guild flyers).

This Month’s Repaint: Demonweb – Drow Assassin

Paint needed: Leviathan Purple Wash (from Citadel/Games Workshop)

Normal painting supplies: paintbrush, water for rinsing the brush, paper towel.

Steps

1. Clean your minis

Wash your hands first, then scrub each mini with a toothbrush, using warm water and dishwashing liquid. Then scrub again with just the warm water to make sure there’s no oil, or soap, or anything weird on the surface of the mini.

Throw them onto a paper towel a couple of times to knock off most of the water, then leave them to dry.

2. Wash them with Leviathan Purple

• Shake the bottle of wash, then open it carefully.
  
• It’s a good idea to do the actual painting above the paper towel … the wash might splatter a little.
  
• Dip your brush in your rinsing water, brush it gently on the paper towel to remove the excess water.
  
• Dip your brush into the wash, brush it on the cloak of your mini. It should flow off reasonably easily, and fall off the high points, into the shadows. You generally want to follow the flow of the cloak from top to bottom.Keep getting wash, and putting it on the mini till it is reasonably covered. If it pools anywhere it shouldn’t, use the brush to move it to other spots. Make sure you put at least a little wash over the whole cloak – if you miss anywhere, it will really show up in the final result. It doesn’t matter much if you get some of the wash onto the black areas of the mini, but try not to get any on the hair. After you’ve done each mini, it’s a good idea to rinse out your brush. Leave the minis for 20-60 minutes to dry (exact time will depend on the weather).

Use your Guild Logo Stamp on the bottoms of the bases, and then you are … finished! Please tell us about your Guild Repaints. Post a picture in Crafter’s Corner on Hordelings and tell us how many you’ve painted and given away. See you next month!