New Paints For The New Year! 

A gift from Santa (actually 2nd son and heir to the Apperley estate!). I had mentioned that

I fancied trying these new paints. These are Army Painter's version of the Games Workshop 'Contrast' paints which have been on the market for several years. These paints are designed to flow over a pale undercoat, followed by a 'dip', to give quick shaded effects and thereby speeding up the painting process. I thought it was about time I tried this new fangled invention and dropped some heavy hints about my interest prior to the festive event. Hints successfully taken up and a base set of 12 paints were now mine.

In the intervening hours I have experimented with these new paints with mixed results. 

Some 'works in progress' and experiments plus a couple of Erics figures in the background

First of all these are  really intended for the wargames market, primarily 25mm, not my beloved 54mm's. So why does that matter? Well smaller figures, particularly modern sculpts , tend to have exaggerated features and very active poses. This system works better on models where you are relying on the shading effect to do most of the work, and in particular bring out the details in the sculpt. This is ideal for the type of models being produced by Games Workshop etc. 

They are not intended for repainting old hollowcasts which require the paint to do the work of creating detail. I tries painting an old 'gentleman of the road' with them (see picture above), but they just didn't work and looked too thin and pale for my taste. I salvaged the figure by overpainting with my normal paints.

The 'Gentleman of the road' painted with basic speed paints 

They are very easy flowing like a heavy wash and on simple figures like the hollowcasts its not always easy to restrict the colour to the area of the figure you require. They also look very pale and ethereal because of the nature of their design. So have I found them of any use at all?

Two of the three Replicants ECW figures 'prepared' for speed paints

Well yes, they are great for creating a certain finish. The English Civil War collection that I acquired were painted in Eric Kemps excellent style, which unfortunately, I have found difficult to replicate. Most of the figures I want to add to this collection are however from my favourite manufacturer Replicants. Peter Coles sculpting style emulates that of his favourite sculptor Roy Selwyn-Smith and are full of movement and action. I decided to try out the speed paints on a small group of  ECW figures with the aim of achieving a finish closer to Erics than my normal painting style. I undercoated them brown, then dry brushed cream, then applied speed paints all over. The effect was close to what I wanted but not quite there. I used a few standard paints to highlight the figures a little and found a result that I liked. They don't look out of place next to Erics figures and I enjoyed painting them with these new paints. The dark brown undercoat stopped the speed paints looking so thin and wishy washy. 

Erics figure to the left and my speed painted version to the right

I used them to basecoat a 25mm scale science fiction vehicle but again found the result underwhelming and ended up repainting it with a lot of normal paints and dry brushing techniques. It came out fine in the end (at least in my humble opinion).

So what are my conclusions? Well I like them, but for me they are situational. If I'm painting Replicants 54mm figures, I will use them (which is handy as I have over 200 awaiting paint). For my hollowcast projects I don't see much utility. I will try them out on my various 25mm collections as and when the mood takes me and suspect they will be ideal, at least for figures that don't need fine tightly painted details.

I don't think they will save me much time however, which is one of their main selling points. Helping me to achieve certain finishes is a definite plus however. They are yet another string to the painting bow and I would recommend giving them a try, if you think they might work for you.

A lick of paint ...... fresh off the painting desk for 2026

I have been a little too busy to paint a whole new army over Christmas, but I have managed to knock out a few pieces, as well as trying out the new paints.

I am afraid I rather disappeared down a rabbit hole and got all of my undealt with farm and garden lead out on the table for a jolly good new year sort out. After putting a few surplus bits to one side for a friend, I found myself painting scenic items galore. 

Now I don't know how many hay stacks a wargamer should have but I keep picking up these lovely old lead ones for next to nothing and find it hard to resist. As you can see I have repainted the latest trio, to join my haystack army. I think I may need an intervention if I buy any more, but I could always pass them on as gifts to fellow enthusiasts I suppose. 

The fallen log made by Britains prior to the 2nd world war ,is another piece I find hard to resist. I have 5 now and as you can see, three of them were awaiting a new coat of paint in my hoard. I have kept two 'free standing' as William Britain intended. Useful to just scatter around my wargames table and ideal for cover for a lying down sniper of which I have many!

The fifth one I decided to add to another piece to make a scenic feature. The standing tree is one of three of these that I had picked up in varying states of disrepair. They are meant to have a gate attached or a children swing on the left hand side. I have neither gate nor swing and two of them had been broken away from the extended piece of land that you can still see on the third one (which I have kept as is until the missing piece or pieces turn up one day). So I decided to just repaint the two heavily damaged ones and use them as scenic 'dead trees'.

By combining one on a round base with one of the fallen logs (and a small bush), I now have a small natural strongpoint for a machine gun or a couple of riflemen. Alternatively it is nice as a place for a command group to discuss plans as you will see below. 

My 'speed paint' ECW command group next to a dismounted trooper by Eric

I will finish this post with a series of photos of other figures which I have painted since Christmas day. They are an eclectic bunch but I hope you will enjoy seeing some more toy soldier madness!

The finished 'mini project' to replicate a set of early Britains railway staff, as closely as I could from the original set I had acquired. I love them and couldn't be more pleased. What to do with the original set now however? Should I just keep them? Sell them? Convert them to other useful figures? Undecided. Let me have your thoughts. 

The RAF ground crew (as purchased) servicing a tin plate plane whilst the pilot looks on. In the second picture we see the same figures servicing a second plane (this time a beautifully hand carved wooden model, maker unknown). The figures were touched up (a few minor chips etc) and have been based and varnished. 

Another picture of the new ECW command group in front of my castle. Beautiful figures from Peter Coles Replicants.

I hinted previously that my Peaky Blinders gang might be gaining a more powerful recruit and here he is in the shape of a senior guy with a rifle. He was originally one of the Britains figures pushing or pulling a garden roller, but had lost his arms. I saw the opportunity to arm him with a carried rifle as an armed civilian. He will now serve as a militia man, a gang member or a poacher. The latter role probably suits him best as his posture looks like he is walking forward stealthily. A conversion I was really pleased with. Its always pleasing when you have  slightly unusual pose and then a little inspiration results in something different.

Two more scarecrows for my scarecrow army (I have five now). I have a slightly mad idea floating around in my brain, to use these like the weeping angels in Dr Who! The Wurzel Gummidge figure came with four different heads which is useful. I have three so far. The Crescent scarecrow has been mostly speed painted. I was pleased to pick up the latter figure as you don't seem to see the Crescent farm figures very often.

This figure by Crescent(?), is a milkmaid but as soon as I saw her, I saw a woman adjusting her stockings! What that says about me I dread to think but I thought I would try to give her a suitable paintjob. In any event I already have plenty of milk maids, so at least now she is a more interesting citizen recruit!

Hussy!......two disapproving Edwardian ladies repainted. One a hollowcast original and the other a modern recast. A lovely figure and glad to have two.

The Generals 'niece'! A plastic figure whose provenance I can't recall even though Brian Carrick did tell me! Sorry Brian!

So there you have it, a somewhat rag tag collection of new recruits and citizens. In addition to these figures, I have also just finished another terrain piece which will hopefully enhance my tabletop world, but more of that next time!

Tara a bit !