Painting 2mm figures - Foot castings

So you want to paint 2mm figures?  Well first you need to decide on the effect you are trying to achieve.  The castings are better detailed than you might expect and the trick is to take advantage of that.  it is also important to remember that you are creating an impression of troops seen from a long distance.  Check out some images of real people at a distance to see what stands out and try to pick out that level of detail and no more.  Like the image below:  

 

 

 

 

Shrink this image (Or stand back from the screen) until the image is the size of a 2mm casting at painting range.  What do you see?  That's what you are trying for.

 

Right back to the castings then, fix them to the holder of your choice, I use ice-lolly sticks from craft shops.  Undercoat in your personal colour of choice.  I prefer white for small scale figures, but in these shots I was trying out a mid grey as suggested by Steel on Sand's blog.

 

 

You should have something like this. Next dry brush in white to create a pre-shade.  The alternative is to undercoat white and ink wash with a darker shade.  My go to for this is Windsor and Newton Nut Brown.  Then add a wash of the primary colour.

 

Next using an un-thinned version of the shade used as the wash dry brush or dot in the details of the coats.  Use the same technique for the legs and pick out faces and hats. If you are feeling keen pick out the muskets.  Finish with a light ink wash of Nut Brown and varnish.  It sounds like a long process but it isn't these castings are tiny after all.

 

 

 

 

 

You should end up with something like this, if not better.  After all my eyes are not as young as they once were.  For me magnification helps a huge amount, that and good brushes that hold a good point.