tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post5184419413108141451..comments2024-03-27T18:42:55.138+00:00Comments on KEITH'S WARGAMING BLOG: In Praise Of Wargames MagazinesKeith Flinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903769462646267048noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-36674955171752349862013-11-07T06:51:46.332+00:002013-11-07T06:51:46.332+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10966904622083986066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-18876525410967911962013-07-29T14:19:38.275+01:002013-07-29T14:19:38.275+01:00Definitely with you on this article, Keith! Before...Definitely with you on this article, Keith! Before the internet came along and ruined my day (in more ways than one), I was blissfully happy with my basic painting techniques. Now I seem to change my painting style from one paint job to the next just from what I have seen someone else do and think it looks better than what I've done. Oh well, I can always turn the PC off and go and do something more constructive.<br /><br />PetePetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605514828722404211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-57547900759757202522013-06-16T03:01:32.078+01:002013-06-16T03:01:32.078+01:00I am puzzled. I don't see the point in being p...I am puzzled. I don't see the point in being proscriptive here.<br /><br />YOU may find a painting style overwrought, or even unpleasant, but it is the painter's choice. You take it or leave it. Some beginners will love to paint, most will be average, others will struggle, but I bet very few bail out altogether. <br /><br />In the same way, discursive, humorous, personal or conversational elements in a given column or article are, again, what the writer enjoys and perfectly valid as a form. Certainly if one is reviewing then I feel it helps the reader identify with the writer's tastes and outlook.<br /><br />As for "modelling tyranny", come on.<br /><br />Mike Sigginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05095519147104676110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-31909556644290965782013-06-11T14:57:18.101+01:002013-06-11T14:57:18.101+01:00Keith - awesome post. This coming from one of thos...Keith - awesome post. This coming from one of those bloggers guilty of having a blog like you mentioned. <br /><br />Anyway, I'll have to read Tim's article on preparing for a project and not so much collecting a lead mountain.y best and most productive period was when I was prepping for a convention game. Very focused efforts.<br /><br />Oh, and feudal Japan is just a project I've been considering for some time. So thanks for the heads up! Speaking of that, I better learn some of these fast painting techniques in order to get a samurai on the table before 2018. <br /><br />Which leads me to painting services - I wish they (the reasonably priced ones) were easier to find in the US.<br /><br />Keep it up.Itineranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05344688763064409885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-54223847163992766142013-06-10T21:44:21.189+01:002013-06-10T21:44:21.189+01:00Make that 2 years.Make that 2 years.Keith Flinthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12903769462646267048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-81280241822828877382013-06-10T21:42:30.435+01:002013-06-10T21:42:30.435+01:00Jeff, thanks but don't forget I was just parap...Jeff, thanks but don't forget I was just paraphrasing the articles in question.<br /><br />Tamsin, sorry if lumped you in with painters who I consider go a bit too far in terms of detail. I have to say that attempting 256 15mm figures would take me about a year. Just thinking about doing it in 3 weeks gives me a headache.<br /><br />As you have clearly understood, I was exaggerating my opinions for humorous effect. Thanks for taking it on the chin, as well filling me in on the article background. Keith Flinthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12903769462646267048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-80955288168267190262013-06-10T21:07:07.092+01:002013-06-10T21:07:07.092+01:00Hi Keith,
As you mention me by name, I thought I ...Hi Keith,<br /><br />As you mention me by name, I thought I should leave a comment, if only to give some background on my painting article.<br /><br />Firstly, Henry asked me to write it about 6 days before the issue had to go off to the printers as he needed something that would fill 3-4 pages. He was/is planning to do linked articles for 6mm and 28mm pikemen. Was I the best person to ask for such an article? Maybe, maybe not. <br /><br />Secondly, I'm not sure if you were lumping me in with the 3-shade method painters. I'm definitely not in that camp - life is way too short, especially when you're mainly painting 15mm. The technique I described is actually pretty much what you describe - block painting then do the shading with dip or similar.<br /><br />Did painting 256 pikemen in 3 weeks (including figure prep time) mean sitting down painting/prepping for several hours a day? Yes, but I had taken a few days off work in the middle and was working to a tight (self imposed) deadline. I don't normally paint like that - usually a couple of hours in the evening and not every night.<br /><br />I do think you are right about the amount of detail demanded by some of the "top" figure painters influencing the size, proportions and level of detail of figures produced by sculptors. For skirmish gaming with just a few figures per side that is OK, but for "big battle" gaming it is unnecessary.<br /><br />Take care,<br /><br />TamsinTamsinPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11759947520907448060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-87822912859806642222013-06-10T19:31:29.624+01:002013-06-10T19:31:29.624+01:00Your statement of the case for hard copy in an int...Your statement of the case for hard copy in an internet world is timely and compelling.<br /><br />You are correct, as well, that many wargamers focus all their energy on elaborate miniatures to the detriment of terrain and scenario design. A successful wargame involves much more than just pretty miniatures.<br /><br />Thanks for making the points so eloquently.Jeff Knudsenhttp://www.warartisan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-15337340995857530342013-06-09T21:25:48.734+01:002013-06-09T21:25:48.734+01:00Keith, As one who finds painting a chore - possibl...Keith, As one who finds painting a chore - possibly because I have no great talent for it, middle-aged, vari-focal requiring eyes &c, - I couldn't agree more with your comments on painting wargame figures. I see no point nlavishing such attention to detail upon a playing piece that, in use, will only be viewed at arm's length from above and behind. If one enjoys painting detail, then produce military models for display, and keep toy soldiers for gaming simple and functional.<br />To my mind, a Napoleonic figure should look like the engraved aquatints in contemporary books such as Jenkins' Martial Achievements of Great Britain &c., &c. - lots of colourful soldiers, but no great detail or sublety of shading on each individual figure.<br />Wargaming has suffered from the tyranny of the modelling brigade for too long, and I'm sure the high standards apparently required put many youngsters off. <br />Well said, sir! arthur1815https://www.blogger.com/profile/12333670394529977263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-69843776776743112082013-06-09T19:28:49.624+01:002013-06-09T19:28:49.624+01:00Spray paint them khaki (or field grey) and then ad...Spray paint them khaki (or field grey) and then add a little flesh to make them look like people. If you like detail then some brown, black and metal colours make them more like soldiers. The joy of post 1900 war gaming is that they all look the same in camouflage gear!themselfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09641671953770403569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-51195805048976549812013-06-09T11:47:18.554+01:002013-06-09T11:47:18.554+01:00Well said, Keith. I will need to rethink how I can...Well said, Keith. I will need to rethink how I can provide more real content to my blog. <br /><br />Although I still think that a blog is a more personal medium and combines the article with the anecdote, many blogs err to the latter side.Jurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00159781200263742361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-73815568964828148762013-06-09T10:45:12.524+01:002013-06-09T10:45:12.524+01:00Pierre, this is good. Some guy has spent hours get...Pierre, this is good. Some guy has spent hours getting the shading on those trousers just right (as he thinks), but really it just looks like stripes resulting from a loss of bladder control.<br /><br />Thanks for a good chuckle on a Sunday morning.Keith Flinthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12903769462646267048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-15498546137151248042013-06-09T10:14:26.033+01:002013-06-09T10:14:26.033+01:00A very interesting read. Thank you. I have recentl...A very interesting read. Thank you. I have recently retired and, with time on my hands, I have returned to painting figures after 35 years away. I was surprised to see so many different ideas on what is 28mm and hands like shovels. The biggest surprise was so many painted figures had striped trousers and jackets until I realised these were not stripes but were meant to be painted shaded folds in the cloth. Hmm. No, I am not convinced, they still look like stripes or in some cases like the figure has p****d his pants. I will stick to (what I understand to be called) block-painting.Pierre le Poiluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06436066439479804578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-87361037798637465942013-06-09T08:39:55.418+01:002013-06-09T08:39:55.418+01:00Excellent - there's very little to disagree wi...Excellent - there's very little to disagree with there... the three shade merchants have done more to turn away potential new wargamers than anything else other than the grammar in DBA I think... the guys who run army painter however, should be given medals... paint them as you describe, dip, admire, game, done......Steve-the-Wargamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07077311120172727690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-68143029245346633742013-06-09T07:16:48.348+01:002013-06-09T07:16:48.348+01:00Another thought provoking read from you Keith. Cra...Another thought provoking read from you Keith. Craig and I were talking about the latest WM issue yesterday and the article regarding painting and terrain was discussed at some length. <br /><br />I must say I was not intending on buying either magazine this month, but may check both when I get chance to pop into WH Smiths. The maps look very good with interesting deployments which as you say, can easily provide ideas for other periods.Steve J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12143308117853983963noreply@blogger.com