Painting Horses + Best Primer

[mick]

Hi everyone.
This is my first posting here so be nice to me I recently got this Hussar officer on horseback from Metal Modeles: http://www.michtoy.com/MTSCnewSite/figures...lder/mm008.html

Can anyone help me with 2 things?
1: What is the best thing to use for an undercoat/primer?
2: Are there any techniques for painting a grey horse like in the picture?

Thanks,
Mick

 

[simon1969]

Hi Mick,

Nice choice! (with the figure & this forum - of course! )
Will you be using oils? If so, I have a very good article on painting horses that I will scan & email to you if you'd like?

As for primer, I use Games Workshop/Citadel Skull white in the aerosol (it also comes in black & I think grey, but don't quote me on that one!) I find it gives excellent coverage on all materials (that I've used it on anyway!)
I'm sure you'll get a lot of other suggestions from the rest of the guys on here though!

Cheers
Simon

 

[Guy]

Good Morning Mick,

Two good choices you have made. On the primer side, I use floquil R9 spray primer which provides excelleant coverage and a good base for the color of the horse. Floquil can be found at most model railroad shops. As for the dapple grey horse, I will let others guide you here as the last time I tried to do a dapple he ended up looking like he had measles <_<

Good Morning Simon,
How about posting your article here on pf for all of us to see and use.

Guy

 

[simon1969]

Guy
Not sure about copyright issues with that!? It's from an old Mil Mod supplement.

Mick
I've just remembered seeing an article in Mil Mod a couple of years ago that featured a dappled Grey, not sure how "in-depth" it got but I'll look it up tonight and mail you a scan if it's any good

Simon

 

[MSzwarc]

Mick,

Issue #2 of Figure International has an article on painting that particular Metal Models figure. The colors and technique used on the horse are described, but not pictured. By coincidence, however, the same issue has an article on painting Andrea's "Scotland Forever!" vignette. The horse in this vignette was also painted as a dapple-grey, and there are some SBS photos on the painting.

The book Ultimate Horse is a good reference for horse coloration. Of course, it only shows you where you're going, not how to get there .

Mike Szwarc

 

[garyjd]

Simon, I too like the Citadel Primer, it's great stuff and covers well.

I remember an article done way back in "Campaigns" magazine that was about painting dapple gray horses. It was by Andrei Koribanics and was quite a good article, that is if you're painting in oils.~Gary

 

[mick]

Hi everyone. Thanks for all the tips. I think I will learn a lot in this forum.

Mick

 

[gforceman]

Hi Mick,

I've never painted an horse in my life, although I have several kits in the cupboard on a horse, so I can't help you with that one. I do have used about two dozen of different primers, and the one I found the absolute best is the Citadel/Games Workshop Skull white in an aerosol can.

Hope this helps,

Gino

 

[mick]

I noticed that on the real uniforms the Busby (or whatever the French call their Hussars cap) is much bigger than on the Metal Modeles figure I have. The pic here was of a real veteran in his original uniform taken in 1858. I have the whole series of these pics plus some Crimean war ones. If I can find out how to make a gallery, I can post them for everyone to look at.
Mick

 

[Edson]

Originally posted by mick@Nov 13 2003, 04:45 PM
I noticed that on the real uniforms the Busby (or whatever the French call their Hussars cap) is much bigger than on the Metal Modeles figure I have. The pic here was of a real veteran in his original uniform taken in 1858. I have the whole series of these pics plus some Crimean war ones. If I can find out how to make a gallery, I can post them for everyone to look at.
Mick

this man is Mr. Fabry a real Veteran from the Napoleonic Wars very interesting i have all the photos from that photograpic session, i will put them all


Regards
Ed

 

[Guy]

Hello Mick,

I have read the posting about the different primers used and before I discovered Floquil R9, I tried them all and found that floquil doesn't hide the detail and goes on well. It takes about 12 hours for floquil to cure and set up if left at room temp and can be speed up by the ole crock pot with the lid off / ajar.

Guy

 

[mick]

Thanks for the info
mick

 

[simon1969]

Originally posted by KeithP@Nov 13 2003, 11:19 PM
Even the Gaming primer seems to wipe out detail with one or two LIGHT coats. Maybe it is my technique...

FWIW, A useful tip for aerosol spray paints is to warm them in hot (NOT boiling!!) water for a few minutes beforehand. It increases the pressure, resulting in a finer spray

Simon

 

[Guy]

Hello Keith,
I have used both, the Railroad primer,(easier to find) and also the Figure primer. The RR primer is light gray in color and the figure primer is white in color. It's been a long time since I purchased any (bought a dozen cans the last time) and I am not sure the figure primer is still available. I have never tried the "warming" technique but plan to the next time.

Guy

 

[mick]

I originally come from Australia but came to Vienna, Austria about 4 years ago when I started this hobby. Hardware stores, like in the USA/ UK sell everything but here in Austria it is kind of like being behind the old Iron Curtain sometimes when it comes to finding things. Thanks for all your help with my questions.
Isaw a new plastic & metal primer spray can from Tamiya today (not to be confused with their range of spray can paints). Has anyone tried it yet?
mick

 

[Richard E]

Hi Mick

I think I know the one you mean, I've tried alot of primers and have never found one that gives a satisfactory result. In this cae it gave me tiny bubbles all over the figure (although I may have held it too far away of course)

Richard

 

[simon1969]

No probs Keith!
Happy to pass the tip on!

Simon

 

[Guy]

Keith......glad to be of help..

Guy