Imaginations in 42mm (10)

I started painting the generals for my armies (see also this blogpost). As you can see, there are not finished yet (they still need some touching up, and most importantly, a thick layer of gloss varnish), but let's say 90% of the work is done.

When painting figures in the "toy soldier style", I go for simple block colours. There's always the temptation to add some short of shading or highlights, or to add too many details, but I try to resist that. The painting should be in bright colours and in large blocks (but not sloppy or imprecise). Moreover, I try to keep the original painting scheme of the toy soldier as closely as possible. Thus, if he had a blue uniform, he gets a new blue uniform. If he had a white frock, he gets a new white frock, etc. I sometimes add a few colours on small details that were not painted in the original paint job, but that's about ir.

I also never touch the face, unless for small repairs where the bare metal is showing. I feel that you can give a toy soldier a new uniform if he needs one, but repainting the face is like altering his identity. I feel that if you repaint his eyes, or give him a new moustache, he becomes a new person. Some might think this is somewhat ridiculous, and sometimes I think this myself, but it's one of these little pet peeves I have when repainting an old figure. You have to show him some respect, and let him keep his dignity. Not repainting his face is part of that.

The two figures on the left will become the generals of the blue army, the one on the right the generals of the green army. Since they didn't have any green in them originally, I decided to add a few green details such as their sashes and waistbands.

Oh, and I repaired the brown horse that got broken near its ankles, and added a transparant flight stand to keep it stable.

And a happy 2018 to you all!