You can preshade with rattlecans, start with black, then use a medium grey from the top or direction where the most light will be falling on the mini. This will give the base to work with then you can dry brush a lighter grey onto the raised areas to build the volume.
The trick when adding the colour to the mini is to ensure the consistency is more glaze than paint. Too thick coats of paint will hide the shading.
You can also do it all with brushes but it’s very time consuming. I like to work with metallics for the shading especially for power armour
This is the base with metallic preshading
And this is what it looks like with a glaze applied
And the final result once tweaked
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On the right models, contrast is really good. Stuff with lots of textures, like cloth, fur, skin, all take Contrast really well. What it doesn’t do is flat surfaces, like Space Marine armour.
I blitzed through the Blackstone Fortress set using contrasts and metals. (Contrasts also work really well over metals, and through an airbrush)
That level of imagination is too rich for me.
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I’m considering trying out an airbrush. Anyone got a recommendation for a reasonably priced beginner one?
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I use a Harder and Steenbeck Ultra, I mostly use it for preshading and base colours. I struggle with the detail side of things, but as with everything, practice lots!
The other part that people forget is the compressor. You ideally need one with a tank and water trap, this avoids pulsing and paint spatter. You will get frustrated as it won’t always work as you expect, paint drying on the tip or paint not thinned properly, or incorrect pressure are the usual culprits.
There’s loads of artists on YouTube with good demonstrations on how to prepare and use paint through the brush, one of my favourites is Angel Giraldez.
The best thing I got taught, was to spend time doodling on blank paper to learn fine lines and different spray patterns so you learn how your particular brush will perform.
Oh and I forgot to mention the worst thing about airbrushing - the clean up afterwards! The brush needs to be really clean internally or you will suffer from nozzle blockages as the airflow pushes old paint into the tip the next time you use it.
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You have two options for beginner brushes. Dirt cheap Chinese, or spend a bit more on something like the Ultra.
If you buy Chinese you will buy twice. Because they’re awful, and the danger is that the user experience is so poor it will put you off.
I recommend doing a course. Cult of Paint do good beginner courses.
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Thanks. I hadn’t thought about that. Will look into it
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There will be other providers, but it’s far better than trying to learn from YouTube.
There’s only so many times you can hear someone describe the right dilution of paint as ‘the consistency of milk’.
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I gave this month’s free miniature to my youngest. He spent ages in the shop picking the colours that he wanted me to paint it in. Still need to finish the base but he’s very happy with it (I’m really not happy with the orange work). I’m just about to get my first lot of Aeldari combat patrol magazines, he’s already decided that I’m going to have to paint them all in this scheme 
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Looking good!
I could never get my lad to get interested in it no matter how hard I tried. At least I’m not paying out loads on 2 lots of armies 
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All three of mine are showing an interest. I’m going to be broke for life
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