I have started using contrast paints for my 10mm figures. I was not sure how these would go as the figures can have less detail and smaller pieces of detail so I thought that there may have been some issues. But in the end they turned out quite well (in my opinion anyway) with the understanding that I am not a great painter.
Here are some examples
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| On the left League of Augsburg (LOA) Dutch cavalry in contrast paints and on the right Dutch Napoleonic cavalry in standard acrylics. The contrast works well. Especially on the horses that receive just one coat of contrast paint. This defines the reins, face, and tail of the horse with sufficient variation. In contrast (ha ha) the standard acrylics needs different colours for all these. |
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| Top down view |
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| close up. For the LOA I did use standard acrylics for the cuffs, guns, sword, white line around the hat, and flesh for face and hands. The blanket roll on the LOA figures came out very well with the detail of the straps highlighted. |
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| Close up of some infantry. LOA in contrast paint on the left and Napoleonic's in standard acrylics on the right. |
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| Artillery. Same as before with LOA on left in Contrast and on the right Napoleonic's in standard acrylics. |
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| Different view. The gun carriage is painted in just one colour for the LOA but it still manages to bring out all the detail. The cannon barrel is just a Army Painter contrast bronze (GW don't make metallics) and picks out all the detail. |
Final thoughts
1) Most importantly, close up photography of my painting should be avoided
2) It is slightly faster to paint using contrast paints as less colours/steps are needed. Most apparent when painting horses and artillery.
3) When painting cuffs and other parts with limited detail I think using standard acrylics is still the best.
4) I found using the contrast paints easy. They do not run every where, and if I did use too much paint, it was easily soaked up with a cotton bud or a piece of tissue.
5) As you need to use a white or light grey primer undercoat for contrast paints you need to be a bit more careful to not miss spots as the white undercoat will be more obvious than a darker undercoat.
6) The painting style is sufficiently different that I would not use both methods in the same army as they would look significantly different.
7) Contrast paints will work for me for 10mm and will speed up my painting somewhat.