Contrast Paints

One of the things I always hated in the gaming sphere, was painting all the bloody miniatures. I liked to convince myself that I loved it, and bought all of the paraphernalia required, but to be honest, no matter what we tell ourselves, it's still a chore.

Some fantasy figures, from the 80s, plus a plastic Viking at centre - white undercoat and contrast paints

Without going into the history of 'contrast paints', and how they might singlehandedly have been responsible for saving the global conglomerate that is Games Workshop...I hadn't heard of them until last year, and done very little about it. The promise was a product that turned the three steps of priming (in black or white) then base-coating and highlighting 'into a single step, offering a base paint and a shade in a single coat'.

An old lead modern 80s British at left, with plastic and lead fantasy figs

Now that said, a white undercoat is still required, but , if you are not too picky about your paint job (I am not), it's a bloody marvellous idea. I have literally painted a miniature in 5 minutes - something which with the old 'black undercoat' and Foundry 'three coat' system of base and highlights that I used to use, would have been impossible previously. What it has done is enabled me to turn the piles of unpainted lead and plastic, into painted miniatures - now bearing in mind the D&D game that I was running, plots have actually developed from the availability of random miniatures who, now painted, have become characters in the stories.

Flesh tones tend to do very well with a white undercoat

I have used both GW's version and the Army Painter versions - the results are for the most part acceptable, though some colours don't give the definition you'd like - but all in all, it works.

Greens on monsters lack a little definition, though again, a highlight or drybrush can transform if needed

White undercoat with some (very) old Lamming moderns - contrasted with the finished troop - again the skin tones - a single coat - really bring things to life, whilst the green needs a little work

Again the green in its virgin form - the guy on the right is playable after 5 mins painting.

A great idea, great finish, and perfect for the lazy painter.