cyromax
10-09-2009, 02:34 AM
I am reviewing a product by Privateer Press, that is a part of the P3 Hobby range, the Modeling & Painting DVD, Volume 1: Core Techniques.
This is a multi region DVD that covers many of the basics required for any miniature game no matter the genre or scale. As this DVD uses Privateer Press figures in the presentation, it does favour 25-30mm figures scales, though many of the techniques will suit smaller scale 15mm figures. I have no trouble playing this DVD in Region 4, Australia.
First a little bit on my background. I have been playing with, and painting miniatures for wargames over the last 14 years. I started out playing Games Workshop games, including Warhammer, Epic and Necromunda. Now my gaming focus has changed to Privateer Press games, Warmachine, and Hordes, and also 15mm ancients using the Field of Glory rules. I have four collected factions within Privateer Press games, and I am slowly bringing together an ancient Indian army. In addition to this, I am a Press Ganger for Privateer Press, which means I demo games, and run events to benefit the hobby, from painting workshops to tournaments.
On opening the DVD, you get a booklet in addition, which is a handy reference which you can use both during the DVD, and after. It lists supplies and tools, the chapters, has a little bio about the presenter of the instructional movies and also has notes on assembling figures. In addition it contains a colour chart of the P3 paint range, and some advertising of the P3 tools which are available and used throughout the DVD.
The DVD itself is divided into 6 sensible chapters, each dealing with a specific step in building and finishing your miniatures. Guiding you through this process is Ron Kruzie, the Studio Director from Privateer Press. Ran manages to keep a dry subject interesting, which combined with some good photography and an engaging soundtrack, will keep you interested through the DVD.
What follows is a brief overview of the chapters and the information presented;
Chapter 1 – Tools of the trade
This introduced you to the workspace, and the tools that you use in assembling and painting figures. As could be expected, it is greatly focused on the P3 tools which are provided by the company, but any of these tools can be found generically. This is a comprehensive guide to everything you need to produce good quality models on the tabletop.
Chapter 2 – Getting it together
This is preparation and assembly of the figure, focusing on multi piece metal figures. It has great information on pining, and the use of modelling putty to fill gaps in figures. I found information that refined techniques I was already experienced in and ways to extend the life of my tools in this section of the DVD.
Chapter 3 – Way of the Brush
This section deals with getting paint on the figure. It is broken down into four fundamental basic techniques. Basecoating, to get an even, solid base colour over the primer. Drybrushing to bring out detail on raised surfaces. Washing as a way of shading models. Finally it also covers layering, a technique of using layers of lighter and darker colours to give a model the exaggerated shading that brings it to live on the table top.
Its worth noting that this section will help you produce table top quality figures. Its designed to help people coming into the hobby especially by describing the building block techniques of painting a figure. Of more worth to people with slightly more experience, or who are struggling to produce well painted miniatures, the video goes into details of paint consistency, and flow from the brush onto the model.
The techniques in this part of the video are well photographed, steady, and Ron imparts a good amount of information while at the focus is on the model being painted and the techniques being demonstrated.
Chapters 4-6 – Start to Finish
These final three chapters bring the techniques taught in the beginning of the video together, focusing on three distinctly different model types.
First up is an Ironclad; warjack and technological marvel, this kind of figure covers vehicles, and such Games Workshop models as Dreadnaughts, Necron Destroyers, Tau Battlesuits, and of course other Warmachine Warjacks.
Next is a human model, focusing on skin, armour and clothing, it will be the base reference section for the majority of figures available on the market for any game.
Finally, they paint a Raek, a Hordes warbeast. This brings out techniques more suited to living, non human models. For Games Workshop hobbiests it’s a useful section for Lizardmen, Chaos, and other non-humanoid, non technological races and figures.
These final sections also have practical examples of basing figures.
In Summary:
Even with many years of experience assembling and painting miniatures, I found this DVD to be useful in the information it provided. I also found it to be entertaining, and engaging. I have watched it multiple times and sometimes play it in the background while I am painting figures in my loungeroom.
Its served especially to make assembling miniatures a less painful experience, but its also encouraged me to expand on my painting technique, and take chances with methods, and paint colours to create some wonderfully painted figures which look good on the tabletop. I find it helps to instruct others when you are teaching techniques, as the pictures are clear and large on the screen, and you can replay sections easily using DVD controls, to review or point out particular techniques.
In addition to this, I find the movie imparts a certain amount of energy and excitement on people who watch it, which fuels the painting of figures, even in reluctant painters.
I can definitely recommend this product, and I am glad that I purchased a copy myself.
Who is this Video for:
This video focuses primarily on people new to the hobby of miniature wargaming. However unless you are entering into painting competitions like the Golden Demon and Privateer Press Gencon painting competition competitively, or winning other events with your brush skills, then there is something that can be found in this DVD to improve your painting.
What this video doesn’t cover:
Advanced techniques, like wet blending, and model conversion. It also doesn’t cover sculpting beyond basic gap filling in assembling models.
This is a multi region DVD that covers many of the basics required for any miniature game no matter the genre or scale. As this DVD uses Privateer Press figures in the presentation, it does favour 25-30mm figures scales, though many of the techniques will suit smaller scale 15mm figures. I have no trouble playing this DVD in Region 4, Australia.
First a little bit on my background. I have been playing with, and painting miniatures for wargames over the last 14 years. I started out playing Games Workshop games, including Warhammer, Epic and Necromunda. Now my gaming focus has changed to Privateer Press games, Warmachine, and Hordes, and also 15mm ancients using the Field of Glory rules. I have four collected factions within Privateer Press games, and I am slowly bringing together an ancient Indian army. In addition to this, I am a Press Ganger for Privateer Press, which means I demo games, and run events to benefit the hobby, from painting workshops to tournaments.
On opening the DVD, you get a booklet in addition, which is a handy reference which you can use both during the DVD, and after. It lists supplies and tools, the chapters, has a little bio about the presenter of the instructional movies and also has notes on assembling figures. In addition it contains a colour chart of the P3 paint range, and some advertising of the P3 tools which are available and used throughout the DVD.
The DVD itself is divided into 6 sensible chapters, each dealing with a specific step in building and finishing your miniatures. Guiding you through this process is Ron Kruzie, the Studio Director from Privateer Press. Ran manages to keep a dry subject interesting, which combined with some good photography and an engaging soundtrack, will keep you interested through the DVD.
What follows is a brief overview of the chapters and the information presented;
Chapter 1 – Tools of the trade
This introduced you to the workspace, and the tools that you use in assembling and painting figures. As could be expected, it is greatly focused on the P3 tools which are provided by the company, but any of these tools can be found generically. This is a comprehensive guide to everything you need to produce good quality models on the tabletop.
Chapter 2 – Getting it together
This is preparation and assembly of the figure, focusing on multi piece metal figures. It has great information on pining, and the use of modelling putty to fill gaps in figures. I found information that refined techniques I was already experienced in and ways to extend the life of my tools in this section of the DVD.
Chapter 3 – Way of the Brush
This section deals with getting paint on the figure. It is broken down into four fundamental basic techniques. Basecoating, to get an even, solid base colour over the primer. Drybrushing to bring out detail on raised surfaces. Washing as a way of shading models. Finally it also covers layering, a technique of using layers of lighter and darker colours to give a model the exaggerated shading that brings it to live on the table top.
Its worth noting that this section will help you produce table top quality figures. Its designed to help people coming into the hobby especially by describing the building block techniques of painting a figure. Of more worth to people with slightly more experience, or who are struggling to produce well painted miniatures, the video goes into details of paint consistency, and flow from the brush onto the model.
The techniques in this part of the video are well photographed, steady, and Ron imparts a good amount of information while at the focus is on the model being painted and the techniques being demonstrated.
Chapters 4-6 – Start to Finish
These final three chapters bring the techniques taught in the beginning of the video together, focusing on three distinctly different model types.
First up is an Ironclad; warjack and technological marvel, this kind of figure covers vehicles, and such Games Workshop models as Dreadnaughts, Necron Destroyers, Tau Battlesuits, and of course other Warmachine Warjacks.
Next is a human model, focusing on skin, armour and clothing, it will be the base reference section for the majority of figures available on the market for any game.
Finally, they paint a Raek, a Hordes warbeast. This brings out techniques more suited to living, non human models. For Games Workshop hobbiests it’s a useful section for Lizardmen, Chaos, and other non-humanoid, non technological races and figures.
These final sections also have practical examples of basing figures.
In Summary:
Even with many years of experience assembling and painting miniatures, I found this DVD to be useful in the information it provided. I also found it to be entertaining, and engaging. I have watched it multiple times and sometimes play it in the background while I am painting figures in my loungeroom.
Its served especially to make assembling miniatures a less painful experience, but its also encouraged me to expand on my painting technique, and take chances with methods, and paint colours to create some wonderfully painted figures which look good on the tabletop. I find it helps to instruct others when you are teaching techniques, as the pictures are clear and large on the screen, and you can replay sections easily using DVD controls, to review or point out particular techniques.
In addition to this, I find the movie imparts a certain amount of energy and excitement on people who watch it, which fuels the painting of figures, even in reluctant painters.
I can definitely recommend this product, and I am glad that I purchased a copy myself.
Who is this Video for:
This video focuses primarily on people new to the hobby of miniature wargaming. However unless you are entering into painting competitions like the Golden Demon and Privateer Press Gencon painting competition competitively, or winning other events with your brush skills, then there is something that can be found in this DVD to improve your painting.
What this video doesn’t cover:
Advanced techniques, like wet blending, and model conversion. It also doesn’t cover sculpting beyond basic gap filling in assembling models.