Federation Commander

[SWO_Daddy]

Another cheap but effective modeling tool: Tooth Picks. You want the round ones that end in a fine point, but they can be excellent for painting very small details like weapons and the like. The vast majority of the work you see on my minis was done with toothpicks rather than a brush. The tooth pick doesn't hold much paint (which is good - you want to keep things small and under control anyway), and when its been used too much, you just toss it.

I also use them quite a bit for positioning decals.

Its gotten to the point that I can't build a model or mini without them.
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Check out my website at: http://www.jgray-sfb.com/

[pinecone]

Thanks everyone. I am going to really consider starting to work on these. Now that a birthday is passed, I think it's in my price range. I want to get my FC collection up to date first ( Need booster packs 23, 24, and 91), but then I might start on Minis. It would be a good summer activity.

[Starfury]

As you get into it I've found that a rapidiograph (technical pen) can let you do things a brush won't do. They're not cheap ($15+) but only one or two sizes are needed.

As for paints: You can go the cheap route but there are some colors that you just can't find in the "el cheapo" paints; mostly these are metallics and while they may have the color listed it won't work like the smaller jar. It is worth looking at gold/silver (I like Tamiya) paints for some of the detaling; they also make transparent red/blue/green/orange/yellow that looks very nice when painted over silver/gold paint. Gives a "gem" look to things. Works great for Fed. engines.

On a side note: I'm still using paints I've had for 10 years. I do miss a few that dried out/no longer made like the Polly-S metallic green/metallic blue paints.

As for decals: I'm cheap. I've used some of the ones that starfightergames puts out but I also have a pile of old Warhammer 40k decals that I use on my ships. I've found that this irritates the purists here when they see a Fed CA with Space Wolves decals and a Gorn with Dark Angels decals.

[djdood]

I'm definitely a purist, but I also think folks should do their minis up the way they see fit (I just happen to go "tv style" with mine).

Scoutdad's pink FedEx Courier is a good example of "creative license"

I loves me some decals and use them on most of my minis (and create a lot of them myself, with help from friends). Custom-printed decals can get spendy, but they are a luxury, not a requirement. Lots of folks get good results without them.
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[Scoutdad]

[djdood]

After making my living with my drafting pens for 3 years, I never really wanted to touch them again. Too many evenings of cramped wrists from hand-lettering l-o-n-g drawing notes, 12-hours a day...
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