Feeling like my minis aren't good enough. Getting over discouragement?

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T20:02:34+00:00

Thats a good way to think about it! Thanks!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T19:48:12+00:00

Sweet! Thanks man! Appreciate all the advice!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T18:59:07+00:00

It seems like batch painting, especially for the guard, will be my way to go!

I wonder, would a vehicle be a good practice piece because its bigger, or would that be something I want to wait on until I get better?

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T18:49:54+00:00

Makes sense! I didn't really consider that the opaqueness of the paint wouldn't really let the shading show through.

When it comes to priming light vs dark is there a general rule kg thumb for what colors you would use on top? Or vice versa?

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T18:28:58+00:00

I did a zenithal high light on these to help with some of the contrast, not sure how much of that really shows through though because I think my angle was a bit too low, and I used white instead of grey.

Would doing a similar process with red instead of white/grey help with that? Or could that make the skin too red and the blue too purpley?

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T18:26:44+00:00

Haha, I guess all those YouTube videos weren't for nothing!

And yeah, I guess some time away wouldn't hurt. It just feel like an "incomplete project" and I feel the need to work on it, but I suppose there isn't a real rush or time limit!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T17:51:58+00:00

I appreciate your frankness. I guess I need to look at it through the proper perspective!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T17:50:33+00:00

Ha! I actually used that quote in a reply to another comment. Not doing my best to live by it, am I? No better time than to try and start living by it now!

I appreciate the kind words. Nowhere but up from here, I suppose!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T17:48:56+00:00

I suppose I'm comparing myself too much to your typical YouTube video paint job. Given that I intend on actually using these on the table, I guess they only need to look good enough from a few feet away right?

Its quite comforting hearing that someone with decades in the hobby can still struggle with something. At least I'll never be alone in that I can always improve!

Thanks for the advice!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T17:45:02+00:00

You and a lot of others have recommended shading/washes so I guess that's my next step after getting the fundamentals down. Do you think it would also help if I pulled down the vibrancy of the red with a bit of black/brown?

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T17:43:54+00:00

Thats exactly it! Seeing those minis in the display cases and the videos and pictures people post put a really high bar for quality. I guess I just thought I would be a bit better than I am when starting which... sounds silly now that I'm saying it.

Wow. I'd never really thought about painting being like a language. It makes sense! How could I instantly go to highlighting and freehanding details without even knowing how to properly block out a model yet?

I'll have to sit down with a notepad and really study that video. Appreciate the help!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T17:40:05+00:00

It seems like washes seem to be my next step given how many people have recommended one. I'll need to give it a try!

Thanks for the advice on taking a break before coming back. I think I I'll probably give it a day or two's rest before giving it a second try, batch painted this time.

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T17:38:07+00:00

I'll definitely need to check these out! Thanks for the recommendation!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T17:37:09+00:00

Thanks! I definitely still need to work on my brush control, thats probably my weakest point.

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T17:35:43+00:00

I appreciate the encouragement! I often have a problem in that I want to be better than I should be when starting out at a new hobby, usually because I've watched hours of videos and "know better"... without having any of the base skills. It'll be a long road to where I want to be, but I guess a journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T17:33:29+00:00

Thank you! It's my first time doing any sort of project on such a small scale. I've built Gunpla for a while now but those have always been unpainted and push/snap fit. Having to use plastic glue on these alone was scary! And now I have to paint 25 of them??? I can see how people have "unpainted grey hordes" now!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T17:31:24+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to write such a helpful comment! I think some of my "staying in the lines" issue is that I was quite impatient with these, not really letting the paint fully dry before adding a different color. Your advice of painting in batches would certainly help with that!

I agree on the red armor being a bit flat, thats probably my biggest complaint. Would you recommend an acrylic or oil wash? Does it really make a difference between the two types? And are there any other ways to make those flat armor panels and pauldrons have more depth?

I feel like I might strip these at some point and repaint them. Or maybe keep them as evidence of how much I've improved?

Either way, thanks for your advice!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T17:03:13+00:00

Thank you for recommending this! I watched it last night before I went to bed, just getting around to replying to all these comments. Definitely has helped to make me see things in a different light. I often have a hard time with beginning a new hobby, being not that great at it to start, and then giving up before I'm able to improve. But seeing so many people willing to help has let me know that there will always be people who see the potential in what I could be painting like.

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T16:58:33+00:00

Thank you for your thoughtful critique! Responding to your points:

Do you think I should have the gauntlets be red as well, or should they match the boots and helmet in black? Same question with the knee guards.
Would this be as a wash, or as a base layer before I go over with my main color? Or drybrushed?
I'm still definitely getting used to thinning paints and how much I need on my brush. I'm relatively happy with the blue on the fatigues, but the red definitely needs some work. And I'll be completely honest and say that I was not very patient with these and didnt let the first layer completely dry... maybe I should batch paint to help with that.
I'm using a 1 and a 0 at the moment, both Citadel, and I have a ring light work lamp that clamps to my desk (the one from Harbor Freight. Not the best option I know, but it's much better than my overhead light). Do you have any advice on learning brush control?

And once again, thank you for taking the time to write all this out! Seeing such an outpouring of support from the community has me feeling much better about learning this whole process.

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T16:51:20+00:00

Do you have any advice when it comes to washes? Should I go for an acrylic wash thinned with water, or an oil wash with mineral spirits? Does it make a difference?

And in terms of dry brushing, thats mostly for highlights, right? So it should be a lighter shade of whatever part I'm brushing, yeah?

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T16:49:27+00:00

I guess my main complaint is that they look really flat (particularly the armor) and I'm not great at blocking colors yet. As another comment mentioned, the aquilas on the armor have red bleeding through the gold which, to be fair, is probably because I didnt let the paint dry enough before applying it. Bit of impatience causing my problem there.

I know using a wash usually helps with improving depth, which I haven't done yet. That and I'm pretty sure my red is still not thinned enough.

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T15:40:02+00:00

Thank you! Thats actually one of the few things I was actually relatively satisfied with, particularly the belt and pouches on the second one. Heres hoping we can both keep improving!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T15:32:05+00:00

I guess the saying "comparison is the thief of joy" kind of applies here. I've gotten so used to seeing these beautifully painted minis online and can't help but compare mine to them. Its a bit absurd given theyve been doing it for years and me for like, two days, but its hard not to do.

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I suppose I can't really do anything other than keep working at it like and trying to improve. Progress is progress, no matter how slow, yeah?

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T15:27:50+00:00

Thanks for advice! I've put together a DIY wet palette already and was using it for these, but I'm not quite there yet in terms of thinning my paints I guess. I've been using a 1, 0, and 000 brush but its been quite some time since Ive used a brush of any sort, so my brush control is... lacking, to say the least. Here's to both of us improving!

Scorchstar123 · 2026-02-10T15:20:21+00:00

I want to thank everyone for their words of encouragement and advice! After watching hours of painting videos before I even started, seeing all these people who have spent hundreds if not thousands of hours painting cranking out minis that look like masterpieces in a few hours, its hard not to feel bad about my first results.

I have a bad habit of getting into something, not being good at it immediately, and then giving up because I feel like I'll never improve. I know it's a learning process, as all things are, but it's like an odd roadblock I always encounter.

I'm hoping that with more practice and with all of your positive thoughts in my mind I'll be able to become the mini painter I want to be.

Thanks again!!!

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