Painting Small Figures (split from "Paint")

[G-Sentinel]

i have a question. i want to try a hand at painting the pilots and i bought some thin tip paint markers and they SUCK! They spill all over the figures and ruin the lines that show the detail! I was wondering what the heck do you use to make them look so good! I would like specifics if possible.

[FichtenFoo]

I split this from the paint topic as it's more of a technique specific question and could be useful as a stand-alone thread.

First, are the pilots with or without helmets? The paint markers do suck so just throw them out. Get yourself some nice really small paint brushes. The smallest you can find. Get some of the next few sizes up as well. Michaels usually has sales on brushes so keep an eye out.

For the 1/72 figs on my PG Zaku Dio I did this:

from: http://fichtenfoo.com/02GiantRobots/02b-PGzaku3.htm

First I primed them all with Dark Gray Duplicolor Primer. Next I handbrushed the blue or green clothes. After that I painted the various flesh tones and did the washes to bring out the details. And the last thing I've done is paint the hair (5-6 hair colors), white shirts, and a few miscelaneous things. I have more things to paint on the figs such as belts and undershirts then I'll give those parts a wash to bring out the highlights.

Painting Small Figures (split from "Paint")

I did about the same thing on my Abandon Base figs.

[G-Sentinel]

Thanks. Most of them have the helmets because there the 1/100 pilots.I'm dissapointed with the paintmarkers b/c they were so expensive. at first i was like, these are pretty good until they turned my little Amuro Rey into a dreadful glob of paint and misery. Well i'll go to michael's ASAP and buy those paintbrushes. Also i was so desperate to get the detail on the figures that I would put putty over the remaining area and would just consetrate on that one area but those darn markers always find a way to ruin things!