O Scale Figure comparison

@RRDOC posted:

Top notch painting, Joe.

Where do you source your Phoenix and Omen figures?  The only suppliers I could find are in the UK (S&D Models, Scale Link Ltd).  Ebay had a some in 1/43 but most were larger scales, overpriced, shipping from Europe and Canada, and clothing optional!

Bob

I love the scenes, they look very realistic!

@cngw posted:

One of the things I find about nearly all of the figures, in almost all gauges, is that dress is for everyday, normal.  BUT everyday normal in warm weather. Swimmers, kite flyers, everyday travelers and shoppers - all available.

Amazon, the seller of "all things made" does not show cold weather creatures. I don't see any major suppliers of such items in cheap quantity. Thus the citizens of CNGW railroad must suffer each Christmas. Below, they are probably hoping the train will get here soon so they can get warm!!  Perhaps in years to come, a reliable supplier will mass produce figures made to "endure the cold."   Greg

I found some with Preisers, in winter attire. They were a little pricey.

Jay

The pack of 16 Preiser unpainted fiqures I purchased (mentioned above) have 4 figures with winter coats...average price that I paid is $2 each. When you take into account the time spent hand painting with the excellent detail present in their figures, the ballpark price these days of approximately $7 on average seems reasonable.  Preiser has a limited asssortment of painted characters in 1/43 and 1/45 compared to a huge assortment in HO where the bulk of the hobby is these days.

I'm giving painting Preiser figures a second chance...the first attempt didn't go to well...lol!

Paul, the current April issue of Model Railroader has an article on painting figures.  The author wrote that even if he hasn’t painted any for 6 months, he is rusty and the first few aren’t that good until he regains the knack.  I have some here to paint myself, but haven’t tried it yet.

@Capetrainman posted:

The pack of 16 Preiser unpainted fiqures I purchased (mentioned above) have 4 figures with winter coats...average price that I paid is $2 each. When you take into account the time spent hand painting with the excellent detail present in their figures, the ballpark price these days of approximately $7 on average seems reasonable.  Preiser has a limited asssortment of painted characters in 1/43 and 1/45 compared to a huge assortment in HO where the bulk of the hobby is these days.

I'm giving painting Preiser figures a second chance...the first attempt didn't go to well...lol!

Paul-I do a fair amount of 28mm historical figure painting.  That scales out somewhere between O and S.  I would not say that I am good.  Certainly when compared to many in that hobby.  Yet when I look at the pre-painted figures out there for model railroads I frequently think "I could do better than that."  Chances are if you keep at it you will feel the same way.  Just a few thoughts for your consideration.  First we tend to judge our figures singly and on close inspection, but we use them in groups and a foot or more away from the viewer.  Second a dozen or more figures painted to a "good enough for the table" standard are more useful for a model railroad than one figure painted up to competition standards.  Third, as your skills improve you can move your previously painted figures to less visible parts of the layout.  Fourth, if you really do that bad a job, then acrylic paints can be removed after soaking in water with the help of an old toothbrush.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Paul, the current April issue of Model Railroader has an article on painting figures.  The author wrote that even if he hasn’t painted any for 6 months, he is rusty and the first few aren’t that good until he regains the knack.  I have some here to paint myself, but haven’t tried it yet.

@Bill N posted:

Paul-I do a fair amount of 28mm historical figure painting.  That scales out somewhere between O and S.  I would not say that I am good.  Certainly when compared to many in that hobby.  Yet when I look at the pre-painted figures out there for model railroads I frequently think "I could do better than that."  Chances are if you keep at it you will feel the same way.  Just a few thoughts for your consideration.  First we tend to judge our figures singly and on close inspection, but we use them in groups and a foot or more away from the viewer.  Second a dozen or more figures painted to a "good enough for the table" standard are more useful for a model railroad than one figure painted up to competition standards.  Third, as your skills improve you can move your previously painted figures to less visible parts of the layout.  Fourth, if you really do that bad a job, then acrylic paints can be removed after soaking in water with the help of an old toothbrush.

Mark, thanks for the tip...I'll check out the April issue...I started the process today with my new paints and new brushes suggested by John Rowlen on the forum.  John is a very skilled figure painter and often posts on the Forum.  I'm finding in my painting task today that the size and quality of the brush is key to sharpening the detail and the edges where the colors border each other.

Bill...thanks for the boost in confidence...as mentioned to Mark right above, I'm finding that using a very small brush for the small detail areas makes the process go much better...I never knew brushes came in such minute sizes...

some great considerations regarding figures for our layouts. Based on some of that great advice, I may actually try to paint a few. my neighbor uses paint pens for some detailed work; has anyone ever tried using paint pens on the figures?

@Capetrainman posted:

Mark, thanks for the tip...I'll check out the April issue...I started the process today with my new paints and new brushes suggested by John Rowland on the forum.  John is a very skilled figure painter and often posts on the Forum.  I'm finding in my painting task today that the size and quality of the brush is key to sharpening the detail and the edges where the colors border each other.

Bill...thanks for the boost in confidence...as mentioned to Mark right above, I'm finding that using a very small brush for the small detail areas makes the process go much better...I never knew brushes came in such minute sizes...

Paul, by the looks of the photograph, you are ready to go!  Truth be told, I thought John gave a little more information than the article, except the article emphasized saving your figures you aren’t happy with for the background.  At a distance, you won’t know the difference between them and your good ones.

@Capetrainman posted:

Mark, thanks for the tip...I'll check out the April issue...I started the process today with my new paints and new brushes suggested by John Rowland on the forum.  John is a very skilled figure painter and often posts on the Forum.  I'm finding in my painting task today that the size and quality of the brush is key to sharpening the detail and the edges where the colors border each other.

Bill...thanks for the boost in confidence...as mentioned to Mark right above, I'm finding that using a very small brush for the small detail areas makes the process go much better...I never knew brushes came in such minute sizes...

Wow Paul, I thought painting my shovels and picks required a steady hand with finesse, nicely done. I noticed the magnifying glass, have you thought about a multi power glass head set? It’s my immediate go to when working on the bench.

Gene

@Genemed posted:

Wow Paul, I thought painting my shovels and picks required a steady hand with finesse, nicely done. I noticed the magnifying glass, have you thought about a multi power glass head set? It’s my immediate go to when working on the bench.

Gene

Gene, thanks for the tip...given the minute size of these figures, often times it's difficult to determine, for example, where a coat line or shirt line begins and ends...so i keep the magnfier close!  Some additional magnification from your suggestion would definitly help...

@pennsyfan - search marching band cake topper on eBay.  That’s where I got my marching band figures.  They are waiting to stomp the streets of Canton Missouri when I get the upper level of the layout built.  (Our 100+ member high school band wore white fedoras, so I will need to modify the British band outfits a bit but they look pretty close to what we wore.)  When I get home this evening I’ll edit this post and share the dimensions.

They’re right at 6 scale feet tall including fedora.

@Capetrainman posted:

Gene, thanks for the tip...given the minute size of these figures, often times it's difficult to determine, for example, where a coat line or shirt line begins and ends...so i keep the magnfier close!  Some additional magnification from your suggestion would definitly help...

Paul, I purchased it from Amazon in late 2021 when I started making all my wood kits. This and my led neck light are two of my most used tools. I just checked, here’s a newer version.

Gene

@Genemed posted:

Paul, I purchased it from Amazon in late 2021 when I started making all my wood kits. This and my led neck light are two of my most used tools. I just checked, here’s a newer version.

Gene

Thanks, Gene...I'll check them out on the net...!