Painting the hoard

[onlurker]

I have a lot of Skaven models (so not a lot of points worth lol) and I need to basecoat them all.
I really want to do it efficiently, as you can imagine 2400 points worth being a painting task of epic proportions, as I wanna do it well.

I am seeking advise on basecoat colors, as I've never painted an army before.
Fur will be different shades of brown, some grey and some black.
The primary colors would be purple, and green/brown, I think.
My choices:
1. Grey- I tried one model without a basecoat, and I really like the way it blended; it wasn't overpowering with white, or too dark with black.
2. Brown- of course. Than changing shades is almost a matter of one-coating or washing and taking it where it should be.
I also like the 'dirty' feel that it would make.
3. White- because I saw a Youtube vid where I guy made painting them look so easy, and it was nicely done; he just did a coat (or two) of brown and it seemed simple.
4. Noir- because it will make the purple seem more dark, and the browns too.
(These are going to be good guys, so I don't want a 'dark' themed army).

I welcome input- I have no more idea of what I'm doing than I stated, so your thoughts are appreciated

[Jack Shrapnel]

If you're using the army painter coloured primer (and why wouldn't you, it's cheaper and creates an easy base to work up from!) I'd probably go brown, as with a darker colour and highlight on the fur, and a wash you're only a few details away from having a finished model... with skaven you want to keep the momentum up, as if you're spending a week painting and only getting a handful of models done you'll get discouraged...

and once you stop painting skaven... it's real hard to get motivated to pick them up again (trust me, I don't relish painting 100+ MORE rats than I've already done!)

so speed is the key... steady progress to keep you motivated... brown base is already covering one of your principle colours and you can build the tone either darker or lighter from there... so it'll help things move fast...

[onlurker]

That's good advice, I think it'll help me out a lot.
Thanks Shan

Goooo getting 2400 pts done by year's end, lol

[onlurker]

I'm wondering if people are familiar with "vallejo" mixing medium and when someone's painting a lot, when/where it should be used?

[usscott]

I have used med in # of way but not the vallejo one though I think of vallejo as one of the best paint out so I shoe there med good what are you try to do with it.