You probably are buying cindecil paints, DONT. I mean they are really good, but the are $$$$ and they dry up fast. IMO they are not worth it. I had afew of them (well actually my brother got a large lot for $1 with some warhamer 40k figures) and I personally prefer them in look, but they are not worth it because they dry up REAL fast. I used my moms and hers are many years old and work fine with the exception of afew which are lumpy, but there are ways to restore the paint. My problem is my brushes (the two I use) are split completely and it was amazing I managed to do what I did with what I had with the exception of my wash which I was learning how to do it by just doing it (the only way
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I cant wait to see the next one, I just wish you wouldnt have your pictures so fuzzy, but what I can see of it, they were good. Maybe its just the angle i am looking on it on the laptop. I know the camera I use screws up when I zoom in like that but its not a real digital camera, its a video camera which just so happens to have the ability to do so.
As far as a sealant, I dont know anything about it but Marty told me to get a spray and do it about 6inches to a foot away. Its so that the paint doesnt chip, a self explainatory name for once.
Do you give the figures a coat before you actually paint them? I tend not to, but I am starting too sometimes, It depends on the look i am going for.