Well, I finÂished paintÂing the colony comÂponÂents. LookÂing at the phoÂtos, they kinda look messy. Note to self, don’t rush, even if you have 40 of the little bugÂgers to paint.
Ah well, on the game board at norÂmal viewÂing disÂtances they look ok.
I didÂn’t want to paint the oriÂginÂals that came with the game so I had 3 options:
- Order replaceÂment parts from the publisher
- Buy the FacÂtions Expansion
- Buy the Upgrade pack
I went for the Upgrade pack, even though my first choice was the FacÂtions ExpanÂsion. It looks like a neat addiÂtion to the game but it’s damn hard to find, either online or locÂally. Both the FacÂtions ExpanÂsion and the Upgrade pack include the extra comÂponÂents to allow a five-playÂer AliÂen FronÂtiÂers game, using the pubÂlishÂerÂ’s expanÂded rules. So on to the painting.
Before I starÂted paintÂing, I looked at a lot of space colony images like these for inspiration.
Then I primed the comÂponÂents — 2 coats, first a dark to fill in the shadÂows, then a white, from above only, to provide highlights.
I wanted to test some colÂour schemes first, so I mocked them up using some image editÂing tools on the iPad. I took phoÂtos against a white backÂground, conÂverÂted the images to black and white, then kicked up the contrast.
Then just overÂpainted the image on the iPad until I found an appealÂing colÂour scheme.
I like this techÂnique. It lets me work anyÂwhere, gives reasÂonÂable resÂults, and doesÂn’t cost me any paint to triÂal it.
Next up, the Field GenÂerÂatÂors. And I’ve got some ideas for the RockÂet Ships too.