DEL
A Fixture
NAMEPLATES
Following a few requests asking about how I did the nameplates I've used on some figures I thought it best to do a quick SBS........so here you go
The first step before you do anything is to decide do you really want this type of nameplate for the model that you've invested so much time and passion into creating?
Make no mistake that this in no way is ever going to be of the quality of professionally made plates from companies like the excellent Nameit. They do however have a certain charm and allow for a bit of experimentation.
I feel that they tend to work best for the period between 10th and 16th Century as well as Pirate and some Fantasy figures. Basically any period where vellum or parchment was used.
All the material used is easily available and between your workbox and refrigerator you probably have them all to hand. I’m assuming you have a printer and a Word type progamme on your computer.
What you need:
1. A4 Printer paper. I use a cream parchment paper I picked up years ago from a company called Paper Direct but I know you can get small packs of similar paper from most stationery outlets.
2. Double sided tape.
3. Thick Card (Mounting Board)
4. Metal foil food container. Use as heavy a gauge as you can find. Marks & Spencer containers are the best I’ve come across.
5. Yellow Ochre and Raw Umber oil paint
6. Varnish. Humbrol Gloss Cote works really well
7. A well worn brush and an old brush that’s still kept a bit of a point.
8. Good quality bottle of beer
How you do it:
Cook and eat the contents of the food container. Wash container in hot soapy water and dry.
Write out your name plate in the font of your choice. Make sure you don’t get too carried away with over fancy fonts, keep it simple and legible. Try and have a list of plates and print several on the same sheet. Place each title below the previous one leaving plenty of space between them. Select all text and choose the ‘align centre text’ option. Print in black.
Leave for about 10 minutes for the ink to fully set.
Lightly dab your worn brush into the Yellow Ochre and wipe most of it off (most people use paper but I prefer to use my trousers) use a light touch you can always go back over it.
Scrub the paint around the text and pay particular attention to where you think the corners and edges of your finished plate will be.
Cut out plate larger than your intended final size.
Cut the base from the container, rub flat, and paint or spray prime one side only. Let dry and cut a piece slightly larger than the cut paper.
Cover the unpainted area of the foil that will form the backing of the plate with double sided tape. Peel tape and stick the printed and painted paper plate to the foil and trim to final size.
Make a few small cuts around plate and gently curl the cut edges and corners of the plate. Make sure you avoid symmetry.
Lightly dab the worn brush with Raw umber and scrub lightly into ‘shadow’ areas.
Use the pointed brush to make little ‘flicks’ of Raw Umber paint along the edges of the plate.
Flood varnish across the face of the plate, no need to wait for the paint to dry. The varnish will soak in and give a nice sheen finish.
Cut a small piece of mounting card, and stick to back of plate and then to base.
Some examples......
Drink the Beer
Sorry guys a lot of words for what is a very easy process, hope the pictures help.
Cheers
Derek
Following a few requests asking about how I did the nameplates I've used on some figures I thought it best to do a quick SBS........so here you go
The first step before you do anything is to decide do you really want this type of nameplate for the model that you've invested so much time and passion into creating?
Make no mistake that this in no way is ever going to be of the quality of professionally made plates from companies like the excellent Nameit. They do however have a certain charm and allow for a bit of experimentation.
I feel that they tend to work best for the period between 10th and 16th Century as well as Pirate and some Fantasy figures. Basically any period where vellum or parchment was used.
All the material used is easily available and between your workbox and refrigerator you probably have them all to hand. I’m assuming you have a printer and a Word type progamme on your computer.
What you need:
1. A4 Printer paper. I use a cream parchment paper I picked up years ago from a company called Paper Direct but I know you can get small packs of similar paper from most stationery outlets.
2. Double sided tape.
3. Thick Card (Mounting Board)
4. Metal foil food container. Use as heavy a gauge as you can find. Marks & Spencer containers are the best I’ve come across.
5. Yellow Ochre and Raw Umber oil paint
6. Varnish. Humbrol Gloss Cote works really well
7. A well worn brush and an old brush that’s still kept a bit of a point.
8. Good quality bottle of beer
How you do it:
Cook and eat the contents of the food container. Wash container in hot soapy water and dry.
Write out your name plate in the font of your choice. Make sure you don’t get too carried away with over fancy fonts, keep it simple and legible. Try and have a list of plates and print several on the same sheet. Place each title below the previous one leaving plenty of space between them. Select all text and choose the ‘align centre text’ option. Print in black.
Leave for about 10 minutes for the ink to fully set.
Lightly dab your worn brush into the Yellow Ochre and wipe most of it off (most people use paper but I prefer to use my trousers) use a light touch you can always go back over it.
Scrub the paint around the text and pay particular attention to where you think the corners and edges of your finished plate will be.
Cut out plate larger than your intended final size.
Cut the base from the container, rub flat, and paint or spray prime one side only. Let dry and cut a piece slightly larger than the cut paper.
Cover the unpainted area of the foil that will form the backing of the plate with double sided tape. Peel tape and stick the printed and painted paper plate to the foil and trim to final size.
Make a few small cuts around plate and gently curl the cut edges and corners of the plate. Make sure you avoid symmetry.
Lightly dab the worn brush with Raw umber and scrub lightly into ‘shadow’ areas.
Use the pointed brush to make little ‘flicks’ of Raw Umber paint along the edges of the plate.
Flood varnish across the face of the plate, no need to wait for the paint to dry. The varnish will soak in and give a nice sheen finish.
Cut a small piece of mounting card, and stick to back of plate and then to base.
Some examples......
Drink the Beer
Sorry guys a lot of words for what is a very easy process, hope the pictures help.
Cheers
Derek
