Writing on tabards etc

[Kaladin]

So I've finally got round to starting my Horus Heresy Blood Angels with a mix of the BA Tac Squad, Anvil Industry bits and now BaC. I need some advice on writing on all the tabards, scrolls etc that are on them. I'd like to write specific words as well as just general appearance of words. I've tried just free handing it but it looks pretty awful. Has anyone used very fine pens or have any other bright ideas?

[Ovidius Incertus]

I use a Sakura Micron 01 pen (.25mm tip).  It's available at most of the large art supply stores (Michaels, etc.) in the US, if that helps.  Works for purity seals, scrolls, etc.  You can do a stylized lettering if you want and bulk the rest of the text out with squiggles that look like writing (leaving spaces here and there).

[Kaladin]

That's spot on, cheers. I'll hunt one down after Christmas and have a play.

[Firepower]

Yeah, the micron pens can work.  Be aware that the ink doesn't dry very quickly though (like, for hours at times) so you can smudge it if you aren't careful.  Hitting it with spray varnish before it has a chance to dry out can also smudge it.

 

To make the script look like script, try a morse code approach.

 

..  .._.  ._  .

 

If you introduce an upward or downward swoop now and then, it helps a good deal.

 

.._!_ ..! .jj__

 

As another note, it can actually look better to paint/write the script in a shade that matches the surface, rather than just black.  Dark brown or reddish brown lettering on parchment gives it a more natural look.

[Grotsmasha]

Another tactic I've seen invokes creating your own transfers and scaling them down.

[Kaladin]

That's all really helpful. Haven't hear about making your own transfers though. Is it relatively easily done? Unfortunately the only artistic bone I have is with miniatures, freehand/drawing etc is terrible!

[Ovidius Incertus]

Making transfers requires having transfer paper (available at many hobby stores), fixative spray, and an inkjet printer.  I see Testors paper most often.  You just feed it into your printer and print whatever image/text you want.  Then spray it with the fixative spray.  After it's dry, it acts like any other water softened decal.

 

If you don't have fixative spray, the ink just washes away when you put it in water.  Most printers don't print white, so if you want your decal to involve white, you have to put white paint under the decal before it's applied.

[rossjk]

you could try what I do - scratch in the writing with a sharp pin and add a wash over..