I haven't painted anything as small as a 1:148 human, but I paint plenty of wargames figures in 15mm (1:100) and 28mm (1:56). An N gauge figure would take a couple of minutes to do with acrylics, and the better the detail on the figure, the easier it actually is to paint.

Modelu are expensive though, and how much of the figure do you actually see once it's placed in the cab? I'll probably use Modelu for steam though.

Quote from: Dalek on March 03, 2021, 03:07:46 PM
I take it for most diesel installs I'm going to be cutting these people in half to make them fit ?

Smart models make diesel half figures.


https://www.smartmodels.co.uk/3d-printed-figures.html

Those Smart models look good but are they sold as painted items (I know they're shown as such) as the OP specified ready painted

Quote from: Dalek on March 03, 2021, 11:53:17 AM

Where can i get drivers / firemen for steam and driver for diesels please, 50's 60's era for BR
Must be ready painted

Quote from: Newportnobby on March 03, 2021, 08:33:42 PM

Quote from: RailGooner on March 03, 2021, 05:07:38 PM
https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/

To the best of my knowledge they are unpainted and, although maybe the best, are very expensive at over £4 per figure

I'm sure the modelu figures are fantastically detailed, but at £4 each I am dissuaded from buying them. I would need so many.

I do think that if they offered a bulk pack at a good discount compared to the singular £4 each, they would pick up a lot of trade from those with large numbers of locos.

3D printing is taking off now with more and more people dabbling with it. In time I reckon a person/s will come up with figures at a more attractive price, albeit maybe not to quite the same level of detail.

Quote from: Newportnobby on March 06, 2021, 09:53:07 AM
Those Smart models look good but are they sold as painted items (I know they're shown as such) as the OP specified ready painted

Quote from: Dalek on March 03, 2021, 11:53:17 AM

Where can i get drivers / firemen for steam and driver for diesels please, 50's 60's era for BR
Must be ready painted

Sadly not painted and looks like Eddie Izzard, which really puts me off      

Quote from: crepello on March 04, 2021, 11:32:03 AM
Anyone with experience of painting Model figures would be more than welcome to contribute here please.

Could not resist taking the u off modelu in your quote as no difference IMO between any N gauge figure painting.     #

Have just completed painting 300 plus figures, inc some 3D printed by me.

What sort of "contribution" do you need?  (and don't say money..............)   

With regard the figure pictures, "Horrendous", and "No Idea", spring to mind.

Gloss finish on model figures in N?  REALLY??

Black eyes?  The "black" part of a human eye is around 3mm real world, its not black anyway and its strongly subject to reflection.  Tell me what a 3mm sized item would be at 1:148th/2mm to the foot scale?

Red Lips??



1. There's a scaling effect on colour. What IS right real world will look wrong at 2mm scale.
2. There's and even more dramatic effect with texture/sheen.
3. Distance viewed affects everything.

If you cannot get what you want, buy an "EBAY" set of grotty chinese figures, roughly 100 for less than a fiver,  and experiment. You might find you are good at it!

As an aside, years ago I had three days to build a WW2 60" span radio control airplane from scratch and be ready for a RC flying show. UK Battle of Britain Camouflage Brown/Green/Sky. NO time for paint, etc, so I used the iron on film, Far FAR too bright, but no choice. On the ground it looked abysmal.

After the flying display a lot of people came to see it as thay said it looked superb in the air and much better and more realistic than "those dull and dirty washed out things" (pointing to many hours of work high quality weathered finishes).  Go Figure!

Eddie Izzard?

I'm thinking more Julian Clary

Quote from: honestjudge on March 08, 2021, 02:48:36 PM
Eddie Izzard?

I'm thinking more Julian Clary

Rule 1 - Neither of them will be on my railway 

Quote from: crepello on March 04, 2021, 11:32:03 AM
Anyone with experience of painting Modelu figures would be more than welcome to contribute here please.

@mk1gtstu is a dab hand at painting these figures - some examples of his work here

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=47521.msg694378#msg694378