Yeah, the two main strategies for giving good details without much work are washes, usually dark like you said, and 'dry brushings'. By putting only a little paint on the brush, and gently brushing the mini, you get the opposite effect of a wash; instead of settling into cracks, it only gets put on edges and bits that stick out, and is usually down with near-white paint. It's pretty impressive, just how great you can make a mini look with only using base coats, then washes, then some drybrushing.
Like, yeah, there is probably going to be some additional detail work needed, but those two techniques get you a big way there.
I did a little bit of mini painting once, and I thought my work was irredeemable crap. But after one wash, it looked, at the very least, presentable. Washes make SUCH a difference.
Yeah, the two main strategies for giving good details without much work are washes, usually dark like you said, and 'dry brushings'. By putting only a little paint on the brush, and gently brushing the mini, you get the opposite effect of a wash; instead of settling into cracks, it only gets put on edges and bits that stick out, and is usually down with near-white paint. It's pretty impressive, just how great you can make a mini look with only using base coats, then washes, then some drybrushing.
Like, yeah, there is probably going to be some additional detail work needed, but those two techniques get you a big way there.
I did a little bit of mini painting once, and I thought my work was irredeemable crap. But after one wash, it looked, at the very least, presentable. Washes make SUCH a difference.