as a generality these days, having got an enormous lead pile. I have reverted to painting dark shades of colours and roughly 4 or 5 different colours tops and really not worrying about where the paint goes. My 'solution' for me is thus

undercoat figures black

put strip on base ready, rough paint over with dark brown front and back 

paint flesh very loosely 

paint spears

paint metal bits 

paint shields

paint colours onto backs of figures and legs/chest showing beyond where shield is

very dilute ink wash 

Excellent Thread and Posts... my congratulations gentlemen... I am going to indulge in painting some leftovers in my spares box, mainly Gallic Warbands... and I appreciated the tips.

I've just started painting some Vikings, with the trousers I just kept them the same colour as they won't really be seen too clearly anyway. For the shields I started by painting them all white as a lot of the shield designs I saw had white on them and then I just picked out other colours and applied them to random figures. Not sure it's the most effective method but it worked for me.

I'm just ab I'm just about at the end out at the end of painting my Lancastrian army having already completed the Yorkist army.  I used brown as a primer (Army brown leather) so anything below the belt line is brown unless armoured also helps with the leather items (belt, bags etc).  The primer I use does vary from period to period i.e. ancients mostly flesh.

Different numerical method, originally borrowed from this forum I think.

Put your figures on a painting stick or similar. Basically you need a row.

Choose an odd number. eg 5. Works best with odd numbers. Never 4!

Put 5 colours pots in a row. Couple could be the same, if it’s a common colour.

Paint the top of the first figure with Colour 1. Count 5 figures and paint that figure. Repeat down the line.

Paint the top of the second figure with Colour 2. Count 5 figures and repeat.

Repeat with the other paints until all the tops are painted.

Choose a different odd number. eg 7.

Put 7 paint colours in a row. This will be for trousers/leggings.

Repeat the same as above.

Use another number for hats? 

Using this method means I don’t really have to make decisions. Just paint by numbers!

Hi Trev Cook and folks,
I love that idea of organizing counts to generate "auto color rotation" between strips... I understand the justification of odd strips, as each strip has 4 figures in this case.
I will definately give it a try !
 

works on 10mm too

My approach is different to the 5 colour or 7 colour solution.

I tried doing many random colours on iregular troops. With mass 6mm all the little cloaks, tunics and breeches merge into a messy brown at arm's length.

Instead I pick 2 main colours for each unit. Then add a nice looking neutral - how their undyed kit would look once dirty.

Now paint each strip, Neutral colour first (extra credit if you undercoated using the neutral), then pick out some important bits using the two primary colours.

You can cut back on the primaries for second and third ranks (we all know the fancier gear is worn by the most eager fighters).

Pay attention to the shields, variation is nice, but some regularuity to patterns is also good.

That's all..

Finding the right balance between variety and cohesion in painting your Celtic warband miniatures may take some experimentation. By refining your color palette, utilizing efficient painting techniques, and simplifying patterns, you can create visually appealing miniatures more efficiently. Remember that practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to try new methods until you find what works best for you!

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After a few attempts I gave up painting my warbands in individual colours. Principally because it made it difficult to differentiate between units when in play. I now paint them in team colours - low for realism but high for playability.