TIP: If your clippers get any chips or grooves along the cutting edge it is very easy to file them back into a straight edge using a metal file. I file along the bottom so I maintain the cutting angle that the clippers were made with.
Now is a good time to drill out any holes for shields, weapons, etc.
TIP: I like to work in assembly line fashion. First clipping off flash, then filing, then drilling. I often find that doing so keeps me from missing things I need to work on and sometimes uncovers areas that I may have missed. It also means I can keep one tool in my hand at a time and I don't have to spend time dropping and picking up things. I always go back over the figures I had previously worked on when I discover an area I should have done something with.
Once I am done with the basic metal work I then wash the figures with with a mild soap and water solution. This gets rid of any mold release agent still on the figures as well as removing any fine dust or metal that may have accumulated. Make sure the figures are completely dry before moving on. I find that a nice sunny/breezy day is good for that.
TIP: Patience - it took me a while to figure out that I will like my work more if I take the time to do things right. If you are like me I always try to have multiple projects going at once so I don't get bored with one thing and so I can force myself to wait for paint to dry, etc.
Once dry I mount the figures on dry wall nails. These are very inexpensive and have a sizeable head for mounting. (I use finishing nails for figures that don't have a proper base such as cavalry.) I use thick superglue to mount the figure to the nail. I have created a number of holding boards which I can place the mounted figures on while I am doing my work. The holding boards are just a piece of scrap wood that has a bunch of holes drilled partially into it. The holes are the same size as the nails and I can get 30 - 40 15mm figures on a board that is less than 6" x 3". When making the holding board try to drill the holes as straight as possible. This will help when you are trying to glue the figures to the nail heads - the thick super glue can take a while to dry and the figures will topple over if not relatively straight when mounted.
Next I prime the figures. I use two pieces of wood, called shims if you are looking for them in a DIY store, with some paper towel between to hold the minis in place while priming. A couple of spring loaded clamps and the figures aren't going anywhere. I wear a rubber glove on the hand holding the minis so I don't get paint on my hand and I am able to rotate and position the figures anyway I see fit.
As you can see the clamps make for a great stand also!
I always prime my miniatues using light gray primer. I use off the shelf primers that you can find in any DIY store, Walmart or Target. I used to buy the expensive hobby primers but there is no point. The basic primers you can find in any hardware store work great and they are a fraction of the price which means more money for minis. I like gray because it shows the detail of the minis while I am painting. I find it to hard to see the details when the entire figure is black.
Make sure the primer has dried well before starting the actual painting. I usually let them sit a day or two. I cuts down on the smell of the primer as it is drying. (The only downside of using off-the-shelf primers.)
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