Painting/Modelling in 1/72 - My approach

I have often been asked how I manage to achieve such a high level of output of painted figures, etc and given my current problems this seems the time to try and answer some of them. First off, an admission, I'm retired so I do not have the pressures and time constraints of having to work. This is a benefit of "old" age but the downside is I can spend less time on concentrated painting before my eyes and body give up. On a good day I manage around four 1 hour sessions, so my approach to plastic figures is:-

Preparation

• Cutting items off the sprue and tidying up the flash, either with a sharp blade or a heated pin
• Washing the mould release agent off the figures, I use the dishwasher on an economy setting (they go in with the rest of the washing up)
• Priming/Undercoating, in general I find white and black primers too intense making it difficult to spot the details. Normally I use Humbrol Matt Sand 63, but recently due to shortage I've been using a Vallejo primer, which is thinner and fine as a primer but not thick enough for an undercoat.

Paints
Nothing special here, I used to just use Humbrol and mix up any colours I needed at the time, nowadays I buy the colours I need ready made. So my palette is a mix of Humbrol, Vallejo and Army Painter. Washes used to be GW, but they changed their formulation so I switched to Army Painter. Metallics I have found the best to be Army Painter.

Application
I originated in the slap it on, then tidy it style of painting. I have moderated some what, but still paint all the major areas of colour before moving onto the faces, detais, etc. An exception tends to be C18 and Naps where I paint the white straps and light coloured facings first before starting on the coat colour.
Compared to the past, the major changes are my use of dry-brushing and washes. Most medievals are now undercoated black and dry-brushed silver, which deals with chainmail and most armour and highlights the other areas needing painting. Apart from faces and equipment I mainly use washes for C20 figures to tone and blend the colour palette used.

Planning
The underrated skill, I used to just buy the latest figures, paint them and organise them after painting. This ended up creating some strange looking units and odd left over painted figures. I now work to an annual plan broken down to monthly targets through the year. For new armies I scope out a broad plan before commiting any cash and keep a prioritised purchasing list, which prevents some of the "Oh shiney" effect at shows. Units are organised before painting and painted in a single batch. I think I reacted against being organised in my hobby while I was working, but now it provides the necessary discipline to keep me on track with projects.

Batching
Part of the reason for my high output is the large batches of figures I paint at one time. Batches can vary between 6 and 100 figures, the smaller being specialist units and the larger being the non-uniformed irregulars, usually the batch is one or two 24 figure units. This means I can systematically work though a single colour at a time, proportioately reducing the time spent preparing and cleaning up.
I am typically working on 4-5 batches at one time, so I can switch my attention between them according to my mood. So fine detailling is done when I'm alert and undercoating when I'm tired.

Basing
Another area of significant change over the years. Originally I just used green paint, then adding fine sawdust/cork. I then attempting various basing mixes before I ended up with my current PVA/sand/grit mix (link). Obviously This change has incresed the time it takes to complete figures.