Diary: From Army Batches to Bad Squiddo Joan of Arc PaintComp Entry

I decided to enter the OnTableTop PaintComp and paint a Joan of Arc miniature, turning a routine batch-painting rhythm into a single-character project. The diary entry dated January 25, 2026 records sourcing both the Bad Squiddo mounted and foot variants, evaluates casting quality, and explains the aesthetic and workflow choices that shaped the submission.

Sourcing both mounted and foot versions allowed me to weigh silhouette and narrative emphasis before starting. The Bad Squiddo casts arrived with minimal flash and little cleanup required, which shortened prep time and kept the project focused on paint decisions rather than filing and sanding. That casting quality is the kind of practical win that matters when switching from armies - where cleanup is time-consuming but repetitive - to a one-off model where every visible edge counts.

External media nudged the decision. A related podcast episode sparked the Joan of Arc pick, underlining how community conversation and storytelling often steer project selection. The diary notes that influence explicitly; the podcast provided the initial spark, and the physical variants let me experiment with composition and posture for the entry.

Painting choices were deliberately different from an army-batch workflow. Where batch painting emphasizes speed, consistency, and conveyor-belt techniques, this project prioritized focal points, contrast, and narrative detail. The post includes photos that track those shifts: closer attention to the face and expression, targeted glazing and layering on armour plates, and a tighter approach to basing to suit a display piece. Practical notes explain time management adjustments, lighting setups for photographing a single figure, and how to make small corrections without disrupting previously finished areas.

The diary also addresses mental shifts. Moving from massed ranks to a single figure changes how you judge success: instead of uniform tabletop-ready results, the goal becomes a coherent story and a pleasing silhouette at 28-32mm scale. That perspective can help painters who normally grind through units to allocate their time and expectations differently when tackling contest entries.

For readers, the entry offers a compact case study: how a clear prompt, reliable casting from Bad Squiddo, and a nudge from community media combined to turn an army painter into a PaintComp entrant. Expect follow-up posts showing final photos and any judges' feedback. If you’re considering a similar transition, use the diary’s practical notes on prep and focus areas as a checklist for moving from batch speed to single-model polish.