When painting a large number of figures the toughest part of the job is avoiding the temptation to use the same colours on too many little people. The painter spends as much time opening tins and cleaning brushes as he or she does applying colour so the little lazy voice in the back of the head says, "Go on, give a couple more of them grey trousers." This must be resisted though, or you end up with a crowd in uniform rather than in realistically varied outfits.
As the paint goes on, some of the figures start to develop personalities. The man on the far right of the group is what I think would have been described as a "beatnik" with his pale coloured turn-ups and wild red bow tie. He's probably a teacher in higher education and likes to think of himself as a staunch left winger.
Or perhaps he is just a lump of lead alloy and I should stop being daft.
On a more practical note, since these will appear on a trade stand I've tried to use as many bright colours as possible. A mass of gray and brown won't catch the eye at a busy exhibition. Of course if this works then there is a chance people will buy lots little people for their coaching stock. If this happens I want to be there the first time an engine is coupled up to a train of twelve full of whitemetal figures, it will be quite a show !
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