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It seems like i'm missing something on their uniforms. Shading, highlights, somthing... I've asked a few people @ my LGS and they have nothing to say but, "looks good, man". Any advice? I have a few more pics in the gallery with the same problem

Looks good man!

That out of way, I'd toss in some color. Maybe paint a shoulder pad dark red or blue. Something to break up all the grey. Or try some shadow grey in the camo itself. Try a wash of baddab black, I've found no matter the color, baddab black helps it look better.

-Inquisitor Leet

I've actuall considered painting the shoulders black. The army concept is a camo urban force and they blend into cityfighting tables well enough that my opponents occasionally forget to shoot at my squads in cover so Blue/red is out. I'll try a wash of badab on a couple dudes tonight and see what happens... I have ruined a few models with my inferior washing tech though so I'll start with a guardsmen!

not trying to steal your thread, but im having the same problems, looks like its missing something.

The ork needs a base.
Back to the original topic though; I can see where your coming from with the urban camo scheme. Try black armor or maybe some sort of squad marking.

-Inquisitor leet

Yeah, you need some contrasting color to make the models pop. Frankly, even something as easy as just making their shoulderpads black would work.

I think both of these models need more shading. The reason the models look 'flat' is because the recesses need to be more obvious. On small scale models, this is essential. Try starting out with a wash on that camo, because it'll be tough to paint it on. Just layer some Badab black into the folds, and some Gryphonne Sepia onto the faces.

To JD: Orkses are crying out for deep recess shading. Add this to a final highlight and light will take care of the rest.

That came-ork needs some natural colored face paint, that will make him all sneaky-like

Many animals use a kind of camouflage called counter-shading. These animals have bodies that are dark on top and light on the bottom. Mice, white-tailed dear, Canada geese, otters and largemouth bass are a few examples. How does countershading work? When sunlight shines on an animal's darker colors, it makes them look lighter. When the animal's lighter-colored parts are in shadow, it makes them look darker. The two areas of color blend together when seen from a distance. The animal's outline is harder to pick out from surrounding patterns.

So in short make the jacket a darker version of the camo.
.

Heres an example of counter-shading.

I would say a little more wash in the skin, and definitely something on the shoulder pads.

Maybe a squad or unit marking?

Camo is hard to do well, you should check out artizan designs' WWII painting guide here

Honestly the pic is bad and kind of destroys the skin detail. I am VERY anti wash when it comes to skin and IMHO should never be done. If I can get ahold of a decant camera I'll post a hi-rez pic of the faces.

Just remember that 'real' camouflage makes models look terrible; Miniature painting and camouflague are essentially opposite and exclusive techniques. Camo theory requires you to flatten out the detail and try to obscure the shape as much as possible, while painting a mini often requires you to exagerate the 3 dimensionality,and pick out the details.

Just remember that 'real' camouflage makes models look terrible; Miniature painting and camouflague are essentially opposite and exclusive techniques. Camo theory requires you to flatten out the detail and try to obscure the shape as much as possible, while painting a mini often requires you to exagerate the 3 dimensionality,and pick out the details.

yeah exactly what he said. maybe try doing a base coat, then washing, then adding the other colors.

or just camoing then a very light wash? It's hard to say.

I am VERY anti wash when it comes to skin and IMHO should never be done. If I can get ahold of a decant camera I'll post a hi-rez pic of the faces.

Why are you anti-wash? is it because up close it looks kinda funny? try stepping back when your finished and looking at it from table height, it usually looks much better from there.

Actually after looking at your images again in the gallery and using the handy zoom feature it looks like instead of using a wash you highlighted or drybrushed the skin and i do think it looks a little better than the standard wash job, i might have to start looking into that technique.

I do a layered basecoat, a highlight, a drybrush and another highlight. 3 skin colors typically but sometimes 4. Bot only on officers and sgt's! Imaging that much time spent on an entire guard regiment...

It looks off because the camo itself didnt have their own high light. As well as the lighter grays are going over the black line / shade parts. Basically its erasing the features that defined the miniature.

I agree it is colour or brightness they are missing from a miniature painting perspective. If your opponent forgets about them then the camo is doing its job then!

Perhaps some white unit markings on a black shoulder?

Well.... I would suggest paiting their faces. Even if it's only a couple guys, and all your doing is making it look muddy or something. Because nothing kills camo like a bare face. Unless you plan on making thier faces bears. that'd be kinda scary.

Add a little rusty red/reddy brown to the camo.

I like them. As mentioned before, I'd do a Badab black wash over it; I'd even hit their faces with the black wash. It'll make them look like they've been fighting in the city for a while.

I did some messing around with a few of these mooks yesterday. The shoulderpads and helmets are going to be black now because it looks really f'ing cool. The only thing about the black I don't like is that it does affect the I tried doing some washes on the camo but it really didn't do much for them so I'm going to try another layer. I did try a black wash on some faces but I don't really care for it... It just looks sloppy. Oh yeah, new Hi-Rez facials ( ) should be up on manday along with some low-rez pics of the changes as a whole.

Looks fine to me.
The only colour i could suggest is maybe a blue in
the ultramarine colour spectrum.
The thing to bear in mind with urban camo is the multitude
of colour you get in urban areas is vast.There are no
rules on what colours will be mixed.A great book I have
is 'Brassey's book of camoflage' which is a pictorial
reference of the world's armies.You'd be surprised
what passes as camo!There is a swiss camo pattern for
forests,usual dk green light green markings but what
makes it unusual and it does work is the red markings also!
Not chestnut red,ordinary red!

Add bright colors

DaPlaugedOrk wrote:Add bright colors

says the guys with the death korps avatar... no. While red and blue may be modern camo pattern colors they still look stupid on gang-bangers, who actually wear them more often than the enlisted do. Black, codex and fortress are the final colors for the camo pattern as I already have well over 50 of them painted.

Add some blobs of white. Very small blobs.

Anti-Mag wrote:I think both of these models need more shading. The reason the models look 'flat' is because the recesses need to be more obvious. On small scale models, this is essential. Try starting out with a wash on that camo, because it'll be tough to paint it on. Just layer some Badab black into the folds, and some Gryphonne Sepia onto the faces.

That's what I was about to say. He's right.

Anti-Mag wrote:I think both of these models need more shading. The reason the models look 'flat' is because the recesses need to be more obvious. On small scale models, this is essential. Try starting out with a wash on that camo, because it'll be tough to paint it on. Just layer some Badab black into the folds...

I'm currently working on gettin the badab into the recesses of the models, pics up when finished. Also, Hi rez image of some faces coming tomorrow or the next day at latest!!! Down with face-wash, Boo!!!!