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This blog post is something of a grand experiment. Let me set the scene:

I've been wargaming a while, but never been much of a one for painting. I've always preferred something quick, simple, full of shortcuts and table-ready for playing with. The playing has been pretty much the whole deal. I've found myself at a time of life, though, now I'm in my 30s where I find I'm more patient than I was and I can use something to take me out of myself. Almost meditative painting, as it were. Oh and I've long loved the Fists. So with these things all coming together I thought it was time I tried to do an army that was more than basecoat, wash, play. Something with a little attention to detail, or at least shading. Then I thought I'd log it here, to keep me accountable.

Don't expect updates to be frequent. Not for a while anyway. My life is in a frantic place, which is why I turned to painting to zen out a bit in the evenings in the first place.

I will, however, introduce you to two brothers of the noble and never sufficiently appreciated Paint Test Division of my army.



Turns out I really like the airbrush.

EDIT: BTW, does anyone know why the Flickr link doesn't seem to work? It did, once, briefly.
EDIT: Nuts to Flickr. But the Dakka Dakka gallery doesn't work either.
EDIT: Did the gallery finally work for me? Yes! Excellent.

Those are very yellow marines....

Then the first question of my grand experiment is answered.

Can I paint a half-decent yellow, which is somewhat necessary if I intend to put together an Imperial Fist force?

Yes.

The next step is my first squad. I've decided to start with the tactical squads and get my eye in on the rank and file, as tempting as it is to rush on to the signature characters an centrepieces.

cant wait for some more wip shots

i love the imperial fists howerver i cant paint yellow so ive gone for second best: CRIMSON FISTS!

I reckon your next experiment should be to put some Washes in your Airbrush and Spray wash them.. Then some extreme highlighting and then some extreme details, Lenses for the eyes etc.

Do that and you will see your Base Coat come alive, you are lucky as you seem to be a neat painter which helps in basecoating. The Wash if "Devlan Mud" or something like Paynes Grey "Wash" will really dull down the Yellow and make it a bit grubbier and more realisitic.

I love seeing projects like this.

I agree painting has sent my concertration levels threw the roof. when i was little about six (a long time ago in a galaxy far far away) my teacher told my mum that i had add, she got it wrong all i needed was more concerntration. i find that painting really helps me before tests, that and sailing but you cant sail every day. So its nice to see some one with the same point of view. I also love the fists, love to see them when they are done. what i like to do is get my foundation done in a strong colour, wash it and then cover it with the foundation, exept the receses. then go to the next level and mix a 1:1 mix of your yellow choice then the full colour and then highlight.
I to struggle to finish armies but it helps to have a blog to keep you in check and a tournament date. hope all goes well Tech guard

mwnciboo wrote:I reckon your next experiment should be to put some Washes in your Airbrush and Spray wash them...

This would be heavily experimental but I might just try it. I'm worried about spray washing because of how dark the washes make the yellow. How watered down would you recommend for the wash?

Really looking forward to seeing your progress as I'm doing mine at the moment aswell. I've gone a different way of using daemonic yellow army painter spray though and that works awesome to. Good luck!

Well this project ground to a halt, didn't it! But it's back on track. Inspired by the 6th Ed release and by the fact I have obtained a proper air brush I have begun again.



With any luck this time I'll actually keep going. I got sidelined last time by inheriting a Grey Knight army and I ended up painting that up. They look really good, but they're not my Fists.

Apologies for the iPhone picture but I wanted to get something up straight away as seeing a force like that all basecoated in brush-stroke-free yellow is an exciting beginning.