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Ok, so I'm still new to 40k and painting models. I've painted about 15 models total, with 3 of them being Grey Knights for my friend Grant. Grant used to play a few years ago and had a ginormous Black Templars army that a friend of his had painted up for him. He sold it back then, but now is getting back into 40k with Grey Knights. This time, he is actually working on painting some of his models, but he also offered for me to paint some models for him. I jumped on it as a good opportunity to get some experience and work on some cool models that have a lot of detail to them.

The first 2 came out pretty good, one being a regular Grey Knight, the 2nd being a Termy. I started working on this one a couple weeks ago, and got the first coat down, before coming back to it the other night. Total time spent on this model is probably around 3 hours. I also realized pretty late on, that I should have replaced my Mythril Silver. It's an old pot and was getting really clumpy on me, which hindered my dry brushing of the top layer.

I've gotten some good feedback (and critiques and lessons) from some of the better painters in my shop, and that has encouraged me to continue painting, and actually start my own army (A Salamanders Droppod list that is going to be done up as Deathwatch Marines). But, I wanted to get more feedback from the good people of Dakka! So... critique away! I have noticed some spots in the pictures that I didn't see before that need to be touched up where I overran some paint, and some letters that I need to touch with more of the Burnished Gold, and I'll be doing that before I return the model to Grant.

This is nice. Metallic paints are hard to do in such large areas, and you did very well with them. Normally they come out looking streaky or clumpy. This is very even work. The only critique I can toss out is on the shield/shoulder pads (the parts that are solid red). Your red looks a little off, a little flat. What kind of paint (primer, basecoat) is under the red? If it is a darker color, like a black primer, I might reccommend painting areas that are going to be red with white first, then the red on top of them. I find that it makes the red pop a little more. If you can find some of the Citadel red ink, that also helps it looks better.

I especially love the eyes, by the way. They look very dynamic. I also think your choice of colors was done very well. The model all comes together nicely, interesting without anything being too distracting.

Salamanders are a competetive list, by the way. I know you said you wanted to paint them as Deathwatch, but you might want to try to paint a fig up as a Salamander first. I was shocked at how easy their color scheme is to paint. I find that they make less work than other Chapters. That being said, Deathwatch is awesome. I always wanted to paint some Deathwatch marines, since it gives you a chance to paint as many different kind of Chapter symbols as you want.

Thanks Jim!

The shields are Blood Red on top of Scab Red, with a black primer under them. Thank you for the tip of using white first. I will definitely try that on the next model (I know there's more Grey Knights in my future, lol).

The eyes have taken some work to master, but I like the look and the blue eyes actually kind of make him look more menacing, and I think it pops out better than other colors might when you're looking at it from a distance.

My choice to do Deathwatch for the scheme is because of flavor. I've been playing the Deathwatch RPG and did a Techmarine (my character) as Deathwatch, though I didn't do the shoulder pad mod because it's a metal model and the conversion kit is plastic. But, doing Deathwatch on this army would be pretty unique and I have gotten very excited responses from others and plenty of offers of bits to be able to do the different chapters. I had a great idea from a friend that suggested I use very distinctive chapters for the Sargeants of my Tac Squads. So far, it's going to be a Dark Angel, Blood Angel, and a Space Wolf. Serves two purposes of showcasing it as being Deathwatch, and it makes it easier to pick out the Sargeant from a group, lol.

I am not a fan of the metal models most of the time. Largely due to the conversion problems that can arise. I do my reds as gore red --> blood red --> blazing orange. Try to water down your paints a little bit more, you should get a softer look...everyone says like milk, but I am still trying to figure out if they are talking about skim milk, 1%, 2% or whole rofl. Yeah you gotta put more coats on, but the results are well worth the time invested.

Geo: It looks like you are using too much paint, I can suggest one thing that really made the difference for me.

pick up some transparent paints, just for practice, just a red and blue or whatever your primary colors are on top of the silver.

I used to paint like you, and people would tell me "ARRG USE LESS PAINT!" "drybrush more!" ect. ect.
Everything just clicked when I started using transparent paints. you can literally see where you are putting them on too thick and when I started getting even coats, blending became less a mysterious and magical art, it isnt that bad now, glowing eyes and such are perfectly easy.

You want to be able to see the coat below a little through every layer of paint so you can build your way to the color and effect you want. Also when you are using light paint, if you mess up you can sap up the more liquidy-paint with an extra dry brush rather than have to clean it up later.
It sounds like it will take forever, but its actually alot faster than what I used to do.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/233863-Grey%2C%20Grey%20Knights%20Osl%2C%20Knights%2C%20Object%20Source%20Lighting.html
^^ around 15 minutes per model, mostly completed

Thanks guys. This is the kind of feedback I'm looking for... good honest critique and suggestions to go with it. I've only painted about 15 models, so my experience is still pretty low (though I have gotten tips and suggestions from some pretty experience guys, include one who has won major painting comps).

Use a small brush and use the minimum amount of paint, I only have painted 2 models in my life.

First took 3 hours (Coteaz - I thought he looks rubbish, but people in GW said he looked very nice)

Second took 5 hours (Commisar, much better, did it as a commision for a friend)

I am not saying you should spend that long but the more careful you are the better it looks so try and take your time, even if you just painted a dot thats better than painting something covered with paint.

If you spend longer than that, well I guess your a slow painter (not a probelm) just be more patient