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So I was wondering,..

how do you highlight gold? More specificly for Ultramarines (do you have to highlight shoulder trims?)

I tried burnished gold with white lines as highlight, didn't turn out so well. Then there was shining gold and burnished gold as hightlight, didn't stand out as much. And I've tried shining gold, bit of burnished gold and mithril silver as highlight. Still looks bit odd, what should I do?

About the eye lenses on helmets, is it right on the edge of the eye (not the nose) or near the edge? Mine kinda looks fake or something :/

And what do you think about this painting tech for Ultramarine? Being in mind its for blending as well?

Body
Chaos black primer thinned x2 coats - > Regal blue thinned x2 to x3 coats - > Asurmen wash (blue wash) the whole model -> Drybrushing 75 % of the body with Ultramarine Blue and Regal blue mix 50/50 -> Black wash for crevices -> Drybrushing Ultramarine blue 50 % of the body

Weapons and metalic pieces
Chaos black primer -> boltgun metal (to the metal parts) - > black wash -> rehighlight metal parts's edges with mithril silver (that about it?)

Armor highlights
Shadow Grey highlights -> then extreme/fine space wolves grey highlights?

Not sure did I miss out on something, what do you guys think? Should I change anything?

I work in bleached Bone to Burnished Gold, takes a bit of the shine out but looks ok, can always add 'ard coat to it. It's more about working up to Burnished though, so bestial or vermin brown as a undercoat to it, and go Shining Gold up to Burnished. as for eyes if you and the white dots I generally start with Orange, red wash and 'Ard coat, this reflects whatever lights in the room in the right place, hope this helps.

How do you highlight gold? More specificly for Ultramarines (do you have to highlight shoulder trims?)
I tried burnished gold with white lines as highlight, didn't turn out so well. Then there was shining gold and burnished gold as hightlight, didn't stand out as much. And I've tried shining gold, bit of burnished gold and mithril silver as highlight. Still looks bit odd, what should I do?

I would personally try washing the gold with either Devlan Mud or Gryphonne Sepia before hitting it with a highlight, just to help down it a bit before dropping a bright highlight on it. Bright blends in well with bright
EDIT: Just remembered this link:
http://masterdarksol.blogspot.com/2011/04/4-step-gold.html

And what do you think about this painting tech for Ultramarine? Being in mind its for blending as well?

Body
Chaos black primer thinned x2 coats - > Regal blue thinned x2 to x3 coats - > Asurmen wash (blue wash) the whole model -> Drybrushing 75 % of the body with Ultramarine Blue and Regal blue mix 50/50 -> Black wash for crevices -> Drybrushing Ultramarine blue 50 % of the body

Weapons and metalic pieces
Chaos black primer -> boltgun metal (to the metal parts) - > black wash -> rehighlight metal parts's edges with mithril silver (that about it?)

Armor highlights
Shadow Grey highlights -> then extreme/fine space wolves grey highlights?

Basically this sounds fine to me.
If you want to go more in-depth, try these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXTqlEsvXRA&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig4v4YUV9ZQ (Gold, may help with previous problem of highlighting as well)

About the eye lenses on helmets, is it right on the edge of the eye (not the nose) or near the edge? Mine kinda looks fake or something :/

Try these:
http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com/2010/11/painting-space-marine-helmet-lenses.html
http://www.paintingclinic.com/clinic/guestarticles/paintgems2.htm
http://www.nicolecadet.com/blog/painting-gems

Good luck dude

fenrir1997 wrote:Bright blends in well with bright

This. I'd suggest either working your gold up from browns or dulling it with washes before highlighting, as the equal shine of two metallics will partially mask any actual changes in color. To really pop, your highlight needs to be the shiniest paint, not merely the lightest color. A mix of silver and gold or even pure silver (often with a sepia glaze over the top) are popular highlights for gold, but almost always are placed over a duller finish to get the best effect.

Awesome, thanks guys.

You really helped me with gold problem here, had no idea and totally forgot to wash it

Hmm, I do have greyphone sepia, so does it matter weather I use devlan or sepia?

As for undercoat, I do have scorched brown and calthan brown, which one to use? (that is considering after few undercoats of black and blue, so would it matter if I use foundation or not?)
I'll give it another go with mithril silver then.

So wait, did I understood correctly that if you paint the basecoat brown, then gold you don't have to highlight it due to its nature of blending at light?

I will make notes from the links, thank you

I would use the sepia, seeing it wont over power the gold, but if you want it really weathered look, then use the devlan mud.

Hmmm, does devlan also make the rest of the armory weathered?

I'm a newbie so have no idea what sepia does tho :s

well if you only using it on the bird, then only the bird will be effected. But you can use it on the whole model after you have base coats down, and then go back and do highlighting. You can use either one for your weathering, but delvan mud will be much darker.

Devlan mud is typically referred to as "Devlan Magic," because it does give a ruddy, weathered look. The sepia is good for the "warm, rich" tone you're aiming for.

As for your undercoat of brown, it doesn't really matter too much. The reason for a brown undercoat is to keep the gold a warm, rich color rather than a cold, shiny yellow.
If you tried painting the gold over black (which I assume you did), I bet coverage was a real pain even after a few layers.

Painting gold is tough, and the brown will actually show through the gold a bit, but it blends together so well that you won't notice it through all the awesome-ness of your new gold paint job.
After all that, take a look at your model. If you think it doesn't need highlights, go for it. If you think it does, take the advice above and rock it.

Again, good luck

Yes, but how would I know it needs highlights or not? It does reflect the light quite nicely for trims at least, and no - I did not use black as undercoat

Was simply trying out suggestions such as dwarf bronze and tin bitz (didn't work too hot either)

AAhhh, gotcha. I've heard of (and saw a picture once or twice) of a basecoat of Dwarven Bronze, and it didn't look too shabby. I think the gold had a more orange tinge to it, if that's what you're after.

Not sure about Tin Bitz.

If you're not sure if you need to highlight or not, you might as well highlight. Check the details posted above, and in a couple of the links I posted earlier if you need a hand figuring out a good way to do it.

Righto, and just one last issue and whatnot. Do I thin paint for drybrushing?

Tyris1013 wrote:Righto, and just one last issue and whatnot. Do I thin paint for drybrushing?

No just wipe most of it all off.