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I was just looking for some critique from some good painters. I just finished my first tactical squad. It took me about 14 days to finish all of them. I used my crappy brushes for half of them an I used my friend's real brushes for the other half. My friend, who's played for like five years now said that if any real newbie saw my painted army, they wouldn't have thought I painted them. He thinks i'm a pretty good painter for my first squad.

Note: The most recent picture is the one of the entire squad. So the other pictures are when I first finished them and I've cleaned them up since then.

Thanks Dakkadakka

Those are a great first attempt.

Try cutting your paint, some of the colors kinda look like they caked up a little on some of the details. A second thing would be to try to use a few coats on the rims of the shoulder pads, some of the black is still in there.

Other then a few of those little issues, those are good beginings- Go on ahead and don't worry too much about first attempts. These guys come with practice. No one is Golden Demon right out of the gate, it comes with doing it. Paint another squad, and try a little different shade, such as drybrush the weapon, then add a little drybrushed second - different color.

The helmets are white. You might try drybrushing offwhite, over the base skull white. Give those heads some depth, before you add in the eye color.

That batch looks great for a first time there.

Make sure you get yourself a good 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, and a 10/0 brush. They will pay for themselves, in the long run if you keep them right. (Adds yourself a personal edge in details as well.)

Thanks for the reply. I guess since this was my first squad, it involved a lot of experimentation. Looks like I still have a lot to go, at leat it will give me something to do while I wait to get paid and order my venerable dready on the 15th. I bought a bunch of brushes today at my arts and crafts center. I'll get better things once I come back to the states in October.

Well true to say you have a ways to go however they're are WAAAAAAAAAAAAY better than the first models I ever painted.

In fact I would say they're better than some models I've seen by people who have been trying to paint for years.

Keep at it and you'll be stunning people in no time.

Thank you!
I'm ordering a Venerable Dreadnought on the 15th. I shall post pictures with every step.

One suggestion is to not paint pure white over black.

Get some Celestial Gray Base paint and use that as the first layer, then either mix in some white or use the white base coat for the rest of the layers.

I can also see you need some more layers of paint. You can either use a "Base/Foundation" paint or do several more coats.

Also note your paint is too thick when it doesn't go on smooth and globs details. To thin simply stir in some water (for Citadel paints) until it's about as thick as milk.

These look good for your first time. I would also suggest thinning your paints a little. You will get better covrage and a smoother neater loook. Also take your time and be neat. Dont make more work for yourself by getting color where you dont want it.

One of the things that GW doesnt tell you is not to paint straight from the pot. Always use a tray or a wet palette. you dont want your paints sitting with the lid open for too long.

Thanks for the tips guys. I think I'm dry brushing most of my units. The units that have the brighter red weren't dry brushed. I ordering Administratum Grey as well as my dreadnought (for hard edge highlights). I don't know why i painted the black basecoat over the helmets and shoulder pads, I must've been tire, don't judge me lol.

These look really good for your first attempt!

Along with thinning your paints, I would also suggest trying out some edge highlighting or using some washes on your brighter colors when you're more comfortable with painting.

Also, if you're having trouble with a particular effect or stumped on how to do something, I've found youtube (and dakka) to be helpful in finding the tutuorials I'm looking for.

Post more pics as you progress so we can see how you're coming along!

I don't really have any paints for edge highlighting, besides Skull White and the only wash I have is Agrax Earthshade but I'm also getting Nuln oil, as well as Dawnstone.

I think I some grey in the background of the first picture. That would be perfect for the black on the armor.

However, that was just a suggestion on what to look at next, when you feel you've reached that point.

The Grey you see is Ironbreaker (metallic) or Ushabti Bone.

Ah. My mistake.

They still look really good, and I hope you keep at it and keep pushing yourself!

I'm going to try and spend at least a week on my Venerable Dready, as drednoughts are my favorite and it must be perfect.


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Picking up some baking soda and elmers PVA glue for my model bases. I heard if you use baking soda for bases, it will turn yellow. If that's the case, will using a matte finish prevent this? If so, i'll get some of that to.