Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi guys!

I should be embarassed about my painting ability but I guess the only way to get any better is to showcase whatever I have done so far, and get valuable feedback!

A little background: I have been painting (in all respects) for approximately 1 week. Never tried before this. Last week at a gamers convention, I picked up a Warhammer 40,000 Starter Set. Included in the Starter Set was 5 Dark Angel Space Marines, 8 pots of paint and a starter brush. I was also given (free!) an additional 6 generic Space Marines for my painting pleasure (I think they look like Ultramarines).

In the past 1 week I have:-
1) Completed the painting of all 6 (free) Space Marines in Dark Angel colours;
2) Formed a half-decent base (I think) with gravel and small stones; and
3) Applied a thin layer of glossy varnish over the pieces.

Also for the sake of experimenting, I did modify the paint scheme slightly to designate a 'Sergeant' as well as a 'Champion' in my small squad. It may be inaccurate but I just want to try out stuff!

Please bear in mind I am an absolute beginner. Thus, any advice or suggestions you may provide (if its easy enough for my small brain to follow!) will be of utmost value to me. Much appreciation from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!


-------------------


Alas, the lighting here does not do justice to my attempts at details.

1) The chest plate was painted & shaded separately, although now it can't be seen!
2) The back of the knee, vents on helmet, vents on backpack, silver cable on left ankle
3) The Bolter was also painted separately, with details on the butt of the grip painted on!
4) The brown pouch on the waist with the black button

This is my designated 'Champion'. If it seems a little lame, I do apologize!

I wanted to protect my models but the glossy varnish made them seem a little funny. What do you guys think?

Kudos for jumping in an posting pics. It's not bad for your first attempt out the door, but here are little things you can do to significantly improve your work.

1. I can't tell if you've primed your figures. The primer coat will give you a nice surface onto which your paint will adhere better. Paint over bare plastic doesn't cover well and results in the need for more coats/paint and therefore a lumpy look.
2. Go to your local store. The washes are a great tool for all painters. The wash I am familiar with is called Badab Black, but it might be known as Nuln Oil now.
3. For your bases, grab a pail of sand from your nearest playground and use a colander to get rid of all the big pieces. To base your figures, spread glue on the base, dip into your bucket of sand and allow it to dry overnight. I wash and highlight mine, but you could leave it as is. Place 1 or 2 large rocks into the glue, but the amount of large rocks you've put down make it look like the figure is standing in a pile of boulders.

I will tell you now, you have waaaayyyy too much paint on the brush. I think that alone would make them look pretty nice. I wouldn't varnish, it makes it look cheap.
Take heart, I've seen worse beginners, your color placement is pretty solid. I myself don't dig the red, but hey if you like it it works! Good luck!

Not a bad first effort, not by a long shot. Couple things I would say and I'm sure many others will as well, Water down you paints, just and a bit of water to paint on your pallett. If you are using one. If you're not, you should But your lines are neat, the paint is where the paint should be so it's a good start.

As far as basing goes, you might find it better to either, paint the base in a colour, and some fine sand with pva, and the paint. At the minute, you've just got rocks stuck onto the black base, and the black base is still visible. But good start, and keep at it

I'm also fairly new to the hobby and I can say for your first time painting its not bad. You pick up alot as you go and for me just seeing other people's painted stuff helps me get ideas and helps me with different techniques I might want to try. You should check out some of the guides and tips people have posted, there's a lot of helpful stuff on here!

Use a matte varnish, brah.

honestly you're ability to get the paint where you want it is very good for a beginner. just practice getting the right consistency of you're paints where it won't build up but will still have enough pigment so that it won't streak and honestly that is very much dependent on the paint you are using. color priming your models is also very effective to because then you are just painting details and most likely adding a wash to the armor. also if you want clear coat on you're models i use this stuff and its great. http://www.testors.com/product/136012/1260T/_/Dullcote_Lacquer_-_3_oz._Spray_Can

as the other guys have said, not bad for a first attempt, but drop the varnish

i dont varnish my models at all, i know it occasionally means that the paint gets chipped during transit but i'm pretty much always touching up and improving the paintjob on my models (plus my painting is terrible)

Use a matte varnish over the glossy varnish. You will get the protective qualities of the glossy without looking glossy.

You guys have given me amazing advice!

While I am enthusiastic about this, I am well aware that I will be constantly screwing this up until I finally get it right one of these days!

I appreciate your advice. I will do my best to follow them, but no guarantees that they'll turn out well!

I will continue to post pictures when I get them, so please forgive my mediocrity!

Dom

Guy! I've got the next set of models out... much the the newly painted models are due to all your GREAT ADVICE!

Please have a look at them and continue to provide your constructive comments!!

The link is here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/490433.page

Thanks again!

Dom

ThatEdGuy wrote:
Use a matte varnish over the glossy varnish. You will get the protective qualities of the glossy without looking glossy.

This all the way. You can even pick up Dullcoat (think that is the spelling on the bottle) from testers and it works wonders without altering the coloration of your models. Some other matte varnishes may 'lighten' or 'dust' your models, so test them out first.

 Jstncloud wrote:

ThatEdGuy wrote:
Use a matte varnish over the glossy varnish. You will get the protective qualities of the glossy without looking glossy.

This all the way. You can even pick up Dullcoat (think that is the spelling on the bottle) from testers and it works wonders without altering the coloration of your models. Some other matte varnishes may 'lighten' or 'dust' your models, so test them out first.

I found a brand of water-based matte varnish which I used on the Beta Models. I actually apply a really thin layer of that on my models. Just enough for protection, but not so much till it starts to 'shine'... LOL

My pics are terrible.... I think it looks marginally better in real life...