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.

Greetings fellow hobbyist, wargamers, forumers,

I'm really new to this (just over a month into it?) and not long ago, I posted up some pictures of my embarrassingly-mediocre painted Dark Angels (Alpha Models). You can laugh at them here:-
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/488678.page

The above thread, whilst an eye-sore, had a great purpose for me since many painters from all over Dakka gave their advice and tips. For this I'm grateful and appreciative since I would not be able to improve at all without all the help given to me!

Some points I've strived to improve from the Alpha Models to the Beta Models:-

1. I've thinned down the paints! Much, much thinner!
2. Since the paints are thinner, I've resorted to applying more layers. Something to the tune of 4-5 layers of Primer, 4-5 layers of the Base.
3. I've also started using a pallet for the Undercoat and Base Coat, which works amazingly. Don't know why I didn't do this before.
4. I've started taking better care of my brushes (you should see the first brush I had) and I've settled on a great nylon one.
5. My confidence and lines are getting better (I think)

Well, this is what I've had in mind. Please do have a look at my amateur efforts and tell me if you think the Beta Models look any different from the Alpha Models!

Cheers!

Dom

There is a slight improvement on the paint job I think. What do you guys think?

I've also started to experiment with flock on the base. Additionally, I've also tried to better arrange the stones/rocks on the base to make it appear more natural.

More importantly, I've ditched the glossy varnish and got myself a small bottle of matte varnish. It was expensive but reputable.

I'm getting more confident of my lines. As I was completing this set of Dark Angels, my painting times got faster, or shall I say, more efficient.

Any way I can take my paint jobs up a notch?

Pictures of another model in the Beta Squad

Last couple of pictures!

What do you guys think of them? Please do continue with the valuable and amazing advice!

Looking really nice! Clean work.

It's a bit hard to tell due to the lighting; are you using any highlight or wash on the leather elements, to add depth/variation to the color?

The biggest suggestion I'd make would be to use a finer grain of sand on the base (with some of these larger stones mixed in, so that a few of them are on any given base along with a base cover of fine sand). This will give a more natural appearance of earth, and avoid having exposed plastic visible on the top of the base.

Hi dominiquekee,

It looks like your Unforgiven are coming along quite nicely. Your paint job is fairly neat, which demonstrates brush control. As you paint more miniatures your control should increase even further.

Here are a few tips that may help

1) I suggest that you add a black wash to the metallic areas for a bit more depth.
2) Hunt down a tutorial on painting lenses and get those bolter scopes done. The eye lenses could also do with another layer to make them brighter and stand out a bit more (unless you want them to be darker). These are areas that can really catch the eye and make a miniature special.
3) You should also paint the bore of the boltgun’s barrel (or drill out the barrel, if you are confident enough.
4) If you are having trouble painting red over a black undercoat, make your first layer over the black an intermediate shade (perhaps a red/brown mix, not the bright red you intend it to eventually be). GW reds are quite translucent. Again, there are tutorials for this out there.
5) Finally, I would add a finer component to your basing mix, such as flock. It will fill in those black spaces between your other stuff.

Good luck: I look forward to seeing some more!

 Mannahnin wrote:
Looking really nice! Clean work.

It's a bit hard to tell due to the lighting; are you using any highlight or wash on the leather elements, to add depth/variation to the color?

The biggest suggestion I'd make would be to use a finer grain of sand on the base (with some of these larger stones mixed in, so that a few of them are on any given base along with a base cover of fine sand). This will give a more natural appearance of earth, and avoid having exposed plastic visible on the top of the base.

Aiikks... apologies for the terrible photos. I've not shot macro photography and my inexperience shows!

1. I've washed the Model with Agrax Shade in selective areas to bring out the dark lines, i.e. the skull face, the silver joints, the grenade, etc.
2. I have yet to experiment with highlighting but due to the way I paint my miniature, there is some natural highlights on the base coat. I thin my Caliban Green to a slightly-less-than-milk consistency and I 'wash' the model with it several times until there is an even coat achieved. Because the Green was thinned down to begin with, there are some natural highlight as well as some naturally dark green crevices. Am I making any sense?

I will definitely look into improving the base further! I have 5 more 'test' units which I will use to - improve the paint job + try more creative/radical bases!

Thanks for viewing, and all the advice and encouragement!

Dom

They're looking better than before, but your painting is still very thick. Thin it down with some water. When using potted paints, I usually dip my brush in water and then the paint for a quick and easy thinning.

 Darth Bob wrote:
They're looking better than before, but your painting is still very thick. Thin it down with some water. When using potted paints, I usually dip my brush in water and then the paint for a quick and easy thinning.

I'll keep on fighting the good fight! Thank you for the advice!

Just asking, could these models seem a little 'thicker' due to the matte varnish I applied on them?

Dom

For me, the painting is a pretty big improvement over the first. I still think the basing detracts from the model - it draws the eye away from the important stuff (the paint job). I always think of the base as the 'picture frame' - there to finish off the image, but not detract from it.

I'm by no means an expert, but you can have a look at my marine bases below. Just some building sand, stuck down with pva along with one or two bits of gravel and some static grass. For me it helps frame the model, as opposed to becoming a distraction:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/487418.page

Really distinct improvement from your previous thread, keep on painting!

Two points for me though. Firstly, I'm not 100% sure whether the metal of the gun has been given a wash, or whether its hard to see in the photo. if not, I strongly suggest using a wash of nuln oil over metallic parts.

Secondly, the base. those big chunky rocks and grass tufts just don't blend well with what looks like a black unpainted base. Weirdly, natural rocks look wrong on warhammer models, as they contrast poorly with the paint. Basing is an art form all by itself, but basic bases are fairly easy to knock out, especially using the new textured paints.

Decide what colour of earth you are going for, and paint the base that (either with texture paint, or glue on sand first). Put a darker shade around the rim, and gently drybrush the top with a lighter shade to add a little highlighting. Don't go overboard with adding detail like rock piles or grass, less is always more. a couple of rocks and grass tufts always looks better than piling up those rocks too high.

If nothing else, just painting the base a colour before adding those rocks and grass will help, even if its just a flat tone!

But hey, don't take my comments as meaning that what you've done sucks, just think of them as ways to add to already good work!

This is like, volumes better than the originals. Your improvement is already quite evident, and you should be proud of that.

I like the two colour backpack. I try and do this with weapon casings as well. The first model shown has the "cleanest" lines to it imho. Looking great man, keep it up!

Drill out your gun barrels

 dominiquekee wrote:

 Darth Bob wrote:
They're looking better than before, but your painting is still very thick. Thin it down with some water. When using potted paints, I usually dip my brush in water and then the paint for a quick and easy thinning.

I'll keep on fighting the good fight! Thank you for the advice!

Just asking, could these models seem a little 'thicker' due to the matte varnish I applied on them?

Dom

Quite possibly. I've ruined models I've thought were Ok with an overenthusiastic spray of matte varnish. Less is more.

I'm currently away at a company trip & I haven't touched my models in 2 days... sucks.

All your advice is overwhelming, encouraging and awesome all at the same time!

It appears that I'd best start working on my bases next!

To the drawing board!!

Thanks y'all!

I really do like the shininess of the model, i see most painters have their marines matte colored, and its really quite dull imho.

wolfmerc wrote:
I really do like the shininess of the model, i see most painters have their marines matte colored, and its really quite dull imho.

I'm actually using matte varnish here. I think its the harsh lighting overhead....

wolfmerc wrote:
I really do like the shininess of the model, i see most painters have their marines matte colored, and its really quite dull imho.

A lot of people avoid using gloss varnish so that they can control where the lighting is represented. Bright reflections from a gloss coat tend to overwhelm any highlighting or OSL you paint yourself. I use gloss varnish on the black head armour of my nids. It makes them look more "beetle-like".

 M4cr0Dutch wrote:

wolfmerc wrote:
I really do like the shininess of the model, i see most painters have their marines matte colored, and its really quite dull imho.

A lot of people avoid using gloss varnish so that they can control where the lighting is represented. Bright reflections from a gloss coat tend to overwhelm any highlighting or OSL you paint yourself. I use gloss varnish on the black head armour of my nids. It makes them look more "beetle-like".

That is interesting information friend. More for me to experiment then! Thank you!

............

By the way, I recently got bored and wanted to try something different - a banner with my minis.

I printed out the Dark Angels banner (which I got online) and I made the flag pole out of a stick I cut up, cleaned and tied using thread. I later applied superglue on the thread to harden it in place. The banner isn't clear, and the basing is still a long way from anything nice, but I think its getting there, slowly! What do you guys think of my amateur work?

Have a look!




Automatically Appended Next Post:
On an ENTIRELY separate note, I think my photography of my models is getting better... :-P

these are a huge improvement from the first ones awesome work! two things i would use fine sand on the base and make sure you are applying thin layers of varnish on the model. looking great keep it up!

ezpete wrote:
these are a huge improvement from the first ones awesome work! two things i would use fine sand on the base and make sure you are applying thin layers of varnish on the model. looking great keep it up!

Thanks a lot mate! There is so much more for me to learn and do!

Currently, I'm experimenting with basing the models. I'm trying out some non-conventional stuff for the bases. I started with the Warbanner as seen in the last pic, and I'm not stopping there. 'Customization' is the word!