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Updated with a new Firewarrior squad. As always, comments and suggestions are welcome!

* * * * * Update 9/11/13 * * * * *

Completed 5 new Firewarriors this week, individual and squad shots up.

--) Got some Mini-Nature grass tufts in the mail the other day and LOVE using them!!
--) Getting much more comfortable and inventive with basing.
--) Had fun with Clear Red and Blue on the backpacks (will show them later).
--) Really liked the blue/green blending on the shoulder pad. This was regular brushed, but I can see how to do it with an airbrush and will be doing that on a vehicle, I believe

Dislikes:
--) A little smoother transition on the blue/green shoulder pad, but for not having blended two colors like that in a long, long time, I'm actually not unhappy with it...just need more practice.
--) Coming up with variety on the shoulder pad coloring scheme....annoying
--) the Tau lettering (aka Sept marks) on the shoulder pads. Not as crisp as I'd like, but...they are what they are.



Back shot showing the use of Model Master Clear Red and Clear Blue (had to settle for this brand, as the store didn't have the Tamiya).













* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
UPDATE 8/28/13

Completed the converted Tau Ethereal based off of the Empire Hurricanum wizard body.

The head is a Male Kadesh head from Zealot Miniatures

Happy With:
* Very proud of the cloak blending (the picture, in all its glare, doesn't do it justice).
* Really happy with the Homing Beacon (yes, the globe). I painted it up to look like a planet from space (complete with polar ice caps!) and a glowing "dot" where the strike force is homing in on.
* Extremely tickled with the water! I got to thinking about how I had painted lightning effects in the past, and just experimented with the process.
--- knowing that deep water is darker blue, the middle (under the model, especially) is darker.
--- to give the illusion of flowing/crashing water, I used light blue/off white on the sides where it met the rocks
--- I gave it a coat of gloss to make it shiny/reflective
* Something you can't see on camera is a very fun little detail on the rocks nearest the water--- slimy green moss! Often, rocks that are near water will get a slimy green moss on them, so I added some of that as a green wash that is so much better in person than on camera!
* Pinning! You can't tell, of course, but I did a fair amount of pinning and am thrilled with how it came together. I haven't really pinned before, but definitely will be doing more in the future!

Disappointments:
* The feet aren't quite even. I knew that I wanted to cut off the human boot feet of the wizard and replace them with Tau feet. Was hard to get them level and even. He looks like he's moving forward, which is ok, but it was a pain.
* Light glare on the model. Need to get better at taking pictures without so much glare



* * * * * * * *

(First, original posting)

Well, for better or worse, this is what I've gotten done lately. The rust is coming off, albeit slowly (but what should I expect not having painted anything in 8+ years!).

Some things I'm quite happy with:
-- blending on shoulder pads
-- camo pattern on the stealth suit
-- creativity with the Fireblade conversion
-- ribbon/parchment on the sword (green stuff)
-- first crafting of a green stuff cape
-- basing (on Fireblade especially)



Some disappointments:
-- the sword (I had previously attempted a NMM, but it turned out terribly--the essence was right, but the execution was off)
-- the mouth
-- smoothness on Fireblade chest
-- some cracks/prints on the cloak
-- the blade (it's just "ok" for me..I know I could do better eventually)

C&C is welcome, as are tips on techniques!

I love the camo on the stealth suit! It looks amazing. The actual paint job looks great as well and I enjoy custom conversions. There is just a little too much of a color overload on the fire warriors for me

Thanks very much for the looks and comment.

Yeah, I know the FW scheme can be a bit much for some, but I'm an avid 12th Man (Seahawks Fan) and wanted to do my army in their colors

I actually toned down the color scheme from its previous incarnation....much less green and more grey

I like it! One tip that I heard from, I think, one of the GW masterclass sheets they used to (still) have on the site, was not to do the eyes as dots because of the look of surprise it confers.

His shoulderpad is a particular highlight for me, I really like the gradient.

Keep painting!

Yeah, I actually re-did the eyes, because they were a bit too...shocked.

So they're better than they were, but, as they say...practice, practice, practice

Not a fan of the neon green, but still... not bad

Updated first post with completed Ethereal 8/28/13

New Firewarriors done and showcased in first post

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/544838.page#top

Thanks for looking and providing comments, criticism, and such


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Added the 3 other warriors and a back shot showing the use of clear red/blue on their packs.

I *hate* doing packs and their feet (I consider them boots).

But, having the blue/red now, I think it makes things a little better for me.

I experimented with the colors a little.

One was a base of Mechanicus grey, then the clear red/blue over top.

A couple others were off-white covered up with the red/blue.

And one was light blue covered with clear blue, and I think that's where I got the idea for the off white, because I think I used that for the red.

And lastly, one was pre-red/blue acquisition and it was just the moot green over black. Not a bad effect.