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.

Wash would definitely help, otherwise white 'Nids look a little silly. You're doing a great job keep it up! With your help we can beat the Necrons so bad they turn into biomass! (don't ask how, but I'm like 3% sure we can do it)

Well Hissy, it seems there's a lot of fans who really want to see your Hive shades. What do you say, will you ask Ratius to give it a try?

I hate you Hissy.

Whys that Ratiusss?

You've encouraged the whole thread to get me washing your dam Hive.

At lassst lazy Ratius. Hissy has no sympathy for you.

Right so under immense pressure I'm gonna pick up a few washes this weekend hopefully and try them out (on some gribblies).

Better not ruin gribblies Ratius, important for cannon fodder and meat shielding.

What do you guys recommend color wise?
One for the red carapace and one for the white "skin"?

The colors Im using for those are:
Skull White
Evil Sunz Scarlett

What might match up well?

Just wash Hive in deliciousss colors Ratius and fassst.

Its not that simple Hissy!

Thanks for the feedback as always especially Lady C for the advice on stripping and washing

Yesss thanks readersss, we broke Ratius will. Now Hissy can command him to do anything Hissy needs.

Dont count on that Hissy, you cheeky Tyrant.....

Nuln Oil would work really well on the red, then go back in and highlight with the Red again. It'll give a nice shell effect.

For the white? you could get a red wash to tie it together with the carapace or something like seraphim sepia and then go back and high light/dry brush white again.

I'm cheap so I just use nuln oil to make the models of the far future as grimdark as the grim darkness of their dark, grim universe.

I'd go for Seraphim Sepia personally. Black would just kill the models and make them really turgid.
If you really want to go darker then Agrax earthshade.
Great blog, things are shaping up.

To be honest its all about what type of tone you want on the skin/chitin.

For a colder looking skin you can use a waterred down blue wash on the white, or for a warmer feel use sepia.
Some also use a mix of purple/flesh shade too give it a more mottled apperance.

For the Chitin it'd depend on how you want the final red too look, if you dont mind it going a little darker, purple can compliment it fairly well, but using a combo of earthshade and crimson can give it a much more instense red.

Dont forget if you want the skin/chitin too keep its matte apperance after, make sure you re-highlight the raised edges with their initial colours.

Well Hissy, its your color scheme, lots of good advice from our readers. What do you want?

Average advice from readersss Ratius but they try and help Hissy so Hissy appreciate.
Hissy will put all readersss of thread into vat pools last.

Now everyone listen to Hissy.

Ok Hissy, we're listening.

Ratius not listening since Ratius STILL talking.

.....

Hissy no want or like darker red on carapace. Hissy want carapace nearly same or only slightly lighter. Hissy also not like cooler shade Eggman. What good then?
Also Hissy want white skin to still be bright but have.....what word Hissy looking for Ratius?

Tinge Hissy is it?

Tinge of color but Hissy not want it overpower white.

Readersss understand?
More important Ratius understand?

Yes Hissy, I hear you, you've made your feelings quite clear. Lets let our readers continue their great advice nad we can try some stuff out next week. I am NOT looking forward to washing over 150 of these things though.

How DARE Ratius abuse Hive with words like that.

Sorry Hissy.

Anyway we got a bit done this evening so lets get going.
We started onto our old 2nd edition Carnifexes.
I dont recall where I even bought these guys but it has to be circa 1995/1996 maybe.

The sculpt wasnt actually too bad, I was pleasantly surprised by them.

What did you expect Ratius, Hissy make sure each Gribbly is pure and powerful. Just like Hissy.
But not as attractive as Hissy.

Thanks Hissy. The detail wasnt bad either and I think these guys might go well.

Heres a few WIP shots of them







If Im not playing my Eldar tomorrow I'll try and get some more done.

WHAT DID YOU SAY RATIUS? RATIUS PLAYING WHAT?

Uhm, I better go guys, I can hear my bedroom being thrashed as we speak.

Thanks again for all the love.

Washes, are a key component to adding depth to other wise a flat surface that the eye would simply ignore.

If you want to deepen the red, then use sephia, or devlin mud its a brown/yellow it wont darken the over all to much, for best shadow look nulin oil is best, it will add the deepest depth. Now to maintain the tinge do a second layer of your red on the raised surfaces. This will provide a small highlight, and shade and a toned middle giving the desired 3 layer depth of a model. It looks great on table.

To be afraid of washes, they only add. As many starting painters call it "liquid skill" because it can restore so much depth to the models.

You can also, once everything is dry, apply a glaze of the same color, like blood red. And it will even the carapace/smooth the layering to maintain your "tinge"

If you want to deepen the red, then use sephia, or devlin mud its a brown/yellow it wont darken the over all to much, for best shadow look nulin oil is best, it will add the deepest depth. Now to maintain the tinge do a second layer of your red on the raised surfaces. This will provide a small highlight, and shade and a toned middle giving the desired 3 layer depth of a model. It looks great on table.

Problem is Corma, I just dont have the time and being 100% honest, inclination to do 150+ with the basic scheme and multiple washes/rehighlights.
Despite Hissys rage once I get the Hive to a "nice" level Im more than likely going to start another army.

So being really honest Im looking for a really quick wash fix. I mean literally wash everything with a red on the carapace and maybe an offwhite on the skin once. Thats as far as I'll take it Im afraid!

I wont even bother let Hissy responding to this one. My poor bedroom.....

Hehehehe. You're very welcome. As for the washes, if you want vibrant reds and a fairly warm white, then I'd go for *drumroll* Seraphim Sepia (for the white), Carroburg Crimson and Agrax Earthshade. Give Crimson a go on the carapace and see if you like it, if not try Earthshade, or a mix of the two (or both over each other, leaving the first to dry). Sepia should probably be diluted a bit with water, you want it to be light and warm enough to define the white without killing it, but you're still going to have to re-highlight the top parts with white I'm afraid.


Example of shades over a white undercoat

EDIT: Just saw the above post. Sorry Ratius, you may have to let go of your dreams of "white" in that case and just have a creamish skintone instead, if you're not willing to at least drybrush the skin back up to white. White is one of those difficult colours to pull off properly, like black, yellow and red. Perhaps if you dilute the wash down a fair bit and then carefully paint it only in the shadows, but then you're losing even more time over just slopping it over everything like most of us do .

Thanks LC.

I think I'll just get a few washes, mess about on some termagants or something and see how it works. Im less concerned with individual models standing out, more with the overall look of the army once finished - even without washes, as they'll go into a glass display cabinet and be gamed with anyways

 LadyCassandra wrote:
Just saw the above post. Sorry Ratius, you may have to let go of your dreams of "white" in that case and just have a creamish skintone instead, if you're not willing to at least drybrush the skin back up to white. White is one of those difficult colours to pull off properly, like black, yellow and red. Perhaps if you dilute the wash down a fair bit and then carefully paint it only in the shadows, but then you're losing even more time over just slopping it over everything like most of us do .

I am having the same problem with my "white and black Necrons," white is very hard to pull off and I find the entire process irritating, since if I make the slightest error it is very unforgiving. To make matters worse white shows off mold lines and model errors that I couldn't see before prime + white overcoat application.



Just to let you know I feel your pain..

- J

I'd say the best way to get the effect you're talking about ratius is to take seraphin sepia, get a 50/50 mix with water and run with that on the white. Them do the same with argax earth shade and just paint int the recessess on the red. Wi'll give you some depth with out making your have to put the primary coat back on.

Hissy wondering why Hive quiet lately.
Hissy go looking around when Ratius at work.
Hissy find this in Ratius files.



Hissy hate Ratius so much for deserting her, Hissy now looking for kind reader to take over Hive.

Wait Hissy, thats not fa.....

SILENCE RATIUS. HISSY NOT LISTENING. HISSY NOT TALKING TO YOU. EVER.

Hissy I had to put the Hive on hold for a tournament I was playing in.

Excuse means nothing Ratius, Hissy so hurt right now.

Im sorry Hissy, I didnt have enough time to keep the Hive going and get all the Eldar done.

Pointy Eldar are useless compared to Hissys Hive. Why Ratius not use Hive in fight?

There wasnt enough of the Hive done to bring them along.

THATS BECAUSE RATIUS NOT FAST OR EFFICIENT ENOUGH FOR HIVE

Oh boy, think we better leave it there readers, shes smashing my room apart right now.

We're on hiatus for a bit (dont tell her but its another tournament next week so more Eldar to be painted).

But after that we'll be back around mid November
See you soon.

*SMASH*

 Ratius wrote:
Hissy wondering why Hive quiet lately.
Hissy go looking around when Ratius at work.
Hissy find this in Ratius files.



Hissy hate Ratius so much for deserting her, Hissy now looking for kind reader to take over Hive.

Wait Hissy, thats not fa.....

SILENCE RATIUS. HISSY NOT LISTENING. HISSY NOT TALKING TO YOU. EVER.

Hissy I had to put the Hive on hold for a tournament I was playing in.

Excuse means nothing Ratius, Hissy so hurt right now.

Im sorry Hissy, I didnt have enough time to keep the Hive going and get all the Eldar done.

Pointy Eldar are useless compared to Hissys Hive. Why Ratius not use Hive in fight?

There wasnt enough of the Hive done to bring them along.

THATS BECAUSE RATIUS NOT FAST OR EFFICIENT ENOUGH FOR HIVE

Oh boy, think we better leave it there readers, shes smashing my room apart right now.

We're on hiatus for a bit (dont tell her but its another tournament next week so more Eldar to be painted).

But after that we'll be back around mid November
See you soon.

*SMASH*

hissy? this is BLARG!, I feel your pain about the flesh ones, they do not work very fast.
hey ratius, too bad no nids for while, where, might I ask did you find hissy? I found BLARG! when I was walking home one night.
by home he mean his hive

Ratius, I know it's risky, but can you sneak in a few more shots of your Eldar?

Best of luck with your tournament

It's ok Hissy, we still love you

**pssst Ratius... good luck! don't tell hissy i said so though!**

hissy you can always smash his eldar if it will make you feel better the space elves arent that powerful and soon there will be new spawning options for you and you can crush them under your weight of gribblies.

(good luck with the next tourney raitus)

I told you I'd be back for you Hissy. Happy now?

Hissy never happy Ratius, too much to do looking after Hive.

Well at least you're honest!

Big update today then Hissy.

Finished playing with horrible, arrogant Eldar then Ratius?

Yes Hissy, Im finished with them. If it makes you feel any better they did ok, going 4 and 4.

Ha, Hissy Hive do better if Ratius had picked them.

Probably would have Hissy :(

Anyway on we go!

Hooray!

So we still have 12 more Hormagaunts to finish so i started into those for the Hive.



Still dont like the way its hard to balance them! Nice sculpts but one or two are still falling over.

Lazy creatures Ratius, more interested in eating then fighting strong like Hissy.

After assembling them, I decided for a change to try some Gargoyles, 30 of those little beasts to do so we got through 10 of them.
Have to say they are lovely kits, infinitely better than the old metal sculpts (a few of which I have somewhere).
Looking forward to painting them up.





And heres the 22 of them all done. I'll get around to undercoating and working on them later this week.



But in the meantime I decided to finish the old 2nd Carnifexes, too cool to leave half finished.

About time Ratius! carnifexes getting buffed in new Codex.

Really Hissy, thats news to me.

Hissy knows best Ratius, if not games makers people getting spored bombed.

Ha, tough luck to them Hissy!

Heres the two of them finished. I might do a bit of feathering on their back carapace and claws to break up the red a little. Its a bit plain at the moment.







And finally (look at all that work Hissy!), I stripped 10 of our old plastic Termagants. Took a while to do and was very boring but at least they're done. Only 20 more to go :(



Sufficent work Ratius.

Wow, was that a small compliment Hissy?

No.

:(


Thanks for all the well wished for the tournaments peeps

I'll get some pics of the Eldar up as soon as I can. Hissy owes me a break for all the work lately.

HISSY DOES NO SUCH THING!

Ok TDL asked for some pics of my Eldar so here we go.

Hissy not happy with thisssss at all

Ah come on Hissy, just a few pics!

Hisssssssssssss!

I did them as Ulthwe TDL as I always liked their fluff and history (and it was easy too ).
Basic scheme is black with bleached bone and some red/bronze touches.
I didnt do the Wraithknight by the way, my mate Bear did, hes only half finished.

Hissy care not Ratiusss.

Well TDL cars Hissy, so be nice.

Hissy think TDL nice to eat so Hissy allow jussst this once.

Thanks Hissy.

Apologies for the weird angle, I was washing them to get some dust/fluff/crap off them.







Thats about two thirds of the force, have a few more squads knocking about a FW Revenant thats nearly finished too.

So many tassssty Eldar to eat. Yum.

See Hissy, the post wasnt all that bad.

And to top it off, I did a bit more for the Hive too.
10 of the old Termagant models brought into the new Hive.

Good for cannon fodder Ratius, Hissy want more big bugs.

In good time Hissy!

These guys werent half bad to do eactually, I think when all 32 of them are done they'll look good.



Heres a few comparison shots between old and new sculpts. (Until January probably )





Stupid model maker guysss, why not leave Hissy Hive as is?

See ya soon peeps.

Well, that's a whole lot of Eldar and aren't all of them. Very nice. I like how it's an Ulthwé army with plenty of Guardians. Very fluffy, and since even the aspects are painted like Ulthwé, overall it looks more Grim instead of "Taste the Rainbow" Oh, and anything with bleached bone isn't easy.

Well, I didn't know how the Termagant models grew over the years. I prefer the modern one a lot more

Looking good. Quite impressed you are still alive, considering how demanding Hissy seems to be. She must really like you.
Back on the wash idea: perhaps army painters light wash would be ok? Dipping the model could get all the recesses, and then spinning the model gets rid of all the excess drops. I find it leaves all the major planes of a model fairly bare (if a bit shiny) and then I finish off with a matte spray.
Looking foreward to more progress, and of course hearing hissys take on the new codex when it comes out. If only I was in Ireland she could try chewing on my tau.

Thanks guys!
Hissy says hi too.

The old zoanthrope,warriors and carnifexs were horrible.Biovores were cool though.Hey hissy:crush his eldar.After all...More biomass means more gribblys.And you can use those gribblys to get even more biomass...

I love this thread. So much.

At best old Zoanthropes are useful for conversions.


Nice elder, they need to die or just simply go to the dark side.

Ratius... Am i imagining things... or did you paint Hissy's Hive in the colors of your country??

(Because if you did... thats pretty god damn patriotic and full of win)

At best old Zoanthropes are useful for conversions.

The old zoanthrope,warriors and carnifexs were horrible.Biovores were cool though.

Hissy no underssstand thisss.

Hissy think 1-i and DKB being nice but is confusssed.

Hissy let 1-i and DKB get on transport to next Galaxy before Hissy Hive come after them...........

Ratius... Am i imagining things... or did you paint Hissy's Hive in the colors of your country??

Afraid not Azalle - sometimes my flag thing shows up as Italian (Legoburner is well of the error lol!)

Their flag is red, white and green.

Im Irish however, we're green, white and orange! Would be cool though.

Hissy think orange would be bad and nassssty. Hissy like Ratius' scheme - dessspite Ratius laziness

Hissy do you ever give me a break?

Hissy not underssssand Ratius.

Oh right, a break means do you ever give Ratius bio mass or some tasty Orks for all his work?

Ratius.....

Yes Hissy?

Go to bed before Hissy sendssss Mawzy and Broodlord after you.

Sorry Hissy :(

PS love your blog TDL (even if Hissy dosent)

Hissy like TDLs blog too but Hissy bussssy with Hive.

Night night everyone

Hugs to readers!

We'll be back over Xmas peeps, hang in there! xxx