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Well, it was about time for me to start my Dark Angels Thread, with the hope that I'd start painting them, instead of purchasing them!

Short(ish) story : Long time lurker on these forums, usually just checking in usually and seeing whats changed / anything good on the horizon. My History is, I started playing 40K at the end of RT era, and got heavily into it with 2nd Edition, first with Ultramarines, then Dark Angels later due to the circle of players I battled (Space Wolves, 2 x Ultramarines (me and Another), Blood Angels..).
This happened around the time the Angels of Death Codex was released, so mid 90's at this point? I collected what my pocket money / Birthday money / Christmas Money could afford, and ended up with a rouglhy 2000Pts Fully Painted Dark Angel Army. It was great fun, and at the time they were one of the best armies in40K. As I got older, I moved briefly onto Tyranids, and grew a large unpainted force, but fell out of love with the game (due to the discovery of girls and alcohol!). A few years ago, I popped into my local GW store and my better half brought me set of 5 SM's and a paint set as a surprise. Soon after, she fell pregnant, and I decided not to take up the hobby until around two months ago, when I decided to dive in feet first, and get the Dark Angel Army I had always wanted as a kid.

So, that's where I am today. Oh, and just to add more mini's, my Wife brought me the Dark Vengeance Boxset for Christmas!

First : Army List, then some progress pictures taken today. Hopefully they aren't too bad. I'm pretty shocking when it comes to photography ( and Painting! ), but hopefully some tips from the experts around here would help. I hope to update this list whenever I make some meaningful progress. So, maybe next updated Feb 2016?

So:

Updated :23/3/15

Finished ( 750 Pts )

1 Space Marine Compant Master - 90 Pts
Dreadnought - 135Pts
24 Tactical Marines - ~400Pts
5 Assault Marines - 125Pts

In Progress (~3765 Pts)

HQ
Azrael - Unassembled, Stripped. - 215 Pts
Belial - Semi Painted - Considering Stripping - 190 Pts
1 Space Marine Company Master - Basecoated - 90 Pts
1 Librarian - basecoated - 65 Pts
1 Deathwing Librarian - Requires detailing / Basing - 95 Pts
1 Standard Bearer - Awaiting detailing - ??
1 Interogator Chaplain - Undercoated - 140Pts

Troops
32 Tactical Marines - Various States of modelling / Basecoating / Awaiting Final Detailing - ~500Pts

Elites
5 Deathwing Knights - stripped :( - 235 Pts
20 Deathwing Terminators - 20 base coated, first wash done. - ~ 990Pts
1 venerable Dreadnaught - Basecoated and washed - 125Pts

Dedicated Transports
1 Rhino - Painted, awaiting final highlights / details - 35 Pts.
1 Razorback - Unassembled - 55 Pts
1 Dread Drop Pod - Basecoated, requires Detailing - 35 Pts

Fast Attack
3 Ravenwing Bikes - Currently being converted - 80Pts
5 Assault Marines - Still on Srpues - 115Pts

Heavy Support
1 Deathwing Landraider - Basecoated and washed, awaiting detailing / weapons painting - 250pts
1 Deathwing Landraider Crusader - Still in the box \o/ - 250Pts



Oh, and a CSM army from the DV boxset! ( primed, etc!! )

So...onto pictures!

Looking good! Keep it up!

Welcome to dakka! Looks like you've got a great start to a DA army. I love the Dark Vengeance plastics; IMO, the best boxed set GW has put out to date. I had a Deathwing army back in the early 2000s, but I decided to start a new DA army when DV hit the shelves. One other DA kit I really love is the RW Black Knights boxed set.

Please keep us updated as you paint the army

Given that this looks to be an ongoing series of related projects, I'm bumping this over to P&M Blogs.

 Janthkin wrote:
Given that this looks to be an ongoing series of related projects, I'm bumping this over to P&M Blogs.

Thank you, I wasn't sure if I posted in the right place!

Thanks for all the replies, not much done today, but some magic sculp rocked up for tomorrow! whoop!!

Finally got around to my Dark Vengeance Angels tonight, just primed, base coated and the first wash carried out. Pretty rough, but progress!

Wow, long time no progress update!

Well, things have progressed, although not as quick as I would of liked, recently started a new job so painting slowed, and with the weather round here meant that I had an epic trying to spray outside! But I did get a few pieces done. I'll update in time order, so it makes sense!

Apologies for the poor pictures, I'm on my iPad!

Sorry about the multiple posts, for some reason if I put more than one picture in. It just uses the same picture over and over?

Finally, this is where I am up to as of last night.

Dread front, still missing the front ( damn you eBay seller! ) but hopefully will get one soon. I can't decide on the base, it's changed from a brown rock to a stone over night, so I'm hoping it will turn out fine once finished. The colours are getting there, just some tidying up, and then details to do!

And this is a quick snap of the back. If someone knows how to upload multiple pics from an iPad it would be appreciated!

And finally, a few marines with actual colour now. Still need detailing, tidying up and basing, but it's good to get some colours down to see some progress!

And final one before I lose my patience and smash my iPad! Gotta get my camera going and laptop to make this easier!

As always, and pointers and tips would be apprieciated! Cheers!

Got my arse in gear a week or so ago and found my camera, and finally uploaded the pictures I took. Pity they are now out of date, but at least it will show some progress. I'll try and update some more this week if I remember!!

So, Progress!

The Whole Army, Although I stripped my DWK this week, and need to start them again. Also, Azrael has rocked up, but he won't be ready for a long time...
Having posted the picture of the Plasma, I've noticed just how bad the join lines are...
The Dreadnaught now has it's face, which is in progress..And I need to finish painting the base for the assault squad.

Other than that...More progress

1) DWK Stripped
2) Azrael Stripped
3) Drop Pod Assembled, and Base Colours Started
4) Land Raider weapons Basecoated, and tracks assembled / painted.
5) Two other Tactical Squads now Basecoated
6) Librarian in Termy Armour is Basecoated. Decided to go for a Deathwing Colour Scheme...fingers crossed it turns out!

Hopefully some more pictures soon! As always, tips are appreciated!!

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh, and I also completely suck at Photography. Might have to have a look online for a decent photo taking tutorial!!

Well, a post ago you asked for pointers and tips so heres one. You should take a very thin brush and put Nuln Oil in all the recesses of the armor. It takes a while but is really worth it. Just recently started doing that myself. Your green looks really nice, this may add some deoth. Overall I like your army,Ive tried Dark Angels several times just never been able to make it work. Good luck!

No tips but I think they are looking awesome!

I think you are doing a good job so far.

One thing I would suggest is get a little different set up for pictures. Only because I think your pictures don't do the models justice.

Try laying down a white or gray colored blanket. It doesn't have to have 50 shades... But something that can paint light all over the model.

Your OLS looks good but its hard to tell with the limited lighting. And yes, use some of those washes. You will be SOOOOO much happier with the end product.

Keep at it, it's looking good.

Thanks for the replies!

40kFSU wrote:Well, a post ago you asked for pointers and tips so heres one. You should take a very thin brush and put Nuln Oil in all the recesses of the armor. It takes a while but is really worth it. Just recently started doing that myself. Your green looks really nice, this may add some deoth. Overall I like your army,Ive tried Dark Angels several times just never been able to make it work. Good luck!

Thanks for the pointers, I'm always after advice! I do usually wash with nuln oil after the first basecoat, should i do it after the highlights instead?

Jazzhands wrote:No tips but I think they are looking awesome!

Thanks for the nice comments, much appreciated!

Josey4u wrote:I think you are doing a good job so far.

One thing I would suggest is get a little different set up for pictures. Only because I think your pictures don't do the models justice.

Try laying down a white or gray colored blanket. It doesn't have to have 50 shades... But something that can paint light all over the model.

Your OLS looks good but its hard to tell with the limited lighting. And yes, use some of those washes. You will be SOOOOO much happier with the end product.

Keep at it, it's looking good.

Thanks for the tips for the photography, that's going to be my plan for tonight! What washes should I use for the Plasma Glow? I painted it after a tutorial online, and they didn't use a wash? Would just a little blue wash just add a bit of definition to it?

Well, a little progress. Well, quite a bit off camera, but tonight's picture update is more to do with the quality of pictures, rather than the models in there. Well, these are the first pictures of my finished dreadnought, and my first pictures of my WIP Deathwing Terminator Librarian (Still very early stages!)

So, whats the verdict on the pictures?

I think for DW, it might be flash off, but Flash on for Greens...any pointers? I don't want to make a light box...i already dont have enough room for all my plastic crack!

Additonal : I did buy a KR Multicase....Fantastic (although it seems to have rubbed the paint off the foot of my librarian...:S

Wow - you've been incredibly productive. The force is coming along really nicely. Great work!

 Azazelx wrote:
Wow - you've been incredibly productive. The force is coming along really nicely. Great work!

Thanks, I'm lucky enough to have a job which allows me some time off, and being married to a woman who loves gaming, so she plays PS4, and I paint / Strip paint / Generally Hobby. I'm trying to get her to play, but no luck so far...(although she did pop into GW last weekend with my little boy and look around...hopefully not at the prices though!)

Do you happen to own Space Hulk? It's a simple and fun boardgame and might be a good introduction to miniature gaming for her and even your son.

 Azazelx wrote:
Do you happen to own Space Hulk? It's a simple and fun boardgame and might be a good introduction to miniature gaming for her and even your son.

That might be a good shout, although getting your hands on a new set isn't always the easiest (or cheapest!). My boy is only 5, but he loves rolling the dice and getting involved in what he can (deciding what to move / shoot) even if it means we've had a few "accidents" where he expects mini's arms to move...Well, they did eventually I suppose!

Might have to keep an eye out for it...

I used to wash the entire model and let gravity put the wash where it would. It looked good, and yours look good, thing is it darkened the original color. So I started using a fine detail brush and applied the wash to the recesses. It takes a while, but I think it is a rewarding result. I do this after a light dry rush highlight. Look at the Space Wolves in my gallery I am doing. Again, I'm not a pro, and your stuff looks really good. So keep up the good work. As for the pics, maybe try a different background?

 40kFSU wrote:
I used to wash the entire model and let gravity put the wash where it would. It looked good, and yours look good, thing is it darkened the original color. So I started using a fine detail brush and applied the wash to the recesses. It takes a while, but I think it is a rewarding result. I do this after a light dry rush highlight. Look at the Space Wolves in my gallery I am doing. Again, I'm not a pro, and your stuff looks really good. So keep up the good work. As for the pics, maybe try a different background?

I wash all over, straight after the basecoat, then layer hightlights from there. I have two tactical squads basecoated, one has been washed all over, and one hasn't. I might split them up, doing the recess wash after fully painting the armour on one set, and paint the other the as you have mentioned. I watched a GW tutorial on how they paint Ultramarines, and they do the fine washing in the recesses, so I might give it a shot.

Thanks for the pointers, always looking to improve!

40kFSU has some great pointers, I have followed a few of the armies he has painted up. I too do the full body wash and then I clean up afterwards. I personally like the effect. I have a goal to get my dark angels painted this year...hopefully. I started a thread too but am no good at linking it in my signature. Check it out and let me know what you think of my progress as well.

Your stuff is looking really good and I think without the flash looks best imo on all your models. Are you taking the pictures with a phone or a camera?

Lucazi wrote:
40kFSU has some great pointers, I have followed a few of the armies he has painted up. I too do the full body wash and then I clean up afterwards. I personally like the effect. I have a goal to get my dark angels painted this year...hopefully. I started a thread too but am no good at linking it in my signature. Check it out and let me know what you think of my progress as well.

Your stuff is looking really good and I think without the flash looks best imo on all your models. Are you taking the pictures with a phone or a camera?

You've got a great looking army, and I'm sure you can get it finished this year! I'm digging the chaplin in Termy Armour. I have the same mini, but not even started mine yet!

And Believe it or not, my pictures are taken on a camera...might have to find my wifes camera, as its a lot better than my little point and click thing!

Decided to have a quick go at painting both techniques, one with all over wash, and one with recess washes...and (possibly due to my sub-par painting techniques) I couldn't really tell the difference in the shadows, however as mentioned, the recessed wash mini was overall lighter...and stands out a lot when in with the other painted mini's! So, I think I'll have to keep with the all over wash just for my OCD!

Edit: Oh, and it appears due to having a few drinks last night, I might soon be the winner of another 800+ points of Dark Angels due to Ebay...

Turns out my Drunken-Ebay-Athon wasn't too bad, walked away with some Assault Marines, and a LR Crusader, all BNIB for less than the GW price, so happy days!

Congrats on your Drunkbay purchase Phoenix lol

Well, quick update as it's been a while.

Finally got a few more pieces completed. Including, a Force Commander, all of the DV Tactical Marines (Fantastic models for someone like me used to the older style of marines!), and 5 of my Assault Marines. Although these were pretty much done a while ago, and just waiting the bases finishing!

So..pics!


EDIT : I need to figure out what to do next...need to get some shoulder pads in for the other tactical marines, so maybe Interrogator Chaplin, Librarian, Vehicles or on to the 20 Deathwing Terminators, 5 knights and Belial?!