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Hey mates. Looking to go my own chapter of Space marines and since lately I haven't seen any white armies running around, I went with that as my primary color, followed by Black as the secondary, with gold trim and some blue to give it a frosty, cold look (debating on either washing it with a blue wash, but still debating). Anyways, looking just for tips and opinions on the scheme I will be going, as while I like the regular look of the rank-and File, I was planning on making my Sgt.s stand out by having Black Helmets, but not sure if that would be the way to go. Here are the pics so tell me what you guys thing. Also debating a Chapter Name, trying to decide with something as a Lion, a Wolf, or a Winter Themed Crest/Chapter Name.

Winter Wolves?

I like the scheme . Very striking.

Yeah that is a solid scheme,

Oh right the name - first thing I thought up was the Angel Scars, but then I read your spec. Snow Lions? Ice Lions? Ice Lords?

Not to sound pessimistic, as I like the scheme overall in its simplicity and contrast. However, I will warn you.

White is not rare because people don't like it, it's rare because it is an exceedingly difficult color to paint properly & effectively.

White paint has a tendency to get thick and dry out very quickly as you paint with it. Getting thick/chunky in appearance as you try to apply it in layers. A wet palette is all but mandatory and even then it might still try and clump up on you if applying it with a brush if you're not fastidious with keeping the paint thin and even.

Now, if you're using an airbrush, then at least laying down the base coat of white will be somewhat easier & less prone to the chalky/clumping issue I just mentioned. Still, it's going to be a difficult army to paint & highlight well, especially for someone new to painting (not that I know your level of expertise or knowledge, just speaking in generalities).

There are a wealth of people here who will help & give you advice on the scheme should you wish to pursue it. The only advice I will offer is be patient, look up videos on how to use a wet palette on youtube & thin your white paint regularly as you're painting to keep the paint consistency even as you apply layers (this is true for any color of course but especially for white and lighter shades close to it). Also, choose your shading color carefully, as it will determine whether you get a cooler white (Blues) or warmer white (Greys, as your example pictures show).

As for the chapter name, Ice Specters, Winter Wraiths, Frost Wardens, Ice Lords, White Walkers (Game of Thrones, anyone?), or perhaps Ghost Wolves or Ghost Legion? (Playing on the white theme.)

Just my thoughts on that. Take it easy for now.

-Red__Thirst-

I think that looks brilliant. It might be hard, but it'll be worth it.

The one main thing I'd say is test out some eye colours and methods for the blue eyes on black helm, from just seeing these pictures in a small scale on a phone screen, the lenses on the black helms are melding into the image. Some strong highlighting or a bright shade might help.

T'other thing I'd say is don't prime black. Personally I would start from a grey, add a minuscule (to the point you can't tell) drop of a colour to your whites depending on the warmth you want (blue, violet or grey) and layer up. It sounds backwards, but when I was first painting whites I struggled to pull it together until someone showed me to do that.
I'm sure someone here is better equipped to explain the theory of why.

So far as naming, if you use "wolves" everyone will immediately think of Space Wolves, or Lunar Wolves, so unless that's your intention, steer clear and keep your mental image away from the comparison.
Just a thought... With having black and white, what about tigers? You could even have some stylised theme to do with "striping" denoting squads and ranks. A stripe wouldn't have to be zigzag like on the actual animals...

Yea... white is hard. I have a small army of albino lizzies. It's very difficult to look clean. You should still try it with a light blue wash, I think, to give it an icy, cold feel.

I think an emerald green could work great on the eyes.

Appreciate the feedback mates. Only thing I am still debating though is when it comes to the white, I have heard it is better to do a layer of grey or a certain shade related to that first coat and then do the second coat of white. Anyone know of any recent good materials or articles I could read to clarify this? While I suck at painting I would eventually like to learn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDxeZE6Ozds&index=26&list=PL4eI2nyTHNCJsra1Fhgyibxngb1phDIbm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiF3gD8Bqnw&index=15&list=PL4eI2nyTHNCJsra1Fhgyibxngb1phDIbm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29GcmpKcbfY&index=14&list=PL4eI2nyTHNCJsra1Fhgyibxngb1phDIbm

Les shows a good way to paint white on a space marine, I think it will help you out with your paint scheme.