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.

So after a long, long time I finally have something I consider worth showing.
I seriously needed a break from Ravenwing, which I can't paint even if my life depended on it...

Things that didn't work out:
Drilling the barrels. I can't get that feth centered.
They also look a bit dirtier than envisioned - a bit too much BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD from the Chainswords.
Also the satin varnish seems a bit grainy - you cannot see that with the bare eye though. After seeing the pics I rushed over to verify

Otherwise.. Yeah, like 'em, one of these rare moments when you are satisfied with your work.
If anyone has any hints on what to improve (with the skill level at show here), I'm all ears!

Nice clean paintjobs. Job's a good'un.


For your weapon barrels, it helps to make a 'guide hole' with the tip of a knife or something similarly sharp. That will hold the drill bit in place and stop it from drifting off-centre while it's getting started.

Thanks

I'll really have to poke holes.. it's really getting annoying to ruin a model with stuff like that.

Good job. The raised bits of base puts more space under the elevated feet and makes them look dynamic.

I think they would look a little sharper with some edge highlighting.

I can also see some damage to the pauldrons where they were cut from the sprue. It's a bad bit of sprue design. I suggest clipping them off the sprue further back and then shaving down to the pauldron very carefully with a sharp knife. This is a tip for your next squad...

Thank you too
Yes, I generally do that... But I obviously need to be more deliberate with cleaning up after assembly and/or clip them off farther back.. I tend to try and clip stuff off as close as possible to make cleanup easier.

Fun fact: found an old pic of my first marine from Sep '13.
Compared it to today's and.. I can't stop laughing

Excellent improvement, there

Yeah that's a definite improvement man! You've got some nice detail and good coverage on the new ones. Are you going to highlight them at all?

That would be my only suggestion - a bit of highlighting to make them pop really nicely and you're all set.

That first marine of yours looks like one of my first attempts. Looks like you've improved perhaps a bit more than even me. I like your assault squad, gives me some inspiration to get my own jump dudes done!

 Paint_To_Redemption wrote:
Yeah that's a definite improvement man! You've got some nice detail and good coverage on the new ones. Are you going to highlight them at all?

That would be my only suggestion - a bit of highlighting to make them pop really nicely and you're all set.

I deliberatly went for a zenithal highlight in 2 steps. The pictures don't bring it out too much on, like, the knees, but you can definately see it on some pictures shot more from the top. Figured most of the light would be caught by the huge, overbearing jump packs. I tried an edge highlight on one, and just after 2 strokes I already hated it. Luckily the varnish made for easy rubbing to remove it again.

Here's how that technique looks on a Devastator without such a huge pack:

I want some of these now. Thanks a lot.

 Thairne wrote:
I tried an edge highlight on one, and just after 2 strokes I already hated it.

What was wrong with it? Too thick? Try 000 brush and some retardant in the mix.

I got all of those
I just didn't like the look of it. It's a general theme for me... I neither like to do edge highlights nor do I like the effect. I generally tend for a more natural highlight. The only thing I do and can accept edge highlights is Ravenwing - because black.

@zgort
Tell me about it. I'm deeply tempted to grab another assault squad, make them Squad 8... With 2 Devastators on the desk (9 and 10) I'm already really close to a full 5th Company!
I just need that damn transfer sheets to give them the company markings on the knee pads. I'm SO bad at free handing...

Don't be afraid to use a pen! Paint the kneepad your army's brand of off-white, then just a simple cross will give you the guides for where to make your 5th company symbol. IIRC a 0.5mm ballpoint pen with gel/liquid ink is what you want. Shouldn't run you more than $3 to $5, and you can get it at any staples/office max here in the states. Some people will use this to darken creases in the armor, too, in addition to a black wash. Because you have likely used a pen all your life, I have heard it is quite easy. For 5th company, you could even fill in the black with the pen, all you will have to freehand is the one green corner.

Though, I have yet to try it myself...

Good advice.
Though I feel like getting a straight line of that detail on a bend surface might actually be not that easy.. I could go and try masking tape to separate the fields.
OTOH I want them to look similar, so some with the transfers and some painted has subtle differences.

Just noticed, not everyone of those guys HAS kneepads. How and where do I place the company markings then? Oo

Good call. Maybe it's in the new dex? I think they have a markings page. If it was me - no knee pad means you get the day off hahaha.