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Well folks, it has been many moons since the last time I posted here. I've been away from the studio for a while, but I have returned, albeit on a smaller scale. I'm going to start a WIP thread for the various commissions that come across my table, with an eye towards teaching and learning. I've been doing this a while, and I feel like there are a few things I can pass on to those looking to up their game. I also recognize that there are many out there better than me, and any C&C is welcome. I only ask that, if you think something about my techinque/execution is sh*t, please tell me why, and how it could be done better. Here we go!

Here is my first project of 2019! For Warmachine fans, you probably know and love/hate him. For the uninitiated, this is the Fire of Salvation, a heavy warjack.
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I'm learning a few things about light and shadow. I'm trying to give this guy a bit of a sinister look. So, the first thing I did was crank the contrast on the photo to make it easy to see.
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Well...
Having done the work to see how the highlights will fall on the model, I decided to repose it and put it on a more thematic base.
As I was getting ready to drill holes in the pelvis so I could pin the legs in a more dynamic pose, I realized I didn't have the collet for my small bit...
Off to Home Depot!

I have started to assemble the FoS in a more dynamic pose. Though I have always liked many of Privateer Press's sculpts, I always felt that some of the 'Jack's seemed a bit too static.
Rather than pinning the legs, I'm trying a bit of green stuff to help solidify them with a more splayed hip rotation.
As I build up the base with cork, I also ran some brass wire, which will pin the foot to the base. This takes most of the shearing force off of the cork, which will prevent tearing down the line when the model is handled and transported.
And yes! That is a (rubber band hack) to keep pressure off the legs while the green stuff sets!

Ok... Well, I out-clevered myself, and completely ed up the leg repositioning. Came back in the morning and the green stuff/glue joins had the rigidity of a sticky sponge.
So, I cleaned it all back up, got out my handy Dremel, some brass wire, and redid everything. I drilled completely through the pelvis and ran one wire through. Once I drilled sockets into the two 'hip' balls, I was able to flex the wire to the position I wanted. I then glued the wire in place, put green stuff in the sockets to reinforce the join, and then glued the legs on the end.
I'm now working on his mace arm. I cut the upper arm pistons off, drilled out the lower arm, and inserted two lengths of brass wire in to form a basis for the new pose. After this assembly is set, I'll connect it to the body and do a little simple sculpting to rebuild the cylinders.

Ok, he's all back together! The next steps will be to tidy up his rebuilt mace arm, build up the base, and Prime. Much more to come!

Whoops, forgot the pics!

Primed! Now to the fun part

Ok. I have the basecoat laid down. I've also started to pick out the details on the black armor panels. This is what I consider a 'Tier 3' commission, so it will have around 3 stages to the highlight. I usually start with the high and low colors, and then smooth out the transition using a little wet-blending. It still looks pretty sloppy, but you get the idea of where I am going.

Alrighty! After a little bout with the galloping cruds, I'm back at it! I have 2 WIP pics today. The first was taken after I tightened up the highlighting on the black armor panels, and added some yellow glow to the runes.
The second (and most current) is after I worked up the sanguine parts, and began to work on the metallics.
For those of you that have seen some of my older minis, you might notice that I am paying A LOT more attention to blending now. [img]

Finished working up the bronze on the textured panels. I think I might go back and redden them up a bit, but here it is, for now.

Finished up the bronze and the steel trim. Now to work on the hands, the weapons, and the head.

Annnnd... Done!

Next on the table is finishing up a type of mini that is new to me on two levels- It is my first Heroforge mini, and it's my first foray into 54mm scale. Here is what I have so far...

Finished! I'm pretty pleased with this guy, all things considered. Still a ways to go with my blending, but I feel like I've made some considerable progress.

I'm working with a friend on a 'What if?' Space Marine chapter xoncept. I have a base coated space marine from back in the day that I never finished. We're working on the concept of 'What would Nathaniel Garro have done if he had organised his own chapter?' I'll probably start a second thread for this one: Going to be a long project.

I think I'm going to set the new Space Marine chapter up in a separate thread. Developing a bit of a back story for that one, so I want to make it a more 'narrative' plog. In the meantime, my current commission is a Lord of Slaughter by Creature Caster. Here's a sample of my progress, so far.

Here he is, finished!