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How do!

Having a break from painting my Squiggies, as a change is as good as a rest. And I want to do my Necrons in colour shift paints to really nail the esoteric nature of their tech and materials.

And here’s the first couple of pics, but expect more this evening. Why the delay? These are airbrush paints, and require the brush itself to be well cleaned between each paint.

First up, the genuinely all important base cost. For those that haven’t delved into the world of colour shift paints, most (if not all) work best off a gloss black base coat. I’ve used Vallejo Gloss Black, 60ml. This is also formulated for airbrush, so shouldn’t require much thinning.

Next? The colours I’m buggering about with.

Initial set of Vallejo Shifters - Magic Dust. So far I’ve used the “bright gold brown”. The other five will follow this evening. On the off chance Dakka stacks my posts, please do check back in case.

But....I’ve also got two bottle of Turbo Dork’s Laser Face.

Each is being sprayed at 30psi, using a 0.2mm needle and nozzle. Otherwise a bog standard gravity feed dual action.

As ever, apologies in advance for my somewhat crappy photography skills. I’m trying to use my spray booth as a lightbox, with my phone on top as a light source. The lid and panels are opaque, so hoping for diffuse backing light.

Right. Peeeekachoors.

In order?

6 Poxwalker test subjects sprayed Vallejo Gloss Black

1 Poxwalker test subject sprayed with Bright Gold Brown (three or four scooshes thereof).

And a bonus pic, which is my mate Psysquig’s use of Laser Face. Apart from the base coat, the majority paint job is silver edge highlighting, which sets off the colour shift nicely.

Then.... Vallejo Shifters Space Dust. Left to right we have...

Orange Violet
Electric Blue Intense Violet
Green Blue Violet
Bright Gold Brown
Old Gold Grey Violet
Red Gold

Turns out the Shifters need two or three coats to really get the colour shift coming through. Definitely let each dry full in between for maximum effect. I buggered this up, so you don’t have to

Love your work, colourshifts are great. This is an old WIP of a noise marine using green stuff world colour shifts and gloss black primer.

The biggest pain for me is that it’s very hard to photograph the effect as it’s seen best when moving under light.

Yeah, the photography is a complete sod without the proper setup, and maybe a slow rotating platform for video.

I’ve got a ‘spare’ Transcendental C’Tan, which I think I’m gonna do in either Green Blue Violet, or Red Gold.

Red Gold I feel has greater potential for glazes etc should I want to add detail or subtle shading. But, I might attempt some kind of transition from one of the darkest on the body, to one of the lighter ones on the energy tendrils.

I do know that a standard matte wash basically kills the shift entirely - and unsure if a gloss version would avoid/reduce that.

I’ve added washes and edge highlighting but you need to be carful about what colours you use. Also with shading out the wash where you want it, not put it all over and let it pool because you are right it will kill the effect. Same with all metallic paints I think.

I also found that colour shifts are good a blocking up your airbrush

Oh I’ve been super careful!

After every brush load, give it a quick clean. I’d rather be slow and dilligent than all backed up.

Clean varies between just cleaning the cup and tip, to also removing the needle for a quick wipe down. Squirt of the cleaning solution on a clean cloth. Draw needle slowly across while pinching, and rotating the needle slowly. Then a bit of cleaning solution on the corner of the cloth to clean the cup.

Frequent, basic maintenance makes for a happier airbrush!