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Alright, still on break until next week, so here are a few pictures from a project we did for someone last year. I would really like to make more Necron terrain, but I think this technique can really be improved upon. The painting skills have progressed since then, but I'd like to improve the modeling specifically.

So with that in mind, can you guys give some ideas on how to do this better?

I know one thing that I would do different is make the glyphs raised to avoid all that sloppy paint. That being said, I need a quicker way to make them than cutting out each little piece from styrene. I don't min cutting out all of the straight pieces, but all those curves and circles gets really tedious. Maybe there's something out there already?

Anyways, here are the pictures...bring on the constructive criticism!






I wouldn't mind tips on painting really dark metal from those of you who are better at it. Just a base, highlight and edging? Super secret technique?? haha

Thanks!

I have not found a better way to create carved or raised details on a surface, so can't help you there.
Nice effort there though.

As for dark metal, if it's not NMM (Not something I do), you can try a dark basecoat with a gentle dry-brush of metallic...
Or, mix a little metallic into the basecoat paint and then a highlight with metallic.

Nice terrain work throughout.

Yeah, i don't do NMM on Terrain either.

What I did here was mix a little metal in with the black basecoat then did a slightly lighter metal then some (sloppy) edging. I thiink trying it again with a higher quality metal paint will help. I've been using craft paints except inks and washes...I think it's time to add metalics to the "buy quality" list haha. We'll see what other suggestions I get too. Plenty of projects on the table for now :p

Thanks!

You can also paint in metallic and then wash over that with many layers of dark wash. If you use a variety of colours you could give it a nice depth and realistic variance in tone, rather than just one colour.

You may also want to try a gloss or satin varnish:
I have a black metallic paint, which appears to just be black with metallic flake mixed in, but the black is quite glossy.
Your's there appears to be a matt finish, and this makes the final piece look a bit more dull than metal. You may like the alternative.

There's a good idea. I could mix sone satin/matte varnish in. Or start with a gloss base. Or do what you said before and start with metallic then wash with gloss colors...hmmm this calls for a round of test foam chunks. ...Eventualy haha

Perhaps inspiration can be found for different shapes and patterns from the Cron kits? I think more variety on the shapes and a more cybernetic feel would benefit for Cron terrain.

EDC

@edc - likely very true. I have a folder of "Terrainspiration" on my computer - I should stock it with some good necon art

Back from a vacation - look for updates in the next day or two. Furiously doing sketches for now!

Making craters!

Here are a few WiP shots. Working up to adding in the water effects at the end. What color should I tint the water? Or should I just paint the bottom and go clear with some swirls maybe? Don't have a lot of personal experience with post-apocalyptic radioactive pools of waste unfortunately.

I'm thinking maybe something like this?





Regardless, I'd like it to look nasty and probably dangerous. Bring on the ideas!

Some seriously cool craters.

EDC

Wrapped up the craters. water effects are so tedious when you have 2 cats running around the house shedding like the little beasts they are!

On to the rest!!

By the way, I don't think I ever posted my agenda for this set. Client wants: 1x ruined buildind, 3x transmission towers, 2x pools O' death, 3x dead flora, 4x post-apoc rocks...seems like they'd still be...rocks, but whatever aaaand a bill board and a ruined on-ramp to a highway.

So lots of work to do!

Anyways, on to the photo spam:

Nice craters.

Like the colours in the water.

Thanks! I have 2 or 3 more to go. Got some really good suggestions from some folks, so the next ones will be better hopefully!

Apologies for the lack of posts. Been too busy making things! But here is a massive photo dump of the last few projects. Discuss, dissect and enjoy!

BUILDING






TREES




HIGHWAY





OBJ. MARKERS


Let me know what you guys think! I really appreceiate all the feedback and discussion here and it helps all those reading later

Good work. Liking the tree and highway pieces in particular.

yeah dude your terrain is seriously good quality! would love to play on one of your boards!

those are awesome

they look like they're pieces from Fallout or from a movie tbh

Especially like how the tree is bending, really draws the eye across the whole thing, and I can easily imagine a sudden blast having gone through that area

the little touches on everything are just awesome!

the stains on the concrete, the placement of gravel/rubble/dirt, all very realistic

really really well done

Where/how did you get the little water bottles and larger water containers btw? they're really cute

Thanks! They're from Meng miniatures, I got mine through scale hobbyist i think. About $6 something for a set. Pretty cool detail with little extra work.

Put together a few tower kits from Walthers for the part of the post-apoc set. Was thinking about scratch-building, but I think this is much better for the sake of durability and time spent constructing them.

Also finally got some rocks built - as you can see from the photos of the rocks, I am in need of a good LED lamp for night photography. Getting a tripod next week, so that should help.

Enjoy!

Here is an H2O Peddler's shop.

Once again, used the little water bottles made by Meng. Really like them a lot.

Also been testing a new method for painting rust and stumble upon some buff colored concrete dye (it's really orange) and that has been working really well. It's iron oxide based pigment so it's kinda of perfect for rust. Bring on the feedback and questions!

Another nuke! Really fun scratch build

Great stuff

Those little water bottles are awesome think I'm going to have to get some

Here be chaos:

I've benn following you and I must say your terrains are between the best I've seen lately!

Thanks b-tone! Always good to hear from all you people who lurk :p

We usually do a better job of updating our facebook page if you'd like to follow there too

It's been awhile....when life gets crazy the internet pictures are the first to go :p

Anyways, back at it. have a lot of photos floating around on various cards and devices. Here are the first photos - an Orky AA Gun Emplacement! As you may have noticed from the various photos, the gun is on a pivot and swivels about 120°. pretty fun feature at the cost of very little extra work.

As always, I love to hear from you guys in the form of constructive criticism (and lavish compliments :p )

It's been a while since an update!

We've been working on a lot of bases and objective markers for a company to cast so not a lot of photos unfortunately. The currect project is a large post apoc set! Same theme, different client haha. This one will be less fallout/future retro-esque and more near future/industrial.

Here is the first piece off the table! A Fueling Station Hideout:

















As always, questions and comments are welcome - suggestions as well!

Nice piece to come back with. Good job.

Thanks Doc