Firstly, I am terrible at blogging. I either write rubbish or just too much, so in advance apologies. I thought I'd keep one thread with all projects in to keep me more likely to post regularly although that's unlikely I gotta try.
I'm trying to get back into painting to give me a psychological boost at a very stressful time of my life and have a huge backlog of stuff that I never painted (shamefully).
EDIT - I was reading some advice on the forum pages about keeping threads organised to help people viewing. So I have opted to change the title of the thread for each phase of this rediscovery of mine and add this:
Contents List Page 1 - The modelling kit
Page 1 - The task at hand (Dark Angels)
Page 1 - Paint stripping for the first time
Page 1 - Dark Angels Army Progress Updated 1st May 2015
Page 1 - Project DA1: Ravenwing Command Squad ON HOLD
Page 2 - Project DA2: Completing Dark Angels Tactical Squad 2, 3rd Company (Squad Argós) (COMPLETE)
Page 2 - Project DA3: Dark Angels Chapter Command Squad
Page 3 - Project DA4: Dark Angels Vindicator (COMPLETE WITH NECRONS TOO)
Page 4 - Project TY1: Zoanthrope and 4 Genestealer Dio (COMPLETE)
Page 5 - Project TA1 - Stealth Tau
Page 6 - Dark Angels Scout Squad Dom half finished!
EDIT - I've hidden the remainder of this original post, because it deals with my assessment of tools and equipment along with creating a more mobile paint station. It's interesting to me, but might be dull for others, have a glance if you want to, it might help you get an idea of my thought processes.
So before I got started I thought I'd better look at what I've got to accomplish - know your targets! Firstly I had to look at my modelling tools and paints then the models after and decide what I would do with them.
First up - modelling kit. So here are all of my old brushes:
They are ghastly.
These are my two old reliable brushes. Couldn't throw them out, so have rested them in a safe place - their work is done.
So new brushes bought and all tools that would be regularly used were identified and placed on my new portable painting station:
The justification for this is that my two little ones will destroy anything on display while exploring it, or they will eat the paint or hurt themselves on craft knives etc. Also, it's too cold in the garage where my modelling bench is and clearly not being used as you may have realised from the tone of this thread.
And here's the paints and extra tools, along with bitz in a tool box for ease of carrying:
I have catalogued what models I've got, which I'll post next time and then what my proposed organisation after looking through the Dark Angels Codex will be.
Nice start of the blog. I recently opened one also because of the similar reasons as you. Hopefully you will manage to keep it updated, but usually we all know that P&M blogs follow destiny of web comics Wish you all the best
Great start! and I have to admit... you have a lot more than I do! I have been thinking of doing something very similar to this! IMHO the group of peeps on here are great at giving advice, help and general comments on projects and work... so as a tool for a psychological boost.... (as well as the painting itself) its great! )
Best of luck and I look forward to seeing your updates!
PS... I would have taken those old brushes off your hands.. I literally have 2 brushes for everything I do!
Nice one! I just got back into 40K after a 10 year hiatus. Had to totally start from scratch and I'm living in a country that has just ONE shop that stocks GW!! Dakka is a greta place to be for it. Good luck and enjoy
Welcome back! I love to see people start up the hobby again, especially when they are getting prepared for the long haul. You seem to be excited to start up again, so just remember, just keep going at a steady pace and don't try and take on too much at once. Once you have a good rhythm you'll be fine!
I find my blog helps keep me motivated. I make sure to post at least once a week, progress or not. The act of having to post a no-progress report if I don’t get any work done helps keep me honest.
Thanks to everyone for making me feel so welcome, I don't know anyone who likes modelling/war gaming in my friendship group so it's great to find supportive people here. Pleased to hear that my first blog may well have been one of the best additions to this pledge of mine, I will defnitely try to keep posting regularly.
MagosBiff90 wrote: PS... I would have taken those old brushes off your hands.. I literally have 2 brushes for everything I do!
The two close-up photos show how poor a condition my brushes were in after many years of painting various kits, I'd have gladly let you have them had there been any bristles you could have used!
Automatically Appended Next Post: So hear is all of my Dark Angels/Space Marine models as they appear now:
This is a list of the models divided by painting status:
Unpainted: Space Marine Terminators x5
Deathwing Terminators x5 (metal)
Master of the Ravenwing Landspeeder x1
MkIII Landspeeder x1 (with Forge World Dark Angels Doors)
MkIIc Rhino x1 (with Forge World Dark Angels Doors)
MkIIc Rhino x1 (with Forge World Dark Angels Doors and Vindicator conversion)
MkIIb Rhino x1
Grand MasterAzrael x1
Space Marine Devastator (Multi Melta) x1
Dark Angels Standard Bearer - Brother Bethor x1
Ravenwing bike squadron x1 (3 bikes)
Space Marine assault troops x5
Space Marine Devastator (Heavy Bolter, Lascannon, Missile Launcher, Plasma Cannon and Sergeant) x5
Space Marine Landspeeder Tornado x1
Space Marine Bikes x6 (with parts for Flamer, Plasma Cannon, Standard and Veteran Sergeant)
Space Marine Bikes x3
Space Marine Attack Bike x1
Space Marine Techmarine x1
Space Marine Apothecary x1
Space Marine Scout Snipers x2
Space Marine Scouts x4 (Bolter & sword)
Space Marine Tactical Marines - 2nd Edition - Bolter x12
Sergeant x1
Flamer x1
Missile Launcher x1
Multi-part x12
Ravenwing Nephilim Fighter x1
Deathwing Knights x5
Ravenwing Command Squad x3
Deathwing Terminators x5
Dark Vengeance Interrogator Chaplain Seraphicus x1
Dark Vengeance Librarian x1
Dark Vengeance Company Master x1
Painted: Ravenwing Landspeeder (Heavy Bolter Conversion) x1
Ravenwing Chaplain on Bike x1
Ravenwing Sergeant Conversion x1
Dark Angels Tactical Squad x8
Painted Badly and destined for paint stripping: Scout Sergeant x1
Tactical Marines x5 ( so painful how bad these are )
It's a raw list as viewed out of the boxes so will condense and arrange in to force organisation selections with a plan of how I will paint to enable them to be used in gameplay should I ever decide to go down that route.
I'll do the same for my other armies (or fragments of armies) when I have either competed the Dark Angels or need a rest.
That is a seiously awesome pile of aweomeness ahead of you!!! How great is it to be back in>??!!!!!! As I said I just got back in after over 10 years out and I started back with the DV boxed set (seriously one of the best buys out there) and am so happy to be back Even my fiance (who really doenst get it but is begining to like the BL books) has noticed a huge difference in my happiness levels. Great to see someone else gettin back in with paaionn and excitement
So here it is, after much deliberation and codex reading, this is how I plan to organise my models in to a workable army, or at least to give me various usable options following the current army list. I would love to hear any feedback.
Spoiler:
HQ: Grand Master Azrael x1
Command Squad for Azrael - Brother Bethor as Standard Bearer x1 [?Conversion to allow magnetised swapping of banners]
- Apothecary x1
- Need to buy Veterans squad to fill remaining three slots and ?convert one to Company Champion [£20]
Master of the Ravenwing Landspeeder (Sammael in Sableclaw) x1
5th Company Master Balthasar (Dark Vengeance) x1
Interrogator-Chaplain Seraphicus (Dark Vengeance) x1
Ravenwing Chaplain on Bike x1 (Painted)
Librarian Turmiel (Dark Vengeance) x1
Ravenwing Techmarine [Convert to mount on bike - long-held desire, see below] x1
Ravenwing Command Squad of 5 bikes [3 from new set plus 2 extra Knights made of older bikes with parts left over from new set - have always wanted to do this, I bought all the components to do a conversion - hence having techmarine and apothecary - but now one is sold that looks a lot better]
Troops: Tactical squad of 10 models [2nd ed Sergeant, flamer and missile launcher]
Tactical squad of 10 models [2nd ed Sergeant, flamer and missile launcher if models with stripped paint don't look stupid after]
Tactical squad of 10 models [Multi-part, 8 finished, 2 to complete]
Tactical squad of 10 models [Multi-part]
Scout squad of 7 models [Sergeant after paint stripped, 2 with sniper rifles and 4 standard)
Elite: Deathwing Knight squad of 5 models
Deathwing Terminator squad of 10 models [5 metal and 5 standard from battle force with ?leftovers from Dark Vengeance added on] [Can be fielded as Troops if fielding Azrael or if I bought Belial]
Deathwing Terminator squad of 5 models [Can be fielded as Troops if fielding Azrael or if I bought Belial]
Dedicated Transport: MkIIb Rhino x1 [For 2nd ed tactical squad]
MkIIc Rhino x1 [For multi-part tactical squad with Forge World Dark Angels Doors]
Fast Attack: Ravenwing Attack Squadron - Sergeant Conversion x1 (Painted)
Bikes x5
Attack Bike x1
Landspeeder (Heavy Bolter Conversion) x1 (Painted)
[Can be fielded as Troops if fielding Azrael or Sammael fielded]
Ravenwing Attack Squadron - Veteran Sergeant Conversion x1
Bikes x5
Landspeeder Tornado x1
[Can be fielded as Troops if fielding Azrael or Sammael fielded]
[Will need to buy 2 further bikes to allow the use of Landspeeder in the squadron, other Landspeeder would be
fielded as a support squadron]
[Metal parts available to make a flamer and plasma cannon]
Assault squad of 5 models
Nephilim Fighter x1
Heavy Support: Devastator squad of 5 models (Heavy Bolter, Lascannon, Missile Launcher, Plasma Cannon and Sergeant) [6 models if multi melta not used in Landspeeder conversion]
Mark IVb Predator x1
Vindicator x1 [Rhino conversion]
MkIII Land Raider x1 [with Forge World Dark Angels Doors]
Thanks to all those who have taken an interest so far. Januine, nice to see someone else had a similar hiatus.
F'sure. Painting like a lunatic these days! Makig my way through the DV boxed set and doing some Eldar stuff on the side. It's crazy out here that there is only a single shop in the whole country that I can get GW stuff in. But as long as there is one, I'm good and loving being back lol
So, in an attempt to keep up some regularity of modelling/painting, I have stripped the paint off a few of the hilariously bad figures. I used Dettol after reading some of the how-to guides because it's what I am aware of here in the UK.
This is them before:
Them in the gloop of Dettol Doom (before adding the water):
And after a bit of toothbrushing and care where hands were placed:
First time I've tried this and was satisfying to give myself a second chance at painting the models. Will definitely do this again if needed. Starting to wonder about whether to make a ghilli suit for the scouts. Hmmm
I thought I should keep a log of my progress through my Dark Angels army list, I'll update this post each time I complete part of the army. Items in olive are complete, those in cyan are in progress:
HQ: Grand Master Azrael x1
Chapter Command Squad for Azrael
- Brother Bethor as Standard Bearer [Conversion to allow swapping of banners]
- Apothecary
- Company Champion
- 2x Veterans
Master of the Ravenwing Landspeeder (Sammael in Sableclaw) x1
5th Company Master Balthasar (Dark Vengeance) x1
Interrogator-Chaplain Seraphicus (Dark Vengeance) x1
Ravenwing Chaplain on Bike
Librarian Turmiel (Dark Vengeance) x1
Ravenwing Techmarine [Convert to mount on bike - long-held desire, see below] x1
Ravenwing Command Squad of 5 bikes [3 from new set plus 2 extra Knights made of older bikes with parts left over from new set - have always wanted to do this, I bought all the components to do a conversion - hence having techmarine and apothecary - but now one is sold that looks a lot better]
Troops: 3rd Company, 2nd Tactical squad (Squad Argós) (10 models)
Tactical squad of 10 models [2nd ed Sergeant, flamer and missile launcher]
Tactical squad of 10 models [2nd ed Sergeant, flamer and missile launcher if models with stripped paint don't look stupid after]
Tactical squad of 10 models [Multi-part]
Scout squad of 7 models [Sergeant after paint stripped, 2 with sniper rifles and 4 standard)
Elite: Deathwing Knight squad of 5 models
Deathwing Terminator squad of 10 models [5 metal and 5 standard from battle force with ?leftovers from Dark Vengeance added on] [Can be fielded as Troops if fielding Azrael or if I bought Belial]
Deathwing Terminator squad of 5 models [Can be fielded as Troops if fielding Azrael or if I bought Belial]
Dedicated Transport: MkIIb Rhino x1 [For 2nd ed tactical squad]
MkIIc Rhino x1 [For multi-part tactical squad with Forge World Dark Angels Doors]
Fast Attack: Ravenwing Attack Squadron -
Sergeant Conversion
Bikes x5
Attack Bike x1
Landspeeder (Heavy Bolter Conversion)
[Can be fielded as Troops if fielding Azrael or Sammael fielded]
Ravenwing Attack Squadron -
Veteran Sergeant Conversion x1
Bikes x5
Landspeeder Tornado x1
[Can be fielded as Troops if fielding Azrael or Sammael fielded]
[Will need to buy 2 further bikes to allow the use of Landspeeder in the squadron, otherwise Landspeeder would be fielded as a support squadron]
[Metal parts available to make a flamer and plasma cannon]
Assault squad of 5 models
Nephilim Fighter x1
Heavy Support: Devastator squad of 5 models (Heavy Bolter, Lascannon, Missile Launcher, Plasma Cannon and Sergeant) [6 models if multi melta not used in Landspeeder conversion]
Mark IVb Predator x1
Vindicator x1 [Rhino conversion]
MkIII Land Raider x1 [with Forge World Dark Angels Doors]
Cleatus wrote: I'm curious about the resistors in your toolbox. Are those for modelling/converting, or some other electronic purpose?
Thanks for showing an interest, I will keep posting pictures, I hope I don't post too many!
The resistors were bought to convert a Gundam model kit to have an ominous green eye and a Babylon 5 fighter to have blue glowing thrusters and a red cockpit. I'd post pictures, but I got the impression we should only be posting wargames-related pictures.
I have wondered about LEDing a 40K model, but think it would have to be a tank (dreadnought possibly) to hold batteries and wiring appropriately. It has to have a function too, otherwise it's just being done for gimic.
So much great fun ahead of you!! As I said I've only just got back in and the figs are begining to pile up already!!!! Must resist urge to stockpile!!!! Keep it up and have a cracking time
Project DA1 - Ravenwing Command Squad I tried making my own based upon earlier Codex rules about 12-13 years ago and bought all the components to create a converted squad. I managed to make a sergeant, which so posted above, but never got round to the rest. I'm going to make a converted techmarine but better get a flow going first.
So I bought the Dark Angels expansion for Dark Vengeance getting me the GW squad that looks great and thought I'd start with this with little conversion to get me going and fulfil that original aim (in a different way).
I'm going to use the additional Ravenwing Knights components from the set with two old bikes to make it up to a five man squad.
I've built the bikes so far and will post photos of the bikers when they are ready for painting. Updates may be slow next week because I have a post-graduate exam that I have to sit. That's £900 of 40K I could have bought!
Project DA1 - Ravenwing Command Squad So started up on this group. Trying to get as much constructed before conveyor belt painting for the first time.
Sprues:
Champion, Apothecary, Standard Bearer and two Knights (WIP):
Grenade Launcher Knight:
Awesome to be using green stuff again!
Have ordered magnets for Champion's head - I think helmet cool and want it in model, but think it's quite a static model with it on his shoulders as the actual head. So I am having a screaming head off sprue as the main head and the helmet magnetised to the back of the bike - I always wondered where the helmets go on these guys who aren't wearing them. I know they're "hard" but it's suicidal not to even have a helmet in close proximity in case of a huge barrage. Anyway, the magnet will be flush to the bike surface, so swapping it on to the model for aesthetic reasons will not leave an obvious blemish.
The grenade launcher knight needed slight tweaks to make the old bike I had lying around do the job. Stupidly miscounted the number of plasma talons, front shield and torso rears that I got with the kit, will need to get these of eBay - still cheaper than buying a brand new box of Knights.
Will update with more pics as soon as they are available.
Automatically Appended Next Post: And here's the last of the Command Squad. His plasma talons, front shield and torso back are in the post from two parts of the UK and Australia. There are unsurprisingly an abundance of grenade launcher fronts, but very few plasma talons. So he's gonna be on hold until at least 16th March if the Australia delivery estimate is correct for the Torso back.
Project DA1 - Ravenwing Command Squad Typical! You go and order a part and then find it in your Bitz box - important lesson I've learnt. It'll still come in useful and I need the Plasma Talons anyway. Here's my WIP final Ravenwing Knight for the Command Squad:
So magnets arrived and here's how the Champion is gonna look:
I'll keep it with face and helmet on side of bike, but be able to switch to helmet if the fancy ever takes me. Being primed now, painting starts soon. Exam on Wednesday, not sure how much I can justify doing beforehand.
So progress a little slow because of revision and other work. Have managed to start painting me lee weapons - Blade of Caliban, Corvus Hammers and Apothecary Narthecium.
I've entered the squad into Paradigm's March Painting Competition. Ironic the subject for the inaugural month was Space Marines! Hopefully I can get them done in the time, if not I will pick the Apothecary as the one to focus on completing, I like the idea of painting someone white rather than black or green, not done that with a 40K character before . Check out the competition at http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/637582.page, you can enter right up until the closing day, but need to post a proof photo first.
So, started doing some painting tonight. Mixed feelings. Messed up my apothecary to the extent that he's currently in the Dettol bath to strip the paint off - bit of a morale killer. Still managed to get these bits down, but took far too long! (Not to mention that their pads and highlighting aren't done ). I'll never get the whole squad done by the end of March for the painting competition deadline and the face is pretty terrible, I just can't seem to get it right. Pretty despondent right now. Here's a photo:
Well, let's just say that life got CRAZY. Have made very little progress forward. I started to touch up the breast plate crests on the part painted figures above, but failed to finish. Stripped the apothecary back to plastic and resprayed white, but no further progress.
Inherited an airbrush from my Dad, but the compressor would wake corpses, so with two children in the house and painting likely being done when they are in bed, I don't see that as being a viable option.
Got excited by Tau Drones (weird I know) - because they aren't complicated to paint, so maybe a good confidence boost. Therefore possibly will try this soon.
Very little chance of completing Ravenwing Command Squad before Paradigm's contest ends this month, may just finish my tactical squad and rebase on new resin bases instead. Less wow, but achievable and necessary for my army.
Life events -
- Exam,
- Big progress meeting for work tomorrow that needed two weeks of heavy preparation.
- Night shifts.
- Relative in hospital very unwell.
- Wife unwell so I have had to pick up slack in the house.
Sure. Painting took back seat naturally.
So that's my progress entry. Not pleased, but hey.
real life jumps in! I'm trying to organise a wedding at the moment (in all fairness, my fiance is doing the lion's share as she speaks the language!) - every weekend is taken up going/doing/sorting something else out for it. Managing to get a bit of painting done in the early morns and evening after work but weekends are kaput! Real life eh - getting in the way of the important stuff! Keep going though TP - you'll get there
Hang in there and work when you can. Even slow progress is forward progress. It’s not like minis go stale. Deal with RL when you must, then pick up the brush when you can.
Project DA2: Completing Dark Angels Tactical Squad 2, 3rd Company
So with crazy life comes a need to re-group and re-plan.
I have put the Ravenwing Command Squad on hold. The super-detail was befuddling me, so to start with I am going to finish my first Tactical squad and re-base the previous figures. I originally painted a banner for the sergeant depicting them as 3rd company but didn't paint the knee pads appropriately, so will add these. WIP photos:
Project DA2: Completing Dark Angels Tactical Squad 2, 3rd Company
So have actually made a bit of progress for once. Built my final two squad members in slightly different poses to rest of squad. Removed original bases off the rest of the squad (did snap one leg ) and have put a pin in one of each of their legs. I've primed the two marines with black and then base sprayed with Dark Angels Green (I think that can shows my age ). I've also primed the bases with black.
Next I'll finish bases (need achievements I know I can do), then muster the courage to paint the marines before midnight on 31st March to enter them in Paradigm's painting contest.
Need to maintain momentum!
Have decided to take a Xenos side-trip after this and paint some Tau drones in Farsight colours - I'm reading the codex when waiting for meetings/lunchtimes/bedtime to get inspiration for colourings etc. Have also renumbered my projects as DA for Dark Angels or TA for Tau. I do like to organise things .
Automatically Appended Next Post: Oh, and in case anyone was keeping track - Passed exam! Woohoo, now just 17 more months and I can have the big chair (exam was a requirement to be able to progress).
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Here are my finished bases:
And here's my two final dudes on their finished bases, just need to finish them :
Project DA2: Completing Dark Angels Tactical Squad 2, 3rd Company
Some WIP Shots:
Had a good painting session today, also tweaked a few other models - gloss varnished helmet eyes for Dark Angels, spray varnished base for Landspeeder conversion.
Productive, just need to get two figures done in 48 hours for Paradigm's March painting Contest.
Took my children to paint pottery today as we're on hols. This is my effort:
Do you think I can field it as a Titan
And while the baby was being fed, my toddler produced this awesome "Chaos Monkey" (I named it):
Got to start the kids early (so proud)
Automatically Appended Next Post: Project DA2: Completing Dark Angels Tactical Squad 2, 3rd Company
1 done, 1 to go (plus three to be tweaked - transplant accident between bases) then varnishing. After that my entry into Paradigm's competition (see signature for link) will be complete.
I'd been very hopeful about how much I could do in the time, but am glad that I toned it back in time to allow me chance to submit anything. They'll ONLY be two basic space marines, but then I need to practice at that level first before I can go to higher levels.
Next month's competition entry has me very excited - I was completely anti-Veteran, but after a spark of creativity I got very excited about how you represent a Veteran - more on this in later posts. I'll still paint a few Tau drones, but will build the competition entries in unison to hopefully paint them after and complete both by the end of the month.
Project DA2: Completing Dark Angels Tactical Squad 2, 3rd Company
Well, I've submitted my entry to Paradigm's competition, no chance of winning, but I'm glad I persevered and entered something. Head over and take a look at all of the great entries - link in my signature.
I need to finish the "base transplant" corrections on three marines and the Dark Angels 2nd Tactical Squad, 3rd Company will be complete. Here are the completed two marines, I will take a photo of all 10 when the corrections are finished:
Nevelon wrote: Giraffe needs more dakka. Maybe some HB sponson/saddlebags and a bionic eye laser. Use him as a counts-as predator.
Crisp looking marines. I like the dark green bordering on black. Good tone for them.
Good call on the giraffe, I'll get on it. Although I think my daughter will throw a toddler-tirade if I even consider touching it now - missed my window of opportunity.
The marines aren't actually black, they are - Dark Angels Green with a Green wash (old pot of wash), then details painted and highlighted with a final wash of black ink over all the model. It was initially to add some "dirt" to their appearance, but I just like it now because it tones the colours down and helps them merge with the Ravenwing better.
Just discovered this, good for you man! Go get 'em!
I had a clear out at home and discovered old LoTR models I never got around to painting and a Tau Piranha hiding in the cupboard too! Shall try to find some of your motivation and use these projects to distract when the study gets too much.
I reckon the task ahead of me is on a par with this! Haha.
I had a clear out at home and discovered old LoTR models I never got around to painting and a Tau Piranha hiding in the cupboard too! Shall try to find some of your motivation and use these projects to distract when the study gets too much.
I reckon the task ahead of me is on a par with this! Haha.
Good luck!
Go for it! I'm glad I did, but finding out how much time to dedicate to it is the hardest bit, I've got a lot more stuff that I gotta do in a week than when I left the hobby.
Hey, just a quick post to let anyone following this blog know about two competitions that I have been involved with/following. Take a glance, there's some fabulous pieces on display:
Automatically Appended Next Post: Whoops, have been posting in various places and not in my own blog!
No building/painting updates today (yet), so those last 3 marines still need attention. However, I have been tempted away from my orginal plan to do some "low-stress" drone painting and have instead gone down the path of planning an audacious project!
So, having been dissappointed with my submission to Paradigm's March painting contest, I decided to go ridiculously overboard for April. That's about right for me. Have bought all of the parts that I need for my April entry bit am still waiting for two command squad right pads, Desthwing Storm Shield and 2 (yes, that's right) right power fists to arrive. One power fist will have a hole drilled for the banner pole and the other will not. They will both be magnetised for easy swapping. All that's left to buy/get is some material for the banner pole (well 4 banner poles . . .). I may just do the one for the competition, unless everything goes perfectly.
"audacious project"?? we likeeeeee!!!!! go for it!! I went a bit ott for the march comp; doing a whole squad and making a wee diorama. was tonnes of fun to do though single fig simplicity (solitaire....simple.....ntsm) for april. looking forward to seeing what you enter fella
Project DA3: Dark Angels Chapter Command Squad
Duplicated from my post in Paradigm's competition:
Hello everyone, here are my proof pictures Grand Master of the Dark Angels - Azrael's Command Squad:
Brother Bethor is around, but he needs quite a bit of conversion and therefore I'm going to post his proof later if he is to be included.
I've named them all for key people who have guided me and been an essential member and have an idea of bits of fluff for them. I've never written fluff before, feels a bit weird.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Januine wrote: "audacious project"?? we likeeeeee!!!!! go for it!! I went a bit ott for the march comp; doing a whole squad and making a wee diorama. was tonnes of fun to do though single fig simplicity (solitaire....simple.....ntsm) for april. looking forward to seeing what you enter fella
Yeah, I blame you and Paradigm for this - you inspired me to up my game, and Paradigm sparked the last bit of inspiration needed to come up with a way to do Brother Bethor the way that I wanted. Thank you both . . .
. . .for my pending nervous breakdown
Automatically Appended Next Post: There is a diorama planned too (shudder)
Project DA3: Dark Angels: 3rd Company - Chapter Command Squad
So, works moves slowly on for my April entry to Paradigm's painting contest (link in my signature). I have no put the figures together without blu-Tak and am pleased with the postures. The Storm Shield and right Power Fists haven't arrived for Brother Bethor, so I've not done anything with him yet.
I've left the company champion legs separated for spraying so I can detail the Iron Hands finescast legs well before they are obstructed by loin cloth. I've also left backpacks off so I can get to some of the detail on them before attaching.
They now have names:
Company Champion - Brother Geminiel
Apothecary - Brother Psilous
Standard Bearer - Brother Bethor
Veteran 1 (Thunder Hammer) - Brother Aikaterin
Veteran 2 (Power Fist) - Brother Oyena
I'll write a little fluff around squad formation as suggested for the competition when I get time.
Project DA2: Dark Angels Chapter Command Squad
And finally, I have finished the tactical squad. This is actually the first squad I have ever finished! So glad that they are done, partly a weight over my head and also nice to see them as a group over all this time.
Paradigm wrote: The CS poses are very cool! And congratulations on finishing your first squad, they look good!
Thanks bud. Wanted the CS to look commanding. The Iron Hands parts add to the 'ardness of them and I hope conveys their determination.
It only struck me last night that I've painted so many model kits and figures over the years, but never a complete squad! Hence the name (Argós is Greek for slow ). I've never done fluff before, does add to it all. I'm surprised.
Wel, little real progress over last few days, needed to rest after some very late finishes from work. Have managed to base spray my chapter command squad (except Bethor) and have received the storm shield and right power fists for him. I think I'm going to put him together as one of the last elements due to his overall complexity.
Just entered the 14th League of Extraordinary Riveters competition, think I may start a terrain blog for that due to a theory that I may struggle to keep track of projects.
Good for you man and well done on your entries into the contests. Don't be disappointed, any publicity is good publicity! Never met a more constructive bunch than the guys on here! Best with the command project! Looking good!
Enjoy a break and recover then be sure to link the terrain blog!
Project DA3: Dark Angels Chapter Command Squad
Well. I am starting late, but will likely get at least my Chapter Champion finished ready for the end of the 30th for the paining competition. So far legs finished:
Torso needs highlighting and red wash to loin cloth, sword handle and white wings on shoulder pad painting, purity sealed and dark angels logo on shield and gold breast plate highlighted with white, gloss varnish to eyes and then glue together before varnishing:
It's achievable, but had really hoped to get the whole squad completed. Need to tone down my expectations prior to these challenges I think.
Project DA3: Dark Angels Chapter Command Squad
Thanks Para. My highlighting is not as tidy as I'd like, but at least I'm painting again.
I have fluff for my Champion but it's pretty long. I've never written fluff before, but it was cool to do.
I named Brother Geminiel after someone important to me (actually the whole squad is named after very significant people in my life - bit of Greek and Latin translations though) and used that person's character traits to guide the fluff.
I liked the idea that Geminiel and Bethor knew each other from before with the Apothecary being a link to the rest of the Command Squad. So here you go, please give me feedback if it's good or bad, I have no idea how to pitch this stuff so any help would be gratefully received:
Brother Geminiel is a hardened warrior fighting for the The Emperor with a fury and vigour surpassed by none.
He came to the attention of the Inner Circle after his performance in the Cleansing of Durganion XIII when he supported Bethor in his efforts to reclaim the third company's standard from the vile genestealers who dared to take it.
Geminiel would not relent in the face of the slathering horde and stood fast as Bethor advanced and took back the standard and with it the company's honour. He single-handedly slayed wave after wave of the xenos and with walls of their carcasses surrounding him he continued to hold fast adding body after body to those that rotted around him creating a near overwhelming stench.
But alas, although Geminiel's strength of conviction made him endure it was not enough to prevent those filthy Tyranid scum from edging closer and closer until they started laying their blood stained claws upon him. They overwhelmed him and ripped his legs from his body, but still he fought, beating every one away that he could. By the grace of the Emperor, reinforcements reached his position to assist and were able to push the genestealer tidal wave back to the hell from whence it came in time for Brother Psilous, Company Apothecary, to stabilise him.
He was returned to The Rock at Geminiel's request so that the Master of The Rock would be able to work with Brother Psilous to augment Brother Geminiel with hand-crafted bionic legs blessed by the Machine Gods to allow him to continue his fight in the name of the Emperor and for his beloved Chapter in his newly granted position of Company Champion.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Well, it was a quick turnaround and I managed to complete Brother Geminiel. His base was a complete mess-up - I forgot to order more of the resin bases from www.tinyworlds.co.uk that I've started using!! So he's temporarily on that base until I get round to ordering the right bases. Once he's had a spray varnish he's done. I know he won't win the contest, he's nowhere near good enough, but I'm proud of him - he has a history, a personality and he looks good. I've learnt I need to try and work on my highlighting, but I love the red robes and am really pleased about how they came out. He'll take pride of place in my display. I will try and finish one more tomorrow so I can submit the two together, but otherwise he will be entered as a single miniature.
Project DA3: Dark Angels Chapter Command Squad
Well, had planned to complete at least three members by the wee hours of this morning, but exhaustion kicked in. I should get painting time today so will try and get a bit closer with them.
Competition is tough this month, if I get just one vote I'd be happy, I'm not greedy . But in reality I don't mind if I get none, I had loads of fun painting this one. Think it's because of him being named for someone in real life. I quite like that there is a backstory too. I'm gonna keep doing that.
Love back stories for figs. Whenever I'm painting, in my head totally imagining/making up fluff and back stories for whatever I'm painting. Acc to my head, that Solitaire I finished painting is one complete and utter b'strd lol
@Jan - Haha! That would be hilarious! Sorry for delay, your post wasn't flagged up as being new in my thread list.
No mini painting recently - getting engrossed by building my terrain entry for the League of Extraordinary Riveters. Link to the main competition Pte is the picture in my signature, my terrain blog is also there.
I'm going to do it as a Vindicator with the old FW upgrade kit. I thought about sticking an old remote car chassis under it so I could amuse my kids, but I think the one I've got is just slightly too big
Project DA4: Dark Angels Vindicator
After a 13 hour shift yesterday I managed to sort out the League table for the painting challenge and half built my Vindicator. Like an idiot forgot to take a WIP shot! Was disappointed with the resin parts and despite warming couldn't get them to sit right. Will need to green stuff the gaps.
Think I'll have a gunner on the top and wondering about having him standing with gun in hands. I'll add a safety harness like I've seen in pictures of army helicopters.
Hey, just checking in. May have time for some tank building tonight, but nothing so far. Did make some progress on my Tau Landing pad - check out my terrain blog if you're interested:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/645013.page
Project DA4: Dark Angels Vindicator
Well, I decided just to do some work on my Vindicator last night, because it was either that or sleep. Oh, wait, sleep probably would have been a good idea. Good job I'm catching the train today and not driving - screeeeech
Anyway.
So here's a collection of WIP:
Top left is how I started last night - FW panels and conversion kit mostly applied. Top right is tank plus gunner (but wait, they aren't the moulded hatch legs that came with it I hear you scream!) Should have taken a pre cutting photo, but basically the other two photos show the right lower leg pinned and pelvis and left leg combination with right hip pinned.
And why did I butcher this poor troopers legs I hear you ask:
Yeah, that's why.
His pelvis and torso alignment is off, but I have modelled this myself and it is surprisingly an accurate tilt. He's just a furious (*hint*) little who likes to gun down anything even remotely close to his tank.
He's blu-tak'd together at the moment so I'll start gluing elements together quietly when I get chance. He'll obviously need a bit of green stuff on the leg joins.
I'm sure he's not the best "pose conversion" out there, but I am pretty happy with him. It also means I now know what my diorama would be for Paradigm's painting contest - couple of dead orks in line with bolter and (if I can) a magnetised smoke cloud coming from the cannon (maybe).
“You! With the Melta Bomb! I’ve got a little something for you as well!"
Dakka Dakka...
Love the pose. I can see his tank being swarmed with cultists, too close for the main gun. Is he going to sit tight and wait for some assault marines to came clear them off? Nope. He’s got a stormbolter and he loves to use it.
I agree with all the comments! That's a really cool conversion! You really sense a lot of character from the pose! Personally... I kind of invisage him as a 40k Tank version of the chopper gunner in Full Metal Jacket.......
Thanks guys. He is pretty much based on the Full Metal Jacket chopper gunner Magos and dubovac - I've decided he is smiling with an insane glint in his eye.
Jan - I abandoned my Ravenwing in the first competition, there's something headache-inducing about them.
Well thanks for answering that query then, I'll be getting the glue and green stuff out tonight
Don't know what it is about Ravenwing; done well, they can look amazing, and are fun on the tabletop to boot, but painting them just seems such a slog. I was going to do some for the challenge myself, but after a few hours staring at the (comparatively) huge flat black, dull surfaces, all I could think was 'Nah, not gonna happen...' and that was just one squad! I pity anyone who's running pure RW!
Said it elsewhere, but that gunner pose is awesome!
TP^DC Deputy Manager wrote:Thanks guys. He is pretty much based on the Full Metal Jacket chopper gunner Magos and dubovac - I've decided he is smiling with an insane glint in his eye.
Jan - I abandoned my Ravenwing in the first competition, there's something headache-inducing about them.
Well thanks for answering that query then, I'll be getting the glue and green stuff out tonight
Paradigm wrote:Don't know what it is about Ravenwing; done well, they can look amazing, and are fun on the tabletop to boot, but painting them just seems such a slog. I was going to do some for the challenge myself, but after a few hours staring at the (comparatively) huge flat black, dull surfaces, all I could think was 'Nah, not gonna happen...' and that was just one squad! I pity anyone who's running pure RW!
Said it elsewhere, but that gunner pose is awesome!
TP^DC Deputy Manager wrote:Thanks guys. He is pretty much based on the Full Metal Jacket chopper gunner Magos and dubovac - I've decided he is smiling with an insane glint in his eye.
Jan - I abandoned my Ravenwing in the first competition, there's something headache-inducing about them.
Well thanks for answering that query then, I'll be getting the glue and green stuff out tonight
They're getting there. Finally got all the metal and black of the bikes pretty much finished but damn was that dull to do. They do look much better now. Gotta do the riders now......doing the riders and the bikes different 'blacks' to try and make them pop a little and not look so.....well, ...boring. Think a fiar bit of weathering adn damage to the bikes too will help.....we'll see....hopefully! wedding in 9 days lol
Project DA4: Dark Angels Vindicator
WIP - Have put tank together and here it is, needs green stuff next to fill gaps and to make the extended tubing (paper-clip) look a bit more like that which is attached to the model itself.
Time running out, will need to crack on to get it done in time.
Project DA4: Dark Angels Vindicator
Minimal progress because my green stuff was a bit too hard to mould, but managed to sort my gunner's leg out. Have bought more today so will try and get the rest greened up soon. Here he is though:
Spent time on my LoER entry instead - see terrain blog for details
Oh dear. My mind wandered away from current projects (so many unfinished ). To be fair, that was only because I was cleaning out my pond initially and then had to do the ironing (so domestic).
So basically, I'm looking at the off-cut bit of pond filter I was replacing in my pump/filter combi and thought it would do as a smoke material in the miniature world much like people use cotton wool.
The problem is that I then started wondering about comments made about doing Monstrous as the next theme in Paradigm's painting contest. And so, I remembered I still had Tyranids from back in the day to paint and figured that if it won, I would just paint some of them for the contest. Which I got excited about.
Then I got to thinking about how I would base them. You see I am a big supporter of the advice that your base sells your models. After I switched the bases on my first tactical squad to the resin ones I was stunned how much better they looked.
Anyway, with MEdge on the horizon, I've already thought about my scheme for them, which makes my list a bit like this:
Epirian - industrial (undecided how to make bases easily industrialised so far)
Karist - ice world (various cool schemes on line)
Tau Farsight - lava
Dark Angels - Urban rubble
So how would I base the Tyranids who I'll probably never play with and may get used in dioramas only, but would like to have the opportunity? I'd also like to not have to buy lots of bases and it be as cheap as possible
And then I thought about Alien and Predator and their various incarnations. That's when it struck me that Aliens are scary when there is fog and it's dark and they are stalking towards you. So I wondered about a swamp (or other location) with fog on it. And that's where the start of my take ties in. So here, for discussion and opinion is a genestealer with some fake fog on his base:
There is a lot more to do before it would be finalised, but in theory do people agree that this may be the way to crack the fog on base question?
Great modelling on the gunner on the Vindicator, sterling work. It is nice that you have photographic evidence of the old tactical squad to show how far you have come. I still think the Tactical Marine with the massive choppa coming out of his leg is my favourite though.
Good luck on this, you have quite a workload but the new minis you are painting look great. I will always have a soft spot for DA and yours look grand.
As for the 'Stealer base I am not sure I think i would have to see the finished version. Your MEdge colour scheme ideas seem spot on.
Cheers Thraxas, it's very kind of you to say. I did like the chopper, but it just felt a bit childish some how. I may do a more grown-up version down the line
I know what you mean about the genestealer base, I was way more convinced last night, today not so much. This is the traditional cotton wool:
I really want something in a hammer horror haunted forest type look and fog would just nail it, may have to keep thinking about the execution.
Right! This is getting frustrating now! My mind is wandering off tones projects before finishing the current ones, plus I am more inclined to finish my terrain piece for the LoER. As an underlining of this point, decided the fog on Tyranid bases (or any bases) just won't come off the way I hope. Therefore for the sake of finances and interest I'll go for a variation on this:
http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2014/05/hobby-tyranid-bases-in-under-3-minutes.html Doesn't make sense for Tyranids to crawl over their own eggs, but with creativity, they can be seen to be protecting them or advancing with them just in the background. I have ideas of how to do that and will sort it out as I go.
Project DA4: Dark Angels Vindicator
Finally a WIP. I've been so engrossed with my lava field entry for the League of Extraordinary Riveters (see signature), that I just haven't had time to get to my Vindicator.
It's finally primed though, although the spray can ran out midway through so I'll need to check tomorrow how successful it was:
Automatically Appended Next Post: Ooh! Forgot to say, there's battle damage too. Weird experience to knife and stab your beautiful tank I've got claw marks on it, shell impacts and on each of the sides here are bullet marks (I even got a line of bullet marks on the one side at the level someone's torso would be at if standing in the side hatch).....
Project DA4: Dark Angels Vindicator
Finally some more WIP:
Main photo - better primed photo of Vindicator
Top left - models 2-5 for the challenge
Top middle - plan for diorama base
Top right - GW building and vindicator on plan
Middle right - base board and mount board glued together to form pavements
Bottom right - GW building and Vindicator on base
Was meant to have sprayed the Vindicator with Green tonight, but rain stopped spray (), so took the opportunity to start building the diorama base and 3 of the 4 other models for the challenge (they will not be getting a thorough paint).
subbed....lots of cool modelling going on here....i really like how you reposed your gunner... i need to be more courageous too to make such grander conversions too!
Project DA4: Dark Angels Vindicator
Got a bizarre gift of time without having to run around this morning, so managed to finish off the placement of elements on to the Vindicator diorama. It's peeing it down outside so it was this or nothing because I couldn't spray. I'll get a base coat on these and the four Dark Eldar along with a coat of green on to the Vindi and gunner tonight (I hope).
what's this, what's this.....wee diorama in the works?!!! Liking it lots... really nice set up; gonna look the business. can't wait to see this all finished up TP.
I need to get down to the local river and nag me some nice stones and peebles for next month's comp/dio
Project DA4: Dark Angels Vindicator
So, for all those of you bored with a lack of progress, another WIP:
Please note - I got my green on. That is one major step closer to getting this little beauty finished for Sunday night. It is nearly impossible for me to see where the Dark Eldar are, so for all those in the same boat I have indicated where my five figures are. Note, 2 and 3 will not be there in the end, but it's kind of hard to show where they actually will be ... tum-tee-tum!
Goal is to spend time with family today then paint Vindicator tonight, the rest tomorrow. Dio should be really quick so may even get done tonight between Vindi coats drying.
Project DA4: Dark Angels Vindicator
Well plan to spend time with family today started well, but my daughter broke her arm so it kind of became a subdued day. I have no motivation to finish my entry now, so can't see me finishing my entry for the challenge, but did a little painting last night, here's my latest WIP:
Painted the dio because it required less thinking.
oh crap...i hope your daughter will get better soon... i know this takes it time... but eventually she will cope with the situation...i hope it is not a complicated break? my own son got his ankle ruined in a totally avoidable bicycle accident... took way too long to heal and he was doomed to st around way too long for a four year old boy...
but afterwards it is a time full of tales... tales you and she will remember... sour truth, that gets a bit sweeter in the fullness of time...
so... best wishes for that to happen soon!
as for the dio... i think i see for the first time ever a dozer blade that has to actually work its way through some debris!!! that´s very cool!
and i already said that gunner is a hot conversion
Thanks vik. Sorry to hear your son was so troubled by a similar problem. My daughter's break was apparently straight forward, but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed just in case.
Re the dio - thanks for the comments. I used the debris as a marker so I know where to put it back if I use it in a game, but also, I thought it would look cool . You'll see it finished one day, hopefully soon
lol... well, if he gets to a point to reveal his ankle... i guess he is way ahead of the game that a scar would benefit his efforts...
try to make the plastered up arm as entertaining t her as can be... i think this will help her get accustomed to the circumstances...maybe make it look a if she is wearing iron man´s armour^^...or flowers and unicorns^^
Project TY1: Zoanthrope and 4 Genestealer Dio
Tried to get some stuff done last night, but Hypoglycaemic again - just fed up of this ruining my chances of getting anything done.
Anyway, managed to get some stuff done. Here's some WIP for this month's painting challenge (see signature for link):
There's a PVA/super glue mix on the bases now to try and simulate gloopy alien stuff, not sure it's worked very well. I'll post when it's dry and primed.
hahahaa - dio bases are a bit of fun to make. only did the first one as a bit of a one off.....kinda got sucked into doing them now. speaking of which, better get back to mine
Viktor von Domm wrote:i can assure you the super glue PVA mix works ace as weird ground!!!
and hypoglycaemic as in that movie with that fella of king of queens...(forgot the title...)
that is a bummer....
as for the base.... be sure to cover the rim of the base seal it with something so that the cardboard inner structure wont be seen!
Thanks Vik, I only noticed this morning I hadn't tidied it up, wasn't thinking straight because I was unwell
Don't know the film, but my life feels like a bad drama sometimes. After 28 years of diabetes it starts to wear away on your positivity......
Paradigm wrote:Dio base? Awesome!
I'm doing one as well, I think Januine's started something of a trend!
Just seen your minis - SNAP! (Sort of) - I'm blaming Januine for the dio Although technically bases were my thing of the month so made sense - I normally now buy resin, so wanted to try something new that I wasn't paying for.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Project TY1: Zoanthrope and 4 Genestealer Dio
Some WIP:
I know they aren't great images. Hope you get the idea.
Going to switch to my LoER entry for a bit coz deadline's in a week - so badly want to finish this one project - getting frustrated that I'm not carrying ideas through
mate... i heard in the news the soon want to bring a kind of plaster to market... that will intelligently solve the insulin application...
we have the illness in our family line too... and from the way i am celebrating my eating habits... i will eventually get it too...
the blue balls (ohoh...now that is a wrong sentence beginning...) looking mighty fine... very eery...if the colour scheme allows i would try to replicate that hue when you paint the piece...
I wait and see with the Diabetes. I've seen so many changes and so many pipe dreams go up in smoke. I just get on with it as best I can. After 28 years there's little else I can do.
The tyranids are going to have black armour with blue highlights and then white flesh with blue shadows. Therefore when planning the egg colour I was either going to go with pink for contrast or blue for consistency. Ground will be grey stone and brown wood. Happy for people to chip in with preferences
Project TY1: Zoanthrope and 4 Genestealer Dio
So, better day today. Built a kitchen and then managed to find time to paint my Zoanthrope. So happy with the final result! Here's the WIP:
The brain was so simple as a technique - White base coat, green ink, done. The feathering was a first for me and I know it's not perfect but I think it was a fair first effort. I chose yellow eyes to contrast against the blue and green and think it works well, I will use this on all Tyranids from here on. The base was my second new technique, I think the blue eggs work well and the log adds some dynamicism to a figure which is very static due to being made of metal and me not being in the mood to convert with GS.
Here's the nearly finished Zoanthrope:
Needs varnishing and better final photos for the challenge. The dio and genestealer are not finished so my entry will purely be the Zoanthrope in all likelihood unless I find more time to paint again, but this is why I only put up a proof for the Zoanthrope initially because I wanted to make sure I had a second stage target, but ultimately I only had to do the one thing. I am very keen to finish the dio base and genestealers to finish that overall scene, but I am so happy with the end result of the Zoanthrope.
Urge . . . to spray . . . so strong! Must . . . spray. Convention dictates . . . I . . . . . . have to *shake shake* *hiiiiiiiissss* . . . NOOOOOOO! I went and did it, Damn me! Damn me all to hell!!!! *slumps to knees in front of fogged mini pounding floor with despair*
NB I LOOOOVE Planet of the Apes
Thanks guys. Base was a personal pat on the back moment I must admit. Proper photos to be taken today/tomorrow
Thanks Para. I managed all of that from prime to current in one night, so I'm gonna see if I can squeeze a few Genestealers in, otherwise I'll post the Zoanthrope alone as complete. Not quite up to your entry, but still happy (even pushed myself as you encourage us to do. TWICE )
man... i was thinking you ruined it with spray too for a sec there...
i think we need a quick sign of life...
also... love the ´nid...base looks awesome, i think adding the log was a good idea... any living being that lays eggs would use a place to at least protect its clutch from one side...the log covers that pretty well... also... that first vibrant green wash was awesome, but i understand that you wanted to go for a more muted coloured look... the carapace looks awesome... a very successful model!!!
well... there was once a fella here that did a whole city table from foam board... and after finishing the huge built he primered everything into oblivion...i dunno how many working ours literally melted before the spray can... so...dry humour made from reality...
Viktor von Domm wrote: well... there was once a fella here that did a whole city table from foam board... and after finishing the huge built he primered everything into oblivion...i dunno how many working ours literally melted before the spray can... so...dry humour made from reality...
Project TY1: Zoanthrope and 4 Genestealer Dio
A good day today. Loooooong because I had to do a night shift last night and have yet to sleep, but a good day nonetheless. The reason is because of this:
I finished my Zoanthrope diorama. I love it for many reasons. I tried so many new things, I gave new life to old minis, they are soooo different to Dark Angels which made a great change, I didn't overstretch with my entry (I said the Zoanthrope and planned the other 4, but it wasn't necessary. I managed two genestealers which was an over-achievement therefore, but the was no sense of failure). Mostly of all is that I finished this project. I have too many unfinished - the ravenwing, the command squad, the vindicator. Not these, these are finished. They're in a display case and everything. Yay me. It's nice to be proud of something and I really am - head held high. They may not be professional standard, but I keep looking at them in disbelief that I managed to paint them .
Next project coming soon. Maybe tonight. See if I collapse from exhaustion
and rightfully proud you have to be! a good looking piece! and i am one of the many peeps that know how a full shelf of shame feels... so every little finished model counts... and you succeed in finishing a diorama base with five cool looking models...respect!
i recently shoveled some free space in our living room to have a place to see my works... that is a very motivating thing to have... and a nice additional benefit is the fact that it is an eyeopener for every guest that comes into the living room^^
Thanks Vik. My display case is in our "everything else room" (I'm not allowed to call it a man cave although all my stuff is in their ) so I get to see it every day now.
Project TA1 - Stealth Tau
Here's the start of my next project as an entry to Paradigm's stealth/sneaky competition. I plan to paint a la camouflage with background dio elements such as rock and tree painted on to the front of the minis. There will be two more, but not built yet. I'm initially only entering one to the contest.
Oh...now this is a challenging project! I have deep respect for your will to raise the bar! The concept is waybbeyond my own comfy zone...but i'll love it already...
Viktor von Domm wrote: Oh...now this is a challenging project! I have deep respect for your will to raise the bar! The concept is waybbeyond my own comfy zone...but i'll love it already...
I love that you are entertaining the idea that I can pull this off!!!!!!! I've got visions of a bit of grey paint looking terrible on a good model
I've got visions of a bit of grey paint looking terrible on a good model
ROFL.... that is the sad truth of every model i touch...honestly it isn´t that sad once you truly start... but the fear ... the fear is always there... i think what a noob like me (in terms of painting) sets apart from a real painter is tat these peeps don´t fear the painting process any more...
also...inmygravenimage did a wonderful camo effect on a mantis warrior that is in a way rather similar to your idea...
maybe you take a look at his gallery...for ideas/guidance...
Oh my lord! That was incredible. That's pretty much what I'm planning. Was going for rock background due to the army having a lava theme. But then I do have some orks that might need to be snuck up on....
Project TA1: Stealth Tau
So, I have discovered the moment when you know that your wife/partner is the perfect person for us nerds (I use the term to label myself and anyone who feels the same, no insult intended). It's when you spend 30minutes with that person discussing how best to complete this month's painting challenge and present it in the right (and easiest way) when she has no interest whatsoever in wargames or model kits. She is a brilliant woman who supports everything I do and I have genuinely amazed her with things achieved sometimes (not being big-headed, more a comment on her willingness to support me regardless what I choose to do, therefore paying no consideration to the final product, hence the amazement).
So my beautiful wife agreed to chat about my thoughts to use orks in a diorama with the Tau sneaking up on them. Good idea she says, but can't you use your landing pad? She then proceeds to tell me I'm wrong about where I planned to place them and suggests two awesome places that produced incredible appearances. Sadly one was physically impossible for a creature to hold without the terrain piece being present, so as these are meant to be potentially able to field on a table, that was left sadly, but I really loved it - suit kneeling in a crip of rock in lava peering over an island at what's taking place. Had I remodelled the figure it would have taken a lot of moulding and I doubt the final result would have benefited.
So here are the three figures now:
This is where the contest challenge piece will be placed with camo painted on after.
And this is where my wife excelled with her second placement suggestion. In the photo above of the three, look at the figure on the left, take his base off and then check this out:
So no base until after the challenge for that one.
If I somehow manage to get those three done I have two orks to paint and some ork upper torso and heads (not dead, but asleep under GS sheets around a campfire
This therefore allows me a kick up the bum to complete the landing pad - that's for you Vik saves making a new dio and allows me to have some different angles for the camo effect.
I'm so motivated now. She's a great woman is my wife
I was genuinely stunned, she said can't you have him flanking from over the brow, and I just paused in astonishment before realising that if I did it right he'd be hugging the slope but able to stand in the same pose.
Great work on the suits, a second opinion is always an eye opener! Take a look in my gallery there for an example of how not to do it! Tried to actually glue sand to them, haha. In games it looks great, otherwise, not so much .
@caminacambob - your stealth suits are a good concept, I think the problem comes from what most people have done which is have the spread coming from the ground or random points. When you are faced with someone in a chameleon shield you won't see them because they will look like whatever is behind them. That's my theory anyway
i often analyse my ideas with my wife too... quite often she has the crucial ideas i need to have for finishing my project... it´s all about the different perspective...
and i love that project... this will look amazing!
Project TA1: Stealth Tau
For the painting challenge I managed to finish this. Not up to everyone else's standards, but I achieved my aim to create a camouflaged Tau Stealth Suit:
"He's Behind You!"
"Close-up of Ork"
"XV-25 Stealth Suit Front"
"XV-25 Stealth Suit Left"
"XV-25 Stealth Suit Right"
It was hard to take the photos to show the transition between camouflage and not, the light gauge on the camera was going mental. Hope you get the idea though.
All I'd suggest is using a very bright color to denote the edge of the cloaking field. Either a pale blue or cold off-white would just make it a little clearer.
I know what you mean. It's been bugging me since I finished it. I think the photos don't show it off well either. This is an iPhone close-up:
It's white with a light blue spattering in it. Blue didn't seem to work. Maybe a heavier blue line stippled centrally in the white might work.
Project DA4: Vindicator, now with Necron enemies
Finally finished my Vindicator for the August painting challenge. I probably could have been more detailed, but I am pleased:
Hope you like it. There are two more Wraiths I will paint up (ran out of time). I am really getting in to the Necrons now
Few points:
The Gunner is called Bob
Bob likes to Hum "Bob the Bolter, Can He Blast it? YES I CAN!!!!!" as he goes about killing stuff
There is fluff, but not typed up yet.
Few points:
The Gunner is called Bob
Bob likes to Hum "Bob the Bolter, Can He Blast it? YES I CAN!!!!!" as he goes about killing stuff
There is fluff, but not typed up yet.
The Gunner is called Bob
Bob likes to Hum "Bob the Bolter, Can He Blast it? YES I CAN!!!!!" as he goes about killing stuff
There is fluff, but not typed up yet.
waaaay better than "git some!...."
also... your necrons look awesome...very cool...the glow effects really sell these models!
Bloody lovely stuff TP. Dio came out great. Damned toasters!! Wraith looks fantastic!! You're gonna be needing to get yourself a display cabinet! (The IKEA ones are brilliant)
I have a couple already that are nearly full with various things. It's a lack of floor space that's my problem. Will mull it over and work something out otherwise they will be sitting on each other's laps
So this blog has been empty for a long time. RL has been tricky, but I won't bore, we all have these challenges.
Everyone is setting goals for 2016. I like that word - "goals" - it's more realistic than resolutions, with goals they are what they are - aspirations to aim towards. I don't make resolutions at all, they are simply things to feel bad about in 12 months when you didn't achieve them. All I can manage with hobbying at the moment is aspirations, but that's no bad thing.
I have a huge backlog of models and the new MEdge stuff is coming soon. I therefore will not make a dent in what I've got, but there are some things I would like to paint:
A squad of DA scouts
A Deathwing Terminator squad
Ravenwing Jetfighter
Anrakyr the Traveller
Finish my squad of Necron Warriors
Finish my squad of canoptek wraiths
A Tau crisis suit and I don't care which
Finish my stealth suit team
A squad of tau/kroot troops
MEdge Angel
MEdge Epirians contractors or a Hunter
MEdge karist tempests
And I hope I can make these fit in to Para's contests this year. If I am doing well on this list, I will be rewarding myself by caving in to Januine's prompting and buying a Knight Warden, but that will require a lot of time and therefore momentum to complete this list beforehand. I'd love to finish some Deathwatch, tanks, more Tau, more Necrons along the way too, but goals have to be achievable.
So, as 2015 closed I produced this:
And very pleased with it I am too. Nightmare build and I finally sussed out how I could thin paints correctly etc (was struggling to get consistency right with brushloads, so bought plastic pipettes - works perfectly for the obsessional in me! There's a thread on how awful the build with and how I painted the flames on here, I can link if anyone struggles to find it.
It got me thinking though how I'd love a vote or five for it to see what the masses think, but none so far, which is fine, I am not being spoilt, but a bit of feedback would help an improving painter a lot. The challenges I enter are fab and I get some feedback there, but ranking 10th (as I am currently) makes slightly less sense than "your model is a 7 out of 10 goodness level". I think it's human psychology isn't it? Only one person can win, but it would be great to know how close to 1st you were. So I looked at how many votes I've had. 5. 239 photos, majority with voting disabled because they are WIP, but only 5 votes for all the photos that could be voted for! Oh well. I've got good friends here who give me feedback, which helps a lot.
Here is my next project anyway, as per the list, SMDA scouts:
I'm gonna have some magnets in it and a glowing power fist, I hope. I'll try to update as I go
So progress was made last night, here is how Veteran Sergeant Dorn is looking and his Dark Eldar victim. Need to pin and prime him and the other scouts next:
NB Tried using the attachment function and it seems to have gone wrong below, apologies. These are the photos I tried uploading:
Colour Scheme
Other shots:
WIP on the scouts:
Here's how the pose looked after repositioning the Dark Eldar-
Took a bit of "extreming" (bending joints more than GW allowed). That meant I needed to cut into the chest slightly for the helmet to bend forward more and I had to make a neck and new helmet base -
Then I had to redo the back of his waist to stop builder's bum -
This is how he looks from the front -
And now Dorn has a cloak -
And from the front -
The cloak needed scaffolding to stop it straightening overnight (let's hope it worked) -
These 4 are pinned and ready for their cloaks now too. They won't be so dramatic though -
Yeah, they're not really Ghillie, I just like the name. I hate camo painting and wanted something not smooth, so the texture of the gauze will allow me to get away with calling these camo cloaks and have them painted black and shades of grey (?50) to fit in with my urban setting for the DAs.
Loved painting that Balrog, hated GSing it!!! Gutted that I never made the bridge for the LoER, but RL was too much
Automatically Appended Next Post: So only a quick WIP for now, feeling pretty run down and in need of time off. I'm lucky I have next week away from work. Phew!
Anyway, here are the 5 cloaks with gauze applied:
Once the glue has dried, I will trim any gauze bigger than the GS base of the cape. Next is removing mould lines from the one shotgun scout. Then finally it's on to priming.
Have finished my Dark Eldar victim and am slowly going through the base coats for the scouts. Not sure I will get done by the end of January, but I'll do my best
Thanks Para. Did get them done. Not the standard I hoped for, but pleased to have finished them. Here's a dodgy "finished 2 minutes ago and not varnished" shot. Better photos for competition soon
As promised, here are my proper final photos of the first half of Dark Angels Squad Dom (10th Company, 1st Squad):
Led by Veteran Sergeant Dom, a Scout born to lead. He fights in the name of the Emperor and for the glory of his beloved Chapter. His squad lead him knowing that through him victory will be born. They are renowned for their successful skirmishes that have paved the way for the battle companies to swoop in and deliver the Emperor's message. They take no prisoners and are ready to take their place with their Tactical Marine brothers.
Or something like that...
Learned a lot about painting faces, not perfect yet, but better. Glad I took the plunge with the capes and that I didn't go with the god-awful beige jumpsuit. This is what my urban scouts should have always looked like, my first effort years ago was horrific. Hope you like them. C&C Welcome.
Automatically Appended Next Post: So, because I got my January pledge for the tale of gamers thread done, thought I'd check through my list:
A Deathwing Terminator squad
Ravenwing Jetfighter
Anrakyr the Traveller
Finish my squad of Necron Warriors
Finish my squad of canoptek wraiths
A Tau crisis suit and I don't care which
Finish my stealth suit team
A squad of tau/kroot troops
MEdge Epirians contractors or a Hunter
MEdge karist tempests
Completed:
A squad of DA scouts (only ever planned to do a minimum squad of 5, I have planned the rest and will do at some point)
Next up:
MEdge Angel (Or maybe 2, or maybe even some minnows so I can carry the paint scheme through)
So the Deathwing are coming very soon. For Paradigm's challenge next month we return to Space Marine as a theme so I am going to take on that accursed light armour!! I have been trepidatious for a long time about this because my skills weren't up to it. I need to take that plunge sometime though so off we go.
I've got 20 Terminators here and 5 DW Knights (25 termie armour clad marines?!):
5 DW from eBay (DV ones - I had no idea!!)
5 metal DW bodies from back in the day
5 standard SM termies from the first army box GE released
5 DW Knights from the DVDA expansion
5 bits and bobs left over from the Knights which I can cobble together to make another 5 DW as long as I buy some pads and maybe a few torso backs.
I'm chucking one metal and one standard in to each squad to disperse them out and bring in some variety.
I've decided to make the second squad that would be needed for the DASH expansion Bringer of Sorrows. The first would be a Command squad and I am not up to painting the Standard and champion etc, so want to do a standard squad to develop the technique.
I've trawled the Internet and found the names of the DW from the original Deathwing computer game and have named all of the DW like the BAs are in SH.
nice!!! done well, the deathwing look fantastic. Have a wee cheeky checky of this - best Deathwing colours and tutorial I've come across yet - really helped me when I was doign the boys from the DV set
Januine wrote: nice!!! done well, the deathwing look fantastic. Have a wee cheeky checky of this - best Deathwing colours and tutorial I've come across yet - really helped me when I was doign the boys from the DV set
That's why I liked it so much - had that sunbleached desert bone look to it which I way prefered to the usual creamy bone colour you see being done. Gives a gritty more real look imho. Just down to whichever 'look' folk prefer
Cheers for the interest both. I have seen that painting guide before Jan, but thanks for the link. I am still unsure how I am going to go with it. Mine will be a creamier tone than the ones you did because the bones I've seen have tended to be that colour. It's down to personal choice as you say though.
Was thinking the same evildrcheese. I'll be swapping standard arms in to modern bodies and DA specific weapons in to metals and standard bodies to spread the theme around a little to help the blending. Planned to leave these DV termies alone though. If I ever wanted to buy more I may reposition arms then for the variety as you say
So I've submitted my proof to Paradigm's challenge:
That's Barachiel's termie squad from Dark Vengeance which happened to board The Bringer of Sorrow to fight the Genestealer menace on that Space Hulk (see GW Space Hulk DA supplement if you are completely lost ). And along with them is the Space Hulk Broodlord. I'll enter up to 5 of them. I had planned to make my own squad, but decided to go with this pre-moulded squad to help me get used to the paint scheme this month and I can convert a second DV squad and the old termies in the future when I know how I am painting the Deathwing.
And spurred on by everyone's supportive comments here is my progress on the Broodlord today (which I have been terrified to paint especially after Januine's and Paradigm's excellent jobs):
For those interested these are the phases for the skin:
1 - Prime black
2 - Glaze of Xereus Purple (Top image)
3 - Wash of Druchii Violet
4 - Layer Glaze highlight with a mix of 3:1 Genestealer Purple:Xereus Purple
5 - Drybrush with mix of 1:3 Lucius Lilac:Xereus Purple (2nd image)
6 - 2 wash layers of Nuln Oil (3rd image is after first wash layer)
The skulls were:
1 - Drybrush Terminatus Stone
2 - Wash with Seraphim Sepia
3 - Drybrush White
4 - Wash with Nuln Oil (Bottom image which also has 2nd layer of Nuln Oil on the skin)
For the carapace I'm going old school with a blue, but it will be grimdark, I've bought the recommended colours for skin and armour and am darkening them all down. I'm determined to prove classic stealers can be scarey. I've modded the scheme to follow what you and Jan did with yours so the ribbed sections on the limbs will be blue too. I've even got Blood For The Blood God on the way in the post! Trepidatious about using it for the first time, but gotta give it a go sometime
BFTBG is easy, just thin it a bit and slap it on for fresh gore, thin it a bit more to an almost glaze-like consistency if you want a 'wet' smear rather than a thick blob.
Thanks for the tip, thinking of a drip coming from the bottom of the tongue and the. Smear over the end of the tongue and around teeth/mouth and then on some of the claws. Couple of drops on the floor below the drip. And I've seen you guys splatter a little, so might try that on his chest suggesting mauling in his "kill zone" (within the four arms). Read the WD article that was published recently too. So ready to give it a shot
Aye Jan he is. So much so I went on a 5 hour painting mission and ended up with this:
That was great fun
He's 90% done, there's a new base to come, BFTBG spray Matt varnish and then brush gloss varnish for the claws, but that's it. So best get back to the Deathwing seeing as how that is the theme of this month!!!
I really hope that I have managed to convince at least one person that the original Genestealer scheme can be good if done right (and that I've managed that).
I want everyone who's been kind to know that I felt so motivated after your support and hat's why I pushed through to produce this to have fun and prove to myself that I can do a good job. I actually believe it a little now (that's the best I can do for now, so let's not be giving me grief about having a low opinion of my hobby skills - that's a lifelong issue! )
Big, huge, mega thanks go out to Januine who has been giving me tips for 12 months and it looks like some of it is paying off - cheers bud!!
Just bought enough bases from Fenris Games to base the whole of the Space Hulk and Deathwatch: Overkill minis ........ plus about 20 extra Deathwatch that I might make of my own. That was quite an order to make especially after buying DW:O and budgeting my final pledge manager contributions for the Awaken Realms and Shattered Earth Kickstarters!!! I have to refrain from buying anything to do with miniatures for a very long time now!!
Automatically Appended Next Post: Oh dang! Just remembered I was gonna get the Nurgle's Rot and Typhus Corrosion technical paints - doh!
They're great figs so it'd be remiss of you not to do them the justice of some lovely bases to stand on......that help your quandry???!!!!! I'm still on a fig buying freeze and miraculously sticking to it.....I am going up to Seoul this weekedn to the flgs to pick up some paints I'm nearly out of ........temptation.....wife is ZERO help as she keeps telling me to just buy the DW:O box - ;(
I agree totally. But after I bought them we found out my wife's new job may not pay as well as the old one. It'll be fine and the bases were essential. Glad I've bought them now so that if the range ever came to an end I've got all I need for the games and at least 20 of my own Deathwatch. Do it's all good.
Your wife should be listened to as should all wives. Therefore you must buy DW:O. Yup, yup, yup
Small update today. Have a bunch of work to get done so no painting yet ....... though I am growing concerned that I am now daydreaming of painting glazes on to Deathwing minis. Hmmmmmm.
Anyway.
So I have a plan for the Broodlord base that I am definitely not going to try and explain on here - I'll just post when I have something to show. Otherwise I'll just confuse everyone. I hope it will be understated, but visually interesting and fitting with the aesthetic. I need to hope I get the bases in time now.
Got my bag of skulls today though which I'll use to blend the bases together along with some termie helmets I have lying around, so very pleased. Bought on the weekend and sent yesterday! Great service. Great sculpts (20 in total). Listing was for "100+" and I got 160!!!!!! It would be a huge pain to count out the 100 and guess it's all done on weight and experience. But a great surprise anyway. The seller was cool and think anyone wanting skulls should check out his listing here. Cheapest I could find online too.
So here's how I got on tonight while trying to recover from an evil tension headache.
Base coat is Ungor Flesh
Then an thick (allowed to be a bit gloopy) layer of Agrax Earthshade
Two glaze layers of Ushabti Bone
Drybrush Terminatus Stone (only on one mini so far)
I got a little nervous after the Drybrush layer and thought I should take a step back.
I wanted my Deathwing to not be shiny. I don't do shiny. Partly because I am not good enough to do so, but also it doesn't make sense. The Agrax layer being slightly irregular has brought some variation in shade throughout the minis. To me that allows a look of "rushed paint job" harking back to the origin of the bone armour.
I think another Drybrush layer is needed to deepen the Terminatus Stone a little.
The guns will be black and metal. The eyes red, the Aquila green.
I am very keen to hear people's thoughts. I have been underwhelmed by most tutorial blogs and videos online for the Deathwing and even my painting idol Januine's Deathwing, which I think are superbly painted, are not quite the colours of what I imagine the elite soldiers of the Dark Angels to look like. But then I'm an idiot and my opinion is probably worth ignoring.
But then I'm an idiot and my opinion is probably worth ignoring.
You shut your stupid face! Seriously though, cut that out. You're awesome, and not in the new world touchy feely GenY stupid way that everyone is important horse gak - you actually are awesome.
NOW, onto your death wing - I think that colour is perfect. They are supposed to be white or bone white, and I think you've nailed it just like that. Looking forward to trying to replicate it when I get to mine in the DV box
KB, mate, sorry. I had an awful headache last night (which irritatingly has persisted) and wasn't being careful in what I wrote. I sounded like such a whiney arse. Apologies everyone. I was trying to say that most people like either orange-cream or practically pure white and I just don't fit in to either group. The "ignore me" comment was me trying to placate everyone.I still don't think I'm as good as you say, but I'll accept your kindness and will have a warm glow all day due to it
I think those Deathwing look nice, it's one of those schemes where you can give 10 painters the mini and some fluff/artwork and you'll get 12 different versions of the armour colour at least! Personally, I go for darker (no prizes for guessing that one, folks! ) but this scheme is certainly well within the Deathwing-suitable spectrum. Looking forward to more!
Thanks Para. I've not finished yet, I'm going to dirty up the armour with some weathering powders. These Deathwing wash their armour with xenos blood, not Daz
The broodlord looks great, and the Deathwing are also coming along very nicely. If you've got more to go, I'd suggest grabbing as much Bestigor flesh as you can, since I understand it's been withdrawn from sale?
Oi! I couldn't leave the armour colour alone. It was too cream. But I didn't want it white.
So I took opinion from my wife. We agreed on an Ulthuan Grey drybrush layer. I think it's worked ok (too late if it hasn't). I think I'm going to finish this guy first so I'll know the scheme for the rest. This way if I've got it wrong then only one's affected I suppose. Took the chance to lay down some of the metal base layers.
I've just noticed that the last two versions look pretty similar. I think the previous photo had a lot of glare to it because in real life it was far more cream, hence why I added the Ulthuan Grey. The last photo is a lot more like the real thing
So woke up at half 4 this morning with a very low blood sugar. But frightened to go back to sleep even when it was sorted, so went and did some more of my concept Deathwing:
So, I've finished Brother Octavius of Squad Zadakiel. I had to try a thin Nuln Oil wash over to grubby him up - been looking at Para's mini's for too long!!! I'm not gonna get chance to do the other 4 any time soon so if there are strong haters of this finished result I can try again with the others and strip Octavius at some point. There will be a bloody power fist dripping on to the Tarmac at the end, but that's post varnish etc.
Honestly, I preferred him before the Nuln Oil, but what's most important is whether you're happier with him this way and if he matches the look you're wanting to achieve.
Reckon Az is on the money there. Nuln can be a money maker and/or a heart breaker (feth......"crackers with that cheese Jan?!") You can still crisp him up again with a few thin layers if that's what youre wanting.
I actually like the Nuln Oil, and normally I wouldn't. You are closer to my own vision of the Deathwing colours than most people, but I felt yours did not quite have enough depth in the shadowed areas, and the Nuln Oil dirtied it enough to make up for that. I say keep it!
Toss some genestealer too on him and see how he looks . I did like the pre nuln oil look better, I think it is just too harsh on a white base color. Maybe sepia wash instead.
Well. Thanks guys for your input. I was horrendously gutted that I had ruined the model. Januine made some tips and I have tried to apply them - Glaze layer of pale layer (used pallid wych flesh), better highlights for Aquila/DA logo/Crux Terminatus, I've switched the seal writing to Rhinox Hide brown and have applied an edge highlight (used white).
I hope that's enough. I am calling him done now. He will be the black sheep of the squad, which fits in quite well with the anger management issues I had envisioned originally with him having a bloodied power fist dripping on the floor. I have to tell you doing that made me smile ........ a lot. Just coz
Bases from Fenris arrived for my Space Hulk, Deathwatch: Overkill and any other Deathwatch minis I make. Put them in for their release-agent-ridding bath last night.
Thanks Thraxas, here is a better composed set of photos of Brother Octavius:
Regarding the bases, they are from Fenris Games and are called Sulaco for the basic bases and those with the alien stuff on are called Sulaco: Hive. They can be found here. Definitely worth a look. Januine is using them for his Space Hulk Terminators' bases and are worth looking at to see the bases' potential.
First WIP of Anrakyr the Traveller. Pleased with the silver, but not as sure about the copper. Couldn't get the highlights right, think the last glaze of hashut copper I put on dulled down the stark contrast between runefang silver and the sub layer of hashut copper. Please feel free to tell me I'm wrong and I'll take any advice to fix
More crusty but don't really want them to be smothered in nihilkh or whatever-it's-called. He's a fighter, not a stuck-up aristocrat. He left all of that behind to unite his fallen brethren.
The copper was:
screaming bell
Reikland fleshshade
Hashut copper layer Highlight
Runefang steel edge highlight
Hashut copper glaze
You might try a blue or purple wash on the silver to give it a little color, but that's up to you. I think fighters can be shiney, especially robots with repair protocols.
Looking good. I'd also consider a brown or even chestnut wash/glaze over that copper to further define the recessed details and add a bit of richness to the upper details. Either that or a very thinned-down DA green. (Try both on test models before doing to your HQ!)
Thanks everyone for the comments. Tried an Agrax wash over the copper but have left for now to move on to the Gold. Interestingly no reference photos of his back, but happened to notice the other day that his spinal processes were Gold. That was not a look I was going for. He wears bits of Gold, his structural integrity isn't made of a soft metal!!!! Anyway, so tried Januine's advice over "old gold" using Runefang washed with layers of Fleshshade and Sepia. Sadly I have the predecessors of the current range and the pigments must be different, so the result was not as planned. I painted a Hines layer of Auric Armour Gold over though and it seems to have worked ok now. This is a quick WIP, there is lots more to do with the left hand weapon, staff and multiple blues for the detailing. But now the initial blue is down I feel much happier with him. Happy to hear C&C
Thanks guys. That was purely the initial Teclis Blue base layer. He's had three further gradients of colour added over each blue element (phew!) and is way better. I just hadn't posted a photo of that have left him for a few days. Needed a rest before trying to do the edge highlighting on every piece of metal (urgh!). I will return to him soon though.
Currently playing with my MEdge Hunter warmech over at my MEdge blog (see sig). And for a very stress-free evening am painting some Space Hulk floor tile edges black (photos on terrain blog soon).
Oh dear. My focus has been wrenched completely recently and I apologise if anyone is getting annoyed with a lack of focus.
To explain:
I was taking a short aside to start painting my MEdge Hunter over in my MEdge blog temporarily with a plan to return to Anrakyr very soon.
Then I discovered some fan-made Lost Patrol tiles with a "Space Freighter" (*cough* Space Hulk *cough*) theme and have Photoshopped some fireballs on to enhance the Tumbleweed tiles a little (Mark Nuttal's tiles are brilliant, but it wasn't clear what was Tumbleweed to me).
I was then all set to mount them on thick mounting board and then laminate in an attempt to try and play some form of miniature game (33 years old, last played when I was 14, only ever played 3 times and the guy I played with didn't make the experience fun, yet love painting models and really want to use them in something).
Then happened to Facebook message my local GW store to find out their plans for Saturday's 30th anniversary of Power Armour events only to discover that among other things they are holding a squad (+/- dedicated transport) vs genestealer games along with painting competitions.
And I thought "oh for goodness sake!" "Just give it a go". Hence I started trying to work out how to transport what I would want to play with/enter.
Then when chatting to Januine he effectively gave me a kick up the proverbial and I am now making a Rhino that I had in the cupboard
I PROMISE I will get back on track soon!!!!!
I am quite excited by the prospect to play some sort of game on a big event like this. Just because I hope my inate uselessness may be overlooked. I am stupidly nervous though . But even more so I want this bad boy painted now just so I can take it along with the tactical squad I finally managed to complete when I returned to the hobby just over a year ago and use them
So here is the progress from box contents to current build state. The gunner got shot down so one of the marine passenger got out of his place of safety to take over gun-duty. Got a bit of fluff around how the Rhino came to be like this but need to get it built and painted then fiction later. Would love to hear what you guys think
Nice!!!!!looking forward to hearing how the tourney/event goes on Saturday. Give 'em hell. In the grim dark future (of the Valleys) there is only war!!!!!
Cheers Para. Top hatch magnetised should I ever want to get a Razorback turret and so I can see the inside better
Pleased with Gunner, but he's blu-takked on for now
Automatically Appended Next Post: Had to be in store within first 15 minutes to get one of the 50 of these they had (well I got 2 - one for Januine too). 2 left at 10:15. Nuts!
Bear with me on this. I came to planning my day and decided I needed to finish off Anrakyr for Para's competition. So I thought I'd chuck in 4 Necron Warriors too to keep my mini painting count up for the month. And then my eyes fell on the Scarabs.
I actually like the sculpt of the GW scarabs, but the base looks pathetic with the 4 on their stalks. I actually put one together a few months ago and have ignored it ever since because it was rubbish. I don't even like the FW versions. They are interesting in appearance, but don't look like a swarm. Swarms should like in The Mummy
So this is my verdict on scarab swarms, but I feel a sadness for the little scarabs because I think they are quite cool as a model.
So I started to have a mind wandering moment, which turned to a Google search (ahhhh the hobbyists friend) and found these:
The top left was found first, and was good, but then I found the top right - oh baby But how to get that many scarabs. eBay did not provide the goods for the right cost. And that's when I saw the "How to" guide for that base and realised that the majority were press-moulded.
Now I am not a fan of press moulding as a way to scam companies out of money, but I have paid for my scarab bases and I am dissatisfied with their appearance as GW would recommend, in my opinion they need an extra element to their base. I would use green stuff for any other model if the base needed to be unique, so it's really no different. I will never be selling these and the mould material will be reused after I have finished these. I will not be making any scarab bases that don't contain the four scarabs that belong on it as bought with green stuff versions beneath.
So using blue stuff from greenstuffworld I made the mould using the 12 scarabs I have. I estimate I will need 6 or so extra per base. Green stuff is now in and it is about 3 more hours before the curing is complete.
I'll post pics post-curing if anyone's interested.
I quite liked the ForgeWorld ones, the plastic kits not so much.
The resin ones look genuinely frightening. Another option would be to buy as many Nightbringer scarab bases as possible lol. That base is pure awesome the way they're erupting out of the ground.
Lol. Yeah, but imagine if he were on the crest of a wave of scarabs.........
The Forgeworld ones are fine and the sculpt is far more detailed than the resin, but it comes down to numbers again. Now the FW ripper swarm bases are very cool and if they had done the scarab bases with the same number we would not be having this conversation
Automatically Appended Next Post:
corpuschain wrote: Nice idea. That model is perfect for press moulding. I would have made the whole swarm and press moulded that, though.
Would have been far less time I admit, but you lose detail then or have to do multipart mounds. This way the swarms can all be different and it won't be an amorphous blob
Whoops! Forgot to post these.
Was given these as a Christmas present by my wife. I started Dsrth Vader's fighter but got irritated by how difficult it was to get parts off the metal sheet. But since then bought better edge cutters and now it was way easier! So have finished these two:
WD on getting the LE marine. Very cool Star Wars models as well. I do like the scarab solution. I'll definitely be doing the same if I ever get around to building up my necrons...
Tidy idea on the scarabs. I've made a few press moulds for admech stuff - still need to actually make the pieces mind. Those star wars models are awesome. Wives are great eh?!!
Those Star Wars models are very cool. Are they a mecanno-type thing, or more of a model kit with metal parts?
Basically it just slots together. You have to bend pieces into shape as well. I had a Forerunner Guardian ( From Halo V that is frustratingly difficult to assemble)
) and have put a pin in one of each of their legs. I've primed the two marines with black and then base sprayed with Dark Angels Green (I think that can shows my age 
). I've also primed the bases with black.
I've got claw marks on it, shell impacts and on each of the sides here are bullet marks (I even got a line of bullet marks on the one side at the level someone's torso would be at if standing in the side hatch).....
Although technically bases were my thing of the month so made sense - I normally now buy resin, so wanted to try something new that I wasn't paying for.
and thanks for keeping an eye on my little plog
