Welcome all to the 136th round of the Dakka Painting challenge. For the unfamiliar, this is a friendly painting competition open to members of all skill levels and experience, whether your entry is your first or you thousand-and-first time painting miniatures. Each month, finished entries are collected into a thread where the community can vote on their favorite pieces, and those votes go towards an annual overall League that runs for 12 rounds.

This month the topic is: From the Archives: Librarians, archivists, researchers, wizards, inquisitors, - or old classic minis from the vaults! Knock the dust off the old tomes and bring them to the light. Dig something up from the forbidden stacks.

- You may enter up to 5 MODELS as a SINGLE ENTRY, and are permitted one entry per member per month. If you enter multiple models, they should ideally be related in some way, such as part of the same squad, unit or scene if you are doing a diorama
- You may enter at any time during the month, up to the last minute. We do encourage people to enter early, as to be part of the community, but if you can’t start until the 11th hour, that’s OK.
- You MUST post a 'proof' picture of your entry in the thread of the state it was in before you started working on it; this must be either unassembled, unpainted, primed or coated a single colour. Entries that do not submit a valid Proof Picture will not be eligible for voting.
- After this, you may post WIP pictures in this thread and your own if you wish, and on completing the entry, you may post up to 6 final pictures IN THIS THREAD that will then be used for voting. Please note that pictures in a montage or collage picture will be considered individual images for this purpose, so while these types of presentation are certainly acceptable, please keep the image limit in mind when compiling them. For example, a collage of 5 images and one separate image would count as your 6 picture allowance.


So What Do I Win?
- Points... and points mean... bragging rights for the next month! Following the vote, points will be awarded to every entrant. This year, the Points you receive will be equal to the Percentage of Votes your entry receives in the final Voting thread; if you get 10%, you get 10 points, if you get 6% you get 6 points, so on and so forth.

These points will be used to form a league table, which will be updated month on month as the results come in.

How Long Do I Have?
This challenge begins 1st of June and will end at midnight EST on June 30th After this, I shall compile the finished entries into a new thread, and voting will run for 5 days.

Well, at the moment, I'm thinking more oldhammer. I have a metal terminator librarian that might do the trick, a classic Jokaero, but marines and eldar in the mix too. Pics to follow!

I have some metal Necrons en route from eBay, so I might do one of them... unless I force myself to bang out more metal Maurauders or those metal 80's Khorne Chaos Warriors I have waiting in the wings.

I’ve got 5 minis on deck, with an optional 6th if I change my mind. Probably pick the one I like the best to enter.

Tigurius - librarian.
Old RT chaplain. Be just and fear not.
2 deathwatch marines a sn old scout with a comically large rife. The 3 oldest things in my primed pile I need to knock the dust off and get painted.
Optional - old metal eldar warlock

I have options, but haven't decided yet what to do. I thought I did, but I'm not sure anymore. Might just take a week off and assemble stuff. See what I feel like doing.

 KidCthulhu wrote:
I have some metal Necrons en route from eBay, so I might do one of them... unless I force myself to bang out more metal Maurauders or those metal 80's Khorne Chaos Warriors I have waiting in the wings.

My Necrons came in today and they sent me the wrong blister (doesn't have the pose from the photo), so I have to send it back for the right one.

Would any minis from the assault on black Reach set be allowed? Not sure if those are old enough.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I actually do have some older stuff I could try painting that is older than that (second edition) that I could also do if minis from assault on Black Reach aren't allowed.

Miniatures would probably be some old deaff copters or 2nd ed Space Marines.

The deaff copters were in rough shape when I got them but I fixed them up decently I think.

KidCthulhu wrote:

 KidCthulhu wrote:
I have some metal Necrons en route from eBay, so I might do one of them... unless I force myself to bang out more metal Maurauders or those metal 80's Khorne Chaos Warriors I have waiting in the wings.

My Necrons came in today and they sent me the wrong blister (doesn't have the pose from the photo), so I have to send it back for the right one.

Oof. That sucks.

Mrangryork wrote:Would any minis from the assault on black Reach set be allowed? Not sure if those are old enough.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I actually do have some older stuff I could try painting that is older than that (second edition) that I could also do if minis from assault on Black Reach aren't allowed.

Miniatures would probably be some old deaff copters or 2nd ed Space Marines.

The deaff copters were in rough shape when I got them but I fixed them up decently I think.

Old is relative. AoBR was 5th, and we are about to go into 11th, so it should qualify.

I've got the original metal Farseer from made-to-order a short while back, and the metal Inquisitor with the big hair and long-barrel flamer, both freshly sprayed and waiting.

I misremembered the theme as Ancients, and started working on a very old RAFM skeleton horseman, with a Melnibonean soldier as my backup. Then I saw the title of this thread, and pulled out some Call Of Cthulhu Investigators. I'll paint up all of these and choose my favorites.

Looking forward to this one, I need to find somebody suitable. I'm sure I've got somebody with a book somewhere.

I have no idea what I might do for this. I'd love to get involved, though, and I've a heap of old models which need some paint! I'll have to dig it all out and have a look!

I will admit that I shamelessly suggested this with an eye on all the retro minis I have dotted about

I'm going to enter the Terminator Librarian from the 10th edition 40k launch box, but Dakka is being a pain and won't let me upload images currently.

Last year (I think) I bought an old metal Chief Librarian Tigurius mini. Seems like it's a good fit for this months theme. Also Nev, if we are both doing Tigurius, try not to make me look too bad

I count three Librarians so far in this thread-- maybe do a Librarian-off mini challenge?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I have my first model finished. Hopefully the issues with the gallery are resolved soon.

 inmygravenimage wrote:
I will admit that I shamelessly suggested this with an eye on all the retro minis I have dotted about

Good to know who to hold responsible for my ongoing indecision.

Proof pic:


Looks like we are in buisness

More inquisition agents proof:

Oldhammer proof

Okay, now that Dakka's been fixed, here's the proof for my Terminator Librarian:

The most daunting part for me is going to be the glowy lines all over this model. I'm already watching Youtube videos on how to do it, hoping some one of those will work for me.

Proof pics:

I traced all those lines out with a shiny metallic, only to have all my work erased when I glazed the mini. If you can get it to work, more power to you. I failed on that task.

Hmm, don't have much in the way of archivists, though could probably rustle up a wizard of some sort, so it's probably going to be an old model for me. Got quite a few of those to choose from

Archives you say? inquisitors you say? Say less!

And here they are:



Not much progress yet either, I've been in a weird place where not having posted the image has kind of made me feel we haven't started yet, so I've kept defaulting to other projects (converting a Lieutenant and painting a Ballistus). It'll be the Farseer though, I've started colouring his base (which is super thick technical paint caked on there, fingers crossed it doesn't break apart, as it tends to do).

@Mothsniper: that bin of jumbled models hurts my soul.

@Daia T’Nara: The picture thing really did put a damper on the start. I feel like we lost a week, even if it was just a few days. I similarly didn’t pick up a brush until I could post a picture.

 Nevelon wrote:
@Mothsniper: that bin of jumbled models hurts my soul.

Let your soul rest easy! It was a rescue deal from a local swapmeet, just never had the time for them till now.
In this lasagna bin, below gray knights is a layer of gothic terrain wall sections, and under that a layer of metal sisters of battle.

I want to try your camo tech, however anything but silver for the armor would be heretical.

Waiting on an eBay seller to send me the correct Necrons.I have some more Oldhammer stuff but not sure if I'm feelin' it. Better take photos of EVERYTHING in case I end up painting something that fits but wasn't planned

Craftworld infinity circuits are kind of like archives. So here is a specialist construct sung into existence to support ship to ship combat and hulk insertion. Often seen escorting Umbral Seers on their dangerous journeys into dark places

Similarly going for the Terminator Librarian for this one, still sprue fresh at the moment!

I have a couple of options...but some old metal Necromunda figures is the most likely.

Cheers,

CB

I have one potential entry completed:



There are a few more photos in my P&M blog. I'll continue work on my other potential entries, and then choose my favorite to actually enter.

I'm on the old Eldar Warlocks / Farseers too. Got these in the made to order run about a year ago. I'll do 1 or more of them.

Seems we are not in short supply of things that come from one archive or another. Feels like someone should paint the archives, though. So that's what I'm going to do.

I don't even remember anymore when I last painted terrain. Not something I do very often, but I'm in the mood for it now. Time to make the tiniest dent in my humble and entirely unpainted Crisis Protocol terrain collection.

Oh amazing choice there Geifer!
Just for a change, a wip:

4 of 5 possible Novas. Still a way to go though!

 inmygravenimage wrote:
Oh amazing choice there Geifer!

Haha, yeah. Life's too long to be serious all the time.

Here is my before photo. Sorry, it's not the best. In my haste, I forgot to take a photo of it after I had stripped and primed it, so I only have a before photo from before that all happened. I painted it completely differently, so it's completely obvious that I redid it, but I apologize if it's not acceptable(if not, let me know and I will remove it). I'll try to remember to take photos of it primed next time.


I'm currently waiting for the paint to dry, and then I'll take the entry submission photo


Automatically Appended Next Post:
He's finally done drying! This is the final photo submission for my entry this month.

So im new here and I just started painting a model yesterday and just finished it today and unfortunately I don't have a before photo and is there possibly a way i can prove that its mine?

 Hero118 wrote:
So im new here and I just started painting a model yesterday and just finished it today and unfortunately I don't have a before photo and is there possibly a way i can prove that its mine?

I’ll cut a lot of slack for new members. Unless you are posting some golden demon level work that could obviously not be done in 24 hours, you are good.

Welcome aboard!

This is my entry. Btw thank you so much.

From the Archives: Classic Novamarines!









If I have time I might add a metal scout or even a primaris.

Still trying to pick something.

I'm going between an RT Tzeentch Marine, an old Dwarf hero (the one with the quail on his helmet), a bulbous-headed psyker from 2E 40K, a Mordheim vampire, or the unreleased Squat in Exo-Armor from the 2E Codex that never materialized. I better start takin' photos of all of 'em just in case

WIP of my entry:

A lot of the hard work is already done; the glowy lines just need some cleanup around them, and then I need to shade and highlight the details around the model, which so far are only basecoated. The cables on the front will be done with Speedpaints.

Daia T'Nara - Farseer





Old mini of an old Eldar standing on old wreckage from an old chapter.

As crazy as it sounds, we are about at the halfway point of the month. Any thoughts on poll topics for July?

 Nevelon wrote:
As crazy as it sounds, we are about at the halfway point of the month. Any thoughts on poll topics for July?

How about "Size (doesn't) matter"? Paint something really big (giants, ogres, superheavy vehicles) or really small (halfings, snotlings). Models with ridiculous oversized weapons or wargear also fit. If you want to go meta, try something in a scale you don't normally work with.

 JoshInJapan wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:
As crazy as it sounds, we are about at the halfway point of the month. Any thoughts on poll topics for July?

How about "Size (doesn't) matter"? Paint something really big (giants, ogres, superheavy vehicles) or really small (halfings, snotlings). Models with ridiculous oversized weapons or wargear also fit. If you want to go meta, try something in a scale you don't normally work with.

I second this.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I have a handful of things that could definitely work.

Maybe it's time I pulled this guy from the archives...

 Nevelon wrote:
As crazy as it sounds, we are about at the halfway point of the month. Any thoughts on poll topics for July?

Having not even selected a model for this month, never mind started painting, my immediate thought was “out of time”! Could cover relic units, models on the brink of catastrophe, or time travellers, etc.

Woops.

I just realized that I didn’t start up a summer side project. Little late now.

Unless people want to do something with what’s left. Or go deeper into the fall. Maybe something with the 11th box. Or just skip the year.

Summer doesn’t start for another week, right?

Topic idea: Nice Ride! Paint a vehicle or cavalry unit. Or a unit that rides to the battle, such as paratroopers or dragoons.

 Pariah Press wrote:
Summer doesn’t start for another week, right?

Topic idea: Nice Ride! Paint a vehicle or cavalry unit. Or a unit that rides to the battle, such as paratroopers or dragoons.

Depends how you define summer. From a practical POV, it’s the time between memorial day and labor day in the US. Although astronomically, the time between the solstice and equinox would also classify as summer. From a calendar june-aug.

Lots of ways to count.

 Nevelon wrote:

 Pariah Press wrote:
Summer doesn’t start for another week, right?

Topic idea: Nice Ride! Paint a vehicle or cavalry unit. Or a unit that rides to the battle, such as paratroopers or dragoons.

Depends how you define summer. From a practical POV, it’s the time between memorial day and labor day in the US. Although astronomically, the time between the solstice and equinox would also classify as summer. From a calendar june-aug.

Lots of ways to count.

Summer is June-September, not June-August. But I suppose I'm being pedantic. Not sure I'll have time for a big side quest, I ended up not finishing either of the last two either so *shrug*

I finally had some time to complete a miniature . I started it some time ago but I didn't want to add a proof picture until I was sure I would finish the model before the end of the month. It is called " Filing Cabinet Goblin", and is downloaded from here: https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-filing-cabinet-goblin-600571 . Proof:



And pictures of finished model:

Halfling84 - Goblin archivist

Good mercy - that is one cool model, halfling84!!! I love it.

This month, I'm gonna try this guy....I'm interested to see if I love or hate his bug-eye helm!

I might be stretching the definition of archivist. Grey Seer's are literate, right? They have books?

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/819180.page

Poll for next month is up. Finally finished using all the tied entries from the 3 way tie back in December.

As a reminder unused topic ideas get tossed onto a list for future polls. I really do appreciate the ideas, even if they don’t get immediately used.

I finished my second potential entry:



When I decide which model or models to enter, I will post a full set of photos. In the meantime, there are more pics in my P&M blog.

From the Archives

Ran out of time, as I hoped to finish the entire range of the metal Eschers for this submission. Just one with a Lasgun.

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Cheers,

CB

I got cold feet with that super-rare Squat in exo-armor, so I started painting something else. I was wise enough to take a proof photo first. Hopefully I'll get it done on time.

Inquisitor Jägerin











This is one of the minis from the Mörderin kickstarter.

This is my first attempt at joining a challenge and I am making it hard mode by joining so late.
Here is my proofs.
I have these old Victoria Miniatures I picked up at Adepticon in 2013 I think.
Torgo's Trench Raiders





I haven't shared pics in a long time and the search is broken so I don't know what is wrong.

I'm beginning to think the weather has it out for me. After the last bit of May had a heat wave that made things unnecessarily difficult, we're having another one. Only now it's proper summer. I'm melting, my brushes are melting and even the wet paint is melting.

I've made steady progress so far and I think I'm on track. But I'm getting notably less painting time now. I had hoped for a more relaxed month, but I guess we're not having it.

Leaving it late in the month, but given it’s blazing hot here in the UK, seemed like a Tallarn Desert Raider was appropriate and I figure a 30-year old metal model is definitely something from the archives!

Painting and prepping for last weekends game did not leave me much time for this month but its worth a try.

This is definitely one of my oldest unpainted models from my archive - Ikit Claw. I almost painted him in 2024 but shiny happened. Hopefully I will be more successful this time.

So based on the projects I've been bouncing between, it looks like my archive choice is this guy:



I was smart enough to snap this photo before I got started

This old robot guy from KidCthulhu looks like he already has the right colours. He just needs red or blue eyes so we could know if he is good or evil

 halfling84 wrote:
This old robot guy from KidCthulhu looks like he already has the right colours. He just needs red or blue eyes so we could know if he is good or evil

When they are making the robots, why do they install both colors of eyes? Toss in the reds, just in case they go evil. Why not put a little more effort in the ethics chips to keep them good? But nooooo. Gotta get them prepped and ready for the moment when they get all “destroy all humans” so they can dramatically flip the colors.

 Nevelon wrote:

 halfling84 wrote:
This old robot guy from KidCthulhu looks like he already has the right colours. He just needs red or blue eyes so we could know if he is good or evil

When they are making the robots, why do they install both colors of eyes? Toss in the reds, just in case they go evil. Why not put a little more effort in the ethics chips to keep them good? But nooooo. Gotta get them prepped and ready for the moment when they get all “destroy all humans” so they can dramatically flip the colors.

OSHA Regulations…

 Jadenim wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:

 halfling84 wrote:
This old robot guy from KidCthulhu looks like he already has the right colours. He just needs red or blue eyes so we could know if he is good or evil

When they are making the robots, why do they install both colors of eyes? Toss in the reds, just in case they go evil. Why not put a little more effort in the ethics chips to keep them good? But nooooo. Gotta get them prepped and ready for the moment when they get all “destroy all humans” so they can dramatically flip the colors.

OSHA Regulations…

Same reason they paint hazard stripes on chainswords, power fists, and vindicator siege shields. Not going to make it any safer, but hey, you’ve been warned. Now we just need to get them on the lack of handrails in star wars…

My Grey Seer is finished. I wanted to try my hand at a littl OSL effect. Not quite as 'glowy' as I thought it would be, but it was fun.

That's just a standard safety feature so you know

 Nevelon wrote:

 halfling84 wrote:
This old robot guy from KidCthulhu looks like he already has the right colours. He just needs red or blue eyes so we could know if he is good or evil

When they are making the robots, why do they install both colors of eyes? Toss in the reds, just in case they go evil. Why not put a little more effort in the ethics chips to keep them good? But nooooo. Gotta get them prepped and ready for the moment when they get all “destroy all humans” so they can dramatically flip the colors.

Those are just the status indicators; red means low battery, blinking blue means connecting to Bluetooth.

I get pretty cranky when my battery is running low too.

Placeholder photo of 5th model

I'm away on me holidays in a couple, so I might not get a new group shot - but this means I've done model 5 for the group.

With only a few days left, I finally dug my Tigrius model out of storage
I've had trouble making time for this, so I might not enter anything this month. I have the idea to possibly make and paint 3 other librarians with Tigrius, to see if that will excite me enough to get moving on it, so maybe 1-4 of these will be entered:

Still a ways to go. But getting there.

Revised pics



Classic Nova Scout

Evening, here is my entry into the competition for the month, straight from the model archives. Hopefully it satisfies the criteria!

@Nev - Tigurius is looking good, I’m liking the finish on the staff and the banner is looking great!
@Syro - nothing like a little last minute challenge!! Maybe focus on one rather than four….?
@Mr Nobody - nice grey seer, looking very sharp!

(Delete)
Sorry, I tried to auto append and failed miserably

 KidCthulhu wrote:
So based on the projects I've been bouncing between, it looks like my archive choice is this guy:



I was smart enough to snap this photo before I got started

I have that same guy - didn’t he come free on a magazine back in the late 90’s?
If I had known I could have dug mine out for a Necron off!!

Necroff, surely?

While I enjoyed painting the investigators, I think this Undead Warrior is a better showcase piece:

Undead Warrior

And done.

The Archives:

Kid Cthulhu-Necron Warrior



(I may add another photo; I'm not sure yet. But I at least wanted to get this in before June runs out)

We are running out of time, but have a little left. Time to start wrapping things up. Or asking for an extension. Or both.

Just finished the base...

Are last month's painting competition polls finally up?

 Mrangryork wrote:
Are last month's painting competition polls finally up?

Up, ran, and with winners.

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/819128.page

Some WIPS from the past weekend. Close. Should be able to finish.

and the latest

My phone/camera is irritating me. Can't seem to find the proper settings to let it focus on the group...

Here it is:



Not earth shatteringly good, and definitely not as good as Daia T'Nara's paint job of the same model on pg2. But enjoyable enough to try some different techniques. Daia's entry (specifically the ying/yang symbol) gave me the nudge to do some freehand - so thanks for that!

Nearly finished my entry for the month. I'm going with the old model angle for this theme, with an old Slaanesh champion and a dwarf runesmith
proof

and progress so far, just the bases and any last minute touch ups to do:

Thanks Nevalon! Just wanted to look at some of the entries.

Done a lousy job of progressing this one to be honest! A lot of travel and the ridiculous heat last week haven't helped, but I i also messed up drilling the storm bolter barrels, which I've tried to kind of fix with green stuff and made a pretty basic error in not painting the right shoulder pad separately. All in all, pretty tempted to get another one of these and redo properly in the future.

Unusually dislike share photos this level of wip, as it'll just look rubbish but think I'm pretty unlikely to get this chap finished in time unfortunately so thought I should at least document how far I've got!

So proof that I finished:









I couldn’t be bothered to break out the light box. If I have time and motivation I’ll try to get some better photos tonight.