Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Ever since I got out of the service, I really wanted to do an IDF-themed IG army. So finally, got off my butt, e-bayed a ton of old minis and am now in the process of assembling this IG army. I'm also using it as an opportunity to learn new weathering techniques. I want to give the effect of IDF vehicles operating in Northern Israel / border of Lebanon so I'm going for dusty and muddy. The Vendettas will be painted in an IAF scheme, with a desert camo pattern on top and grey on the bottom.

Hopefully this blog will motivate me to complete the army in a reasonable time!

Anyway, first WIP of the first 3 Chimeras. This is pre-weathering, just with some sponge chipping. 1A 1B and 1G (aleph bet and gimel) refer to squads in a given platoon, in this case 1st platoon. All of the vehicle markings are authentic. The tzadik followed by the 6 numbers simply specifies that it's a military vehicle. Every object in the IDF has a marking with the tzadik and serial #.





Next is to muddy the tracks, then hit the models heavily with weathering powder and seal them up! I'll post pics as it happens.

I like it. The weathering looks good.

I'm also applauding the "realism" of your homage. They look like something that would actually be painted by soldiers...

This is TOTALLY "history of the world part 2"

Anyways, it looks nice. I'd like to see how the guardsmen look.

those vehicles look great especially the lenses.

Thanks for the kind words guys.

I picked up some Vallejo Black Lava today and applied it. The weathering on these mofos should be done by the end of the weekend.


As for the Guardsmen, I'm using the West Wind British heads (big baggy helmet covers that looks like mitznafot) and some US 1/48 equipment mixed in. They're assembled with the exception of the 1/48 backpacks.

Anyway, next update will be later this weekend

BTW this should really pick up once I have all the tanks assembled as the only brushwork on them is the freehand and the vision blocks.

Good job so far. Am definitely looking forward to how your army turns out.
Sub'd!

Although my opinion of the Israeli Army is, shall we say, less than favourable i like the painting.

Update 3/26

Expected to game today, but as there was a tourney at another shop, it became weathering day.


I hit the tracks with Vallejo Black Lava, then did a series of drybrushes. Dirty. Then I added another pass to each lense to jewel them with a little more depth. Tiny update. After the weathering powder is on there, they'll be finished. I'll update when this happens.

They look great to me, the only thing thats not great is the drivers hatch thats been glued in upside down :(

Started working on the Vendettas, as the infantry accessories aren't here yet.

I'm painting them like F16I's. Here are the preliminary shots of the basecoating. I sprayed the bottoms Space Wolf Grey, then masked off the undercarriageand sprayed with Krylon Fusion Camo Khaki.






F16I paintjobs for reference:

Excellent work so far, I'm liking the direction you're going with the gunship paint scheme.

Keep it up!

Awesome job! love the realism

Hey guys, quick update. Thanks for the kind words and feedback btw!

This is one of the Vendettas. Just finishing up with the base camo coats...





At this point I'm not sure what I want to do. A wash to bring out the panels? Wash the entire thing? I don't know. Weathering powder? Chipping?

As far as I can tell, jets are kept in VERY good condition. They all look pretty immaculate. I'm not sure that heavy weathering would be in-character with the design. What do you think?


In the meantime, time to get started assembling the pair of Las-Plas Demolishers.

Jets are but the Valk is more of a workhorse. It'd be well maintained where possible but, if it was in the middle of a campaign or in a war zone, it'd be patched up and kicked out of the door. I love your weathering on the Chimeras and think it'd make the flyer really pop. Do it.

Do it!

DO IT!

Miraclefish wrote:Jets are but the Valk is more of a workhorse. It'd be well maintained where possible but, if it was in the middle of a campaign or in a war zone, it'd be patched up and kicked out of the door. I love your weathering on the Chimeras and think it'd make the flyer really pop. Do it.

Do it!

DO IT!

Hmmm...so what are you thinking? I'm thinking exhaust stains behind the turbines, mud on the landing gears, and a little bit of chipping, and a wash of badab black?

NuggzTheNinja wrote:

STOP MAKING ME WANT TO START AN IMPERIAL GUARD ARMY!
*Stamps foot*
nevermind! I have just ordered it.

Very, very nice work on the valkyries. I would recommend washing the whole thing and then a small amount of chipping and directional wear caused by airflow. If you add too much weathering powder and general abuse it starts to look too dodgy to fly. Neglect that you could get away with on tanks just wouldn't look proper on a flying thingy in my view

Best vehicle camo scheme i have seen in a while. Looks really functional and factory fresh, not to mention just like the inspiration.

Thanks for the support guys. It really helps with the motivation to paint! Just a quick update.

These are the two Russes, minus their Plasma sponsons. Haven't decided how I want to do the plasma-ribbing or whatever that stuff is called. OSL maybe? I have no idea...

Anyway:





Dirty!


As for the Vendettas, I've done some of the freehand...I couldn't get the transfers to stick so I'll be doing it all by hand I guess. I highlighted (ugh, brushwork lol) the noses on the Vendettas and blocked out the cockpits and some other areas, then washed directly into the panels. I want to preserve the clean IAF vs. dirty IDF image, keeping it true to form. This is accurate though...IDF infantry equipment is often beat to hell, and the IAF birds are spotless. We slept in tents, while they lived in suites with swimming pools on base (seriously). So, that divide is something I'm going for.

Anyway, if I can get a buddy with an airbrush to help me out, I'll be doing OSL inside the cockpit, stay tuned.

hey man, nice start. i think for the "F-Vendettas" you should try and maybe mute the colours a little. they are very flat pastel colours... makes the finish look sort of flat although the panel lines look really nice, its the lack of shading on the panels themselves i think thats bugging me, other than that i love the cept keep it up

NuggzTheNinja wrote:Hey guys, quick update. Thanks for the kind words and feedback btw!

This is one of the Vendettas. Just finishing up with the base camo coats...





At this point I'm not sure what I want to do. A wash to bring out the panels? Wash the entire thing? I don't know. Weathering powder? Chipping?

As far as I can tell, jets are kept in VERY good condition. They all look pretty immaculate. I'm not sure that heavy weathering would be in-character with the design. What do you think?


In the meantime, time to get started assembling the pair of Las-Plas Demolishers.

These are incredible! I love them! I know they are not finished yet, but if you mute those base colours, and add weathering (scorch marks in particular) then it would be a 10/10 from me!

Oh and maybe some kill-markings or nose-art like this A-10.

Although I'm not sure if that would fit in with the IDF theme.

nistrum wrote:hey man, nice start. i think for the "F-Vendettas" you should try and maybe mute the colours a little. they are very flat pastel colours... makes the finish look sort of flat although the panel lines look really nice, its the lack of shading on the panels themselves i think thats bugging me, other than that i love the cept keep it up

Thanks for the advice, how should I make them appear flatter? I'll be hitting the minis with Dullcote, so that might get us *part* of the way there.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

NoBaconz4You wrote:
These are incredible! I love them! I know they are not finished yet, but if you mute those base colours, and add weathering (scorch marks in particular) then it would be a 10/10 from me!

Oh and maybe some kill-markings or nose-art like this A-10.

Although I'm not sure if that would fit in with the IDF theme.

Thanks a lot!

I'll be adding a lot of scorching behind the engines with crushed pastels then browning the backs of the engines themselves *mental note, haven't blocked them out yet*.

The nose-markings are awesome but not really IDF. I'll try to freehand all the little warning markings and labels so it appears more real, though, and that should give it more business up front.

On another note, they're still weaponless. Waiting on the Rakalnar Vendetta kit.

Looming really really good, reminds me I need to crack down on my guard force. Love the vendettas, it's nice to see some realism in 40k which it sometimes lacks

the only thing i dislike on the vendetta is the ramp that's turned inside out.. :/

other than that i must say that you're doing a really great work!!
and a big + for the tanks. keep it up!

Vendetta Camo looks great! What were the colours used? Was it just brushed on? Sketched with pencil first? How was it done?

As for the plasma ribbing, look into Secret Weapon's Weathering Powders. I've seen their blue one used very effectively to do an easy OSL effect on plasma weapons.

Cool!!!!

Popsicle wrote:Vendetta Camo looks great! What were the colours used? Was it just brushed on? Sketched with pencil first? How was it done?

As for the plasma ribbing, look into Secret Weapon's Weathering Powders. I've seen their blue one used very effectively to do an easy OSL effect on plasma weapons.

About the ramp: Oh man, I completely didn't notice that! Oops! Wow, can't believe that slipped by. Oh well, it isn't visible from overhead on the table anyway but...wow...don't assemble models while drinking, boys and girls!

Thanks for the kind words. The Vendetta Camo was freehanded and pencilled...the brown was painted on first so I rough-pencilled that on, then added the green once it was dry. I tried to watch the IAF F16I camo as best I could...the beige base coat is Krylon Fusion Camouflage khaki. The brown is Privateer's version of Bestial Brown. The minty-green is combination of Thrall Flesh (like Rotting Flesh), Necrotite Green (Privateer), Jade Green, and some other colors. I just kept adding to it until it looked minty like the IAF green.

Interesting idea, to use weathering powder for OSL. I have different color chalk from the art store that I've been using for weathering, maybe the blue would work well?

That valkyrie looks really crisp and I love the mud on the tanks. Are you going to convert any tanks into that Israeli MBT with the engine at the front and the sloping front whose name escapes me at the mo? It could make quite a cool chimera with the transport capacity.

WarMill wrote:That valkyrie looks really crisp and I love the mud on the tanks. Are you going to convert any tanks into that Israeli MBT with the engine at the front and the sloping front whose name escapes me at the mo? It could make quite a cool chimera with the transport capacity.

Thanks man. You're referring to the Markava. I really wanted to use Merkava turrets on Chimera bodies as Medusae, but all of the 1/48 conversion kits are very expensive. At least the Paladin kits are...

Here are some updated shots...the weathering powder on the Russes was a bit too yellow so I'm going to brush it off and replace it with a more beige color.







I freehanded all of the little symbols on the Vendettas. The yellow arrow still needs a black outline, and it needs to say "rescue" in it. I had to play around with the locations, as Vendettas clearly are not F16I's.

NuggzTheNinja wrote:

Miraclefish wrote:Jets are but the Valk is more of a workhorse. It'd be well maintained where possible but, if it was in the middle of a campaign or in a war zone, it'd be patched up and kicked out of the door. I love your weathering on the Chimeras and think it'd make the flyer really pop. Do it.

Do it!

DO IT!

Hmmm...so what are you thinking? I'm thinking exhaust stains behind the turbines, mud on the landing gears, and a little bit of chipping, and a wash of badab black?

You'll also have excessive dust weathering on the vortex area infront of the engines, where dust and debris is sucked in. There would also be dirt markings along the laminar airflow - on the areas where the air moves quicker so around the leading wing edges and tail wings. I'd also have paint rubbed off and chipped around the cockpit entry points and around the main doors.