Attempt at a full army - Blood Angels log

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**Sageheart**

maybe some.. huh...

vanguard vets!

conversions aglore there!

Automatically Appended Next Post:
what is in your army so far?

**AlexHeap**

Just a quick update, I'm still at uni atm so don't have much time to work on my blood angels but I have received a number of emails
asking how I paint them. While normally you could just check my site it's down at the moment as I'm updating it but it's taking a lot
longer than I thought as I don't have much free time.

So to help everyone out I thought I'd post the tutorial from my site here:

Edit: Website has been updated and is now back online so the tutorial can be find on there again at:

http://www.thewaaaghstudios.com/bapaint.html

If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask and remember if you can't be bothered painting them yourself I'm always looking for commission work :p

**AlexHeap**

Well I'm back from University so this project log can see some more life now hopefully. Here's a new member of the Tactical Squad I've been making

That brings them up to seven now, not bad for 10 months of work

Expect more soon.

**AlexHeap**

I've also been working on a Sternguard Squad for my Blood Angels and here's the first member armed with Combi-Melta

All these Sternguard will have molded yellow blood drop shoulder pads to help show them as veterans.

Sorry that the pictures arent as good as usual but my old camera broke and I'm having to borrow one from a friend and I'm still getting used to its workings.

As usual C&C appreciated.

**DarkStarSabre**

That's an absolutely beautiful red. Sharp, clean and crisp.

**Rawson**

DarkStarSabre wrote:Sharp, clean and crisp.

Well, shoot. Now I'll have to think of something else to say...

Keep it up!

Cheers,
Rawson

**AlexHeap**

Thanks for the compliments guys

Here's the second member of my Sternguard Squad:

Think I'm getting a better handle on the camera now so I might retake some of the previous pictures

Edit: Previous two pictures have now been updated

**AlexHeap**

Here's another update, this time it's the sergeant for my tactical squad armed with a powerfist and combi-plasma.

Only two more members of the tactical squad to complete now and I'll have my first completed squad.

As always Comments and Critique are appreciated.

**AlexHeap**

No comments on these pictures? I'm very interested to know what you think or if you notice any areas I could improve on

I'm currently working on the third sternguard at the moment so hopefulyl I'll be able to update later today with pictures him completed.

**Smitty0305**

looks pretty good.

mabe add some lighter highlights to the eagle on the chest?

**Newt-Of-Death**

Awesome work chap!

Very clean and crisp. Consistent influences and good wholesome paintjobs.

Love the Rhino the best!

Theyl look brilliant on the table.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
As far as comments go, Id agree with smitty; a few extra highlights on the emblazions and possibly another layer of lighter flesh tone on the face? Youve got the red and the gemstone and the gun perfect.

**nerdfest09**

They look amazingly good! your reds are excellent and smooth as! every detail is painted and you haven't cut corners *not like anyone I know....myself* *ahem* I'd love to see how you paint up a vehicle sometime soon? I'm guessing it would be a work of blood red art!

**AlexHeap**

Thanks for the comments, compliments and especially the critiques that's exactly what I need

I'll look into adding some extra highlights to the chest eagle on the sergeant and add a further highlight to the very top ridges of his face.

@nerdfest09: I've actually already painted a vehicle. If you look back a few pages you'll find my Assault Cannon Razorback that I've magnetized so it can also be used as a rhino should the need arise.

**AlexHeap**

If anyone is interested in how I paint my Blood Angels my website is now back online with an updated layout. This means you can find my Blood Angel painting tutorial back on there at:

http://www.thewaaaghstudios.com/tutorials/bapaint.html

**AlexHeap**

Hey guys here's the third Sternguard member:

Going to be working on the last two members of the Tactical Squad now so I can get that done and some group shots uploaded.

**crazypsyko666**

I love the color contrasts on the bolter marine there, which made me realize why the other ones didn't sparkle so much as this one. They're very monotone. They're great, but they could use some other colors to make it look better. (Contrast contrast contrast! The most important thing in art for making your piece stand out!)

It's what makes your sanguinary guard piece in your profile pic look so good.

**AlexHeap**

Thanks for the feedback mate that's exactly what I'm looking for to help me improve. I'll take your comments on board while I'm painting any new things.

**DarkStarSabre**

...Is that scratch built Sternguard? It is! The lenses and gems have me jealous. Well and truly jealous. I will echo the need for some sort of additional contrast as the mass of red just seems to merge together. Perhaps the shoulder trims? Or the chest eagle? Darker colours don't break it up so well - see the profile picture.

**AlexHeap**

Thanks for the comment DarkStarSabre I understand where your coming from but I'm wanting to use the official blood angels colour scheme so won't be changing the shoulder pad trim colours. I will keep your comments in mind though.

**DarkStarSabre**

It depends on which version of the colours you are using

The 2nd edition Blood Angels had a black trim which broke up the mass of red quite nicely.

It was only 3rd edition which took the trims away

**AlexHeap**

I didn't know that, actually, thanks for the info. I am quite set on using the latest official colour scheme though.

**AlexHeap**

Here's the ninth member of the tactical squad.

10th and final member has just got the backpack to do and then he's done. When the whole squads finished I shall add the army/squad markings to the shoulder pads and knees and drill out the boltgun barrels.

**AlexHeap**

Well here he is the tenth and final member of my Blood Angels Tactical squad:

After a year they're finally all done :p But not finished yet, I've still got to add all the army and squad markings to them and drill out the boltgun barrels but they're pretty close now.

**taffiarti**

First time I have checked out this blog and I'm really liking what I'm seeing. I'm enjoying the beautiful red and can imagine it contrasting nicely on the table top (thanks as well for the tutorial as well by the way!). Since this is the way you paint standard tactical squad I look forward to seeing the characters done!

One quick question that may have already been answered, but where did that sergeant come from please? I think that is a beautiful model and would love to get one for my own marines.

**AlexHeap**

Thanks for the reply and the compliments

I do really enjoy painting these models and will definitely have a few characters on the way in the future.

The sergeant is one of the old MK1 Space Marine Veterans:

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1060042

I've just converted him to have a combi-plasma.

**lipsdapips**

Hurrah! You finally finished the tactical squad

Great work, love the sangunary novitiate!

**AlexHeap**

I've not really had a lot of time to work on my own things as I've got so much commission work on but I have started up a new Assault Squad for my Blood Angels army.

The first thing I did was build the bases:

And then I built up the Assault Squad themselves:

The squad will be armed with just bolt pistols and chainswords with one of the squad members having a Meltagun.

The helmets, shoulderpads and backpacks are not attached as they will be painted separately.

**AlexHeap**

I've not got all the Assault Marine Undercoated:

They were first sprayed with a Black Undercoat and then the red areas were undercoated with Mechrite Red and the Purity Seals with Khemri Brown.

**Sageheart**

It's looking good. Nice to see some more marines being done for your BA!

**taffiarti**

I have recently been painting some blood angels for a friend using your suggested technique. It has worked a charm. I may have already said this but it's better to say it twice rather than not at all! Looking t you making the assault marines fills me with memories now, lol!

How are the rest of the commissions going? hope they aren't dominating too much of your time as I look forward to seeing these peeps completed.