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Thanks, bunny! Will be posting pics of the Wraithguard tomorrow, along with a "group shot" of the Wraithguard with all 5 of the WraithLords. Got the Skink archers tonight from one of my nephews, may start working on them before I finish the Dragons & Scorpions (am getting burned out from Ulthwe). Someone also suggested I get a gloss lacquer to use on the gemstones, will do this for the gems on the skimmers - if the pics look significantly better will post new ones. There's a sale at our local gaming place tomorrow, I may luck out with some new goodies (am also hoping to get in another game as well). Hope everyone has a relaxing weekend!

For those of you who like the Lizardmen - do Skinks HAVE to be blue? I don't even have a Codex! Just think they look cool...


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Ta-DAAAAH! Here are the Wraithguard, all 8 of them. Decided to do a pic of the WraithLords with them as wel. Sorta scary. Will be even more impressive once I get the additional 12 Wraithguard in my hot hands and get them finished up! Have been working a bit more on the Dragons & Scorpions - and realized that I don't just have 4 Scorpions, but I actually have 3 Scorpions and Karandras! Oh, will HE ever be fun to use if I ever get the chance! Nyuk nyuk nyuk...

Nice painting! I have some inspiration for my Ulthwe eldar. Also luuuv the old Wraithlords. They are just to epic

Thanks, MrTau! Get your brushes ready!

Great shots. The symbols look really good where you placed them. Nicely done. I just recently started using gloss varnish on some of my gems, but only the larger ones that you can notice any shine on. Your gems look great, but I think it'll definitely make some of the larger ones stunning.

Good luck with the Skinks. I sent you a PM about 'em.

Thanks! Bunny was kind enough to PM me with color schemes from the Lizardmen Codex. Have chosen the blue/purple combo for the Magical Saurus of Tepok. Figure it makes sense, since they're supposedly magical (similar to Eldar psykers), and I like the colors. Started on the Skinks, we'll see how it goes. Tomorrow will post a new pic of my painted Ulthwe skimmers - have another Falcon that's blue (eBay), won't include in the group photo shot. ...and I never thought I'd want to have a mech army. I'm certainly on my way now!

Got 3 coats on some of the Skinks, here's what one looks like thus far (iPhone pics, so quality's not the best). Base is Electric Blue (Vallejo), then hilight w/ combo of the blue with a touch of Dead White, then washed with a combo of the blue with Sick Blue. Am thinking I'll do the crests in the Sick Blue, since it's the closest to the purple recommended in the Codex for the group I've chosen. Then will just have to do the bow & leather straps 'n' stuff & some eye detail, which shoudln't take too long. Will then do a bit of black wash for the facial details. Would love to hear what folks think of these thus far, as this is TOTALLY new territory for me! Have a great week, everyone.

Here's pics of my Ulthwe skimmers. Newly painted on left, first painted all the way on right. Also a pic of the 2 most recent (Serpent & Falcon), and detail on the new Serpent showing the effect of the gloss coat on the gems (me likes). Will be working more on the Skinks over the next 2 days. Haven't heard from anyone, so will be doing the crests with the Vallejo sick blue...

Sorry I haven't posted any pics for a few days. I was waiting to get the correct Liche Purple for the Skinks (am not satisfied with the Sick Blue), and am still running against a "painter's block" working on my Fire Dragons, Scorpions, & Karandras. I know how I need to paint them, just am having a hard time getting started again (they're all ~20% done). Good news is that a gaming buddy is letting me paint some of his IG for him - hope to get one of the units finished by the weekend, if I'm lucky. Next pictures posted will either be of the Praetorian Guard (WIP or completed) or the Dragons...

Am now working on a unit of Praetorian Guardsmen for a gaming buddy, trousers are done after a few attempts at the proper blue - final color ended up being mixture of Prussian Blue and Dark Grey. Jackets are being done in Scarlett Red with a touch of Orange Fire/Scarlett Red mix for hilights. Will be finishing up trim of the jackets tonight and then doing epaulettes in New Gold, then facial details & hair/beards, then pith helmets in combo of Offwhite and Sand Yellow. Am trying to decide on colors for weapons - either black with silver, or dark silver with Mithril Silver hilights. Suggestions, anyone?

Skinks are waiting in the background to be finished, as are my Fire Dragons, Scorpions & Karandras. Will get one of them done after the Praetorians are finished, then on to another IG squad!

You have some serious hobby ADD displayed here How long are you spending on those grav tanks? It looks like you've painted up each gem really well.

Keep up the good work!

Cheers,
Rawson

Thanks, Rawson! Each skimmer has taken hours to finish. The last Serpent was painted as it was being assembled, which made parts of it much easier to paint (e.g., engine intakes). The gems are batched, and usually go fairly quickly - just takes time for drying in between layers. Am happy that someone recommended doing the gloss coat on them - think it really brings them out against the matte finish on the skimmer. Unfortunately I don't have it in me to strip & repaint my earlier models, so I just keep adding to the collection! Glad you like them.


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Oh cool, Dakka's upgraded me to being a Sneaky Striking Scorpion. They're my favorite aspect right now!

Helmets & faces are finished. On to the belt details & epaulettes! Weapons will be done last, still waiting for some recommendations as to weapons finish (black & silver vs. darker & lighter silver). Will be starting on them later today, so would appreciate feedback ASAP (PM me or post).

Hey mate. How it going. Sorry I haven't commented in so long but the Mrs is struggling with pregnancy (nothing bad!) so I've been picking up the slack. I'm amazed at how much cleaning is needed for a one bedroom flat, lol! She's three days over due now o don't worry too much if I suddenly disappear again!

OK, first things first - love the wraith guards. I think the choice you made is the correct one. When I saw the group shot with the wraith lord I actually wonder if you intend to revisit them, When I see them altogether (though not separately) I almost think the Wraith Lords look a bit plain. Maybe not plain, but certainly as if they need something else to make them stand out more as the "centre piece" models I think they should be.

The picture of your skimmer shows how far you have come and how different your painting taste seems to have changed. The newer ones are far crisper and cleaner and are painted to a much higher standard in my opinion. Considering this is an apoc force, the contrast of the red and white serpent is great. I imagine the reds down a flank and the whites down another with the Wraith Guard and Wraith Lords holing the centre line.

Those hawk are, imho, the best models you have painted. No wonder your friends are asking you to paint for them. I suspect that, kinda like Bunny's blog, the variation will help to keep the love of painting alive. I think it will actually mean your models will take longer though as you will suddenly have more experience and views on a lot more colours, lol.

But you mentioned you had a painting block. You know it is OK to take a break!

PS - Dark weapons and a lighter mortar colour

LOL! taff, I had a feeling that you'd been away because of the pregnancy. Glad your wife is OK, hope that delivery is soon & goes well for both of you & the baby. Would love to see a pic & hear the details once baby's here.

Thanks for the feedback - you've always been so gracious to me with your comments & support I'll be adding the infinity symbol to the heads of the Wraithlords (new ones, need to consider for old ones). Thanks as well for the recommendation for weapons finish on the IG squad. Actually, he didn't ask me to paint them, I asked HIM if I could paint any! That's what happens when you don't have much money, you start scrounging around to see if anyone else has anything to be painted. Fortunately this guy was gracious enough to let me paint some of his for him (he's excellent with his tanks). Should have the Praetorians done today; doubt I'll have them done in time for a game this afternoon but should have them done later this evening - so expect to see pics posted tommorrow morning my time. Think I'll then be ready to finish off my 3 patient Dragons & 2 Scorpions; Karandras will simply have to wait a little bit. I think I'll also have 3 more squads of IG to paint, just need to work with the owner about color schemes.l One pairing I'd like to try would be Brown Rose with Oxford Blue (both Vallejo colors).

Praetorian Guard are FINISHED! Finallly. This squad was a bit difficult, as there weren't many pics to use as guidelines, and the minis had lots of ill-defined areas (not molded really well). All in all, I'm 90% satisfied with the finished appearance. Hope the owner is, as well. Time to get back to the Fire Dragons, expect they'll be finished rather quickly since I'm doing the same paint scheme I used on the rest of the squad. Have 3 more IG squads to work on, just need to iron out color schemes with the owner before I start. Oh - some good news! Our FLGS is interested in having me paint some display models for them! Would be paid (not much, but something), so I'll be back to doing consignment work again. Have a great week, everybody!

Nice job on the Praetorian. Is it just me or do the guns almost look like they glitter? Also, what does the owner intend to do with the bases? I'm a curious soul aren't I!

Paid painting work huh? The first steps to a new career perhaps?

Beautiful work on the Praetorians. Yeah, they're hard models to work with, especially as they are just minor resculpts of the Mordians.

Your friend, however, clearly needs a pile of Col.Gravis' Praetorian Rough riders.

I'm just SAYIN'.

--Brian

Also, gorgeous Eldar.

taff, I'm not sure about the bases. I asked him whether he wants me to base them or not, am waiting for an answer. Also, weapons were done with combination of Vallejo's Gunmetal Grey and Chainmail Silver (Gunmetal had some black added for tonal relief, as well), then all had black wash. My guess is that it's the Chainmail that is giving the glittery effect.

Brian, thanks! I have to admit I don't understand the reference you give for the rough riders, but hopefully the owner will. Heck, I don't even know what kinds of guns they were holding! I just know what they look like, and that at least one Mordian has the same kind of weapon. Hopefully I'll learn by visual recognition!

Col.Gravis is a user here who made these:

http://colgravis.blogspot.com/p/praetorian-roughriders-for-sale.html

You combine them with heads and horses, and you have Pretorian Rough Riders.

Most of your guys carry lasguns, the sgt has a laspistol and chainsword, and there's what appears to be 3 guys with meltas, a guy holding a mortar round, and one guy with a lasgun that lost its barrel.

--Brian

Brian, thanks. Is it possible that the one guy is holding a "sawed-off" lasgun? his stance is different than the other guys, and the way he's holding his weapon is different as well. Also, upon suggestion from one of my nephews, I've drilled out the ends of the weapons - think they look better! Will be adding in a pic soon so y'all can see...

Sample of drilled-out weapons (bad iPhone pic)...

Can you get me a closeup of the one missing the barrel? Thanks!

Brian, just heard from the owner. Turns out that the lasgun's barrel broke off, but he has a bayonette that I can possibly add with some modification (and a piece of a small nail). Thanks anyway!

Here's the latest 3 Fire Dragons (I now have 10 of 'em). May redo the detail on the tabards, haven't decided just yet. Finish is slightly different than the original Dragons, but then these are also older models. Ordered 2 more Scorpions (will have 11 total), may wait until they arrive to paint the rest of the additions (5 total). Also have Karandras here. I was told that my 12 Wraithguard are being made this week, hopefully will have them early to mid November (I'm itching to get them & start painting them - imagine the dread that will occur when I field 20 of them). Am going back to the Skinks for a little bit, then will be working on another squad of IG after I get more direction on them this afternoon.

Awesome fire dragons Love the black into red helms...kinda evil looking too, but overall very ulthwe. Love it

I agree with BeBop, they do look very menacing and I like them very much.

As the point of the blog is to improve I do have three suggestions though. The first is that I think the hands do not fit with either the model or the fluff. Fluff wise I can't imagine that a race this adavnced would not give those wielding melta weapons gloves! I think a deep red glove would add more menace and fit better. Possibly it would mean that further bone was needed to the model but that could be the compramise on the tabard.

Which brings me on nicely to the tabard! I'm not too keen on them I'm afraid. I think the tabards actually look a little bit like Scottish tartan. Not a bad thing in itself but I on't think it quite fits with what your going for! To offer a suggestion I think that (in conjunction with changing the gloves) a tabard of bone with a flame motif on it would really ft with what you are going for. I wouldn't have even thought of this if it hadn't looked so bad ass on the Wraithguard!

Last but not least I believe the eyes on the models let you own. There are basically don the same as gems and would add a nice touch I reckon.

Sorry if this seems negative but I assure you it's not! I just want to make sure you continue the giant leaps you are making in your painting!

bebop - thank you

taff, your points are good ones. I'll do the tabards in bonewhite, but will have to do some tricky shading because of the pattern on it. Will then add on the stylized flame. Also - could use a red/black mix first for the eyes (this is how I start the gems) and we'll see how things go. Will also give ALL of them gloves, not just the new guys!

I look forward to the pictures mate

Hey, everybody. I need suggestions as to a good brand of cheap black primer. I've been using Citadel & Army primers up to now, but some guys @ my FLGS suggested I get the cheap stuff at Wal-Mart. I got some Krylon primer, and was really disgusted at how watery & thin the stuff was. Splashed all over the place, and took a few coats to really get the minis primed well. Must admit that the coat was smooth, but I want something that won't splash so much. Anyone have suggestions as to a store/brand that would work well that's inexpensive? I've got ~30 more IG guys to prime, as well as some jet bike pieces...

It is possible you got a bad can of primer, so I'd try again, and SHAKE WELL. I mean, REALLY WELL. Krylon likes to settle. Give it a full minute of the agitator ball working its magic. I also use Rustoleum, but I use their 'rusty metal primer', because I like the medium brown it gives.