LDP's Blog: 12th June - Ultramarines Tactical Specialist & Skitarii Vanguard Alpha

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**whalemusic360**

They just aren't very dynamic or detailed compared to newer kits. Sometimes less sculpted detail isn't a bad thing though.

**Dynas**

Very nice photos. What is your camera/light setup. What are you using for a background? Types of lights? Photobooth? Phone or fancy camera etc?

For your basecoat do you just use Army Painter Ultramarine Blue?

**alabamaheretic**

eh that's the beauty of old kits and fancy paint jobs, and since your a great painter im sure they will be fantastic. question you and knightly getting any games in soon?

**lipsdapips**

@whalemusic I feel you there. Things like the old command squad banner is a classic space for trying out intense stuff. Good to hear from you again!

@dynas I just use a piece of a2 black paper, 2 cheap daylight lamps and my phone. It works out really nicely

& I use the GW Macragge blue spray

@alabama I would love to get one in. It's difficult because we're living in different cities. When I go back I try to get a game in but my uni employment contract makes it difficult to return during the academic year. I hope his foot's doing okay though, and I suspect our next game will be a big one!

**alabamaheretic**

Well you know schooling is important so stay focused when ya can

Well I've always told myself real life first and that's always true.

I do look forward to your guys next game, I do agree as well I do hope his foot is doing better as well (hell maybe he became a shadowrunner and got a cyberfoot) lol

**lipsdapips**

Hey guys!
Finished off the terminator squad today. Quite pleased with the result, considering I batch painted them - and quite fast at that. By no means my best work whatsoever, but i'll take it for tabletop standard. Keen to press on with more stuff!

LDP

**Nevelon**

I love how your batch painted, slapped together “tabletop” is still better then 80% of what’s out there.

Keep up the good work!

**deathskullork**

Love those termies

**Lum**

Nevelon wrote:
I love how your batch painted, slapped together “tabletop” is still better then 80% of what’s out there.

Keep up the good work!

I second that.
Besides, maaaan, I love terminators. I still think they look so cool! Sadly most people don't paint them as their on-table performance may be found lacking. Bloody shame, that.

**Plodmarine**

You’ve got some great work on here LDP, how have I not seen it all this time!! Particularly impressed with how you paint the power weapons, what’s your secret?

Subbed for more.

**San76**

Looking good man. Nice to see an older kit getting some attention

**Knightley**

I see you and I share the same premise of 'slapped together' when it comes to table top quality.

Very cohesive unit and I dread facing them on the field.

**Dreadclaw69**

Great work as always! I wish my "table top" quality minis looked so good.

**brushcommando**

LDP is back? I've been gone to long... always great to see your ultras!

**lipsdapips**

@Plodmarine my power weapon technique is taken and altered slightly from here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clWZUwAN_zc pleasure to have you aboard!

Thanks for the feedback everybody! So much from so many, i'm really grateful. Awesome to hear from you brushcommando! Indeed I am back after so long. Time is short, however, so I have to get to the update.

Hey everybody! I've been working my way through the start of the Horus Heresy book series in audio format, which has afforded me lots of time and desire to paint! So I busted this dread out in no time. It's been too long since I did something technically non-infantry. Personally, he's on par with the standard of the terminators; not my best, but good enough. I'm in the mood to really bulk out my total force at the moment and if this is the cost of efficiency, then so be it. I will always still save time for HQ personnel and their retinues as per usual

Finally, I made a start on a squad of sternguard.

LDP

**Lum**

You know, all your talk about that not being your peak performance makes me kinda sad. But then, I am really no painter at all, so no harm done

Are the legs of the new guy the ones from the Raven Guard plastic captain? If yes, how did you apply the torso? Looking nice!

**youwashock**

Dread looks great, as do the termies. The sternguard's pose looks quite nonchalant. "Hmm? Heretic? Oh, ok, I got it. ZAP!"

**alabamaheretic**

Bugger all your "table top" looks like my "pro painted" lol carry on :thumbs up:

**Kepora**

Oh man, the Sternguard kit. I remember when those came out (back when I had a LGS :( ), I had to buy them just because I thought they looked too damn cool. Built them that day in the shop, and used the leftover parts with my bitz box to make a sort of Deathwatch team-y squad.

**CREEEEEEEEED**

Ven dread best dread. Although the gold does look a little flat.

**lipsdapips**

Hey all,
it's been a few days, but i'm checking in with a sanguinary guard member of all things! In classic fashion, I feel like a break from the blue for a bit and am painting up a few blood angels as a complement to my smurfs force.

let me know what you think! I wanted to get a baroque, rich, and dark finish. I also feel as though some of the blood drops on the armour should be ornamental and the same colour as the armour itself. There are some more than others that feel sensible to pick out with blood colour (to me at least).

Cheers for looking,

LDP

**Nevelon**

Well that came out of nowhere!

Amazing work as always. My one critique would be on the sword. The red gem is lighting up the area around it, but the crackling blue glow of the powerfield is not showing at all on the white wings of the hilt. Seems a little odd for one thing to have OSL (which doesn’t necessarily call out for it, it could just be a gem) but the other thing doesn’t.

Just a minor nit-pick.

**Crimson_**

It like it a lot. Super clean white on the wings and the bronze-ish gold armour! Will you do the whole squad?

**lipsdapips**

@Neve That's a good point you've raised. I might avoid the OSL in the future. It's never really been my thing anyway.

@Crimson_ thank you! Eventually, yes. I'm thinking of doing one Sanguinary Guard at a time to break apart other projects.

Hi there everyone!

Working on the first member of my Blood Angels assault squad. People are right to say that Blood Angels are an artist’s army! These guys are tough but so beautiful. Accordingly, i’m taking my sweet time on them. Suffice to say there’ll be a few less than my Ultramarines but i’m still planning to assemble a decent supplement. This marine is the first to have proper BA colours, so in a sense he's the test. I'm liking the scheme so far but it takes some time. I'd be interested to hear your feedback - the red is a little dark but I think I've nailed the yellow. The red sort of works in it's own right though because my ultras are also slightly darker than usual, so in a sense there's some conformity there. Either way, i'm keen to get more progress in and see how it all shapes up. I have an exam this Saturday :( but after that I may have an update.

LDP

**boundless08**

I love the darker armour, a lot of depth to it and the highlights really stand out. The helmet is great though. You always do those light colours so crisp, just like the white heads on the terminators. Perfection

**Master Azalle**

I agree with boundless. The darker armor works well with your painting and highlight style. Really like how you highlight up to yellow on the red armor. Well done.

And yes, You definitely nailed the yellow. Be proud of that one!

**youwashock**

The red armor has an almost gem-like quality. I like the richness of it. They should look stunning when standing next to your Ultras.

**Crimson_**

The others are right it is a nice rich and deep red. Your choice of highlights and their colour works well together. Keep em coming.

**Paradigm**

What they said. The red is superb..

**Nevelon**

Big fan of the red. Might be a little closer to Flesh Tearer the Blood Angel, but it still looks good. And I’m not one to criticize official chapter paint adherence; I’m only vaguely close with my Ultras.

Of course you can paint awesome yellows. It’s the other really irritating color after white.
/jealous

But at least you are still human. The painting may be perfect, but I can’t un-see the mold line on the sword arm.

It’s probably the camera blowing something out of proportion.

If you want to change the tone a little bit to make the colors pop a bit more, you should shift to a blue, and use white/gold highlights. I find that’s the best for painting marines...