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Whoa!

... your dog really looks like Einstein.

Seriously though, you've firmly secured a position in my list of hobbyists that I strive to be able to match up to. And it's not that big a list. I love it when the bar gets raised, makes me work harder to up my game too.

Also, I was meaning to ask, although you were the first I saw of this, the whole, 'Orks trying to emulate the Imperium' thing is something I'm seeing more and more. I thought it was your own invention but I'm starting to think it's in the fluff somewhere. I don't have an ork codex, not a new one anyway, probably a really old one in the huge eBay batch I bought. So is this new fluff, old fluff or am I going mad and it is in fact your own idea? If it is in the fluff, where can I read about it? I'd love to put together a single warboss trying to copy my Marine force, which also needs to be built. So many toys to play with.

The MegaNobz are looking fantastic

@Camkierhi: Steal away! My brother left me some Nid skulls - all way too big - and even the one on the Chaos Lord trophy rack is really too big - a bit like the plastic Ork skull. Never fear though - a long standing idea I am yet to implement is to do up Grotz as wound markers for my Nobz and Meganobz. Part of the idea was to have the (Mega)Nob and his Grot easily identified as a pair, so I'll remember to add a Nid skull to his wound Grot sometime in the far distant future He can carry it, drag it, have it on a trophy rack or pole - I'm sure I can work out something...

@HAZZER, monkeytroll, wib: Thanks!

@Casey's Law: For as long as I can remember, Orks have been split into 6 clans. Two of the clans are particularly suited to emulating the Imperium - the Deathskulls, as they are "plunderers without equal" - and are likely to scavenge and make use of imperial weapons, armour, vehicles etc - and the Blood Axes (the clan Da Dark Angelz claim to be a part of) who "trade openly with the Imperium, parley with the foe and will even consider retreating from battle if faced with insurmountable odds." They have "made the most contact with the forces of the Imperium, occasionally fighting as mercenaries and making extensive use of Imperial war material, but then every Ork can see the funny side of extorting weapons from human planets only to use them against their former owners." All of the quoted text is from the current Ork Codex. The rest is IMHO

Most of the fluff tends to be between the Imperial Guard and the Orks, rather than Space Marines, so that is a small difference in my take on it - but I most definitely won't be the first to come up with that idea. I like to think that the exact nature of Da Dark Angelz (as covered in the fluff in my thread) is unique though - the harvesting of "gin seed" and "progoid lands" from "fallen" (in battle) Dark Angels Space Marines to inject themselves with, resulting in interesting effects on their particular approach to organisation, taktiks and warfare.

I only have the current Ork Codex. The clans existed when I started with 2nd edition though - so any Ork Codex would be a good start. Maybe someone else can point you towards any further sources of fluff...

Enough text - more progress pics!

Codename: Predator, now sporting rivets on his (blurry) left fist.


From the right we can see the addition of the arm piston. Gee, my focus was way out this time around (sorry).


From the back we can see both arm pistons.


And from the left, some cabling as well (now fixed in place).


I also did some liquid GSing to the Nob ready for undercoating (which has been done now, but no pic - seriously, it's the same as above, but black). He needs to be finished painting by the end of the month for Panda and Papa's Hero competition...

And that's it for this instalment!
Catchya!

Very nice work, i do hope to see it finished mate! their is hefty competition this time around.

i may enter that comp too..Hmm... Link please?

Looks cool as heck. Love the work.

Well, I don't *usually* post without a pic update, but I thought I should address this faster than my usual pace...

@cormadepanda: It will be finished. Experience says, if I concentrate, I can get a single mini painted in 2 weeks I had wanted to start after finishing the Meganobz, but I don't want to cut it *that* close. Hefty competition indeed - I have my painting work cut out for me...

@HAZZER: Here ya go! Round 3! Papa and Panda's Competition: The Hero Round. The more the merrier!

@Camkierhi: Thanks again!

Painting pics incoming....

Catchya!

A mere two weeks? Have we seen this act before? And how is it possible...I can't comprehend these short time-scales.....

I did say for a *single* model. When I do a squad of ten, and you suddenly realise that is 5 months - does that sound more comprehendible? Anyway, timescales are taken from the last two DakkaDakka painting competitions - pretty much the only time I've concentrated on a single model to the exclusion of all else...

I really like how 'Predator' is looking most of all. The use of the Space Hulk Power Fist is particularly inspired.

I won't quote your reply to me about fluff because it's much longer than my reply but thank you for explaining it. I had a root around and found an old codex, Armageddon and an old collectors' guide. Funnily enough the front of the guide had explanations almost identical to yours about the 6 clans. Bad Moons were the only ones I knew about, I really love the Nazdreg fluff which ties in well to the Imperial imitation idea.

I particularly enjoy the fluff that you adapted for your own army but the canon stuff is a good foundation. I think I'll do more reading before I consider building a one off warboss.

Keep up the great work mate. I'm watching in anticipation.

well i look forward to your work Arak. Good luck

Thanks guys.

Sit down everyone, paint incoming!


I told you I undercoated him...


Starting blocking in colours, getting a feel for the layers (will be painting "inside out"). Oh, apparently my paints survived the trip to Oz - cool!


More progress - front.


Right.


Back.


Left.

Very early stages this - the base coats still need more layers and tidy up - as I said, getting a feel for the layers (of the model) and the colour scheme.

Catchya!

So nice to see some paint on one of these models!

good start Arak, keep going

Is this a technique you always use ? I mean blocking in all the mane colours to start with.

I only ask as I was wondering if you find it an effective process ?

Either way love the layout and the shooter especially nice job

 lone dirty dog wrote:
Is this a technique you always use ? I mean blocking in all the mane colours to start with.

I only ask as I was wondering if you find it an effective process ?

Either way love the layout and the shooter especially nice job

just to do a small hijack here. I find LDD that it is easier to block in the primary colors, for the main parts, ignoring details and things, for things like flesh and armor. Then to build up around that with other colors, and doing detail work.

Yay! I love to see some painting going down in here.

Could you explain a little about the 'layers' of the model? I understand the concept but I'm not sure how to apply it to my process. I'm about to start a small project to get my painting up to scratch before my main projects so it'd be good to hear how you assess a model to paint.

nice looking good once again!

 cormadepanda wrote:

 lone dirty dog wrote:
Is this a technique you always use ? I mean blocking in all the mane colours to start with.

I only ask as I was wondering if you find it an effective process ?

Either way love the layout and the shooter especially nice job

just to do a small hijack here. I find LDD that it is easier to block in the primary colors, for the main parts, ignoring details and things, for things like flesh and armor. Then to build up around that with other colors, and doing detail work.

I have considered doing this way before my self, but I have always worked on building up one area at a time adding shading and highlights, I am thinking this might be a better way using block techniques as you get more a general feel for the overall look.

@Gitsplitta: It is, isn't it?

@cormadepanda: Aye aye! (and thanks for adding to the painting conversation with lone dirty dog)

@lone dirty dog: Previously, I haven't blocked in all of the main colours to start with, so this is a first time - so I'll only know if it is effective at the end The three issues I am trying to solve are: 1) Getting an earlier idea of the overall scheme and how it will work before too much effort is applied 2) Discovering details that the black undercoat hides, so I can take them into account now rather than later 3) Giving me a feel for how easy it is to reach the various tricky spots, and therefore which colour should be worked on first.

Previously I have worked up one layer at a time before, with the above issues. It's not an efficiency issue - you can block out each area across a batch of models - though catching the hidden detail may lead to efficiencies - batch painting really slows down when you have to deal with different small details across different models

I could also try using the new DakkaDakka army painter to try to establish the overall colour scheme before painting, but I don't have time for that this time around

@Casey's Law: For layers, the easiest I can think of to describe it is to think about a IG guardsman. Usually, the skin will be the lowest layer - there is nothing beneath it (well, unless you are painting an IG zombie or skeleton), clothing will be the next layer, equipment will be the next. For painting, we aren't so much interested in these general categories as much as the actual physical layering of detail over the top of each other. It makes sense to paint the stuff at the lowest level (headed in towards the skeleton of the model, not height) and work out to the extremities of the model - as these are easier to paint without affecting the previous work. Well, that's the theory!

So on the Ork above, the skin is naturally a low element - but it's not the lowest - a particular problem area is - the eyes - which is why they had been painted in first (also, a first for me). It was much easier (as you will see in today's pics) to paint the skin around the eyes over any over painting of the eyes. The reverse is usually as infuriating as all hell. There are areas under the back of the cloak which are the lowest layer, but not skin (as you can't see any skin). Actually, the top of his back is rather complicated - the layers are - skin (green), cloth (white), plates and boss pole (green), cloak (white), strap (brown?). To approach that in a different order risks ruining the work of a higher layer.

@HAZZER: Thanks.

Anyway, updates! Blocked out the skin in Orkhide Shade fully, cleaning up around the eyes:


And added a layer of 1:1 Orkhide Shade/Knarloc Green (yes, I'm still using my old paints!)


Catchya!

That was the advantage to using this process I could see, I thought I might give this a try myself as I spend so much time wondering what might work that it gets left

Even still looking at your block painting it still seems quite a muted pallet, but that will lift once you add the shading and highlights.

I have to say I love these Orks of yours the combination of marine wares and the Dark Angel vibe is a great thing indeed

Especially as the Dark Angels were about the only marines I have ever considered starting, but Orks prevail

Overall your work is astounding and inspiring.

I have decided my favorite thing about your model is the goggles. They are just to cool goggles.

Thanks for that explanation, Arakasi. I think I can apply that now, it's always something I forget to consider. I'll get the minis out now and work on the theory.

You ork is looking sharp! Will there be anything new this time or are you sticking with the tried and tested?

@lone dirty dog: It's only in trying new things that we expand our experience (and occasionally, our ability ). The muted pallet is expected at this stage - the old foundation paints are all muted, and I like the less cartoony effect in the end. Still, if you want brighter colours (with the old paints anyway) - you can always basecoat with a mix of a foundation paint and a brighter colour to begin with. It's one of the tricks to basecoating gold - you mix in one of the foundation browns for your base coat. Glad you love these Orks - I'm always happy to inspire (and know to inspire )

@cormadepanda: Really? The goggles are your favourite bit? Oh well, each to their own. I like the silhouette compared to a Dark Angels sergeant/master with banner (and then the gun )

@Casey's Law: I haven't painted anything since the DakkaDakka/Infinity painting competition, and I'm under time pressure - so I'm not expecting anything new this time around, tried and tested all of the way. Well, the goggles might lead to something different... who knows?

Catchya!

I did not mean it as a criticism the muted pallet remark, I was just saying getting a feel for the model by block colouring is still with its draw back even then.

I to love the goggles they really bring the character out, plus draws you to the centre of the model good trick to be learnt there.

Also I prefer muted pallets with just a small amount of one bright colour to lift a model, seen this technique a lot lately and brings a more realistic feel to miniatures.

Such clean crisp details! Love them!!!

@lone dirty dog: That's okay, I didn't take it as one. Yes, it is still a drawback, but it isn't as bad as the black undercoat. Hopefully I can paint the googles to a standard befitting their prominence.

@HAZZER: That may be a little premature...

Okay, so more steps in the Ork skin process...


1:3 Orkhide Shade and Knarloc Green


Knarloc Green


1:1:1 Knarloc Green, Golden Yellow and Rotting Flesh


Scab Red wash into recesses


Ogryn Flesh wash into recesses

Catchya!

Nice progress Arakasi.

Flesh tone looking good, interested to see if you try something different with the goggles.

the skin is looking really nice now that its has been defined!!!! Btw blog has had an update as well!