So, here it goes. In this post I'll be asking you both opinions and suggestions for my planned color scheme and the techniques to use when applying paint over my models.
A little briefing of the present situation: I already painted two Fire Warriors with the main colour scheme in mind, trying to avoid to put too much of the support colour (which at the time was set to be red) so that I could see how the finished model would look like without definetely ruining it. Useless to say the first little space... Err, what are Taus again? Anyway, the first one ended up being a mess not only for my gross brush skill but also because of the paint I used, which was drying too much on the tile without me realizing. Oh, I also didn't file it well (actually while painting I treated the plastic excesses on his head as an extra armor plate!). No excuses though: I made a mess and the poor guy's become pretty hopeless.
The second one is way more "fabulous" than his older brother- both because I painted him without assembling all of the pieces together (all hail toothpicks and vilinic glue!) and because I put more attention to what was happening to the paint; he still ended up in a mess though, and had to try and patch some of his soft armor (mostly on his right arm) and one of the leg plates (again, the right one) with scarce to poor results as the corrections are pretty visible. But the thing with the second Fire Warrior is, I found out that Red wasn't really doing the job being paired with grey.
Just to point it out, the colour scheme was set to be Codex Grey and Mechrite Red (which was set to be the Sept colour, actually).
Following are the pictures of the two models placed next to each other from three different angles (plus a surprise guest in the third pic), and a picture of the second Fire Warrior's body before the final assembly. I didn't use the proper technique while photographing these guys, and beg for forgiveness, but if you open up the pictures you'll find it's pretty easy to zoom on them and spot all of my mistakes (I'm embarrased >.< ).
Please note that the models have not been highlighted (how could I do it now when I can wait to become a little better and do it later in a cleaner way?) and that have not received any kind of work on the bases yet (same reasons).
And here we go with the current problems and questions, put in an ordered list:
1. As for the armor, I'm painting the model over a white primer with Adeptus Battlegrey first; then I would wash it with some Badab Black and finally use the Codex Grey to give it the final main color. I'm having issues with this method as it consumes quite a bit of extra paint that is not going to be shown on the model; also I'm not sure that carefully painting the model trying not to cover the spots between the amor plates is the best way to deal with the armor's silly pattern.
What do you think about my approach on the matter? How would you paint the model's armor? Do you have a trick I could use in order to get a Codex Grey colored armor without doing this much of a fuss over it? Am I having issues over nothing and being overconcerned?
2. As for the gun handle, I've been painting it with a mix of 3 parts of Chaos Black and 1 part of Codex Grey over the washed base of Adeptus Battlegrey with much pity and regret as it hides the depth the wash gave it, despite the procedure does give it a better colour for a weapon. Said colour does not completely satisfy me though, and was starting to think about the chance of painting the handle differently; not sure how I would do it though. Another thing I was thinking is that it'd be nice to do it so that the gun had some sort of a "energish" feeling to it. Could probably be achieved by coloring the "little lines" of the gun on an "energysh" colour, or by painting it in a different manner. Just thought of the eventuality of painting it of a really dark blue that looks like black; but I'm not the expert here.
What are your thoughts over this matter? How would you solve the problem? Am I yet again seeing things?
3. As for the colour scheme, it was (as already stated) set to be Codex Grey with Mechrite Red used as Sept colour, with Black as support for armor and weapons. After I found out that red (or at least, this tone of red) wouldn't suffice, I started thinking about alternatives. As of now, I'm pretty keen on blue. Not only because it is my favourite colour (why am I thinking of Monthy Python right now?), but also because it looks pretty neat on the Fire Warrior painter.
This would be the new concept:
I'd guess the feel it'd give on the Suits and the Armor would be close to that of the very first Gundams, and I find the thought pretty funny in itself. I'm no fan of Gundam, but I don't dislike it and as an army of an anime addict who was going to put all sorts of Kanjis and quotes from the japanese culture on his army's armor it wouldn't be bad.
I'm still having an issue with it, though, and it could be pretty obvious to some: the Taus' skin is friggin' blue.
What about my new planned colour scheme? Do you think mixing that shade of blue (which should be close to Royal Blue I guess?) with Tau skin would be bad? Any suggestions over what could go with Codex Grey?
4. Me being much of a winer. Is it a disease? Can I get over it?
Thank you for your time and patience reading this whole thing. I promise I will try and do less of a fuss over things since next time I type anything on the forums.
Also, don't be freaked out by that ork: the guy's a guinea pig I worked on at the Games Workshop with the assistance of a great staff member. So, yeah, he's supposed to be like that. Sorry boyz.
