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I am envious of your talent, my paint jobs are shocking, your models are lovely.

Painted, even just 2 or 3 colours, are much better then just grey (this is coming from a man with 51% of his models bare grey, so you know it is the truth) or primed

You really should not be embarrassed by your painting. You have a solid looking army there that is above tabletop quality IMHO. The colour scheme is pretty funky too, I like it.

I do understand how it feel to be embarrassed by painting though, I was like that at first. But when I look back now even those badly painted minis of mine are not that bad, and they don't have the shading and highlighting that you have.

No you should never get embarrassed about anything to do with toy soldiers.

I like nothing more then taking a well painted army of the table with my hastily/half painted horde.

I will also target and eliminate my oponenst newest/favourite model first because It makes my smile.

I think they look fine. The only criticism is that the bases don't look finished.

The only other thing that comes to mind is that you could touch a few details like their tongues. If you painted them all pink or bright green, that would look nice and make the models look more finished.

I agree with the general consensus here: do not be embarrassed. Considering the fact those were speed painted, those are very good, with large amounts of detail on each one.

martian_jo wrote:

Hrmm, from a painter point of view, mind if I give you some tips on enhancing the current scheme? As someone already pointed out, the pale drybrushing have given the models a sort of dusty feel. What I would do is wash all the red and purple areas (yes, the red areas too) with Leviathan Purple. It's amazing how the purple wash can bring these two colours together in a very harmonious way . It will also bring the highlights back into a warm blush. You can give the red areas a red wash afterwards (or a flesh or sepia wash, depending on your preference) to give it even more warmth and vibrancy. Traditionally, purples are heightened with pinks (like Warlock Purple) and reds are heightened using oranges, to avoid the dusty effect. The bone on the Carnifex(?) could probably do with a Devlan Mud wash and then re-highlighted.

Second thing is the base, you've got the texture all over the bases' sides. Either do the entire edges or while its still wet, run your finger along the edge of the base to scoop off the texture and leave it smooth. If you're using PVA as the binder, running your finger along the base will eventually remove all the PVA and rubbing your hands together will make it turn into a powdery substance as it dries from friction. You could try cutting and levering the texture on the edges off for a neater finish on the base now that it's dried, or just cover the edge entirely. At the moment, it looks a little haphazard.

Lastly, I second that doing the details - tongue, teeth, claws and eyes - will help a lot to bring life to the models, as will finishing painting the bases. Unfortunately, I'm trying to think of a good colour-scheme for the two that will enhance your purple/red scheme but am coming up with a blank. Possibly a pale pink for the tongues with purplish shadows? Lime-green eyes? Bone claws and teeth, obviously. Or grey like your Carnifex's hooves. Hmm..

*comes back later* Whatcha think?

I think you should be embarrassed for so shamelessly fishing for compliments. This thread is the wargamer's equivalent of "Do I look fat in this?"

Anyone who actually criticises an opponent's paint job is a complete ass. Your Tyranids look just fine and when you consider that you have to paint hundreds of those things, who's got the patience to spend hours on one model? I've recently got so sick of painting my PAGK that I've decided that the remaining 15 I've got left are going to be given a more basic paint job and who cares if they don't match up to my others? I just want to get them done and on the table. I'll still put time and effort into them and if they were critisied by an opponent, I'd tell that person to F*uck off, move away from the table and find someone else to play. I just don't have the time or energy to worry about people like that and you shouldn't worry about it either.

They all look tabletop quality, dont worry
Maybe fix the sand dripping off your bases

I think you should be embarrassed for so shamelessly fishing for compliments. This thread is the wargamer's equivalent of "Do I look fat in this?"

So true... But all in all they are good models

LadyCassandra wrote:

martian_jo wrote:

Hrmm, from a painter point of view, mind if I give you some tips on enhancing the current scheme? As someone already pointed out, the pale drybrushing have given the models a sort of dusty feel. What I would do is wash all the red and purple areas (yes, the red areas too) with Leviathan Purple. It's amazing how the purple wash can bring these two colours together in a very harmonious way . It will also bring the highlights back into a warm blush. You can give the red areas a red wash afterwards (or a flesh or sepia wash, depending on your preference) to give it even more warmth and vibrancy. Traditionally, purples are heightened with pinks (like Warlock Purple) and reds are heightened using oranges, to avoid the dusty effect. The bone on the Carnifex(?) could probably do with a Devlan Mud wash and then re-highlighted.

Second thing is the base, you've got the texture all over the bases' sides. Either do the entire edges or while its still wet, run your finger along the edge of the base to scoop off the texture and leave it smooth. If you're using PVA as the binder, running your finger along the base will eventually remove all the PVA and rubbing your hands together will make it turn into a powdery substance as it dries from friction. You could try cutting and levering the texture on the edges off for a neater finish on the base now that it's dried, or just cover the edge entirely. At the moment, it looks a little haphazard.

Lastly, I second that doing the details - tongue, teeth, claws and eyes - will help a lot to bring life to the models, as will finishing painting the bases. Unfortunately, I'm trying to think of a good colour-scheme for the two that will enhance your purple/red scheme but am coming up with a blank. Possibly a pale pink for the tongues with purplish shadows? Lime-green eyes? Bone claws and teeth, obviously. Or grey like your Carnifex's hooves. Hmm..

*comes back later* Whatcha think?

This works too

I should create a flow chart for this. The first line easily answers your question. Is my army painted> yes>rock on.

I will give you credit for every single miniature you paint, as I'm used to playing at a store where almost NO ONE have properly painted a single miniature in their entire army, and this is both counting 40K and fantasy. I myself spend a lot of time and effort on my armies, so sometimes it's a bit demoralizing just having people piling up broken grey plastic miniatures on the opposite side of the table for me to fight, and then I look with envy at the table next to me, where two people are playing masterly painted warmachine armies against eachother. Therefore I think that almost ANY painting effort should be applauded, and yours is far form the worst I have seen, trust me

LadyCassandra wrote:

martian_jo wrote:

Hrmm, from a painter point of view, mind if I give you some tips on enhancing the current scheme? As someone already pointed out, the pale drybrushing have given the models a sort of dusty feel. What I would do is wash all the red and purple areas (yes, the red areas too) with Leviathan Purple. It's amazing how the purple wash can bring these two colours together in a very harmonious way . It will also bring the highlights back into a warm blush. You can give the red areas a red wash afterwards (or a flesh or sepia wash, depending on your preference) to give it even more warmth and vibrancy. Traditionally, purples are heightened with pinks (like Warlock Purple) and reds are heightened using oranges, to avoid the dusty effect. The bone on the Carnifex(?) could probably do with a Devlan Mud wash and then re-highlighted.

Second thing is the base, you've got the texture all over the bases' sides. Either do the entire edges or while its still wet, run your finger along the edge of the base to scoop off the texture and leave it smooth. If you're using PVA as the binder, running your finger along the base will eventually remove all the PVA and rubbing your hands together will make it turn into a powdery substance as it dries from friction. You could try cutting and levering the texture on the edges off for a neater finish on the base now that it's dried, or just cover the edge entirely. At the moment, it looks a little haphazard.

Lastly, I second that doing the details - tongue, teeth, claws and eyes - will help a lot to bring life to the models, as will finishing painting the bases. Unfortunately, I'm trying to think of a good colour-scheme for the two that will enhance your purple/red scheme but am coming up with a blank. Possibly a pale pink for the tongues with purplish shadows? Lime-green eyes? Bone claws and teeth, obviously. Or grey like your Carnifex's hooves. Hmm..

*comes back later* Whatcha think?

I started on green tongues after someone else mentioned it earlier, but wasn't sold so I stopped after a couple.

Following up with some suggestions I experimented on one gaunt, kind of defeating my assembly line idea, but I wanted to make sure I figured it out before I moved on.



I hit up the hooves, claws, and teeth in bone similar to the claws and spikey bits on my carnifex, and tried to get a goldish yellow in the eye, but that didn't seem to work to well for me. I washed the chitin with devlan mud and washed the purple areas with the purplish wash I had mixed up earlier. I had washed them after a base coat and then highlighted, so this is wash #2.

I'm thinking green eyes would look better. I'll try a pink tongue and see if that does it for me.

Some people paint better than others. Don't get too worried because they seem to be painted to TT standard which is fine. If you keep painting your skills will improve and you'll get better looking models.

They look great. You have a good contrast of color on there, there is some highlighting, and some drybrushing. You also said you washed them earlier, so you have all the basic techniques down. I think they look perfectly acceptable. The second guant in your updated picture looks good. I would personally go with black for the hooves and claws, as that would darken up the colors some (right now they look really light, almost pale). You need some darker contrast. Otherwise, like I said, you should be proud to walk into any store with that army.

The only thing wrong I see with these miniatures is the basing, try giving 2 or 3 devlan mud washes it will make it fit in with the miniatures a lot more.

A quick but effective basing job will bring your army from "eh" to "pretty legit" in no time at all. Just put down a coat of black/grey/brown on the sand and base rim, then drybrush the sand with a lighter color or two to make it stand out. Then, add a small amount of static grass to each base.

Your stuff will look great.

I know that when i play, i have a reputation of being a gamer snob. i know, sounds weird right, let me put that into perspective.

I put a lot of time and effort into this hobby. my models are barely over tabletop standard and i am ok with that. My frustration is when i show up to play and my opponent has the grey horde across the table from me.

i don't mind it so much when players are starting, or people are starting a new army (although i have a rule that i wont use anything until its painted, highlighted, washed, and then based/touched, that way it motivates me to paint that brand new land-raider before i field it). I really don't mind when people are trying something new, or one new unit. What i have a problem with is when people want to play, but have never done anything more than put a primer coat on their army.

to those players, when they ask me if i want to play (i normally get asked a lot since i am one of the VERY few MEQ armies in my area) if they haven't made an ATTEMPT to paint their army at all, then i wont play them.

I know how bad that sounds, but the reality is this. I don't expect my opponents to paint to my level (not like its high) and i don't expect them to paint above me. All i want is tabletop standard. 3 colors, and a base. if i have put this much effort into bringing a painted army on the tabletop, with bases and completed models, then why would i ever be ashamed of asking my opponent to do so, and the level of their paint really is of no consequence. So long as you can tell what it is, i wouldn't have a problem, and your paint jobs are far beyond that.

You are above tabletop standard, and i would have no problems playing against that army. Seeing as its been a while since my Ultramarines have killed some 'nids, i would love to play against that army now that i mention it.

never be ashamed about how your army looks. there are different painting techniques for different players and styles. there are also all varying degrees of skill for each painter. Don't ever be ashamed about bringing a fully painted army on the tabletop, regardless if the person sitting next to you is a golden demon winner, or someone like me.

besides, i can tell you, that a lot of these models that are supreme looking, and absolutely gorgeous normally take an obstinately long time to paint. i wouldn't judge yourself by those models, and the last point is:

never judge your own progress by others models. judge them by how you are doing now versus how you have done in the past. if you are doing now, then it doesn't matter if you have been painting for 60+years, or for 2 days, if you are better than you were before, then you are making progress!

***UPDATE***

The second gaunt with the washes looks great. and the best thing is because they were washes, im betting it can be replicated quickly.. I say go for it, it takes a good looking army and makes them better!!! Way to go man!!!

You should only be embarrassed to pull out your army if they are blood angels, space wolves or grey knights.
(I play GK - but I suffered through nigh-on 10 years with a lame codex. For me it's about payback.)

Real gamers play without extraneous adjectival names. Blood this, Wolf that and Doom everything else.

There's nowt embarrassing about that nid paintjob. At least they aren't boring grey plastic.

Firstly your models look simply amazing. Therefor the answer is no, you should NOT be embarassed by your army

chromedog wrote:You should only be embarrassed to pull out your army if they are blood angels, space wolves or grey knights.
(I play GK - but I suffered through nigh-on 10 years with a lame codex. For me it's about payback.)

Real gamers play without extraneous adjectival names. Blood this, Wolf that and Doom everything else.

There's nowt embarrassing about that nid paintjob. At least they aren't boring grey plastic.

Funny you should say that, my vanilla space marines are The Omega Doomfist Angel-Knights. They have no idea where there gene seed came from. ODFAK has a long record of getting spanked by nids and orks...

You won't win any golden demons or anything, but they look nice. It says "adequately done" which is better than 90% of 40k players can say. Paint up those bases and you can put a fork in this one.

Your guys looks fine, in fact. They look quite nice I dare say, nice to see some diffenrt scheems for Nids than the normal stuff

Your Models are awesome, you should not be embarrassed, hey! if I'm not embarrassed to bring this guy ^^ to the table you should not be embarrassed by yours