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And the Aleph are done! I decided to give crazy-color hair to each of the non-named android models to add some flair and to help differentiate them on the tabletop. The only male model is bald! I also did some slight changes to Penthesilea, adding some red where there used to be black and washing it. I think it looks better, but I didn't do any major changes (like I would if I could redo the whole thing). I really hate the face on the model with purple hair. The sculpt is REALLY... smooth? Even the studio painted one looks strange to me, and it was really hard to make it look good. Also, I wish the hair on all of the models was as natural-looking as the pink-haired Sophotect. That model has natural strands of separation and I really, really like how the hair turned out on her. On the others... not so much. I'm still satisfied with the overall look but it could have been a lot better.

But I'm really happy with how it all turned out overall. The gold contrasts in exactly the way I wanted with the silver, so the different groups of models look very different. I also like the red and gold combination, so I'm glad I went with that.

Enjoy!

The next few projects will probably be a little disjointed, but I decided to do some work on my Circle Orboros stuff for Privateer Press' Hordes. This is Kromac the Ravenous, and he has two forms - a human form and a beast form. I used a web tutorial for this flesh, which I've never really done before. The process for this was prime in grey, base in Bugman's Glow, wash in Reikland Fleshshade, layer Bugman's Glow, layer Cadian Fleshtone, highlight Kislev Flesh. The Kislev Flesh and Cadian Fleshtone were supposed to be watered pretty well to make the colors blend, but I couldn't get the right consistency. Still, I think it turned out... alright. Not great, but alright. I debated using my airbrush to do the flesh, but decided against it so I could try this method.

One thing is that the sculpt for the beast form just has too much going on. Maybe it's my lack of skill, but it seems TOO muscled. There's too much separation, making it look like there are more muscles than should be there. Take a look, and let me know if you agree.

Aww hell even more stuff done already my pace is basically comatose in comparison

I like how the Aleph came out, kudos on a very different basing theme too, don't think I've seen snowy infinity before. I know what you mean about the hair, don't know how I'm gonna tackle that myself yet.

Kromac is looking good already, that's a hell of a start, might just use that flesh recipe on something myself. I had similar problems with the bloodthirster to what you're talking about, but I think he's looking good to be honest, the only place I can sort of see what you mean is the last photo on the right arm, try getting a bit more of them done and see if it blends in a bit more I guess, but for now it's looking smashing.

Thanks man! Yeah, the back of his right arm is probably the biggest offender. It's like the muscles of his shoulder have too much definition and they're placed where his tricep should be or something.

Been a long delay in my updating here - I switched over to building my Dreadball Team, which was... a chore. I've got the Veer-Myn team, the Skittersneak Stealers, which is only 8 models. But they are some of the worst plastic sculpts that I've dealt with in recent years. I guess I was maybe spoiled by GW's increasingly detailed and well-fit plastic molds. Regardless, these Dreadball guys had a LOT of flash and mold lines that I had to work on. I really like assembly, but I HATE filing off mold lines, and each model in this team was literally wrapped in them. So I got lazy, but I just finished them this morning. Here is a pre-assembly pic and a post-assembly pic - I left the arm off of one model because it crosses in front of the model's chest, making it hard to paint if I don't paint before assembly.

My word you certainly don't stick to one game (which is definitely a good thing). Shame about the sculpts, also not a fan of doing mold lines, quite possibly the dullest part of any miniature hobby.

Yeah, by far. And I haven't figured out a great way of removing them without ruining some of the detail (when the mold lines go over the details, of course, which is pretty much constantly on these models).

Nope, definitely not one game! There are a handful of games that I always wanted to play - Warmahordes and Infinity being the two at the top. I hit a "fed up with GW games" phase and used that as an excuse to move on. I don't play 40k at all anymore (though I do have a CSM army that I occasionally work on) but I still play Fantasy here and there.

Quick update today guys, it's been awhile because I hit some burnout with these Dreadball minis. I really don't like them as I think they're pretty terrible sculpts, but I'm still trying to give them some decent attention so they look alright on the tabletop. I've basecoated all the flesh, then washed, then highlighted. I've got one more step of highlighting to do, and then the flesh will be finished. Because there are only 3 unique models in the team of 8, I'm painting them different colors - one color scheme will be pinkish, one will be grey, and the last will be white (like albino rats).

The colour swap is back! I'm not entirely surprised at Mantic sculpts not being top notch, but I'm still willing to give their zombies a try. Swap to something else for a while if you're not enjoying them otherwise it goes from a hobby to more work once you're back from work!

Good point! Oddly enough, the zombies aren't bad. I've got 60 of them and the sculpts are better and more detailed and there's less flash overall on them. I definitely didn't hit a flash-removing wall on those like I did on these Dreadball minis.

Here I am, everybody, back again with an update! I know it's been awhile but I've been slowly grinding through these Dreadball guys and I am proud to announce that they are fully finished as of today! They're pretty sloppy but I just couldn't be bothered with these guys. I wanted to get them finished before the start of our league (which is this Saturday) and I did! So that's what counts...

The armor is done using the technique for Ryza Rust as seen in GW's video promoting it - I used that gritty technical paint whose name I can't remember over a coat of Leadbelcher (well, Boltgun metal, but it's the same thing) and then drybrushed with Ryza Rust. It's messy but, meh.

I'm not sure what I'm painting next but for the meantime, enjoy!

I can't lie they aren't up to the usual Mr Tangent standard but honestly like I said before if it wasn't fun to paint them then who cares, especially if you needed them done in time for a game (they're far from the worst I've seen)!

I do believe the paint you're referring to is Typhus corrosion, I also used it on the new drone, however I did it slightly differently, Typhus corrosion -> Ryza Rust -> Sponge applied leadbelcher to raised edges. Tried it the way round you've done it first and it just looked off somehow on the drone. I know next to nothing about dreadball but I assume the painted base edges have to do with facings etc?

Hahah yeah man, I would make mistakes on these models and pause for a moment, and then just go, "...screw it." And never fix it! But I didn't make too many, so from a distance they look alright. It's just... if the model isn't clean, the sculpt is bad, there are mold lines that are impossible to remove... I just can't care.

Yeah, Typhus Corrosion. I see what you mean about it. It's hard to get the grit to evenly apply, so there ends up being some areas that just look like they've been washed in a weird dirty green color, right next to raised areas where the grit settled.

You are correct about the painted edges on the bases. In Dreadball, you've got a front and a back facing, and it's important to the gameplay to be able to tell which is which.

Got to work again on Kromac from my Circle squad for Hordes. Finished the blue clothing and hair.

I laid down the basecoat for Kromac's armor.

Looking good, are you working on the human form at the same time or is he meant to have a different scheme?

 Ignatius-Grulgor wrote:
Looking good, are you working on the human form at the same time or is he meant to have a different scheme?

He'll have the same scheme but I'm working on the bigger guy first.

Painted the wooden armor highlights (pre-wash) and the bone details.

Fully basecoated and washed Kromac's lower half.

Got some more work done on Kromac! Basecoated and washed the chest, arms, and axes. The axes are still wet with the wash, which is why they look shiny. It's hard to take good, well-lit picture of this guy, since the model is leaning forward so far.

Cloth is looking good, as are the axes, wasn't sure if you were going to aim for stone or metallics, guess that ones answered

I have to say the models are growing on me, doesn't hurt that the newly announced faction with all the thralls and gribbly bad guys in long black coats rather appeal to me.

Thanks! Yeah, I wanted to go for the stone weapons for sure on this guy. Too heavy of a metallic base would kinda stand out, I think, among all the other natural stuff like the bones and wood. I guess metal is... natural... but you get what I mean!

Yeah man, some of the models are cool. I'll be honest - they feel and look kinda wonky before you start painting them, but they're sculpted in a way that's easy to paint, which is probably my number 1 concern about models. They're only as cool as I can paint them, and if they aren't built to be painted they're a waste.

Quick update with no pictures today: I've got Kromac's body finished and I started on the head. Shouldn't take me too long to finish it up and base him, at which point I'll post pics of the finished product here!

I want to go with a kind-of dark, night-time forest scheme for the base, but I don't really know how to achieve it.

Kromac is finished! Except the base, of course. Still don't know how I'm going to get the dark forest look on the base, but I'll keep looking around.

My inspiration for this paint scheme was from this link: http://thrasymachos.livejournal.com/177476.html

So, I had no problems with the sculpt or assembly except for the head. There's a big separation between the back of the head and the start of the hair, and it's really irritating.

Also, more than maybe ANY other model that I've EVER painted, the paint on this model seems to wear off EXTREMELY easily if I touch it. Like, if I hold the model while I paint another part, the spot that I was touching will be bare silver metal when I put it down. I don't know why this model is like that, but I'll definitely be matte coating this one.

Enjoy!

I'm back with some work on Kromac's human form! I took some time off as a break from painting but now I hope to get Kromac's human form finished up. I'm painting the two halves separately, so these are just a couple of base-coated WIP shots of the bottom half.

Yeah metal models, in some ways I won't miss them, cross fingers you got the varnish on before too much came off! I really like how the glow on the axes came out, overall a really pretty miniature.

Looking forward to seeing how the human form looks next to him, have you got anything else from the faction or is it going to be a slow-burner project between other things?

Thanks man! Yeah the axes ended up looking alright in the end. Gah, metal... is that what really happens with a lot of metal? The paints rubs off easily? I haven't worked with a big metal piece like this in so long that I guess I've forgotten...

I actually have a decent amount of models from this range, maybe 40 points worth. Everything else is plastic except for 2 additional character models about the size of human Kromac. I'm not sure how much I'll focus on this range over my other WHFB stuff, but I'm into them now for sure!

Back from the dead with an update! I finished Kromac's human form, so without further ado, here he is!







My life has been crazy lately so the updates are slow and far between. I'm moving house soon so I may not be able to paint much more before the move is over. I'll be back when I can!