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So after seeing tons of extremely well painted models, I felt it was time I tried to vastly improve my painting skills. So with that in mind I purchased an AOBR box to have some test models for the flesh tearers paint scheme. I want to make the army look extremely gritty and well worn, since the flesh tearers are a chapter on constant crusade. Here is the first test model I have done, it was done mostly to see how I was going to paint the red, and trying to do some chipping. Your opinions and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
This is my first test model without any weathering done to it, I really dislike the black and think I'm going to have to change it quite a bit, perhaps starting with a dark grey or something along those lines.


This is after I have attempted some chipping of the model, I think with a slightly thinner underlining and a bit better control over where the chipping is will vastly improve the final look.



These are just a few pictures of the first test model I have worked on, I will be picking up some pigments for the models to help with the weathering. I am also not sure If I want to take a crack at source lighting, it seems like it is very hit or miss and I'm not quite sure how it will look on the models
All of your criticism is greatly appreciated, I would really like to improve and am trying to take some big steps to improve my painting. Also I have to give props to Lbursely he kind of inspired me a bit to do the flesh tearers and I think hes a big reason I'm trying to dive straight into the deep end.
Thanks

Excellent job on the chipping, good realalistic pitting of the legs.

Agreeing that the black (at least on the shoulder pads) is overwhelming and a lighter color would probally work better.


Give more pics when you can.

As someone who paints a lot of red, the red you've got here is a winner. It's dark, well coated and has great highlighting and recess lines. I have no real problems with the black as you've done it. But I do think that using the Granite foundation and then washing it in black will allow your miniature to have carry the great depth you've got in the red over to the black.

Good job! ^_^

Looks very nice especially if this your first go at it. Good job.

Ya the next test model I will do will use larger amounts of grey to highlight the shoulderpads. One of the biggest problems I feel like I'm having is despite the weathering on the legs,the model just doesn't feel all that weathered. The shoulders are such a large part of the model I need to find a really decent way to paint them that will allow me to do chipping/weathering.

Great work on the chipping, i might have a go at that myself!

Dont forget to paint the pouches and grenades

Awesome paint job

Nice work! I'd add some bullet holes and chipping to the shoulder pads and helmet, as these are hot spots, that enemies would attempt to hit. But nice work!

Looks good i like it.
And i also would suggest to add chipping and bullet holes to the upper parts of the miniatures.

If i may say, i would try to make the highlights in the black a little thinner.

i really like the model, but ithought the chipping was a bit much. maybe it is just cuz of the way the model is positioned. overall love it.

Really nice red, and I'm loving the chipping. Did you just use the black->metallic method? Because it looks fething great.

As for the black, yeah, it really sticks out like a sore thumb.

First thing I'd do is to make the white lining more subtle, start with a dark grey, and built up to a light grey. Don't use white.

As for the black itself, that could use some work. I'd say just use a really dark grey and blend/wash the shadows. Kind of like my Krieg Quartermaster (a mix of Vallejo dark blue grey and black, working your way up to medium sea grey for highlights goes a long way). Pure black rarely ever works, it just sticks out way too much.

Very nice painting. I'm going to keep an eye on this topic, as you do seem to be "taking it to the next level".

This is good. Real good. Keep it up!

The chipping was done with black, boltgun metal, mithril silver and underlined with a mix of blood red and white. Should have a couple more pics today with more test models.

It could be the flash of the camera but the gold looks a bit less finished than the rest of the model. I realize that it's a test but thought I'd mention it.

SoG

So I finished up another test model, I tried to do some weathering/chipping on the black this time. It came out alright but im still fairly unhappy with the result, its not exactly what I want. I started with a very dark grey and then tried to do chipping with a similar method to how i weathered the red.

Anyways heres the pics tell me what you think.




You can probably see why im still unhappy with it, looks a little bit messy. I'm going to take it another bit brighter with the grey/black for the next test model and see where it goes, heres a comparison of the 2 test models.




Anyways I'l try to get some more pics of the next model tomorrow if I can get it done.

The chipping looks great although I would say try and concentrate it a little more towards the edges of the armour plating where it is more likely to naturally chip, other than that they are very good models.

The black's significantly better in the second model. It's all evolving nicely.

Awesome! Well done

Fantastic stuff!

And, how did you do your red?

The red took a few steps but isnt very hard. Airbrushed gory red, Black wash, reapply gory red leaving black wash in recesses, layer of 2 to 1 gory red and scarlet red building up for highlights, laver of scarlet red, layer of 2 to 1 scarlet red to blood red, edge highlight with blood red.

Donno what the names of these are in GW paints, but im pretty sure they have pretty similar names....

So I managed to get a bit of painting done on the 3rd test model, It's still unfinished but the grey I used in this one seems to be more of what im looking for.
Let me know what you think.




And hers a comparison shot of the previous test models black/grey and the newest ones.




Let me know which one you prefer, I'm leaning towards my latest test model, and will probably do a bit more extensive highlighting and shading on the grey but I feel like I'm much closer to the look I'm looking for.

I think the third one is the best. But finish it so I can decide!

Unfortunately work is gonna cut in to my progress for the next few days, This weekend tho I should have my "final" infantry test model done and prehaps il get started on painting up one of the actual marines for my list.

I will also hopefully be getting some testing in on tanks/dreads.

That's some test models many would be happy to replicate on their characters.
How did you get those colors ?

These look fantastic, really well done. I would prehaps take more attention to their eyes/goggles/eye holes things . One looks a little odd.... tho it could be just the light from the camera.

Nice!

@HudsonD Well the initial base coating was done with an airbrush, but the colors were essentially done with several layers of each highlight slowly building them up. To be honest it's not actually that difficult to do, mostly just time consuming.

@Tortured-Robot I'm going to be testing out a new way of doing the eyes on the next model, As well as finishing it completely, save for pigments I'm hoping to use.

That brings me to the next question for you guys, what type of basing should I do? I have thought about doing a jungle theme for the bases since the flesh tearers world is supposed to be a death world.. but the flesh tearers are supposed to be on constant crusade so pretty much anything would go. Also opinions on source lighting? I'm not quite sure how it would turn out on such a dark base color..
So let me know what your opinions are and why you think I should do that type of basing and what not.
Thanks

Your obvious options are either jungle or swamp for their home world or desert/hive city from their time on Armageddon, but as you say it could be anywhere.

In my opinion I would go for an urban/industrial base as I think it would lend to the gritty look of the miniature that you have captured so far. On the flip side I think a snow/winter base would kill what you've achieved at this point, imho.

Yeah, Urban bases seems the way to go.