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Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

Ok guys ive been watching dakka for a long time now pilfering what painting tips I can for a long while now, and decided I should probably ask for some tips on how to improve. When I first painted warhammer YEARS ago I literally took a can of lime green spray paint and sprayed away, and "detailed" using badmoon yellow. I then gave up for near enough 8 years and only a few months ago decided to turn my hand back to warhammer painting. For reference I don't play, so my models are literally anything I fancy painting.

Was wondering if anyone could give me any pointers as how to improve my models. Can only learn through criticism so am open to people being totally honest.

Thankyou in advance guys.
[Thumb - 2010-11-07 15.39.35.jpg]
Cadian Stubby Squad.

[Thumb - 2010-11-07 15.40.51.jpg]
Cadian Heavy Bolter Squad.

[Thumb - 2010-11-07 15.44.04.jpg]
Scout Front.

[Thumb - 2010-11-07 15.44.22.jpg]
Scout Back.

[Thumb - 2010-11-07 15.46.34.jpg]
Cyclone Terminator Front.

[Thumb - 2010-11-07 15.45.40.jpg]
Cyclone Terminator Back


"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

Some more pics


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I do also apologise for the quality of the pics, only thing I got at the moment is my phone to take photos on.
[Thumb - 2010-11-07 15.47.20.jpg]
Razorback front

[Thumb - 2010-11-07 15.48.11.jpg]
Razorback side

[Thumb - 2010-11-07 15.48.20.jpg]
Razorback back

[Thumb - 2010-11-07 15.48.30.jpg]
Razorback top

[Thumb - 2010-11-07 15.49.18.jpg]
Razorback turret

[Thumb - 2010-11-07 15.50.12.jpg]
Razorback inside

[Thumb - 2010-11-06 17.19.44.jpg]
Control Panel

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2010/11/07 16:58:28


"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in us
Boosting Black Templar Biker






Asheville, NC

I odnt see alot of highlighting or shading, you should hit pretty much everything with a black wash then go back with the color you were using, then highlight with one lighter. Your attention to detail is pretty good and it looks like you don't need help with stuff like that. All in all its the highlighting and shading that make the model look lifelike and have that "pop". There are tons of videos on youtube about shading and highlighting. Trust me, it makes a world of difference.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Once you have played with the black wash for a few models and get the hang of it experiment with some of the other ones. There is no right or wrong way to paint any of this stuff, its all what you are most comfortable with and what appeals to you the most.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2010/11/07 17:24:07


DS:80S++G++M+B++I+Pw40k01#+++D++A+++/fWD255R+++T(Pic)DM+

6500 pts
8500+ and counting
3300  
   
Made in jp
[MOD]
Anti-piracy Officer






Somewhere in south-central England.

Some kind of shadowing or hard edge highlighting is especially important when your basic scheme is relatively lacking in contrasts. Your infantry are all within a fairly narrow range of greys.

The camo cloak on the scout is nice, and the vehicle is very smoothly painted.

Always drill out the barrels of your guns.


I'm writing a load of fiction. My latest story starts here... This is the index of all the stories...

We're not very big on official rules. Rules lead to people looking for loopholes. What's here is about it. 
   
Made in ie
Longtime Dakkanaut







For someone only painting for a few months, you are well above the level of most, TQSplinter.

Your neatness is very good and your paints are not lumpy or applied too thickly, so what to start working on now are what the others have mentined, highlights and shading. You already know how to blend as the Termie shows, and you have a grasp of what highlighting is as seen on his lenses.

One of the simplest ways to achieve both shading and highlighting on a model is to paint an area one colour, then give it a wash of a darker matching colour wash, for instance badab mixed with red wash over a red cloak, or ogryn flesh over skin. Then, highlight the flat areas back up with the same colour you originally painted them with with just a small amount of lighter paint mixed in, and you now have a base colour, a shaded colour, and a highlighted colour in only 3 layers.

It is a really great way to start off and you can then add more and more steps to it as you continue onwards Looking forward to updates!


   
Made in de
Shroomin Brain Boy





Berlin Germany

love the winter scheme, looks great.
also your colors are very crisp looking.
your work is really good.

cheers, vik

   
Made in gb
Leader of the Sept







The painting is good, but I'm seeing a lot of mould lines. The paint jobs look a lot better if you can get rid of the lines. Also I would recommend picking up a pin vice and some bits to drill out the barrels on the weapons. Again its a simple touch, but one that gives a great effect.

Please excuse any spelling errors. I use a tablet frequently and software keyboards are a pain!

Terranwing - w3;d1;l1
51st Dunedinw2;d0;l0
Cadre Coronal Afterglow w1;d0;l0 
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

Ok thankyou for the feedback. I think ill try and do some more experimentation with shading and washes, and begin hilighting edges more. Ill also do more pre painting prep like drilling the barrels and removing the mould seams to make a better looking model.

Ill post more models once ive gotten a chance to get some changes made : )

Thankyou very much again : )

"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in ca
Stealthy Dark Angels Scout with Shotgun





Edmonton, AB

Firstly, I can see fingerprints on that green stuff sandbag, one trick to avoid that is to use saran wrap when you want to mould with your fingers.

Working on the detail in recesses with washes will also give you a better tabletop effect on the models.

Interested in getting Painting commissions done? Check out: PaintPlz.com  
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

Ok just an update saying that i'm practicing hilighting, washing and shading on models of brighter colours. I would upload some photos but they really are looking terrible so I'll update with a photo or two when I manage to paint a model well using my newer techniques.

Ive also decided to try and paint some standard colour schemes on my space marines such as blood angels, salamanders or smurfies because there's quite a few tutorials out the for painting them so i can get my technique right before I try and do my own colour schemes.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2010/11/13 21:14:28


"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

Ok propper update time. Been practicing my painting as i said, and heres some photos of the blood angels assault marine i painted last night. I must say I feel as if my paintings getting better, but as always some input would be appreciated.

Only a few things about this model, i've just painted over the white glue spot on his right foot that I didn't notice was there while i was taking the photos. The second is I haven't yet got a hand drill to take out the barrels of guns. Finally I noticed halfway through painting that I hadn't gotten rid of the mould line on top of his head.

Other than that i'm not sure what else I can improve upon on this model.

Many thanks again guys

EDIT: I must also say that ive changed my painting technique to fully assemble models and prime them instead of painting individually.
[Thumb - 2010-11-14 17.48.27.jpg]
Blood Angel Front.

[Thumb - 2010-11-14 17.47.47.jpg]
Blood Angel Right Side.

[Thumb - 2010-11-14 17.48.03.jpg]
Blood Angel Back.

[Thumb - 2010-11-14 17.48.15.jpg]
Blood Angel Left Side.

[Thumb - 2010-11-14 17.48.49.jpg]
Blood Angel Top/

[Thumb - 2010-11-14 17.47.12.jpg]
General photo.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2010/11/14 18:17:45


"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in us
Stealthy Dark Angels Scout with Shotgun





Edmonton, AB

Looking good, love the plasma guns

Interested in getting Painting commissions done? Check out: PaintPlz.com  
   
Made in lt
Fresh-Faced New User




Your camo patterns are truly nice. I collect imperial guard and I can hardly get the patterns right :| So usually I just give up on that.

Now I assume you got that lighter red by mixing red with white, because it looks a bit of pink. In my experience better results are achieved by mixing red with light orange for highlighting red. Or even highlighting red with orange (i.e. blazing orange in GW paint case). Unless ofcourse you want it the way it is.

Just in a case you'd need it, here is a pretty good rules of thumb what do you need to mix in order to get what effect (scroll down a bit on lightening/darkening). I myself used to lighten everything with skull white until I got some disastrous effects like pink blood

~2000pts Imperial Guard
~1000pts Ogre Kingdoms 
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

I should also say a huge thankyou to people so far for the helpful advice. I'm trying to take it on board as much as I can and applying it to my painting. Nothing more annoying than someone who asks for advice and doesnt say thankyou or ignores it haha.

Dexterium: I'd have liked to have them more of a neon blue than a white blue, but I think i'd need to base coat it a neon blue, which i dont know how to make from scratch. But im glad how it turned out anyway.

Sejanus: It took me forever looking through different google pages of camo schemes to try and come up with some that were both doable and would look good. Iv'e seen some people do digi camo and i still cant get my head around how they do it haha. Thankyou for the link, i had noticed it was going a little pink, but i thought i'd give it a shot anyway. think next time ill try it another way.

Got another update; this time of a dark angel I did this evening. Thought id give this one one of the power weapons in the box, and as always I tried to make a little bit of a different base. Mainly as I'm a firm believer that a decent-ish base really does make a model look better than if it has a plain black round circle there.
[Thumb - 2010-11-15 05.03.45.jpg]
Dark Angel Front.

[Thumb - 2010-11-15 05.04.13.jpg]
Dark Angel Left Side.

[Thumb - 2010-11-15 05.04.22.jpg]
Dark Angel Back.

[Thumb - 2010-11-15 05.04.38.jpg]
Dark Angel Right Side.

[Thumb - 2010-11-15 05.06.01.jpg]
Dark Angel Top.


"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in us
Boosting Black Templar Biker






Asheville, NC

The blood angel looks really good! The Dark angel is a little light in color from my taste. But I do think they look much better with your highlights and shading. Keep it up and keep experimenting with new techniques and you'll just keep getting better and better.

DS:80S++G++M+B++I+Pw40k01#+++D++A+++/fWD255R+++T(Pic)DM+

6500 pts
8500+ and counting
3300  
   
Made in us
Chalice-Wielding Sanguinary High Priest





Arlington TX, but want to be back in Seattle WA

Nice work.

I dont know what type of advice or criticism your looking for, but I can start with cleaning up your sculpting work. Those sand bags look great and authentic, with the exception of that huge thumb print in one of them. Make sure before you paiting to clean up things like that by rubbing some water against the sculpt.

I like your painting style. I would recommend working on your highlights a little more. If you can master this, or even do it at a novice level, it will really accentuate the details of your models. Your paint jobs are clean and painted neat though. The first pic reminds me of the rebels defending Hoth

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2010/11/15 16:50:15


4250 points of Blood Angels goodness, sweet and silky W12-L6-D4
1000 points of Teil-Shan (my own scheme) Eldar Craftworld in progress
800 points of unassembled Urban themed Imperial Guard
650 points of my do-it-yourself Tempest Guard
675 points of Commoraghs finest!

The Dude - "Jackie Treehorn treats objects like women, man."

Lord Helmet - "I bet she gives great helmet."

 
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

At the moment I'm after advice on how to improve my painting skills. I admit its quite hard to do when looking at just a model as technique is probably a lot of it, but advice on how to make my models look more professional from how the final results of me painting them turn out.

I think once ive gotten better at painting i'm going to start doing some custom work to modify model poses, bases and start doing custom looking stuff. But before I do im trying to walk before I can run

"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in us
Chalice-Wielding Sanguinary High Priest





Arlington TX, but want to be back in Seattle WA

TQSplinter wrote:At the moment I'm after advice on how to improve my painting skills. I admit its quite hard to do when looking at just a model as technique is probably a lot of it, but advice on how to make my models look more professional from how the final results of me painting them turn out.


well, I dont claim to be an expert by any means....and when it comes to improving your work, there are so many facets of painting to consider. Its evident looking at your modeling that you clearly have a firm grasp over the fundamentals of painting. i think what elevates one from novice to professional is your ability to do shading, blending and highlighting well. I would start with one of those tehniques and begin practicing with it on your models. Then move onto the next. One of the most rewarding tech's is blending, which, if you look at any 'professional' level paint job, they blend heavily.

4250 points of Blood Angels goodness, sweet and silky W12-L6-D4
1000 points of Teil-Shan (my own scheme) Eldar Craftworld in progress
800 points of unassembled Urban themed Imperial Guard
650 points of my do-it-yourself Tempest Guard
675 points of Commoraghs finest!

The Dude - "Jackie Treehorn treats objects like women, man."

Lord Helmet - "I bet she gives great helmet."

 
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

While I have been waiting before I get some more models, for various different reasons, I thought i'd try my hand at playing with some green stuff. Most modelling is way beyond me at the moment, so i decided a few bases were in order to get me used to it. The only stuff i had to hand i must say was Milliput, so thats what ive used hehe.

The firey one is supposed to be a lava-ish looking base, the green one is the edge of a chaos symbol that Im going to put a cypher chaos model on when ive painted it, and the pink one is the base ive made for a chaos summoner with a staff, that will go on there as if hes summoning from the rift.

Once again guys any advice would be more than welcomed : )
[Thumb - 2010-11-19 01.21.18.jpg]
Lava Base.

[Thumb - 2010-11-19 01.21.26.jpg]
Chaos Summoning Ritual 1.

[Thumb - 2010-11-19 01.21.40.jpg]
Chaos Summoning Ritual 2.


"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in us
Boosting Black Templar Biker






Asheville, NC

I like those. Thats one thing that there is definately a shortage of in this hobby: interesting bases.

DS:80S++G++M+B++I+Pw40k01#+++D++A+++/fWD255R+++T(Pic)DM+

6500 pts
8500+ and counting
3300  
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

Thats one thing i noticed I was looking around for inspiration for new base designs and couldn't really find that many anywhere on the internet, so kinda decided to go with a chaos theme, mainly as it allows for a lot more playing around than most of the armies.

EDIT: I also am finishing off a base for a particular model, just something a little different to the usual that people do for it, only a little one tho hahaha

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2010/11/19 03:12:59


"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

Hey there! another update time! been really busy doing legal research lately so havent had as much time to paint as i'd like. Anyway, here it is. My recently painted chaos sorcerer.
Personally I really like how this one has turned out, and seeing as I paint in a yellowish light I hadnt realised how bright the colours turned out, but I think it really suits this model.

As always guys C&C would be nice
[Thumb - 2010-11-26 20.45.38.jpg]
Chaos Sorcerer 1 Front

[Thumb - 2010-11-26 20.46.06.jpg]
Chaos Sorcerer 1 Back.

[Thumb - 2010-11-26 20.46.50.jpg]
Chaos Sorcerer 1 Standing Front.

[Thumb - 2010-11-26 20.47.05.jpg]
Chaos Sorcerer 1 Standing Back.


"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in gb
Stalwart Ultramarine Tactical Marine




scotland

Lookin good, i think the helmet could do with being worked up from a darker colour as it looks a bit monotonous atm...

"I've got a holster, I keep biscuits in it, till they wear through your brain leaving big fat blisters in it!"
2500pts
 
   
Made in us
Crafty Bray Shaman





Really neat stuff, inspiring.

I like the OSL on the plasma pistols.

 
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

I have been having a small problem with working up from regal blue as whenever I try and work up a little it ends up too light, but washing it seems to have very little effect haha.

Also i've just been painting a cypher the fallen and i thought seeing as ive sometimes seen the Dark Angels painted having a red inside to their robes with a cream outside, I decided he would have his inside out, so red on the outside and cream inside.

He does however now resemble santa hahaha. Ill finish it anyway but packing it in for the night and have just his arms to paint now.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2010/11/27 03:42:19


"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

Heres my cypher! the one that looks a bit like santa

I must say ive been struggling to put depth on the inside of the cloak as its white, i tried some washes but it always came out looking really obvious that id washed it and didnt look very good.

Plus i'm not sure if I should put some more hilights onto the outside of the cloak to bring up the outside of the folds.

I know his sword is missing and I dont have it, so for the moment I'm going to wait until i find something that will serve as a suitable replacement. Until then he has a nice white hole in his cloak.

As always C&C is welcomed.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Iv'e also decided to now do my "watcher in the dark" from Azreal. Going to take a long time on this one and try and get it as perfect as i possibly can. SOOO probably wont be an update for a small while!
[Thumb - 2010-11-28 01.06.13.jpg]
Cypher 1.

[Thumb - 2010-11-28 01.06.21.jpg]
Cypher 2.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2010/11/28 02:47:46


"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in gb
Growlin' Guntrukk Driver with Killacannon




wolverhampton

in my opinion washes always improve the look of a model quickly and painlessly, a good heavy dark wash does most models the world of good especially when they're well painted like yours are... but thats just my opinion

mean green fightin machine 
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

I always do plenty of washes as it probably the easiest way to give depth to the model. And thankyou!

Its just that i'm trying to see how to improve my painting abilities and it just looks like all i can do is practice my current techniques until I perfect them then just start taking on more and more detailed models so I can practice finer details as well as getting smoother transitions of colours such as hilights and lowlights.

"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

Here it is!! My watcher in the dark! Been working on this for a while.

I always envisioned the Watcher not next to Azreal all the time but always "watching over" him. Dunno why but I imagined the watcher on a cliff edge overlooking the ocean and went with it!

What do you guys think?

Many thanks again guys!
[Thumb - 2010-11-29 23.14.41.jpg]
Watcher in the Dark Front.

[Thumb - 2010-11-29 23.15.33.jpg]
Watcher in the Dark Top.

[Thumb - 2010-11-29 23.17.55.jpg]
Watcher in the Dark Top 2.

[Thumb - 2010-11-29 23.16.44.jpg]
Watcher in the Dark Close-up.


"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
Made in gb
Death-Dealing Dark Angels Devastator





Uk

I was wondering if I was to do a step by step of me painting a basic model such as a space marine to get some advice on exactly how and where my painting technique can improve?

Tom.

"I like being shorter than the average person, makes the enemy work for their target "

"All is fair in love and war... unless someone comes along with a bigger weapon, then its not fair "


 
   
 
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