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A little while ago, I got a project to paint up some Space Hulk Genestealers to match the Alien films. I guess since the game looks so much like Aliens, the theme follows pretty well. Now you just have to choose which version of Imperial Guard rules fit the theme best.

Here are a couple. I didn't get photos of the whole gang:

NYAAAAARGH!

So nice, really well done. I especially like the little ninja model in the lower-right.

I don't think the little ninja is a model! ^

Oh Space hulk is one of my favorites . The Genestealers look great . So have you made a Queen ?

Love the poses !

Epic geenstealers with good paintjobs. I Like !

Very Nice!

I say we take off and nuke the entire thread from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

I like these a lot. I especially like the paintjob. Could you please share the process you used to get that look? I have been making Alienids for awhile (including a Queen), but I have yet to get the paintjob right.

I like that alot. A facehugger would be such a nice touch

While I think the paint jobs are very nice, they don't evoke an "aliens" feel to me. The movie colors are more of a glossy black with some purple tones mixed in, aren't they? As for the IG, I assume you mean for the Colonial Marines and not for the Genestealers. I'd go with vets or a command squad depending on the number you need.

They look great!

Reminds me that I have a whole bunch of my own alienids to finish .. just too many projects to focus on :( I still have 2 boxes worth of genestealers to finish, that are just built and primed. I've had them since way back when GW redid the models

Very nice! I've always wanted to try this. I do agree they are slightly off though.

You may want to try slapping a couple of thick coats of gloss varnish on them. I've had great success with gloss varnish on black in the past. It really finishes that 'shiny chitin' look.

I like them.
Really nice tones there, congrats!

I like having a shiny chitin look as riplikash said. I tried in on mine, but I got a lot of negative reviews from my friends. It seemed like none of them liked the model being very shiny.

They look really fantastic - such smooth colour transition! Realise it may be a professional secret what with your commission work and all, but is there any chance you might be willing to do a quick rundown on how you managed such smooth highlights on black? They look genuinely pretty scary, which is hard to pull of with GW 'stealers

The issue with gloss is it often overwrites everything you just painted in any kind of proper light as the shine will just take over the entire model. The key to using a glossy varnish on a model is not to use it on "the whole model" if you want to use it its probably best to use thin semi-gloss and use it on plates of the armour instead of the whole model to give it a more highlight like shine rather then a complete gloss over afaik.


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That said I like those genestealers as they are, without any heavy modification I think they look superb.

GAME OVER MAN! GAME OVER!!

Yea, very simple at first glance, but very very nice. I think the tongue is a perfect addition to the minis.

Nice job

Your technique is excellent!

However, a minor niggle! The shades should be very black for Aliens, then put a gloss varnish on the plates. That will 'pop'!

Stay Frosty!

Scarper wrote:They look really fantastic - such smooth colour transition! Realise it may be a professional secret what with your commission work and all, but is there any chance you might be willing to do a quick rundown on how you managed such smooth highlights on black? They look genuinely pretty scary, which is hard to pull of with GW 'stealers

I don't really believe in professional secrets. I've been painting for quite a while, and if anyone wants to put in the effort, more power to them.

It is black highlighted to gray. I just started with the darkest colors and mostly worked my way up. The first layer (very dark grey) covers most of the mini, and only left pure black in the recesses, which were picked out further with a black ink. After that, each layer really only covered very small portions of the mini, and he's highlighted all the way up to a bluish off white.

If you'd like the recipe, I used Thamar Black (P3), Greatcoat Gray (P3), Higgins black Ink, and Ghost Grey (Vallejo). Of course, there was quite a bit of mixing these paints together.

Thanks so much for the reply, and huge respect for helping people out

I'll have to try that out on the next black leather I do - I'd love to get an effect with a touch of this charm!

Very natural, love em.