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So I've gotten back into 40k, and started painting some conversions for a custom Company. Dut to this, my color choices may seem odd, but there is a method to my madness (I think)

Anyways, below are some paintjobs i've done and thought looked decent. There are a few more in my gallery. I'm sorry if some of the pice aren't well focused, i'm just using my cellphone to take these.
my Gallery: http://www.dakkadakka.com/core/gallery-user.jsp?u=64255

Conversion Librarian: I still plan on adding 'Writing' on the book


Rhino with Chapter house studios MK 1 conversion kit. Still plan to add 'damage' to the model (painted scrapes)





Conversion Telion giving his enemies a 'one fingered salute'


Conversion Chaplin with Necron Bionic leg


Dreadnaught. Gives a good idea of my Companies 'recycling' of parts.



Base for my next dreaddy made from my bitz box


Conversion Heavy Bolter


Advice, comments, and tips VERY welcome.

thin your wash or don't use too much, it looks like you just dipped them in ink and left it to dry.

Other than that they are good models.

Ps love the convertion work

Some advice:

Thin your paint.

Mold lines- take the time to take them off. All you need is a sharp Exacto blade and some patience.

Go a little easier on your washes. Instead of bathing the model in washes, use them only where you want the shadows. It will eliminate the splotchy-look you have going on now.

Thin your paint.

The battle damage is too large. Use the corner of a sponge to simulate battle damage on human-scale models. Check out the website From The Warp, Ron who runs it has some great articles on battle damage.

Hit those bad boys with some matte varnish to kill that glossy shine.

Even though these photos were taken with a cell phone, it wouldn't hurt to swing over to the Painting & Modeling Tutorial forum and check out some of the posts about miniature photography. A super fancy professional camera isn't need to take good pictures. Hell, I have a nice camera and light set up and I've still taken some of my best photos with my iPhone.

Also, thin your paint.

thank you for the feedback. The paint I have been using is old, and has thickened in storage after 10 years. I've been buying new paint to replace the old ones a little at a time.

I know I'm using alot of wash, but i'm trying for the 'untidy and heavily used' look. My Company scrounged alot and has alot of 2nd hand gear. Is there a better way to portray this?

I'm really new at the 'chipped' look and could not get a sponge method to look good at all. i'll check out the tutorial, as I have no official instruction on it.

Yeah, i'm trying to get those mold lines NOW, but did a bunch of models in the 'ohh, getting back into 40k' rush. I'm really trying harder now. My wife looked at me like I was nuts when I spent 2 hours trimming the lines off a bunch of marine arms.

Matte varnish was purchased only a few days ago, and has not been applied much. I actually got it to keep the sand on the bases from falling off, but I will coat the models, thanks.

On the topic of paint thinning, what is a good additive? Just water? I've found that my metallic did not survive storage gold, but I tried to use up all the mithril silver before buying the new silver.

melkson wrote:
thank you for the feedback. The paint I have been using is old, and has thickened in storage after 10 years. I've been buying new paint to replace the old ones a little at a time.

I know I'm using alot of wash, but i'm trying for the 'untidy and heavily used' look. My Company scrounged alot and has alot of 2nd hand gear. Is there a better way to portray this?

I'm really new at the 'chipped' look and could not get a sponge method to look good at all. i'll check out the tutorial, as I have no official instruction on it.

Yeah, i'm trying to get those mold lines NOW, but did a bunch of models in the 'ohh, getting back into 40k' rush. I'm really trying harder now. My wife looked at me like I was nuts when I spent 2 hours trimming the lines off a bunch of marine arms.

Matte varnish was purchased only a few days ago, and has not been applied much. I actually got it to keep the sand on the bases from falling off, but I will coat the models, thanks.

On the topic of paint thinning, what is a good additive? Just water? I've found that my metallic did not survive storage gold, but I tried to use up all the mithril silver before buying the new silver.

Tap water is fine, distilled water is better. I bought a gallon of distilled water from Walgreen's and I use it to fill up a dropper bottle. Since I use almost all Vallejo paints (which I also recommend), using a dropper bottle with water in it is an easy way to keep my mix ratio consistent. As far as using matte varnish to secure the sand... don't even try. Use a thinned out layer of PVA glue (like Elmer's Glue-All) to keep the sand and other basing material in place.
This actually brings up one of the things I forgot to mention... paint the sand on your bases, it looks better. For an earthy look, base coat dark brown and drybrush up to a light brown or bone white. Even add some brown or red wash to bring out my depth too.