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Hello all, a couple of years ago I bought the Assault on Black reach set from GW thinking that it would be good for me and my two sons to do together, as is turned out they were a bit too young so the set got shelved still being all grey and shiny! Anyway time has moved on and my kids have really developed an interest in table top gaming and I bought them the Dark Vengeance set which they are really getting stuck into.

I decided to get the Black Reach set out and take a look, I also bought a couple of other kits at previous time, a dread and a rhino, well I'm loving it! I'm finding it totally relaxing, I've still got plenty to go at in the set but I'm already thinking about what I can treat myself to next

So I thought I'd post pictures of my first efforts for your critique, take it easy on me I'd never painted so much as an airfix before I know my photos are not too great, ill probably sort out a lighting box etc as time goes on and dig out the manual for the camera ;P

The Honour Guard and the dread where damn purity seal disasters, I've repaired them as far as my meagre skills allow.

With no hint of patronising, or taking it easy in the noob, very well done!

The only advice I'd offer is that the paint is perhaps a little too heavy on the highlights of the Marines, and that is easily resolved by thinning the paint a little more, just water is fine, but there are other additives that can allow you to manipulate the properties of the paint more (slow drying time, decrease surface tension so it flow off the brush easier etc)

You're right about the relaxation, was exactly why I started again after a 12+ year gap a few years ago, although it is a hobby that tends to get under your skin, so it sometimes pays to take a moment and remind yourself why you're doing it sometimes!

For a first timer, I think you've done well. You have achieved really straight lines, which is something I definitly had to work my way in to as my skill and steady hand progressed. Keep at it.

Really impressive stuff. Personally I really like the armour on the marines, and the mud on the rhino. I've got a bunch of Ultramarines that need redoing, I was curious you used for the armour and whether you used inks at all?

I'm in a similar boat with regards to revisiting the hobby after a break and finding it relaxing - if my Dark Vengeance DA come out looking half as effective as your ultramarines I'll be delighted.

As a noob myself I agree with you at how relaxing it can be and addictive lol

I love the Dred looks fab!

These are extremely well done. I know many many veterans of this hobby who would be jealous of this paint job.

They look really good. Did you varnish them? It's the best thing if you want to play with the figures, or they will get mucked up by handling.

Thank you all for the words of encouragement, you have definitely spurred me on to taking on Marneus Calgar and the rest of his honour guard!

Thanks for the tip on the lining, ill definitely thin the paint next time, in fact the more I've read its clear I have not been thinning my paints nearly enough! The marines were painted panel by panel in 50/50 Regal Blue/Ultramarines Blue, leaving the Chaos Black in the recesses, they were highlighted with UM Blue around the edge of the panels then final highlight with Space Wolves Grey, then washed the armour with Badab Black wash.

To be honest the marines haven't been varnished, I bottled out after the car crash that happened with the Dread and the Honour Guard, I need to come up with a better solution than Purity Seal, which just made the minis look really dusty and grainy. I'd like to get an airbrush but I want to get some skills up first, don't want to be the guy who "has all the gear, but no idea"!

Purity seal is well known for misting.

I've personally used quite a bit and only ever had it happen once (on a bloody Land Raider mind!) and the conclusion I came to was that it doesn't take well to a second coat, don't know if that dovetails with your experiences?

Either way, I now use Testors Dullcote, which is hardish to come by in the UK, but can be bought online relatively easy. All round a better product, with a more matt finish, but it does smell strongly, so make sure you're well ventilated when you use it.

If it happens again, a coat of gloss followed by another flat coat can rescue the situation.

Thanks for the tip on testors, I'll try to source some, in fairness to the purity seal it might have just been user error, I've since read that it likes a relatively stable warm environment it which to be sprayed, I did it in a draughty cold garage, that said, rather than taking a chance ongoing I'll get some dullcoat and spray use that as per best practice advice.

That Rhino looks dope as hell, for your first time painting it's an absolute success. My god damn weathering doesn't even look that good and I've been painting for years. Oh well, I'll get there eventually.

Well done mate! Glad you are enjoying yourself. Hope your boys are having fun to!!

For just getting back into the hobby the paint job looks good at least tabletop standard and at least your models are painted, a lot of people that I play with have unfinished models and it annoys the hell outta me. I'm sure the fellow gamers on this thread would agree that playing with a fully painted army or force looks better that playing with bare models. The dreadnought looks good and your painting skills will improve over time like myself. I sucked at first not a lot of my models look awesome just the way my phone takes pictures they don't.

 Boss Trav-Trav wrote:
These are extremely well done. I know many many veterans of this hobby who would be jealous of this paint job.

count me as one of them!

Redload wrote:
Hello all, a couple of years ago I bought the Assault on Black reach set from GW thinking that it would be good for me and my two sons to do together, as is turned out they were a bit too young so the set got shelved still being all grey and shiny! Anyway time has moved on and my kids have really developed an interest in table top gaming and I bought them the Dark Vengeance set which they are really getting stuck into.

You really haven't done this before, Redload? These are pretty good! You should be really pleased with yourself!

I look forward to seeing more of your work, and your sons', too.

Nice to hear that you enjoy the hobby! Have fun mate. By the way your models look very nice. Ultramarines FTW.

These would be great work even for someone with years of experience, so for your first try at painting they are amazing. The freehand is nice and neat, the colours solid and the highlighting just right.

I look forward to seeing more.

I really apologise for rezing my own thread but I feel compelled to at least respond to the frankly amazing positive encouragement from the Dakkadakka community! Yet another reason the be part of the hobby.

Of course, sods law, busy 'an all that I've not been able to get near my paints this last few days, getting twitchy now Although one of the lads has done a Helbrute, I'll try to get a picture up later if I can.

Great Work

Sometimes you have to find out if you're the gamer, painter/builder or both. I been back for a little while now after 16yrs hiatus from it. I have the itch to create /paint everyday sucks when I run out of minis / models lol.

The Rhino is very, very nicely done. Your first time? Dude.