Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

 Viktor von Domm wrote:
rather strong shades on the cloth.... but they work for me... looks really good... the left arm is still WIP right?

Yeah, I wanted to experiment with stronger contrast on folded fabric and was the perfect opportunity.

There is still more to do (and has been done since then) on the arm as with the rest of him.
What were you seeing (or not seeing) on the arm in particular?

well the arm...(cloth there) is almost completly black still...i bet you are working gradually up there ...(?)

 Viktor von Domm wrote:
well the arm...(cloth there) is almost completly black still...i bet you are working gradually up there ...(?)

The sleeve is purple (although the lower half of it is in shadow there), same colour as his posh loin cloth (with the wings on).
The contrast on the photo is a little off though, as the white bits were coming out very bright, so that probably adds to it as well.

ah....now i get it... i didn´t see it as purple...my fault......sometimes i really have to use the zoom function and not only look at the pics in the thread

No worries. I will get better pictures for the final show. Still a bit more work to do on him before the final clean-up sweep.

Wow! I'm liking the Company Master a lot. The cloth is much different from what I'm seeing, and I'm glad of it. Usually people do orange shadows on tan cloth, which doesn't really make sense to me.

The wings on the helmet are stunning as well.

Best of luck on your sales -- commission-based painting is a roller coaster of emotions :-\

DV dude is coming along nicely, Dr H! Cloth looks great, even if it is a little exaggerated.

 Johnnyhorse wrote:
Wow! I'm liking the Company Master a lot. The cloth is much different from what I'm seeing, and I'm glad of it. Usually people do orange shadows on tan cloth, which doesn't really make sense to me.

The wings on the helmet are stunning as well.

Best of luck on your sales -- commission-based painting is a roller coaster of emotions :-\

Hey, thanks a lot.
I've usually been too subtle with my cloth work to date and I've seen quite a few people recently that have done very high contrast cloaks and things and decided to give it a go. Having recently done the Deathwing Terminators in here, and an Eldar Guardian for my army, both with brown shadows to bone to white highlights I didn't even think of doing any different here. I do use a sand colour mid-blend which is slightly orange, but that doesn't dominate the overall colour, just adds a hint of warmth to the cloth.

I think the photo is being a little kind to me on the wings, they're a little rough in places.

Thanks again.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Moltar wrote:
DV dude is coming along nicely, Dr H! Cloth looks great, even if it is a little exaggerated.

Lo, Moltar. Thanks.

Solid Jackson! Fantastic looking progress H. These Dark Angels are shaping up to be quite a striking looking unit

 bebopdrums2424 wrote:
Solid Jackson! Fantastic looking progress H. These Dark Angels are shaping up to be quite a striking looking unit

Thanks BB.
And I've nearly finished all the Dark Angels in the box (just the bikes to do), then I'll start on the chaos models... still not decided what scheme or schemes I'll use for them.

The company master is very nearly done.
The metals are done, the tidying is done (mostly, the photo has shown that the wing on his head needs a little attention).
The purity seals need their final highlight and then squiggles, a final going over the check everything is neat and I may try and add a DA transfer to his (mostly hidden) shoulder pad... And I really need to decide what I'm doing with the sword...


Until then.

hmmm.... the sword is a toughy... mebbe let it stay inactivated? just add a bit of brass to the electric thingies to the hilt and base of the blade?...if you do lightning effects to it I think it could draw too much attention from the rest of your work...

 Viktor von Domm wrote:
hmmm.... the sword is a toughy... mebbe let it stay inactivated? just add a bit of brass to the electric thingies to the hilt and base of the blade?...if you do lightning effects to it I think it could draw too much attention from the rest of your work...

Interesting point you make there, Vik. Any bright energy effects would likely dominate the model...
I could do it with my Metalcote paint and just buff it up shiny...

Anyone else got any good ideas?

Maybe, just put the super bright buff on the cutting edges, maybe make the middle of the blade a bit darker, brass bits as Vik says.

Like to add, looks bloody awesome.

hmmm.... the whole model for now has a rather mint look to it... so the buffed up effect would work...BUT I have to add here that I currently like the detailed "ruined" /stained look of the blades tip...there is something in it that "speaks" to me...can´t really explain it...

IF you still consider some kind of energy effect then please do something about the eyes too as for now they look a bit dead to me...

Camkierhi wrote:Maybe, just put the super bright buff on the cutting edges, maybe make the middle of the blade a bit darker, brass bits as Vik says.

Like to add, looks bloody awesome.

That's a thought, make use of the paint's matt to shiny nature.

Thanks, he's had about 5 and a half hours of "sit down" work on him so far... so he's a faster job than the Librarian (who had over 9 hours of work).

Viktor von Domm wrote:hmmm.... the whole model for now has a rather mint look to it... so the buffed up effect would work...BUT I have to add here that I currently like the detailed "ruined" /stained look of the blades tip...there is something in it that "speaks" to me...can´t really explain it...

Ha, that's the result of a black basecoat, a layer of gun-metal, a quick black wash and then some gentle sanding to smooth out parts... I'll keep that in mind for when I have a "dirty" model to paint.

IF you still consider some kind of energy effect then please do something about the eyes too as for now they look a bit dead to me...

Yeah, I was considering re-highlighting the eyes. I went too bright when I first did them and dulled them down, but a little too far. They're also in shadow in the photo that doesn't help the dark look...

I had a go at getting the metal to "fade" from dull to shiny, but it didn't really work and made the whole blade look dull no matter how much I polished the edge. So I polished the whole thing. You're not going to find a shinier sword this side of a GD nmm job.

I also gave him brighter eye lenses.

And if none of you can see any issues, we can call him done.


Let me know what you think and if there's no issues I'll let you know when he's up on the bay of e.

script arount the bacpack sword i think.

 Largeblastmarker wrote:
script arount the bacpack sword i think.

Intentionally left blank in case the owner wants to give him a unique name or something to fit in with their army. I did the same on the previous models.
If that's the only thing, all is good. Thanks.

In my experience, ALWAYS include 'standard' (grit, sand, little bit of static grass or tufts) basing in the commission cost (and definitely photos). The axiom 'faces and bases' should be ringing in your ears any time you're presenting work.

Given what you can do, I'd be careful about offering lower level work - it's an incredibly disciplined thing to 'dial back' technique - it's far too easy to just push things a bit because it looks better, but that takes time for which you're not quoting/charging. That's the main reason I don't do anything under 'high end tabletop'. You'll also find that the customers wanting cheap jobs aren't the same guys that will pay for the higher end jobs - so maintaining consistency of that lower level work becomes a key factor in keeping your cashflow going.

winterdyne wrote:
In my experience, ALWAYS include 'standard' (grit, sand, little bit of static grass or tufts) basing in the commission cost (and definitely photos). The axiom 'faces and bases' should be ringing in your ears any time you're presenting work.

Given what you can do, I'd be careful about offering lower level work - it's an incredibly disciplined thing to 'dial back' technique - it's far too easy to just push things a bit because it looks better, but that takes time for which you're not quoting/charging. That's the main reason I don't do anything under 'high end tabletop'. You'll also find that the customers wanting cheap jobs aren't the same guys that will pay for the higher end jobs - so maintaining consistency of that lower level work becomes a key factor in keeping your cashflow going.

Thanks winterdyne. Sound advice indeed.
I think the greatest challenge for commission painting is getting a good (or even adequate) hourly wage considering the time and effort involved.

It's early days yet. I'm still practising with the varying levels (avoiding techniques, etc.), I'm getting quicker (the Company Master took 3 hours less than the Librarian) and I'm still finding what my painting is actually worth to other people.
I'm hoping the casting that I'm moving into will help increase the cash to time ratio a little.

He is up and ready to buy.
Company Master Balthasar

Until next time.

Lovely work, H!

Thanks Casey.

Now available for orders of the following :

From top to bottom;
Tiny Toilet (separate/no sprue) - designed to sit up against a wall with no visible cistern.
Tainted Toilet (on sprue) - Based on the toilets from the computer game, Fallout 3. Cistern is supplied separate, as shown.
Ideal for adding that extra level of detail to your terrain pieces.

Box 3 - 22x22x35mm (l, w, h) when constructed.
Box 2 - 18x19x23mm (l, w, h) when constructed.
Box 1 - 26x25x22mm (l, w, h) when constructed.
The boxes are supplied as show here. The individual pieces are thin so that the final box is lightweight and they can be cut to make broken boxes.

The sprues of both the toilets and boxes are textured with my unique wood-grain, to encourage their use in your modelling and save on wastage.

Contact me via PM to discuss.

You mean we can buy them! You are the best.

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
You mean we can buy them! You are the best.

You can indeed (just PM me), there are still some in stock.
Thanks.

I've just finished an example of what you can do with one of the Tainted Toilets:


The Company Master is still available.
I've not started the next commission piece(s) yet as I'm currently starting up a major project for my army (in my other blog). There will be more soon though.

That rules! Wonderfully trashed and unkempt.

 Moltar wrote:
That rules! Wonderfully trashed and unkempt.

Thanks Moltar.

Sorry I'm so behind but that DA looks sweet man'! That beige cloak is especially well done! Great stuff Dr!
BB

That toilet is terrifying.

bebopdrums2424 wrote:Sorry I'm so behind but that DA looks sweet man'! That beige cloak is especially well done! Great stuff Dr!
BB

No worries. Thanks BB, glad you think so.

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:That toilet is terrifying.

Befitting of the toilets that inspired it.
Thanks.