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These took me a lot longer than anticipated, due to getting distracted by other projects.

I also tried something a little different- instead of glossing the models with Pledge and then washing, I mixed the Pledge directly into the wash. Unfortunately, I think it worked a little too well- they're not as dark as the previous models, and some of the shading is a bit too stark for my taste. I might try reducing the proportion of Pledge slightly and see what it does.

Beautiful stuff oncce again.

I really liked the group shot.

After a little more experimentation I think I've got the wash behaving the way I want it to. There's a little bit of unwanted pooling, but overall it's giving a good mix of shading recesses and blending transitions.

So, here's my Grenadier suicide team. They never last longer than the turn after jumping out of a Centaur, but usually that's all they need to make their points back.

Beautiful work catbarf.

A great scheme and wonderfully painted.

Exalted.

Cheers,

CB

These are wonderful. They manage to be gritty and grimdark without being dingy and black and hard to actually see.

These are all really good. Query: on the last picture what gun is the lead soldier carrying?

Qyleterys wrote:
These are all really good. Query: on the last picture what gun is the lead soldier carrying?

It is a hot-shot lasgun of the pattern carried by DKoK (I think a Lucius-pattern).

Thanks all for the praise! I'm really happy that all the time I spent with R&D has been worth it, as the scheme is quite simple to paint- mostly just basecoat, one highlight, wash.

Fifty, you basically read my intent perfectly. I think the bright, vibrant WW1 French uniforms are a perfect base for weathering and mud. I really feel it does the sculpts a disservice to paint them in dark colors that hide their details.

Qyleterys- Haighus is right, it's a hot-shot lasgun (or hellgun), standard armament of Grenadiers. Because the BBQ squad is otherwise kitted up, only the watchmaster (sergeant) is actually carrying one.

Anyways, after some general reflection I came to the conclusion that while I really enjoyed converting and painting the AdMech sculpts, a whole army isn't for me. I've sold them to a guy who was looking to get into 40K, so they've gone to a good home, and instead I plan to paint some Tyranids, returning to my first army. I'm taking the approach of not having more than one box of Tyranids in my backlog, so I'll buy them as I paint them and see how committed I end up being.

Here's a final test scheme for the tentatively-named Hive Fleet Karkinos. It's mostly painted with washes, and the only traditional highlighting is on the eyes and teeth, so this makes for a low-effort and relaxing diversion from the Death Korps.



I'm simultaneously working on the Death Korps officers (two Lieutenants and a Marshal), so I should have those up next.

That scheme looks amazing!

catbarf wrote:
low-effort

*Looks at model covered in tiny dots*

My own painting efforts are lacking

Really well working color scheme for Tyranids! Loving the vibrant colors.
Looking forward to see those officers.

Great painting, and great plog It's a joy to hear your thoughts and see your progress as these armies really come to life. Like these lads:

catbarf wrote:
And lastly, here's the full army:

Have an exalt months after the finish

Nid looks great, going to be another tremendous army.

Small update, and a bit of a thought process ramble.

I've been procrastinating on the Death Korps officers- they're nearly done, but my attention has been largely focused on the Tyranids. I liked the test scheme I did, but it bothered me, and I couldn't figure out why. After much experimenting, it occurred to me that the problem was that it was basically the same color palette as my Death Korps- blue, dull orange, dark grey, khaki. I want to try something new.

I was still really taken by the idea of a 'crab' theme, since I feel that a crustacean theme is under-used in comparison to the ubiquitous insectoid themes. So I got to searching Google both for color schemes I could take inspiration from, and various crabs. I learned two things.

First, crabs typically aren't blue. Most are either orange-brown, or green-brown. The Atlantic blue crab is the most famous blue-colored example, yet it's predominantly green on the carapace. This got me thinking that an orange scheme would be worth pursuing.

Second, crabs typically don't have neat color-coded segments like we have on our models. Normally Tyranids are painted with one color for the carapace, one color for the exoskeleton, one color for the details, one color for the weapons/claws/hooves. It's very nice and neat and reads well at tabletop distance, but it's not especially close to nature. In the two-page spread of color schemes in the 3rd Ed codex, some of the more interesting ones used color gradations across the entire model, making no distinction between the exoskeleton and carapace. I liked the idea, but I felt it also squanders the detail inherent to the sculpts by treating them as one big homogeneous surface.

So, summary of findings: Try an orange scheme. Depict a difference between the carapace and exoskeleton, but not by just painting them different colors. I liked the dotted effect I did on the test model, so I figured I could work that in there.

This was all going nowhere especially productive (I've painted the same five Termagants about, oh, thirty times now), until I found a fortuitous result in Google.

Meet the coconut crab.





This thing is just weird. It's the largest arthropod in the world, clocking in at up to 10lbs. It's wholly terrestrial (and will drown if placed in water), climbs trees, and can exert over 400lb (!!!) of crush strength. They occasionally eat birds, and may have eaten Amelia Earhart as well.

That brief summary provides tons of fodder for army theming, but it's the carapace pattern that really interested me. I love the progression from dark brown, to red, to orange, up to khaki, with spots breaking up the colors. I simplified it a little by dropping the red (reserving reddish tones as a detail color), and then did some test painting:



I'm quite happy with how this first model came out. The patterning may look complicated, but it's basically just two colors layered over white, then dots to break up the transitions. The details are just a red wash, the claws and hooves are two black washes, there's a bit more simple highlighting and shading on the carapace, and then everything except the grey areas gets two layers of a custom wash mix. Overall it's not a lot of effort for something that I think comes out pleasingly intricate. With the beach-themed base I'd say I've finally nailed the crab aesthetic.

Anyways, that's enough fluff, let me know what you think! I promise the next update will be the Death Korps officers.

Wow, wow, wow. I don’t know where to start, there is so much coolness here in just three pages.

1. I love the renegades, DKoK and AdMech. They all look great. The renegades in particular have such a unique look and just ooze character.

2. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and methods. I definitely want to figure out to finish models faster and yours both look great and have a simple system. I have taken some notes and I plan to try some of your techniques (just need the right models). I also appreciate your trialing different techniques in the same army to get faster and better instead of feeling locked in. And it gives us the chance to directly compare the techniques and learn.

3. The new Tyranid scheme is really nice. Very natural, very unique and very bold/interesting on the table I’m sure.

This blog has been a huge inspiration. Keep it going!

i am most impressed at the crabanids- now i kinda want to see a carnifex painted up that way, with the claws.

Wow. Just wow.

That color scheme you tried out is magnificent.

catbarf wrote:

The patterning may look complicated, but it's basically just two colors layered over white, then dots to break up the transitions.

I think this is one of the best ways to paint an army. Finding out a "simple" pattern / scheme to paint, that either fools the eye or simply makes the colors dance in harmony.
Not sure if these were easy or quick to do (for me that would take ages), but they look very good.

Very original scheme and I love the idea of using a real arthropod as an inspiration.

The coconut crab scheme is great, love hearing about the process you went through as well. Funnily enough I'm 45 minis into a ghost crab inspired scheme on a Kings of War army, so I suppose I'm particularly invested in crab-based paint schemes

Alright, after a month of procrastinating I did finally complete the Death Korps officers.

The Field Officers were pretty easy as they're pretty much the same uniform as the Grenadiers, but the Marshal was a tough one. The coat in particular required a couple of tries, as striking a balance between standing out from the rest of the Kriegers, looking good on the model, and not deviating too much from the army color scheme proved difficult.

First I tried blue, and it looked too much like the rest of the army. Then I tried brown leather, and it blended in with the boots and scabbard, turning the model into a brown mass. Then I gave black leather a go, but it was too similar to the armor.

Ultimately I figured the khaki color is bright enough to stand out, while still being used elsewhere in the army, and is otherwise only used on the gas mask so it still preserves the definition of the piece. It reminds me of Rick Astley, but it works.

I wanted to give the model a little extra pop, since it is the general, and originally I was going to make the medals a multicolored assortment. But then I figured that The Death Korps don't seem the type to have gaudy decorations, so I went with white on the (sash? not sure what it is) instead, then decided to add red for a bit more color.



Next I'll be getting back to the Tyranids- likely putting together a tutorial for the scheme, since a number of people have been asking for it, then finishing the rest of the brood.

Fantastic officers. I think you definitely got it right on the coat and sash. That is the benefit of being willing to experiment and make changes until you are happy. These guys look so, so good.

-Rids

Wonderful work. As a fan of Nids and DKoK I'm digging your work log.

I posted the Hormagaunt on my social media circles and got a bunch of people asking for a how-to, so yesterday I went through painting another and took a bunch of tedious photos along the way.









The all-over wash isn't quite behaving how I'd like it to, as it tends to leave tide marks, and could stand to shade a bit more strongly. I'm going to experiment with slight variations on the other members of the brood; probably just a single wash of straight 1:1 Soft/Light Tones on one, and using Army Painter's wash medium as the thinner on the other.

Still, the paint scheme really is not a lot of work so I'm pretty happy with it. At this point just minor tweaking before I can call it perfect.

Very clear tutorial, hats off to you!
Even though I don't paint Tyranids, this still gave me some ideas.

What colors did you use on the DkoK?

 Dynas wrote:
What colors did you use on the DkoK?

From my painting notes (all colors are Vallejo Model Color, except metallics, which are Vallejo Metal Color):

Coats- Grey Blue, highlight Pale Grey Blue
Leather- German Cam. Medium Brown, highlight Cork Brown, wash 1:1 water/Smoke
Metal- 1:1 Steel/Silver, highlight Silver
Bedroll/Mask/Puttees- German Cam. Beige, highlight Ivory
Grenadier Skull- 1:1 German Cam. Beige/Ivory, highlight White
Armor/Helmet/Hoses- Dark Grey, highlight Neutral Grey
Pants- Neutral Grey, highlight Light Grey
Mud- Flat Brown, drybrush German Cam. Medium Brown after wash (below)
Brass- Gold, highlight Chrome, wash 1:1 water/Smoke

After all of the above (except the mud drybrush), wash whole model with 4:2:1 water/Black Glaze/Pledge

Let me know if there's anything there that isn't clear.

Edit: Forgot to mention that on the Marshal's coat, I added an intermediate highlight step of 1:1 German Cam. Beige / Ivory.

Awesome thank you.

Wow! I bloody love the Crabanids scheme. I really really hope you paint a bigger beasty with crushing claws in that scheme. I want to see some true crabanids

Coconut crabs are brilliant.

Your 'nids look very menacing. Almost makes me want to do some just like that, so thanks for sharing your tutorial. Very clear and helpfull.

Seriously nice DKoK army there Catbarf. Glad to see you're almost done with them as well.
The Marshals came together really well. Good choice of colour on the coat, the khaki works so well. That sash as well, a fine choice. Makes him pop but doesn't make him crazy gaudy.


And those nids. Wow. Those are amazing. So simple, yet so striking and different. Would love to see that pattern on some larger beasties!
With the dots, how did you do them? Did you use a toothpick or fine pointy thing, or was it just gentle dabs with a brush?

Love the colour scheme on your hormagaunt and the tutorial along with it is really handy!

Really nice Death Korps too, great looking trench coats.

Haighus wrote:I really really hope you paint a bigger beasty with crushing claws in that scheme. I want to see some true crabanids

That's definitely the plan. I'm going to work my way up there to make sure I can translate the scheme to larger models intact, but I have a strong desire for an Old One Eye and a bunch of Tyrant Guard with claws.

Snrub wrote:Seriously nice DKoK army there Catbarf. Glad to see you're almost done with them as well.
The Marshals came together really well. Good choice of colour on the coat, the khaki works so well. That sash as well, a fine choice. Makes him pop but doesn't make him crazy gaudy.

Thank you; although I'm not sure I'm almost done. According to my painting log I still have two infantry squads, the second Earthshaker, the Hades, Cyclops, Engineers, and Death Riders to go, so I'm a little over halfway done with the Kriegers. Not overwhelming by any means, and I intend to intersperse them with the Tyranids so I don't burn out on any one thing.

Snrub wrote:With the dots, how did you do them? Did you use a toothpick or fine pointy thing, or was it just gentle dabs with a brush?

Brush. I was using my Raphaels at first, but some of them are having trouble holding a point (disappointing, to say the least), so I switched to a small, cheap synthetic and it's doing a great job.

I also found that adding a bit of surfactant, like my ever-present Pledge Floor Gloss, really helps the paint flow off the brush and makes it easy to produce clean dots without applying any pressure to the model.

Oh yeah, guess I didn't mention, but I'm now batch-painting the remaining ten Hormagaunts for the brood. So far I'm about two and a half hours in and have just finished applying all the dots, so I think I'm on track for a ~30 minute per model painting time. That might change if my intended experiment with water effects doesn't go well; we'll see about that.

Very nice tutorial catbarf.

Thank you for sharing.

Cheers,

CB