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.

Hello Dakka.

Well, I just wanted to go on record as saying that the new painting tutorial for Blood Angels on the GW site is weak. A base coat, a shade, and one medium tone highlight? That's it? I already have a large BA army, but I used the old White Dwarf (paper magazine) method, which involved three highlights, including one of (then) Vomit Brown, which I found really interesting and very bright. I know that this tutorial may be aimed at a beginning level painter, but I still find it the opposite of helpful.

I am currently looking at my army, which spans 7 years of my own painting evolution, and the quality and techniques which I used vary across the force. So, I want to try to integrate any new units with a common theme, and crave guidance. So, I turn to you, especially if you paint BA, but for any Space Marine painters in general. What do you do for squad markings? Do you use transfers? How about gems/glass vials? How do you link spot colors across your force? How about basing--complex? What sorts of features are on your bases--complimentary or contrast colors?

Thanks in advance for any ideas or examples!

Hmm these are fun

Squad markings: i try to use transfers but that is always a pain. i always leave some marines un marked for when i wana use bigger units

Spot colors (for gems and vial type things): i try to pick complimentary colors to make em pop as much as possible

you can also use metallic and whites.

Baseing, i prefer my themed bases for specific untis or models (scouts/sternguard/drop poders with urban bases as its my theme) the rest just basic badland bases as it looks ok on most tables.

The base color i try to contrast a bit using flock or other materials. (bright yellow banana marines? mute the base and make it a bit darker vs Templar, make it a bit brighter and add some color with grass)

Thanks @Desubot. Do you go straight out of the Codex with Squad markings, or do you mix & match?

I mean, I have painted my BA as 2nd Company (Yellow Blood drop on right shoulder pad, sometimes on the knee pad, and also on vehicles as a spot). But obviously I also have Terminators, who are 1st Company, and I went with white (or silver in a couple of HQ models or Sergeant types) with the tear drop there. (also white skull for Terminators).

But in the new book, it looks like a flag of scotland on the knee pad. Blue with white "X" and I don't want to change any of that. So, does it matter?

I try to stay codex.

Hello mate,

I am about to start a BA army again, and am happy to dump the things I will be using as reference for you;

Eggroll's BA army - simply amazing work - http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/313003.page

Andywardle with some amazing freehand BA stuff - http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/608172/7075927.page

Now that painting is done...

Squad markings, I like to do with kneepads (I use company markings as squad markings - http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/uploads/1258059625/gallery_43449_4253_3399.jpeg) - that said, BA doesn't use those markings for companies anyway, they use these (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BFf2OFvoOV4/TlpuL5oTILI/AAAAAAAAAsk/bY-T9-DMS44/s1600/BA%2BColours%2B-%2Bannotated.jpg) so you could do that.

Alternatively, what I plan to do is also use gem colour to signify squad markings - same thing I am doing with my Space Hulk set.

Transfers, I do use, because my freehand is bad. That said, I am starting to freehand over the transfer for depth.

Basing I am torn - I like the simple cork plate, but am also partial to plain acrylic disks to ensure cohesion with the table. The base should be understated on all but the most important characters IMHO.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
welp, squad markings are included in that link as well, which I believe is the old codex

Thanks a lot @kb_lock! Awesome resources!

Getting stuck in to Eggroll's thread....lots of good reading and oggling ahead for me.

Eggroll is amazing, particularly as he really did just smash his way into it and produced amazing results. His speed was also ridiculous for his quality.

I hate (love) him

Well, it sounds like you won't like my BA red recipe as it's similar in simplicity to the GW one (I base Mechrite Red, Wash Agrax, rehilight Mechrite) but I can help on the others.

I go to the codex for squad/company markings, with Chapter Symbol on left pad,Company Marking on right pad and one knee or greave, squad marking on left knee, all freehanded with Iyanden Yellow or Vallejo Ivory depending on what they are. I also cover them in litanies and scrollwork, again in Vallejo Ivory.

Gems I use a pale blue on, it stands out nicely. Vials usually get the Blood for the Blood God treatment.

Basing in not sure on, probably dark grey gravel/tiles.

Hope that helps, and for the record, this is what they look like when done.

I too was a little disappointed by the GW Blood Angels tutorial, having loved many of them in the past. I can't help but feel under natural light it would be too dark.

I use what was the Blood Angels paint selection from when they redid the paints:

Base - Mephiston Red
Shade - Carroburg Crimson
Layer - Evil sunz scarlet (A few thin coats)
Edge highlight - Wild Rider Red
Extreme highlight - a little kindleflame
Wash - Bloodletter glaze.

Its a little extreme red for some tastes and tanks look shocking in flash photography, but it works (for me!) under normal gaming lighting.

I also am pretty disappointed on the GW painting guides lately, I used to love the white dwarf for the excellent painting from eavy metal and the in depth painting tutes from the likes of Kornel and such. they made you want to push yourself and the tutes were actuall well written and helpful, now with the lack of well painted models and the poor paint splatter pages I haven't bought a white dwarf for a long time, the way I paint my Blood Angels was taken from a white dwarf and molded to my own style but it involves more than a chalky highlight or dry brush.

the way I paint mine is as follows:

* Prime red
* wash Agrax earthshade
* highlight with bloody red (vallejo)
* 50/50 bloody red & blazing orange
* pure orange
* 50/50 orange & Vomit brown (or vallejo filthy brown)
* pure brown
* wash Carroburg crimson

sounds like a lot but it's not when you're painting as you just keep mixing and moving onto the next colour pretty fast.

the end looks like this