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Arakasi, we have a urgent mission for you,
It's all detailed in one of the posts here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/30/314332.page#1886147

We can't do it without your help!

Llamahead: Thanks! The stormboyz will have to wait abit I'm afraid. First, it's painting all my stuff, and the stompa will be eating some time as well. Maybe once I have the core finished- by then it's a new codex and the stormboyz will rock!

monkeytroll: If they were strong enough, that would be great, but I doubt it / Remote controlled meganobs; now... maybe . As for the stompa: I'd love if the arms or head could move, but my knowledge of electronics is nonexistant, so... we'll see how crazy I get

Arakasi: the option is there, even if the chances are slim . Since I've had grots take down a farseer, I feel anything is possible!

Hey guys,

It's been a while since I managed an update. Lots of work related stuff has been attacking my painting time, and while I've been messing about I didn't really get anything finished till now. Today however, I finally managed to finish my 5th megagrot, giving me a nice playable unit (I can't squeeze more then 5 megagrots in most of my army lists, so this unit will count as complete for now).

Since I fninally ordered me some weathering powders (thanks MajorTom11!), I figured I'd experiment a bit with those. I like the effects, but judge for yourself:





I used the powders for all the weathering except the metal showing through, and I definitely like the gritty feel it gives and the texture it adds to the model. Expect to see more powders applied!

A comparison shot with another megagrot:



Let me know what you think of it!

Looking great dude! The powders certanly breaks up all the orange. And also, nice to see you posting stuff again

How are you sealing the powders Khaine?

Nice job CK. Certainly looks a bit more beaten and weathered than the others, and I agree that powders give some lovely texture to minis and are fun to experiment with. Good to see you again too.

Powders! Yay!

Lol, great start dude! The trick with powders is, to focus them on heavy use spots, Gun barrels and exhausts get black, and a generous amount of it, and some lighter colors can dust the feet, showing the guy has actually been running around the environment!

I think it was definitely a good move, hope you like it???

Welcome back! Weathering is looking good - in fact, seems to be popping up a bit in a couple of threads I'm following... I wonder if its a sign? I did just get the FW set last week... Keep sharing your experiences! We all appreciate it!

Fantastic work Khaine, good to have you posting again!

I love the lastest mega grot, nice weathering and its good to have you back amoung the faithfull...

Wow, lots of replies. I was feeling a bit burnt out on the little guys, but this kind of support got my motivation right back up

Rose_Mountainz: Thank you! The powders sure help to add a different splash of colour; perfect for battle damage IMO. I've been tinkering here and there, so hopefully I'll be bringing updates on a more regular basis from now on.

Vitruvian XVI: matte varnish from vallejo. it did smudge the powder a little, so I'm open for suggestions concerning sealing.

monkeytroll: Thanks! I'm considering going backl on all my megagrotz and vehicle, but I'm going to experiment a bit more first before taking the leap. It's good to be back!

MajorTom11: Thanks . I agree about focusing, but the black powder from vallejo really looks like a weapon impact, so chances are I'll be using it for that as well. I only have rust, black, and a brownish one right now, but I'll be expanding my supply- they're too handy not to. In definitely feel it was a good move, the weathering powders add another layer of depth to the model; I just need to get me some good tutorials to learn how to use them for maximum effect. Thanks for the nudge!

Arakasi: Thank you! Let me know how the FW ones are holding up. I got the Vallejo powders, but I can't really compare. I do believe though that Vallejo gives a modeller some very interesting options due to their different approach to painting then GW. As I use them a bit more, I'll keep you all informed!

Gitsplitta: Thanks! I've been lurking for the last month or so, but it just isn't the same. I get a lot more satisfaction out of posting, it's just more active. If rl allows it, it's back to being an active poster

Commissar Agro: Glad you like him! My faith has been tested a bit, but the revolution needs me! Hasta la victoria siempre!

All this being said (well, typed), I'm going to leave you with a classic model (squig catapult crewmember IIRC), painted to match my other grots. If I ever get lobbas, he'll get promoted to lobba crew, otherwise he'll just be regular grot number 31.

Hehe, the little guy looks cool!

I was kinda hoping you could give me some tips on sealing actually! Ive been experimenting wit the FW powders, very messy but extremely fun! I had to varnish the models to stop the powders rubbing off, but it seemed to dissolve them. bit of a let down really :(

Keep up the great work!!

Love that figure... and just a great paint job for him too! Grotz are just so entertaining, that they really are a treat when someone takes the time to do them well.

Gits

Don't be afraid to slop the black onto the barrels! Trust me, if its built up a bit it works even better. Another trick, take the dark brown and black pigments, mix it with thinner or water til it is very very liquid muddy, and use it is to dribble oil streaks from the joints and seams here and there, make sure it is quite thin though.

Glad you like it, its definitely a useful technique to add an extra layer of texture and realism! I recommend you look at youtube for weathering techniques, there is some crazy stuff on there by military modelers that is very inspiring and interesting. I learned a ton! I just wish I wasn't only on tech bases for now with the SpaceHulk stuff so I could use more then 10% of what I learned this year!

Vitruvian XVII: And here I was hoiping you could help me out . Did you use brush-on or spray-on varnish?

Gitsplitta: Gotta love those old grots... I'll addit the newer ones have more details and a lot of character, but the old guys do have a certain mischieveous quality to them that the newers ones seem to be missing.

MajorTom11: Time to check out youtube methinks I still have the old inks which are great for oil spills and such, but I'll be sure to give them a try! The powders add on in avery natural way, which is great for me: toss it on and let physics do its job! And as for the tech bases: time to start an additional project I guess!

Now, onto another mini. This time, it's kommissar numba 4 that got finished; I still need to add a squig, but I couldn't resisit showing him off . The coat and the gun had weathering powders applied to them. The camera made it look grittier then it is, but the lighting is pretty bad so I'm gonna blame that .





And a comparison shot with his inspiration:





And with that I'm off. Hope you guys like him!

Lol, thats awesome! Especially the Orky parody of the commissar. They look great next to each other!

I used the GW purity seal, may have been that some of the powder blew off, im not sure though. I fixed em with white spirits, what do you use?

Nice. I love the old grot. Definitely from the Squig catapult. He's got a jar of the "Buzzing Squigs". THey eat everything except ork flesh!

Good thing to have on hand... for an ork anyhow.

Lovely grot commissar there Commissar, and love the comparison shot
I've had some success with sealing powders with a very light dusting of purity seal from a distance, dry and repaet, but have found that different techniques tend to vary in their reaction to varnish - although I can't rule out different levels of cack-handedness when applying the spray obviously I know a lot of military modellers aplly after sealing and mix the powder with methylated spirirts which seems to have a bit of a fixative effect as it evaporates. I'm thinking of experimenting with applying some whilst the varnish is still wet and see what effect is produced.

Too fun CK... gotta love that... especially with the side-by-side shot.

You could make a diorama with the two commissars trying to pose each other to death

This kommissar is my favourite one so far. Your work just keeps getting better and better!

I love taking inspiration from elsewhere and twisting (Orkifying?) it - so I love the parallel - well done, good job! The commissar doesn't have the shoulder detail though - and looking at them side by side, I think the grot could have used pants. But this is just the nitpicking of an idle mind As you were!

Vitruvian XVII: Glad you like'em . I sealed mine with vallejo matte varnish (paint-on), which is good for sooty effect but takes aways some grittiness.

The Good Green: Thanks for the confirmation. I recall buzzer squigs eating a terminator librarian in an old WD batrep

monkeytroll: Thank you! I don't like using spray varnish because it always leaves a bit of a shine, but maybe I should give it a go. I model in a small room, so methylated stuff is out of the question, especially with a small child around. Let us know how the varnish experiment works out though, sounds interesting!

Gitsplitta: Grots = fun . I need to make a kommissar with a book as well; that will be my next project!

Rose_Mountainz: Maybe with the two kommissars holding a contest to see who can make the most headshots?

Commissar Agro: Thanks! I like them all, but they they're like children to me. Mischieveous, vicious, sadistic children, but children nonetheless

Arakasi: Yep, nothing beats lootin' . My guy has more coat detail then the IG one, but that's just to draw the attention away from the crappy gs job . Oh, and the grot is wearing pants; they're green, but a different green then his face and hands...Mayber I should add a camo pattern?

Ah - I just assumed it was bare legs because it was a Grot and not in the same tan colour as the Commissar. I can remember the last time I was in the hobby trying to do black and green camo on Kommandos - never did look right - and was my greatest fear doing Da Dark Angelz (apparently I managed to avoid the issue this time...)

Rose_Mountainz wrote:You could make a diorama with the two commissars trying to pose each other to death

that would be lol and would remind me of zoolander where the models out pose eachother

anyway i love the mega grots and the commisar btw does anyone know where i can buy plastic card form ?

btw hope ya don't mind but that battlesuit inspired me to make one of my own . cheers for the insporation

Oops missed out on a few replies apparently:

Arakasi: Brown might be an option, but I didn't want to draw attention to the rather crappy sculptjob wiht bright colours, hence the dark green

Moonshine: didn't see zoolander, but I just might have to do something with those two. Plasticard can be found online or in most modelling shops.

Now, a very minor update: two more converted grots . I'm basecoating the second battlewagon right now, and that's eating a lot of time, so few things getting finished... Just these two, enioy!



As you can see I messed around a bit with the weathering powders, bit for smaller areas of rust I figure I'll combine paint with powders. Still, easy and quick to use, so I like the powders!

They do provide some neat effects. My problem is that they largely disappear when you dullcoat the figures. Haven't sorted that out yet, but there must be an answer.

There's always a way.

i love the poses on them especially the modified gun

awesome work