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Hey all, as the title says I am looking for everyones honest opinion on these two Sons of Horus models. This is the paint scheme I'm going for and I am looking for ways to improve it. I am happy with it but I enjoy learning new techniques to further my know how on these things.

Will need more detailed pics to really judge them. They are kinda far away and blurry so I can't tell if anything is wrong or needs improved

I like the color scheme!

Unfortunately, the first image isn't as hi-res as the second so I can't really get up close and pick out the details like the other one you posted. Also, I'm the kinda guy that loves super-high contrast and lots of it, so if you're more of the subtle type, please keep that in mind when reading. But based on what I can see, here's my critique:

Image 1: Your form is great. You have very well-hidden brush strokes for the most part with some very minor exceptions in the line work (I'm beleaguered with working on concealing my paint strokes all around, clearly you're doing much better than I). The line work can use just a touch of cleanup particularly on the armor of the upper left leg as there's a bit of swelling in the line work closer to the groin. Also, I can't detect any highlights in the cape, which may make it stand out a bit more. This also could be due to the camera or the lighting in the room. Not sure, but it appears as if the cape is one color with a wash over it. If this is the case, I would recommend adding a highlight to the raised portions of the cape and the edges where necessary -- particularly that corner that's standing out. I noticed some wash on those raised portions which I would cover up before highlighting, should you choose to do so. I can't really make out much in the staff, possibly also due to the camera and the shadow as it appears the staff is facing downward. I'd also add more highlighting to the spartan-y.....sideways mohawk thing (sorry, totally forgot what that was actually called). It appears that you chose just 1 highlight color for everything (while the color of the highlight may vary, there's only 1 "level" of highlight per color, if at all). I would recommend adding a second, more sparing highlight to really accentuate the details and make the mini even more interesting to look at than it already is. That highlight in the plasma gun really stands out and I love the contrast there.

Image 2: I noticed that this is not yet complete and I would love to see it when it's done. Basically all the same things from the previous apply here -- I'd add another level of highlight to each color. I particularly like the eyes, with the dark all around and the one drop of red as the actual glowing "eye". It really comes across very well. You have a few swells in your highlight line work here as well, particularly on the left wrist, the right elbow pad, and just over the left eye. It also appears that your paint for the highlights may be a tad too thick, as I can see some texture in the strokes. Other than the very minimal swell spots, your line work is SUPERB! particularly on the lower area of the chest piece, which unfortunately will be eventually covered with a weapon. The feet also do not appear highlighted, or if they are, it is very subtle. If it were me I'd go over it again with another highlight. You also seem to have misfired some highlight paint on the right kneepad which is an easy cleanup job.

Don't be afraid of those tiny armor panels like the one on the inner-left leg! When I'm unsure about getting the right spots, I normally am much more comfortable painting the whole panel the highlight color and then a small square with the base coat color within it to make it look like I'm a badass line painter. lol

This is great work and you're a solid painter. My suggestions are just what I would notice if that mini were painted by me and how I'd critique my own work.

EDIT: Changed some lefts/rights that were backward.

 hybridmoments82 wrote:
I like the color scheme!

Unfortunately, the first image isn't as hi-res as the second so I can't really get up close and pick out the details like the other one you posted. Also, I'm the kinda guy that loves super-high contrast and lots of it, so if you're more of the subtle type, please keep that in mind when reading. But based on what I can see, here's my critique:

Image 1: Your form is great. You have very well-hidden brush strokes for the most part with some very minor exceptions in the line work (I'm beleaguered with working on concealing my paint strokes all around, clearly you're doing much better than I). The line work can use just a touch of cleanup particularly on the armor of the upper left leg as there's a bit of swelling in the line work closer to the groin. Also, I can't detect any highlights in the cape, which may make it stand out a bit more. This also could be due to the camera or the lighting in the room. Not sure, but it appears as if the cape is one color with a wash over it. If this is the case, I would recommend adding a highlight to the raised portions of the cape and the edges where necessary -- particularly that corner that's standing out. I noticed some wash on those raised portions which I would cover up before highlighting, should you choose to do so. I can't really make out much in the staff, possibly also due to the camera and the shadow as it appears the staff is facing downward. I'd also add more highlighting to the spartan-y.....sideways mohawk thing (sorry, totally forgot what that was actually called). It appears that you chose just 1 highlight color for everything (while the color of the highlight may vary, there's only 1 "level" of highlight per color, if at all). I would recommend adding a second, more sparing highlight to really accentuate the details and make the mini even more interesting to look at than it already is. That highlight in the plasma gun really stands out and I love the contrast there.

Image 2: I noticed that this is not yet complete and I would love to see it when it's done. Basically all the same things from the previous apply here -- I'd add another level of highlight to each color. I particularly like the eyes, with the dark all around and the one drop of red as the actual glowing "eye". It really comes across very well. You have a few swells in your highlight line work here as well, particularly on the left wrist, the right elbow pad, and just over the left eye. It also appears that your paint for the highlights may be a tad too thick, as I can see some texture in the strokes. Other than the very minimal swell spots, your line work is SUPERB! particularly on the lower area of the chest piece, which unfortunately will be eventually covered with a weapon. The feet also do not appear highlighted, or if they are, it is very subtle. If it were me I'd go over it again with another highlight. You also seem to have misfired some highlight paint on the right kneepad which is an easy cleanup job.

Don't be afraid of those tiny armor panels like the one on the inner-left leg! When I'm unsure about getting the right spots, I normally am much more comfortable painting the whole panel the highlight color and then a small square with the base coat color within it to make it look like I'm a badass line painter. lol

This is great work and you're a solid painter. My suggestions are just what I would notice if that mini were painted by me and how I'd critique my own work.

EDIT: Changed some lefts/rights that were backward.

Hah I love the chest highlights, Only ones I felt like I really did well due to how neat the lines are. I'm going to start painting the eyes white before using the gemstone paint on them. Then a small white dot on the corner should bring it all together.

Not particularly experienced with the color scheme fluff-wise.

But in my opinion the model feels too dark with hardly any part of it standing out.

That red cloak plays off nicely against the green armour.

There good models but id give the basic bolter pose.. Something more. Needs something to break it up and lighten it.

Maybe metal on the helmet mouth section, something to break up all that green.

I think you have a good start here. Good color, basics look nice. My own interest goes toward more contrast, which has been pointed out. The color scheme is dark and therefore can look muddy from any distance (this may change with the bases done). Hoping to see more of these, this start has my interest.

I like it and I think it looks perfect.

But I am also not one who wants every piece to be showroom 200$ paint job.

The only thing that really matters when a model is done is

1: Do I like it?
2: Could I do better?
3: does it fit my scheme

thats all that matters, because at the end of the day it was your money your time and you will look at it for life not us. So be happy and love the model and remember you will paint better if you paint more often, so is it perfect? not even close wait til you see what you paint in a couple years.

Getting your topic mileage out of these figures, huh?

Thin your highlight a little more and get a good, slicked tip on the brush. I can see from these pics and the ones in your tutorial that they are going on slightly chalky, and are less forgiving due to the contrast. If in doubt, practise on your thumb. Your basecoats look thinned enough, though I'd recommend tipping the model around more to make sure you're not leaving black on flat plate areas, around studs etc.

Gemstone paints are meant to be used in larger areas over a metallic to give a pooling light effect. Small dots will not do this for you. You'd be better off using Blood for the Blood God over white for a real gleaming red lens.

These are very realistically shaded, but consider coming out of your comfort zone and going for more extreme highlights to give them an actual focal point. Right now the tac doesn't give me any one place to look at.

A bright eye colour for that tac marine would do wonders for it. Bright red.

Looks promising so far, what you're missing is the triangular edge highlights, like the edge of your plasma coil on the pistol, its missing on the edges of the crest plumes, halberd.