Gitsplitta's Unified Painting Theory (3/18: Adepticon prep - gaslands cruiser)

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**Johnny-Crass**

I died a bit but I completed the great Dakka Pilgrimage.... Reading all 236 pages (atleast I got to do something at work today)

It all looks amazing mate and I love the green

Automatically Appended Next Post:
I completed the great Dakka pilgrimage.... Read all 236 pages at work. Great job mate love the greens

**inmygravenimage**

Good to hear you're back in the saddle bro. I shall resist the urge to call your Mr Hoppy. Kids' stuff is looking cracking. And hey, thing 2 as festive paint squig? Awesome.

**Gitsplitta**

@Johnny-Crass: The Dakka equivalent of a pilgrimage to the holy land?? Hmmm... I'd better come up with some wisdom bloody quick.

@graven: Since it was both big toes, I don't so much hop as wobble. Be home all day though and will spend some time painting something.... so one way or another there will be a substantive update.

Thing 2 has asked to not participate in the painting competition... he said there was too much pressure. I wasn't pushing him too hard but I did keep reminding him that if he was going to get it done he'd have to keep making progress. In any case, he'll still do the tankbusta as part of my Christmas present... so it's all win as far as I'm concerned. Plenty of time for competitions later.

**M0rdain**

Have you been furnished with bionic toenails as a replacement?

**DarkStarSabre**

Gitsplitta wrote:

Back home. All good.

How did the adamantium bonding fare?

What?

We all know you asked for retractable toe blades!

**Gitsplitta**

Yes.... so when my opponent is beating me I can *really* kick him under the table....

"Heh, heh... not so easy to play with an adamantium toenail in your shin is it you cheeky git?!"

**HAZZER**

Hope your better gits so you can start painting again! LOL!

HAZZER

**Gitsplitta**

Here's my Tranquility unit on it's display base for the contest tomorrow. Have had the base for a long time, just needed the proper motivation to finish it. Color is screwed up... since I got my new light box I just can't get my camera to read colors right.

Because of the nature of the judging (popular acclaim), I wrote up a judges guide as people might not realize what they're looking at... especially if they're pressed for time (which is always the case). Here is the text:

40k, Mantis Warrior Tranquility Sniper Squad (Sternguard): Based off of original artwork in an early white dwarf. Unique in it’s depiction of a full marine as a “sniper”, which is a role currently reserved for scouts only.

Basic Paint Application: Paint was applied by brush or airbrush.
Enhanced Techniques: Basic yellow gradient was achieved either by applying multiple very thin coats from dark to light by brush, or several shades from dark to light by airbrush. Both drybrush and edge highlights were utilized. Shading was achieved though use of washes and “lining” with a small brush or illustration pen. Camo pattern was freehanded by brush. “Black Gem” techniques were used to create the lenses and eyes.
Scratchbuilding/Conversions: Every figure is heavily converted. Each of these models was made from an original plastic “beakie” or metal equivalent produced by GW approximately 20 years ago. Due to the severe limitations on the possible poses of these minis, most figures were cut apart at the joints (elbows, knees, hips, etc.) and repositioned into an appropriate stance, then repaired with Green Stuff. Many bear scratch-built purity seals and all bear scratch-built insignia on their shoulder pads. The guns are the original beakie bolters that have been modified in order to give the appearance of a sniper rifle. Some of the barrels are scratch built out of brass wire and tubing. In some cases, kneeling legs from a modern 40k figure with appropriately designed armor were used in place of modifying the original legs. Bits of chainsword blades and dark eldar blades were added to the armor and bolters to enhance the insectoid feel of the models.
Basing: The Basing is made to match the surface of my gaming table. It involves 3 sizes of grit, a wash, a “water” wash to produce highlights, 3 different types of flocking (two grass, one shrub of various colors) and large rocks which are made using a variety of techniques (actual stones, cork sheet, etc.). These bases are unique in my army as they have tall grass added to them in order to increase the “snipers in the tall grass” feel of the unit.

**Miss Dee**

I Can see you!!!

**Styrofoam04**

Gitsplitta wrote:Here's my Tranquility unit on it's display base for the contest tomorrow. Have had the base for a long time, just needed the proper motivation to finish it.

I know the feeling, I promise one day I will finish Il Duce's terrain... Promise

Btw that display base looks great, I always loved your flock

GL

**Gitsplitta**

No worries Styro... good things are worth waiting for!

**wyomingfox**

Looks good, best of luck

**Gitsplitta**

I'm shooting for a blue ribbon! (somehow I feel like I'm entering an apple pie at the state fair)

**IceAngel**

Love the display base Git. It could use more tall grass, then again I'm going to tell you that same thing regardless of how many bundles of grass you put on there.

**Gitsplitta**

Actually my wife (who is a brutal judge of anything I do) told me that the first time 'round so I added a bunch of bundles. I could add two dozen more bundles and it'd still look sparse. At some point you just have to say enough is enough... people will hopefully get the idea.

**Arakasi**

Just think - if you add enough tall grass, you wouldn't need the models

It would have been a lot faster too.

Wouldn't help your epic battles though...

**Gitsplitta**

Tried that already...

I think it's easier to paint the figure!

**CommissarKhaine**

Looking real good, hope you do well!

**More Dakka**

Those are some great lookin Sternguard you got there, hidin in that gass!

**inmygravenimage**

I like the amount of grass - enough to suggest, not overwhelm. My only niggle is that it seems very regularly distributed, though that might just be the angle of the shot.

**HAZZER**

Good luck gits and how do you make to turf?

HAZZER

**Gitsplitta**

Thanks guys!

inmygravenimage wrote:I like the amount of grass - enough to suggest, not overwhelm. My only niggle is that it seems very regularly distributed, though that might just be the angle of the shot.

You may be right graven... not that way on purpose but I did look for "empty spots" on the base which may have resulted in a too regular distribution of grass tufts. My problem is that the grass doesn't just sit there on it's own, you need to support it with something, either up against a large rock or with a pocket of small grass flocking to give it a solid point of attachment. The more you do this, the more the base fills up with flock & you lose the character of the gravel underneath.

So... I'm kind of in a Catch 22 situation. Adding more grass or more irregular grass would improve the overall grass effect, but it will start eroding the overall effect of the rest of the base. I was going to drop it, along with one of my other entries... off at the shop this afternoon. Perhaps I'll see if I can engineer a few more tufts at home tonight and add them to it tomorrow morning before the competition begins.

I'm curious how people feel about the "Judges Guide". The real sheet includes some close-ups and WIP shots that support the text. Keep in mind I'm not really competing against the other entrants... just against the scoring criteria. I've tried to keep it short and sweet while directly addressing the judging points, especially for things that might not be obvious to the nekked eye or younger viewers.

I think I have a rather clever presentation for my second entry (my cybergitz figure). Not a display "base" really, but an entirely topical display. If it works I'll take a pic & show it on my Bad Moon blog.

**Arakasi**

Have you tried drilling small holes where you want the grass, gluing in a short, small piece of wire or rod, paint it "yellow" and stick the clump of grass on this? (so the wire/rod is hidden in the middle?) - might lessen the large rock/pockets of grass issue you are having in the future

**Gitsplitta**

Good idea Arakasi. Would have to alter the order of things as I make my bases... but it would solve several issues. I'll consider it.

**Moltar**

Your Sternguard are looking awesome on that display base, Gits. Best of luck in the comp, bud. I see Old Grey Beard in the back is less concerned about stealth than his brethren.

Still look great and without any knowledge of what mini's you'll be competing against, I still think you have a good chance of winning with that squad.

**Gitsplitta**

I'm not sure to be honest. Turns out that the judging criteria only apply to the kids competition. So the rest is just wide open by popular acclaim. The store usually gets some ringers in from out of town and the local painting talent is really good. So I'm really just in to debut the finished squads & fig. Will enjoy showing them off though... Always fun to get positive feedback.

**wyomingfox**

...auto spell corrector strikes again...I hope

**Gitsplitta**

Fixed.

Hey... gay feedback, straight feedback, it's all good man. As long as my ego is maintained we're copacetic.

**fatty**

I thhink the guide is very handy and smart of you git. the rest i am sure no one will be as close to fluff as you so that's a win no matter what

**wyomingfox**

Gitsplitta wrote:copacetic.

You just made me look that word up... and for that you git this

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2101/whats-the-origin-of-copacetic