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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnISodtaE9c

Watched this video yesterday and it's given me a neat perspective on how I might be able to paint my army. I really like the shine that this gives and I feel it almost has a more finished and exotic look, like a shiny car sorta feel. I'm curious if anyone has any sort of advice or experience or knowledge painting armies like this. Obviously this is more customary with Custodes or GK, but I imagine that most of the shading done after this would be with inks. (Not saying that I would paint every model in a DE/Eldar/Harlie armor metallic, but it is something neat to consider)

What this video doesn't go into is basically everything after the red base coat (like details I guess). I've been watching a lot of airbrushing videos because I would like to minimal brush work, and the gredations achieved with an airbrush are really neat to me. If I got this really nice metallic color, there isnt really any other acrylics I can use after, just inks or washes, as I'm assuming the only matalics are gold and silver and adding a flat color on top is something I'm a little leery about. I could mix black/white with the silver beforehand to still have a metallic color and be able to get more shades, or if I based white and then silver could I work my way down to darker tones with washes and inks?

Washes and inks are a newer concept to me, along with the variety of paints available in the first place (very minimal experience painting models), but if anyone could provide some useful info or links regarding any of these topics it would be much appreciated! Would very much like to have a solid plan before taking brush to plastic, but am currently eyeing something along the lines of this, or it's purple or blue varient: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzuB-_zRVeg

Here's my problem with techniques that are similar to this:

What happens if you screw up? Painting details and you overpaint onto the armor, how do you correct it?

I've always approached the airbrush as a starting tool (basecoats, initial shades/highlights) and lately, as a finishing tool (for washes/glazes/filters), but it should never be the only thing you do for a section.

And the reason is because the moment you have to paint over/correct it, it becomes visibly obvious and detracts from the quality of the model. You can't paint over an airbrushed piece that you might consider "finished" in this way.

So I would be highly wary of embracing this technique as a way of bringing a part of the model from start to finish if it involves zero brush work at all.

But that's just my opinion of it. Your hobby goals may vary.

I think it is a bit of a false complaint in case you mess up with an airbrush.
That is the same complaint when you apply shade: you have to complete your block painting and highlighting before you get into that or it will look strange.
Many people apply a gloss clear coat first before applying shade so it flows "properly" and allows easier cleanup of the inevitable blobs.
In many ways with the smaller airbrush I can keep a line some 1mm wide so with reasonable masking attempts, it make most of these worries a non-event.

In this case, I would suggest painting a mid-tone metallic over the entire model as shown.
Then use a darker metallic or even a rust tone metallic if dealing with old imperium equipment spraying from underneath.
Then using a light metallic, do a Zenithal highlight and that should then get reasonable shading in place prior to applying the clear tint.

You really cannot do much after that tint is put on, so you better be sure.