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Looks much more alive now. Often think you need 3 colours before things start looking real.

* and I inadvertently turned the page. Look at the previous page everyone! *

Added a smidge more, including a thin streak of red over the eye holes, which I think really worked. Not quite OSL, but in the same wheelhouse.

Also now happy enough with my proof of concept, I’ll be cracking on with my first two Castellax today.

My wee helper is still here though, and it’s miserable out. So the initial undercoat will need to await until sensitive snoots have gone home.




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Also, I need to keep in mind the Mechanicum stuff will have more pronounced and noticable weapons. Therefore, I’ll have more things to consider with my colour placement. Which can be a double edged sword.


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Derphound is off away with his Mummy, so the Castellax have had their initial spray.

Got early bed tonight, as I need to be up at Stupid O’Clock to drive into the office tomorrow morning, so might just get the undercoat and mahogany down today.

Day 225

Ok doke. Today I begin the Castellax, with a more in-depth how to. Now I’ve got the main metal stage done, I’m considering where I want my brass/copper tone to go. Time wise, not including spraying, this was maybe 10 minutes.

Fig 1. Two Castellax, in Chaos Black. Note the Model Color “Mahogany”, and Citadel Large Drybrush.

Fig 2. The same two Castellax, with the Mahogany Drybrush. Note the Army Painter Gun Metal.

Fig 3. A halfway comparison of the Gun Metal step.

Fig 4. Two Castellax with their first two drybrushes done.

Fig 5. Last stage Castellax, Citadel small Drybrush and Army Painter True Copper.

Fig 6. First one with its copper tones applied. This was done as not-quite a drybrush technique. Couple of layers to build it up. Chunky shoulder plates, chest plate (not the head), crotch plate and limb armour to be painted Citadel Contrast Ork Flesh. Looks a bit rough now, but trust the process.

Fig 7. Both done in True Copper

Fig 8. Noodly bits on the Darkfire Cannon. Stages 5-8 took about 10 minutes in total.

Fig 9. Ork Flesh on the first one.

Gonna call it a day here, as I want that Ork Flesh fully dried before I go fiddling further. It does currently look quite dark, to the point some details are obscured. But that’s why tomorrow, provided I’m happy with the Ork Flesh (I should be!) I’ll be cracking on lightening up certain bits and bobs. Especially the emblem on the crotch plate, and the servoskull type thing embedded in the chest.

So far I think the scheme suits these guys better than the Ambot, maybe due to the more obvious weapons you mentioned, etc

Day 226

Office commute is draining, so just finished off the first Castellax. Pretty much just spot colouring the underlying metallic Skellington.

For a quick and dirty, easily replicated paint job, I’m satisfied.

No that was a slight fib. Added some red, and now I’m satisfied.

looks rad, really, good choice of colours

Thank you

It’s super quick to do (probably 45 minutes to do a boxed set, not including spray drying time), so my temptation to expand Legion Auxillaries to a formal Allied unit, then to a second army is pretty strong right now.


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Definitely needs a revisit. Right now, the copper tone is top heavy. So tomorrow,I’ll give the shins and big bit of the toes a coat of True Copper. Balance it out.

Nice work Mad Doc.

Cheers,

CB

Day 227

In a boring video meeting. Did some painting, adding more copper to the lower half. And it’s balanced out quite nicely.

Definitely calling this lad done, and his buddy will be tonight’s project.

Looking superb - will you put any of the decals on it? I'm glad I axed my 30k Tsons army as those are tempting me to make a new force (none of my 40k armies have big robots).

Paintjob looks smooth.

Not normally one for decals, but I’ll have a look at the stock ones from the Mechanicum boxes.

My Dark Angels are currently going without, as I need a lot. And the official sheet, whilst gorgeous, is pricey and I’d need four or five for all the ones I need.

And the second one Ork Fleshed.

Yes it’s a slow day at work. Well. Not slow. More a Very Thinky Day, and it does me good to change track for five or ten minutes.

Looking good Doc, and the British Racing Green gives it a nice H.G. Wells vibe

Thank you

I’m really pleased with how they’re turning out, and I look forward to applying it to a whole army. But that’ll take time, as I’m not gonna bulk buy a whole new army, instead “buy, build, paint” on a monthly budget.

Not sure I’ll bother with weedy Tech Thralls though. Definitely want to go Stompy Mechs.

Also a side-by-side comparison pic to show why I wanted to lighten them up once the green was on. Just adds definition to the finer detail, and ties it altogether quite nicely.




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Wait, that’s a dreadful photo.

Aaaaaand done.




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Also nabbed a second box of Castellax. It’s dangerous when you’re a ten minute walk to your FLGS, and it’s perilously close to the supermarket.

Those I’m going to save for a special weekend self challenge. Specifically, to build and paint that unit in the same day.

Paintjob is definitely suited to that sort of challenge, so the only thing that might fail me is my hobby stamina. But I reckon if I start at 10am (gives me a lay in), I could be done as early as 4pm, provided the spray paint doesn’t leave patchy missed areas.

And one last effort before bed. Two more Thallaxi assembled. Not entirely certain I got the arms right on the third one, but it looks fine all the same.

Slightly fiddly, but tolerable.

For my next trick? This evening finish building the Thallaxi and get them sprayed. Possibly even so far as the first two drybrushes.

Tomorrow? Get them doneded, leaving me feet clear to attempt to Build and Paint the next box of Castellax.

Day 228

Going to plan so far. All six Thallaxi built. Just need to leave them to dry, then it’s into the spray box.

They're very cool models, very imposing. And they make the LI predators look very cute in comparison!

Right, ready for tomorrow.

Also bonus pic of a Space Marine mucking around with his RC Tanks, in direct contravention of the Codex Astartes, as that’s strictly a Tuesday night activity.

Being a techmarine is just the best, isn't it? Why would you want to be any other marine?

Day 229, I think

And I’ve done a Thallaxi test piece for colour placement.

Overall I’m happy with it, just need to let it dry, then whack on the Ork Flesh Contrast.

From there I imagine I’ll want to put on some lighter steel bits here and there, but that’s definitely a decision for after the Green.

Green done, and it’s definitely going to need lighter metals, and additional Copper in particular.

This is mainly because the gun being held across the chest really darkens it. Got a good idea what I want to do, and where I want to do it though.

Example of what I mean, with a rear shot.

Here there’s a much better balance of manky metal, green and copper. Won’t take much to balance the front like, but it’s definitely necessary.

Day 230

And that’s the first Thallaxi done. Bit more copper added since last night, and some Gun Metal here and there to break up the main metal colour and bring out the details.

Next up is the belated start to my Saturday Challenge. Can I build and paint a box of two Castellax in a single day?

I dunno, but I’m about to find out. JOB ON!

And managed to get two Castellax from Boxed to Based in a single day.

There’s no stopping me today! Thallaxi now mostly done. Tomorrow I’ll do their green, and any brightening spots.

Oh, and gloop their bases.

Day 231

It’s Thallaxi Thunday!

Ork Flesh done, next up will be the usual spot colours to brighten up and bring out noodly details.

Now just the basing goop to go. Also started blocking in the (many, many, many) metallic areas on the Praevian.

Hated it at first, but now it’s dried and the paint is clinging to the details, much happier. Next will be a thin Agrax wash over the metal to add some definition and light grime.

From there, probably some variant metallics to add interest and pick out noodlys. Finally some red and I’ll call him done.

Oh. Wait. And do bone on the two servo-skulls.

Right, Thallaxi done, and Praevian just needs a little touch up with Grim Black.

Nipped back and did the base rims in Mechanicus Standard Grey, to match my Dark Angela.

That metallic green is working really well on your robots.