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@Luvvo: pinch away buddy! I pinched it myself from a pocture of a Death Company marine I saw online

Done a bit of re-positioning...





Still got a fair way to go. Terminators are coming along nicely: just got the claws and blingy bits to go. Work has started on the Baal Predator too.

Looking great.

Cheers Cam. I have finished the assault terminators and have started the tactical ones and the Predator while I mull over what to do next on Mephiston...

Pics of the terminator squad:



















Not as happy with them as I probably should be (there are a couple of odd bits here and there that are fairly rough) but they are my first completed unit since about 2005...

I have also monumentally screwed up my Predator. So, I've scrubbed it with methylated spirits and also white spirits to get rid of the paint/varnish. So... Starting all over again!

That's a good looking batch of Tartaros. Great reds.

 Elnibbus wrote:
@Theophony: are you sure? Aside from the nipple-armour, I can't see much in the way of Greek in them? Anyway, I'll just fart about with scrollwork and hope for the best.

Sorry for the late reply.

I'll have to dig up older stories, but you also have the death masks. They talk about the columns in some stories and you get a very Greek/roman feel from that. There's also his younger years when he was part of the blood tribe which would cast out the misformed (very spartan) to die. Tycho as a hero's name is another part of it. I could well be wrong, but there certainly are influences.

I like what you've done with the repositioning.

No problem Theo, I see what you're getting at. I think I was focussing more on the artwork they tend to lavish on their vehicles and the imagery is kinda renaissance in style.

Anyhoo, work has commenced on the Tactical Terminators alongside the Predator (which I've started again). Hopefully have the Terms done by the end of next week.

Then I can get some Death Company...

The Renaissance (which is the inspiration for the Blood Angels aesthetic) is heavily Greek-influenced. So it's more like classical Greece is an influence on an influence rather than being direct like it is for Ultramarines.

Tycho, with his artificial nose, is a reference to Tycho Brahe - quite an important figure in the late Renaissance.

e: and, of course, Commander Dante.

Yep, good point Corrode...

At any rate, I have done sweet FA over the weekend because I had my stag-do. After copious amounts of booze (and vomit), I returned home on Sunday and crawled to the study where I poked at the Predator with trembling hands before giving up to feel sorry for myself on the sofa with the cat. I ordered pizza and fell asleep.

I tried doing some sculpting yesterday but I still couldn't concentrate/keep a steady hand. My only consolation from the weekend was my bright pink "Bride to Be sash" and my clay pigeon shooting trophies (which I won on Saturday despite a horrendous hangover).

Needless to say, I am way behind where I envisaged I would be at this stage however I will endeavor to get SOMETHING finished this week, perhaps the tank as I think it would be quicker than the Terminators...

That is the best update i've read in a while lol! I do like to see beyond the wall, hope you're feeling more up to it!

So I've got a wee update on my Deimos Baal Predator...

That's some nicely done powder dirt there! it certainly adds to the heavy duty nature of the tank and you've applied it well! have you just used powders? or a mix of drybrushing paint as well?

Great work on the Predator. I love the old style exhausts on that thing.

Thanks both!

@nerdfest, I did some paint chipping effects under the dirt and then applied powders over the top. The paint is mostly obscured but where it does show through, goves the illusion of scraped armour (I think).

Just got weapons and minor details to go and my entry for the September Dakka painting comp is done. Then onto the second termie squad.

Just a wee update with some freehand details...

That is some very tidy freehand, well done.

Thanks Corrode

Just got the sponson weapons to go before I can call it done for the purposes of the painting competition but I still have the other turret options to do...

I've already started on the next squad of terminators but they'll take longer than the first, purely because I ewant to do a better job of them!

Very sweet. Will definitely keep an eye on this page.

Exceptional work bud, wonderful.

Thanks chaps. Look, additional progress!



Trying out the scratching techniques I used on the Pred on the Terminators... It's slow going and I'm not sure it's working. I will get better pictures in my lightbox later tonight.

Yup, lovely work on the tank.

We need some group pictures of everything you have finished so far buddy. Looking very well.

Finished my Deimos Baal Predator:

Looks awesome. Great weathering!

Thanks youwashock I did think I may have overdone it in places but I think it turned out OK overall.

Right folks. I'm in the doldrums somewhat with the hobby at the moment. I seem to put a lot of effort into my models to get pretty dismal scores from votes in the gallery and in painting competitions. Far from this being a plug, can anyone recommend ways for me to improve upon my painting/modelling?

I mean, I try to inject a bit of realism into what I do but is this the problem? Are my paint palettes too dull? Are the poses of the minis too static/not dynamic enough?

Do I need to do something big and flashy? More freehand?

Step one: don't put a lot of stock in gallery votes and painting competitions.

Objectively speaking, you are a good painter. Your technique is well-developed, and your schemes are well thought out and well-executed. While we are all here seeking validation from strangers, the important thing to remember is that you do this for yourself first. If you are happy with what you have done, that is the most important thing.

I have been there on that one buddy. I do enjoy getting a buzz out of a vote or comment now and then but don't pay any real attention to it. I avoid the competitions (apart from the LoER ) as they tend to be a bit funny and highly demotivating for me.

Your work is brilliant, and among the best I know and definitely one of the few I come look at for inspiration. You have a style that is very realistic and would not be out of place in the historical section. Please don't get me wrong, you still have areas to challenge you and I am not trying to just stroke your ego here. I was in exactly the same place a while ago.

I paint for me now. Model for me now. Some people like it and ask for some of my stuff, many don't as is evident in the gallery and the few competitions I have entered.

If you want a higher profile here on Dakka the only one I know for sure is to get a comment or two on the gallery. Your work is easily good enough to be noticed as it is, so don't need anything flashy.

I'd say that if you want to succeed in painting competitions with 40k or get tons of Dakka gallery votes you need to change your style. Make it bigger, bolder and louder so it catches the eye more.

Personally I'd tell you not to bother though - you have a great style which works really well.