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Ah thanks. One of the rumours in the Overkill thread here mentioned that the codex was likely to be back end of this year, rather than 3-4 months. The sooner the better though.

I'd agree with a fair amount of speculation in that bols article; though there isn't really anything new there. It was, however, missing brood brothers as a staple in all past cults; maybe along the same level as cadets. The fluff in Overkill hints at hypnotic gaze, with Inquisitor Chaegryn having a complete change of heart about the situation. I'd be interested to see if they incorporate this into the force somewhere, either with a new power, or the ability to take allies from some other armies.

Look forward to seeing where this goes with the new cult models, your work with the cult was amazing before, it going to be next level now!

Nice to see you back in action, I have no doubt we'll see some really creative stuff outta this set.

So, prepping 50 models and their bases and priming takes longer than one would think lol... Then I spent way too much time painting this guy, but it was fun to be back in the saddle and do some experimentation... a converted Aberrant.

There is not too much fluff on these guys, but the way I like to imagine it is that their bodies are rejecting the stealer limbs for some reason, some mutant immuno response. So, I want them infected and swollen looking at the limb junctions (but not in a nurgly pussy kind of way, more in a red, swollen and painful kind of way).

As per my previous custom cultists, I estimate this guy to be a first or 2nd gen hybrid, meaning that his stealer skin, carapace and nails are partially transitioned to human-like skin and bone and nail coloring. Purestrains and first gens will be darker blue and cooler purples.

Anyways, yakkidy yak, here is is, first model in 2.5 years -











May be a while for the next ones.... this is slow going lol. Thanks for looking -

That looks fantastic mate! Loving the range of tones, and you definitely got across that something is going wrong! Great work, can't believe that's two years without practice!

That looks absolutely amazing. Doesn't matter if it's going slow, the results speak for themselves.

EDC

Stunning paint job there, mate! Nice work!
The genestealer arms look sore lol

Those colours! The blending!

I guess it's ok since you have been slacking off for so long.

Just messing, he looks great. Though at this pace you'll have like 2 years in finishing these 50 guys. Not that a slower pace is a bad thing, as long as you are ok with it.

I think that is possibly the best skin that I have ever seen painted on a miniature, glorious colours and blending. If taking time yields those results I do not see any issue taking "way too much time" painting the Deathwatch:Overkill models. Extraordinary work.

Excellent looking addition.

If whale is correct we should be on 40k version 11 or 12 by then..

whalemusic360 wrote:I guess it's ok since you have been slacking off for so long.

Just messing, he looks great. Though at this pace you'll have like 2 years in finishing these 50 guys. Not that a slower pace is a bad thing, as long as you are ok with it.

Solar_lion wrote:Excellent looking addition.

If whale is correct we should be on 40k version 11 or 12 by then..

He he, just to clarify, I put the first paint down on it last weekend, it was slow in that I spend a lot of time fiddling and changing my mind... trust me if you saw the wips you'd see the carapace go from turquoise to blue to blue with yellow highlights to current, and the skin like 4 times I went 'MOAR CONTRAST' after subjecting myself the harsh but loving reviews of my good buddy Mat Fontaine lol... (Or, as our circle knows him, the 'disapproving father').

It took forever to get started just from careful clean up and sanding on the whole box, then converting the entire 2nd sprue to make sure that no models were identical, with heavier conversions/sculpts on the aberrants than anything else. Not sure anyone really noticed but this dude is not 'stock', complete leg swap and arm rempose, switched out hands etc. And an eyepatch. Eye patches are cool

Next ones will be more done in groups and should go quicker now that I know what techniques I want to use and how to get em on faster! That being said, still slow in terms of amount of time I will be able to throw at it, I do have two little boys who will burn the house down if I turn my back now as opposed to 2 years ago lol!

Thraxas Of Turai wrote:I think that is possibly the best skin that I have ever seen painted on a miniature, glorious colours and blending. If taking time yields those results I do not see any issue taking "way too much time" painting the Deathwatch:Overkill models. Extraordinary work.

Thank you! However, as much as I would like to keep the title I would want to quickly direct you to look at the works of Ben Komets, Roman Lappat, Ben Komets, Bohun, Mathieu Fontaine, Alfonso Giraldes, Angel Giraldez and about 100 more, you will quickly strip me of the belt lol! Thank you though, very nice of you to say, especially since I consider the things you pointed out besides color to be weaker areas of mine

Ha, didn't notice the eye patch until you mentioned it. He's facing a direction that kind of hides it from a downward angled photo. I dig it.

Wonderful use of color variation and modulation. Reds vs blues and greens, darks to pastels... it's like a study piece for your color theory course. Splendid!

OK, that's enough kissing your arse... what's next?

What's next? Moar Stealers of course... Not sure what I will do, batch out the rest of the aberrants (8 total), do one of each generation as templates... I dunno.

There will be 2 Knights that will be tempting me sooner than later too lol... shoulda never dipped my toes back in!

How about you guys? More Aberrants? Different generations? What do you think?

Oh, knights will be cool! I'd vote for different gens, get a feel for the changes you'll be doing between them.

Absolutely amazing work chief, the mottleing on the chitin and the vein work, mind blowing.

It depends, for us, one of each would be amazing. For you, batch work will give you progress.

N

I think I'm with WM on this one. Would like to see the "life cycle" expanded upon.

Well it's been a few years, but the life cycle is covered -





So as you can see I went with an approximation of my 2nd generation scheme on the aberrant - More or less will be sticking with the rules I put down on my one of a kind sculpt cult and SH stealers back in the day, just, hopefully, done better with a few more years experience.

The plan I made though back then still mostly stands -







I still like it

We don't wanna see you old life cycle, we want fresh and new!

Great work on that Hybrid. What were the palette plates created for? I see some instructions and preferences there.

whalemusic360 wrote:We don't wanna see you old life cycle, we want fresh and new!

Lol, well, it will be fresh models, consistent paint choices

Azazelx wrote:Great work on that Hybrid. What were the palette plates created for? I see some instructions and preferences there.

The palette guides were created for my original custom stealer cult done a few years back. I had Sigur paint some of them for me using that guide and then finished them up myself. Farming out some of the work felt like the only way to get it done in any kind of reasonable time. Originally I had intended to just leave the paint as is from him, and he did a great job, but I OCD'd and ended up spending about an additional 70 hours or so painting them again.

Wow, that Aberrant is gruesomely horrific. Excellent work as one would expect fro you... Love the tortured flesh tones and veins around the carapace arm and hand

Bloody lovely!!! Great stuff

Some awesome finishes on these models he fine detail is outstanding

Wow you run with a tough crowd! and repainting Sigards work with 70hrs of additional pain. Labor of love for sure!

It was! Was proud to get it all done though, and still proud of the designs too... I think my 1st gens are a better concept still, but they nailed the rest 100%, and I am glad that my versions will fit in fairly well, as they retain a lot of the same design DNA. Obviously, much better sculpts on the new ones though, can't have it all!

Started the bases for the new-new march of generations last night, will take a while but writing it helps keep me motivated to get down to the painting room at night, at least a couple of times a week!

They look great. keep posting even WIP pics, it helps us see the process you laid out.

It's like riding a bike Tom...painting you just don't forget and the new model looks great!

Well, yeah, it came back pretty quick -


Automatically Appended Next Post:
In the interest of making this a blog and not a showcase, and since some asked, some WIPs that show the process and a bit of the back and forth involved particularly on the carapace, and the pushing for more and more contrast on the skin -

Starting out with the base, done almost entirely with Secret Weapon Acrylics, very nice to use! High pigment and medium, really optimized to glazing and effects, enough coverage for basic use, but smooth enough for very nice blending too -



Basic AB starting point -







Stage 2 more or less, start working the carapace here, wanted a halfway point between stealer navy/indigo and bone, but it was too bright to start, even though I kinda like it - stealer flesh also started, continuing skin and back











Pre-final more or less, started knocking back the blue and desaturating, adding in mottling and other color and brightness contrast tricks.