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Dang son! I like the helmeted head! Go with that!

@Ramos: Thanks. I kind of agree with you. I like some of the SW heads, but they're better on on SW. . But I was looking at options. So, do you like the helmet? Or is it just better than the SW head?

@Matt: thanks for reading my blog! That's a great idea to use the Immolator. I hadn't even seen that model. I'll look into it!

@Gits: Thanks! PM sent.

@eldar: Thanks, mate! Glad you like it!

For sure I like the helmet! I think it looks great!

Progress?

Been a little slow this week. Semester just started up again. Got some bases done and started putting together some Tac marines, as well as a GMS for Gits. Should get some pianting done this weekend. Pics to follow.

That's a couple of great conversions there, Yellowbeard! I love the idea of adding shaved down shoulderpads behind the heads to cmaouflage that open space. Plus the DV Termies already have quite a Pre-Heresy vibe going on as it is, so adding Pre-Heresy helmets was a great idea.

Many cool models, though my favourite has to be the guy with the fist and the raised bolter arm. He just has this massive, imposing look.

Oh, and I really wouldn't use a helmeted head on that Librarian: It would end up actually making him less recognisable as a psyker. What about adding one of the GK bare heads? They work really well for psykers and are chock-full of character!

Anyway, great work so far! Looking forward to seeing more!

Any new updates? I need to see some fire hawks!

 IceAngel wrote:
Any new updates? I need to see some fire hawks!

I saw a post and thought there would be some painted Fire Hawks, hopefully there will be some soon.

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the encouragement. I've been sick for over a week, and now my wife has it. Haven't had the energy to do anything. Hopefully I can get some painting done this week.

Hope your feeling better soon!

Hey, Everyone, finally got over my cold and got caught up on some work (sort of)....

Mananged to get in a game on Friday with Solar_lion and constantinemacgavin. No pics (sorry) and not much to report. We had fun, though, and I think we're getting better at the rules. We (me and constantine) lost to SL, but I think we played better than we had before.

Also, got some painting done today and took a couple of pics. I was playing with my lightbox, so most of the pics didn't turn out so hot, but here are a couple:





Not sure you can tell much from these, unfortunately, but here's the "recipe" (so far) if you're interested (and for my own record:

Gray primer
Balor Brown Base (I'll be using Vallejo Sand Brown in the future)
Vallejo Ochre Brown (may be using Golden Brown in the future)
Vallejo Golden Yellow (which was much paler than I expected)
Sepia Wash (whole model)

I used an airbrush and did a zenithal highlight - 45 degree angle with Ochre and 90% (directly overhead) with Golden Yellow. The Sepia really helped deepen the color and tied them together. My sepia wash wasn't always as smooth as I would have liked, and I need more practice with zenithal, but I like the direction it's going. Unfortunately, I think it's hard to see in these pictures, but it created a pretty nice highlight.

Anyway, if you can see the pictures well enough (they are big and zoomable), I have a couple of questions for you:

1. Is the color too brown? (Going for a deep, muted yellow)
2. Does it need another wash? (I had planned to do a wash of Agrax Earhtshade in the crevices, but 'm not sure it needs it)
3. What color should i do the lenses? (I'm leaning toward blue)

As always, C&C welcome.

Thanks for reading!

YB

Huzzah! Hes back!
Man I love the Mk5 armor.... I really want to get some.

I do quite like the earthy ochre color you have going. Way different than i was expecting on firehawks. Its much brighter than the rusty color in IA. While Ive no problem with it, Im curious what your thoughts are as far as the yellow shoulder trim and details. Yellow wont stand out with your current color. Maybe the rusty color there? Sort of a pallet swap!

As far as another wash, I dont think thats necessary. What I would recommend, though, is going in with a brush and edging the highest areas and edges of armor plates in a slightly brighter color. Maybe the golden yellow you ended with before the wash? This is what I do to WMs Scorpions after a similar zenithal approach, and I find the results turn out quite well.

Oh ad for future washes, I find that watering them down somewhat helps them coat more evenly.

Blue on lenses would be great. Green would work equally well. Part of me wants to say purple, as it would stand out awesomely, if you were wanting to go that route. Never seen purple lenses on SMs before!

Looking good YB, good to see some progress. I've got nothing past what Ramos said for pointers, really. He just wants you to do purple cuz of the RSs power weapons have him seeing purple. The bases look sharp too.

We may be able to work some MK V stuff in Ramos, I've got spares (I may have mentioned I have a lot of stuff stockpiled).

Oooooh yes! Dude we gotta get a game in soon. Im frothing at the mouth with all this Adepticon anticipation xD

Love to see those Fire Hawks coming along. Fantastic YB! Love RA's advice... pointing you in the right direction all the way.

They are bit darker in person. but the poses and base colors came out really well!

Thanks, guys.

So, you all think the color works? I kind of like how it came out, but I wasn't sure it was appropriate for the Fire Hawks....

Also, I'm kind of curious what effect a yellow glaze would have, but I'm afraid to try it.

I'll try to take a couple of better pictures to show the shading tonight.

@Ramos: Yes, I'm planning the Rust color for spot colors. I'm not sure yet where, but when I get around to flames, I'll use that duller rust red. I might do the shoulder pad edges on the Mk VI in that color, too. Not sure about Mk V or III. I'll probably do some of the weapon casings (chainswords) in that color, too. Eagles and the Lightning on the Sergeant will get that color. Any other places you would suggest.

I'll work on the line highlights. I'm really hesitant to do them, though, because, well, I don't know what I'm doing.

Purple would be a good color as it is actually the complimentary color to yellow, but I think blue will be nice and might stand out better with the rust highlights than purple will. Green was my second choice....

Thanks for the advice!

I like where you are at with these! I think they look fine for Firehawks. Do you want them to look weathered?

Thanks, eldar! I do kind of like that they look older and a little "antique".

Ok, so a slightly better photo (I think) for the shading:



The lightbox is nice, but I seem to have to use a flash with it, which seems to throw the colors off a bit.

Started on a few details this evening:



and a closer pic of the same marin in the first photo:



C&C welcome. Suggestions always appreciated!

YB

I think they'll turn out great YB, no worries!

Awesome. Its amazing how even adding one color in details can break up the model.

As far as the edge highlighting goes, its a learning experience, but you get the hang of it pretty quick. I usually just hit the tops of the knees, the edges of the helmet, the tips of the boots, etc. Id suggest messing around on a test model first.
Honestly though, with the new pics emerging I don't think you really need em if you were wanting to avoid em. The color looks great, and the metal breaks it up great.

Cant wait to see where they go from here!

That's a lovely, rich colour you've got going on there!

Been a while since I checked this thread but I'm loving what I see. The DV Termis came out really well, I really really like that Cyclone conversion. The colour you've come up with is looking great as well. I prefer the helmeted head on the Libby but that's personal preference.

Fantastic work all round, you're really cranking these guys out.

Looking good.. I'd go with the harness and joint seems in black and drybrush the metal in them. it would give them more depth.

@Gits: Thanks! I appreciate the vote of confidence!

@Ramos: Thanks, man. I'll get to the line highlighting, it's just that I've got terrible manual dexterity and I'm afraid that my hand will shake and I'll end up with squiggles all over the place... but not in a good way. Thanks for the pointers. I'll be sure to take a look at the Scorpions when I get around to it.

@Graven: That's what I was going for. I'm glad to hear you like it! My technique coulkd be a little smoother, but I'm pretty happy with what I wa able to achieve so far.

@Bio: Thanks for checking out the blog again! Really glad to have you along. Thanks for your comments. I was pretty happy with the Termies, and the cyclone is the most involved conversion I've done. It didn't come out as well as I would have likde, but I'm fairly happy with it. I really like the Power Fist on that guy.

@SL: Yeah, I agree. I wanted to try the Metal/Black Wash to see how it came out. I think it's all right (and actually, I think the bits of flooring came out nicely, but then they also have Agrax Earthshade on them), but I think the Black/Metal Drybrush will be better. Should give better depth, as you say, and I think the black base will match the yellow better. Now, do I repaint these parts on these guys or just move forward?

I would repaint those parts if you are confident it will stand out. If not, then meh!

I'd do it now before you get too involved in the detail painting. You'll be happier in the long term!


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Gitsplitta wrote:
Hey YB.... helmeted head... definitely.

I can help you out with the Mk 1 razorbacks. No problemo. PM me.

Did you want to use the other RB I have? ( the one used in tour game last week) not sure is Git sending you 2?

I think Gits is going to hook me up with 2... I just have to build a Fire Hawk for him as trad. Should be able to do it this weekend, I hope. I'll keep that other RB in mind, though, in case i do need it. Thanks!

Yep, I've got you covered... just forgot to mail them. Sorry YB.

Ok, I repainted one of the models with a Black base and Leadbealcher dry brush:



While I think the colors are better, I am very disappointed in this model. This is remarkably sloppy painting, and I'm not really sure how to fix it at this point. Here are a couple more angles:





And here's a comparison to one of the models using Leadbelcher and a Black wash:



Also tried a couple of other colors, as you can see. Not sure about the red (used Vallejo Light Rust and Sepia wash). Here's the best view of it:





How the did I get blue on his sword?



On the upside, I think the blue lenses look pretty good....

C&C always welcome.

Thanks for reading.

YB