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Update:
New pics, decided to go with red gems, grey cable and transfer on the tabard:







Original post:
I am going for a darker scheme to the normal bright colours.

Any recommendations to jazz this model up a bit? Thinking about possibly a transfer on the helmet... but they always turn out horrible when I do them (can see the outline and they're still shiny after a matte varnish)

I have to say it looks a little...plain, however, the technique quality of your painting is really really good. Its very well done, so I like it

How goods your freehand? Could try painting on a rune/symbol or something, either on the helmet or the loin cloth.

Put some gloss finish on the spot where you want to place the decal. Wait until its dry then apply decal and seal it over with gloss finish when it has dried. Than dullcote. If done right you cant see outlines anymore.

The model is great. Only some eyecatcher is missing. Like a decal as you said. I wouldnt put it on the head but on the tabard but thats me. Maybe you could paint some of the gemstones to break up the colors a bit. Red gemstones would give the right contrast in your current colorscheme http://www.colorschemedesigner.com/#3D32gw0w0w0w0

Thanks for the replies. I think I did the transfers incorrectly last time on my marines, I forgot to do the second gloss before applying the dull. I will definitely add a transfer to the tabard.

I want to paint some of the gems but where do you draw the line? Lol, there's so many on the model. I was thinking of painting some ice blue gems on the armour and red gems on the gun?

At the moment it's a very clean, well painted mini. It definitely needs something though.

I'd definitely pick some gems out (some being the operative word)

Also if you aren't confident with freehand then perhaps a simple black stripe along the bottom of the tabard would look good.

Perhaps a different colour for the gun cabling?

If your looking for suggestions, I would maybe paint the large gem on the chest in a orange red to signify the spirit stone, it really should have only one of those IMHO. then take whatever color you like for the other gems. (I think Alaitoc still uses red, but with blue yellow green looks a treat to, and I personally use purple with my scheme) The ones on the ankles and the shins are always great at breaking up the models color for me. then the middle one on the shoulders, and i tend to do pretty much all of them on the guns. the ones at the tip of the back fin are also prime targets. And to me its just jarring that you havent painted the grills on the soulder vents. They really need to be the same color as the cables on your gun and on the model, I did mine silver just to give it a bit of extra color (I did iyanden so my scheme is almost directly inverted of yours) but if you find that jaring I would make the shoulder vents the same colour as your gun at least. I would also just go for a freehand over a decal. If you get a size 000 or smaller brush and just practise at doing them they get better eventually, and a decent (Decent not perfect!) freehand is still a thousand times cooler then any decal .

Looks good so far. I'd like to see some gems painted and the Alaitoc Craftworld symbol on the head somewhere. Some runes on the loin cloth would be good too. I painted an Alaitoc Wraithlord in my Eldar gallery if you wanted to look as they are similar in form, I wont post it here as it would be like hijacking your thread! I over-did the gems on the thing (painted every single one), just paint a few of them and leave the rest.

Thanks guys. I have painted up some gems and the cable. I will post up a new photo once I've done the transfer.

@Asuryan - I only got the white Alaitoc symbols on my sheet, would be nice to have some of those black swords.

I was just wondering as I do not know, what do the squared infinite signs represent on the transfer sheet? I was going to use a black one on the bottom of the tabard.



Thank you

Well here as those symbols from the codex. They seem to represent the Wraith units (the last one on the right is a Wraithknight). The infinity symbol above a humanoid form probably represents their unending service after death or their newfound immortality? Whatever it means they are what GW uses on their Wraithguard heads.

Id go with a black alaitoc rune or the infinity rune on the head or tabard. I think a grayish blue tabard would look good instead of yellow myself. Silver on the venting and gun cable and a few red/orange gems and it will be most impressive. Im still assembling mine but am planning on going with an alaitoc theme as well

Do you go with the alaitoc mottled blue camouflage pattern on your vehicles? Just wondering if its possible to paint it on something as small as wraithguard.

Updated original post with new pics

I like the changes, personally I think the base needs a little love as well, maybe some tufts or clump foliage?

I agree adding some rune to the head will break up the area nicely, either that or do a large colour transition (dark to light) will also help

Looks quite good to me, I personally would have gone with a black decal because I find the white blend in to the yellow a bit to much, but thats just a question of personal taste.

It looks a lot better with the gems done though, and you definitively have a good grip on painting techniques.

Thanks for the kind words guys, I'm happy with how it turned out. I will have to buy some foliage for my bases.

@jedi76 - I have only just started this Alaitoc project but I will definitely be doing the stippling effect on my skimmers. You could do it on the wraithguard but I don't think the effect would be as great. I just ended up doing a heavy blue wash to give the mottled look.

Hello, welcome to Dakka!

Showcase is really more to show the model and get a few short comments. Since it looks like you want to discuss technique and ways to improve in depth, as well as plans for other models, I am moving you to Painting and Modelling.

This should actually help you get a great volume of comments and participation on the mentioned points.

Showcase is more about 'this model is done, I'm moving on' than 'how can I improve the next squad member or scheme' if you see what I mean.

Beautiful! I'm planning to start Alaitoc once my Eldar force arrives in the next week or so. Would you mind sharing a quick run-down on how you went about doing the colours?

Looks good!! Needs a little detail to the head.

Mr. Shine wrote:
Beautiful! I'm planning to start Alaitoc once my Eldar force arrives in the next week or so. Would you mind sharing a quick run-down on how you went about doing the colours?

Sure.

Blue:
Kantor Blue > Alaitoc Blue > wash Drakenhof Nightshade > highlight Hoeth Blue > glaze Gulliman Blue

Yellow:
Averland Sunset > Yriel Yellow > wash Casandora Yellow > highlight Flash Gitz Yellow > glaze Lamenters Yellow

Bone:
Zandri Dust > Karak Stone > wash Seraphim Sepia > highlight Screaming Skull

Gems:
Abaddon Black > Khorne Red > Wazdakka Red > Evil Sunz Scarlet > Ceramite White dot

Base:
Steel Legion Drab > drybrush Terminatus Stone > drybrush Longbeard Grey

Thanks very much, that's greatly appreciated! Are you planning to use a mottled scheme on your vehicles or any other units at all?

Look forward to seeing more

Mr. Shine wrote:
Thanks very much, that's greatly appreciated! Are you planning to use a mottled scheme on your vehicles or any other units at all?

Look forward to seeing more

I will only use that stippling effect on the skimmer vehicles I think. Everything else I will paint normally.

Definitely will post more in the future but I'm fairly slow!

The shading on the model is great however when you added the transfer it ended up looking out of place because of lack of shading. Just a slight shadow where it is in a low fold in the loincloth would integrate it into the model better.