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@Rhich: Thanks man All done with the camo now...
@Para: I didn't have a problem with facing mass psykers. I kept hold of my d6 psychic dice, and only threw them to deny when absolutely necessary. For example, I dropped my Vulture into hover mode and he cast some powerful tzeentch anti-tank spell, so I threw the dice I had at it. For the rest, I just let him have it. What ever he buffed, I just ignored it and hamstringed the rest of his army.

So, here is it. My COMPLETE army




















I've got that feeling of satisfaction that you get when you finally complete an army
I also made a showcase thread, so people who dont follow this blog can take a look. Look here.

And, you know what's coming next...?


Stay tuned...
Z

Very, very nice. Sharp looking force there.

I noticed scrolls on the side of some tanks, have you named them all? Or numbered them? How do guard players tell their tanks apart? Particuarly well camoflaged ones?

Do you have plans for the flying stands? Or a display board?

Looks really good all together like that mate. A pat on tne back from Liverpool...

Damn son...

Thanks everyone

@Nev: No plans for a display board. I think it's too big a project both in terms of physical size and work load for me to want to do.

I've been getting my teeth back into my Scars. I must say, they're a welcome change to tanks
I'm almost finished on the Vanguard vets. I like the vanguard vets in theory, but their point costs can get ridiculous. I've kept them modest with 2 with a pair of claws and the sargent with a power sword. They come in at 185 points and have suitable melee power to do a decent enough job.
I'll post a finished pic of them, and some of the other WiP stuff I have going on, soon.

Afternoon all!

Here is my first White Scars update in a while!

I'm pushing ahead with the remaining few bikes. I'm close to finishing the final vet for my Command Squad (remember, I only painted 4 vets - I had to draft a regular guy for the last vet) and I'm in progress on an Attack Bike. Pics of them when they're finished.
It's hard to go back to painting these. I've forgotten my routine :( I had a very efficient way of painting each stage on a group of minis, with a refined process for the right balance of speed and quality. But I've totally forgotten the order in which I paint things, and how to 'speed up' the process... It's a bit of a downer, but I'll get back into it.

Here are the Vangaurd Vets that I've finished




I've also built my Storm Raven!
That thing is BIG.

As you can see, I've primed and painted some areas already. The top turret, is detachable. As are the guns on the turret and the top part of the turret is removeable so I can paint the servitor inside and attach the canopy before I glue it down. Also the red piece over the main cockpit isn't glued down yet. I can take it off, paint the tech marine and glue the canopy then place the red piece back. I'n hindsight, I'm not really sure why I didn't just prime the whole thing in one... lol. The air intake on the top and the wings aren't glued down. They actually sit snugly without sagging, so I'll be leaving them unattached for the sake of transport/storage.

Observations, comments, criticism?
Z

If you have a complicated system, it might be worth writing down how you do things. That way if you need to go back and fix stuff, or add more to your army down the road, you’ll know how. You could even do it here in this blog, so others can replicate what you’ve done. You might want to go back and notate your guard while it’s still fresh in your mind.

Your golds are very warm and vibrant. How do you do them?

I hear what you are saying about the VV on the table. I need to finish painting mine so I can field them. Did you magnetize yours at all? It’s one kit that screamed out for it to me. What you have pictured there should butcher marines very well, but might have problems with other things. Although with the LCs you should do well against slightly tougher 3+ save models, like other bike lists.

Good stuff, and nice to see the boys in white again. It may be taking a little longer, but that's always the case when coming back to an old scheme. Nev's advice is solid, too, of making a step-by-step and filing it for reference.

@Nev: Good shout on writing the scheme down. I did it for my Guard scheme, and will do it for my Scars once remember exactly what it was. I didn't magnetise them, unfortunately. As for the gold, it's super simple. Over primer, go with Beasty Brown, then Glorious Gold (both VGC) then Agrax Earthshade. With the wash, instead of loading up the brush and slapping wash all over the place, wipe most of the wash off and use a tiny amount to cover the gold, dragging any pools to where they are needed.
@Para: Thanks mate It took me 2 days to do 2 bikes + riders from primed to painted. I used to be able to do 3 in a day, primed to painted... Quite a substantial speed change. I have 3 side cars and 2 bikes left, I'm going to do them all at the same time, hopefully that'll pick up the pace.

Good work mate. Glad to have someone doing scars whilst im doing smurfs lol...

 McManiak wrote:
Good work mate. Glad to have someone doing scars whilst im doing smurfs lol...

Thanks mate I've been keeping an eye on your Ultras, they're coming along nicely.

So, I've almost finished the bikes:

That is the last of them, waiting on their bases. The PVA glue is drying as I type. Tomorrow, I'll likely sit down for a good airbrush session, and varnish the bikes, paint the bases and prime/paint the rest of the SR.

Z

Nice stuff. Any chance of some close-ups of the vet at the front?

 Paradigm wrote:
Nice stuff. Any chance of some close-ups of the vet at the front?

Yepp, just as soon as it's finished and based

Morning all

Got my bikes all done.




The SR and LR are getting worked on slowly. They're too big for me to want to sit down and work on them, but I'm doing a little bit here and there.

I'm starting to work on something else, too. It's not IG or WS related. Feel free to take some guesses, I wont be spoiling the supprise until I have a finished unit or model

Z

Looking good.

As for the TOP SECRET project, I'm pretty sure you mentioned it in another blog a while back that I re-read the other day, and I recall thinking that it might just be a bit awesome. At a guess, bronze and red? Or am I barking entirely up the wrong tree?

Hmmmm..... bronze and red makes me think world eaters but I would hazzard a stab In the dark at orks...waaaaaaaaaggggggghhhhhhhhhh

I like the vet. Pointing finger say “Lets kill that one next” to me. I can picture him racing across the warzone, picking off targets with his squad, whittling down the opposing army.

I noticed you only drilled the barrels on one of the MMs. Intentional, experiment, or oversight? I’m not one of the people always telling people to drill theirs, but it’s odd that you did some but not all.

One of the problems I have with attack bikes (and the normal bike kit in parts) is that "what is trim?” question. For example, the foot guard in from of the sidecar gunner has the same texture as the other trim on the bike. But lacks any side detail to tell you where the trim stops and the bike starts. I notice you left yours white. I painted mine (but had to keep a steady hand to keep the thickness right). Not that one or the other is right/wrong, just different interpretations on the same model.

 Nevelon wrote:

I noticed you only drilled the barrels on one of the MMs. Intentional, experiment, or oversight?

Oops, it was an oversight.
I missed two MMs and 2 bolter barrels. I'll get them next time the drill bit is out.
I totally understand what you mean about the trim. Some bits are really unclear as to whether or not they should be painted in the trim colour. Back in the beginning, I decided what was trim and not. I just went with any raised areas on the edge of white pannels. I try and carry that through anything I paint. Which is hard, because the SR I have now doesn't really have anything that strikes me as 'trim'. I think I'm going paint the cases that contain the engine thrusters red. That is all I can see being trim on it.

@Para: Good memory. You're refering to Sas0mg's Minotaurs blog, for those who have no idea what we're talking about. I did think long and hard about a Minotaurs army. But it came down to the fact that it isn't a new army. It'll still be Codex: Space Marines. And considering that I already have bikes for C:SM, I couldn't bring myself to trade bikes for tactical marines.

@Maniak: I can neither confirm, nor deny your guesses

I have quite a few items in the post, coming to me. And I'm going to pick up the models and paints I need from the gaming store today. Should have a concept model done by the end of the week.
Z

Ah, a shame you're not doing the minotaurs, they're an awesome Chapter. Still, I see what you mean about not wanting 2 armies from the same codex (looks at shelf. Has 3 Codex SM armies...)

maybe use a different colour alonside the purple to contrast like a bright pink or something.

There is no purple (or pink for that matter) in model air but if you use 2 air colours and make a whole bottle in one of your empty (white most likely) bottles you should be ok for a while.

Hex looks neat but I really think the contrast needs to be more vibrant as I said above.

Gems look good too

From fast bikes to SUPER FAST bikes

Nice! I can’t give you any flack for switching to Eldar, as in theory I should be devoting half of my blog to them...

What’s your motivation? Are you trying to match a specific craftworld? Why did you pick those shades and pattern? What color scheme are you planning for the riders?

It’s hard to tell from the lighting, but it looks like you have a pastel, lavender shade. It might just be the optical blending of the purple and pink. Looking at the second picture, the shadow on the one to the left darkens up nicely. A little less flowery. I think a nice rich indigo or royal purple might work better. More gems, less flowers.

@Para: lol. Thanks for the suggestion. Once they're stripped, i'll do one in a blue scheme, see how that pans out. Thanks for the compliment on the gems! There are so... so... many! I've never really painted gems in any sort of volume before. I learnt a few things as I was going, regarding the light positioning etc. I'm glad they're good enough to be complimented

@Maniak: Pink is a possibility, but I want to try and keep it in the realms of purple. I think SUPER FAST maybe a slight understatement...

@Nev: A year and 10+ pages of your blog, and you've not done a single Eldar update (IIRC)... I think your Ultras might be getting a little too much love(?), lol.
One thing I've learnt playing IG recently is that I love speed. Being hampered to 6" moves, I find, frustrating. I dont know if it's because I came into playing using Bikes, or if it's just something I naturally prefer, either way, I like it. I like that Eldar's entire firepower is mobile, unlike SM (bikes are, most support units aren't). I'm playing off this new found preferance for speed, and I'm aiming for mostly a mech army. Lots of mobile heavy support. Vypers, Falcons, Fire Prisms are a definate, going to try and dodge the stigma of lots of Wave Serpents by keeping them minimal, plus a few other units to fill the gaps.
As for the colour choices, I like purple. And every time I try to paint it, I never get it 'right' (the last thing I painted purple were a few high elves... didn't get it right...).

So, I posted the 'help' thread in the P&M section. Hopefully something helpful with come from it.
I'll get some chemicals to strip the bikes tomorrow. I'm going to re-paint one in the same scheme, with a refined technique. Another with indigo. What about the final one? Red/yellow could work..?

So, it turns out you can strip miniatures in fairy power spray in ~2 hours...

I've re-painted the front armour panel on the bikes - will do the other parts after I get back from the gym, and when my compressor cools down.




As you can see, I switched it up, and tried a few other schemes. And after seeing them, I dont think blue/purple is the way to go... Which is unfortunate, because I found the 'right' shade of purple I was trying for. It's very unhelpfully named 'Dark Blue' (VGC) . Anyway, I thought about a bumble-bee scheme (yellow lines, black main), but I dont have anything to try that on...

I like the red/yellow scheme. I borrowed the colour combos from the Sunblitz Brotherhood (Corsairs in IA11). It's very audacious, and I'm unsure if it will pan out well on an army-wide scale...
I like the black/red scheme, too. It's a little more subtle than the red/yellow, but with equally good contrast. I may re-do it and bring the red to orange, to make that fade more obvious.

More soon

A vote here for the black and red, it looks awesome! Second best is the blue. There's nothing wrong with the red and yellow, but I think as an army it might look a bit right. The red and black, on the other hand, has great contrast and also looks far more alien to me than the others, due to that contrast.

I second para.....

...lmao at the blog title's pun...

Ok, now that I've composed myself:


There we have it.

Despite saying I didn't like the blue/purple (blurple?) scheme, it's really grown on me. It looks exotic and alien, thus fitting Eldar perfectly.
I'm not too sure on my painting of the guardians... Thoughts? The alternative torso/heads are from a company called Spellcrow.

That's it for now. I bought a Vyper from Ebay, it was super cheap (little less than £10, inc. shipping). It was still NoS. I've cut and cleaned it, and just waiting on some transparent green paint for the canopy, then I'll be makinging some progress on that.

Z

Nice bikes mate but not sure about the guardians if im honest.

They look a little flat and not striking like eldar normally are. Maybe different contrasting colours would make them stand out more if you know what I mean. Nice paint work on the bike tho

The bikes look awesome, maybe even your best paintwork yet, but I second McManiak about the riders. I think they could really do with a more vibrant spot colour, or even just a lightening of the yellow, as right now, the helmets are the only alternative colour on them and it looks a little muted compared to the more vibrant blue.

Maybe doing the eye lenses in red might also be an option, again to prevent the helmets from getting lost.

I say again, though, stunning work on the bikes!