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@Para: Weird how certain schemes stick with you. Futuristic doors need to be a lurid yellow otherwise..otherwise...how would we know they were doors

@Verm: Thanks, my main goal is to motivate you to paint something since your revelation in Grimdork's blog.

Glad to have finally started work on my entry for the "Dakka Unofficial Painting Competition" today, have got the basecoats and a wash done so it will be highlights agogo tomorrow. No photos as I want to save it for the entry thread. I have zero hope of placing, or even a top 66% placing but at least it is motivating me to paint something different as recently it has all been about BTGOA.

With that is mind I got the special launch edition miniature, Kai Lek painted up. I like him as he is a bit less sedate than others in the range as he brandishes a Ghar battlesuit head in his left hand.

I have no idea what is going on with the photos but again this looks awful compared to how the miniature looks in my hand, maybe my eyes are deteriorating? Anyway here is Kai:

I do like that mini, nice work! I'd probably swap the gun and maybe add a helmet if I were painting him, and he'd have to be in Stormtrooper white, but that looks great!

Nice work on these guys. I'm not too keen on the models themselves but you've made them look very good.

Yeah you've pretty much sealed it, I'm gonna have to get some of the ghar bots, not a fan of their appearance outside of the suit though. If I got any of them I'd have to paint them as the PG Tips chimps based off of their appearance...

@ Ignatius:
Thing is you can easily run Ghar without any of the suitless outcasts, the battlesuits are the main core choice. Quite nice to have a evil, technically backward elite force in a game. The suits are expensive points wise but tough as nails. A lot of basic weapons need a lucky shot to even have a chance of harming them.

If you were to buy...say the army set I would gladly buy the Outcasts from you for retail price.

@Azazel: Like I said...Marmite...or Vegemite from Cole's in your case (I watch far too much Aussie Masterchef and MK:R).

@Para: It is a nice model, great cast too. I have seen a few Stormtrooper schemes for the Concord. Or Eisenkern(sp) as the troops with the drones seems popular too.

Yeah these guys are looking swell, the Ghar are growing on me as you paint more.

Got my entry for the Dakka (Unofficial) Painting Competition done. I do not expect to place very highly, but it was a great motivational tool to get him done. It also leaves 12 miniatures to go before I have painted all of my AOS Starter Boxed set so I have set myself the mini task of getting them done before the year ends. I work in retail and on the nightshift, but I reckon I can get it done. I will also be continuing with my BTGOA miniatures as well, the game and Universe really excites me.

Anyway, here he is: Vandus Hammerhand:











As ever, thanks for looking.

That's just fantastic! Great choice of colours, and in particular the scales, cloaks and metallics stand out as really well done! What's up next?

Next is:

Hopefully the rest of the AOS starter set before the year is out (Lord Relictor, 5 Liberators, 3 Prosecutors, 3 Retributors).

And more Antares.

Have decided to leave my Calth set until Christmas day.

I had a minor change of heart and have cracked open my Calth boxed set. I have decided to go the Alpha Legion route with the entire set but have a limited knowledge of the Horus Heresy so I have a few questions.

Just how Chaotic would/could a heresy era traitor legion look?

Would they bear the 8 pointed Star Of Chaos?

What modern 40k era tanks does a Heresy Legion have access too? (I assume Rhino/LRaider/Predator and maybe Vindicator).

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

 Thraxas Of Turai wrote:
I had a minor change of heart and have cracked open my Calth boxed set. I have decided to go the Alpha Legion route with the entire set but have a limited knowledge of the Horus Heresy so I have a few questions.

Just how Chaotic would/could a heresy era traitor legion look?

Would they bear the 8 pointed Star Of Chaos?

What modern 40k era tanks does a Heresy Legion have access too? (I assume Rhino/LRaider/Predator and maybe Vindicator).

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Well, Word Bearers jumped in to the Chaos worshipping pretty much at the deep end. Alpha Legion not so much. They were traitors but I don't think they went all out Chaos until a good bit later maybe?

Alpha Legion are arguably the least Chaosy of the Traitor Legions, to the point where there's some evidence that points to them just being really, really extreme good guys (kill all of humanity, Chaos has nothing to feed on, VICTORY... or not...). As far as AL in the heresy itself goes, the 8-point star is right out, as is mutation and for the most part spikes. The AL at that time were very much about being unassuming and subtle, though they do have a lot of quite flamboyant hydra-based imagery as well which is cool.

Assuming you haven't already, check out STC_LogisEngine's blog for a pretty much seminal take on HH Alphas:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/385168.page?userfilterid=34339

Thanks for the pointers gents. So Chaos that is not Chaos? Sounds easier than it will probably be. I love the hydra based imagery, just a shame that all the transfers I have will not show up on my metallic scheme. Have already got the Contemptor made so I may just go ahead and paint that first...got a lot of construction ahead as well though.

You have some Dark Elves, yes? If you've got any spares from the Black Ark Corsairs then they make great additional decoration for Alphas. The banner top would make an epic Legion Vexilla, the scaled cloaks are easy enough to add to Power Armour with some trimmings, and some of the knives would make great Power Daggers (that I believe several types of AL squad have access to).

Cannot stand the Corsairs so no sadly. May be sending off an order to Forge World for some heads and transfers soon though.

I have done a very rough and ready Alpha Legion test scheme on a DV Marine, I have done no detailing it is just the armour that i am interested in at the moment. I have had two bites at the cherry and am after a little feedback as to which is better as I am a little undecided at the moment:

Front: Runefang Steel/Sotek Green 2:1 mix, blue wash then a green wash.



Back: Runefang Steel/Sotek Green 2:1 mix, blue wash.



Have managed a bit of construction too, first is the Contemptor Dreadnought. I cut him at the waist to rotate the miniature from a less sedate position, I also cut and rotated the close combat arm:



Also got my first squad of Tactical Legionary's done too:






thank you for looking

Nice poses there on the Tacs and Dread! Any plans to convert the commanders, or will you use them stock?

I think the second scheme works best for the Alpha, it's just a bit smoother. If you're looking for suggestions, though, I'd recommend basecoating black, drybrushing a metallic of choice (I use a bright silver, but a gunmetal or steel would work too) over the whole model and then doing several heavy washes from there to get the colour; that's how I've got the metallic finish on my Iron Hands and it's dead simple, should work just as well for the Alphas. I'd say go (roughly) Black>Silver>Blue wash all over>Green wash all over>Blue wash limited to the recesses and the areas you want darker, that should do the trick.

Dry brushing rather than painting the metallic all over or mixing it with a non-metallic I find gives a nicer transition and an overall smoother look when washed.

Sorry if that's of no help! Just thought I'd suggest it as I'm finding that method gives me good results for metallic armour.

Have you considered trying a bit of purple wash in the recesses? Might help with the to bring a bit of depth?

EDC

Thanks for the suggestions, I am going to knock up a few more test minis this evening.

@Para: I will try a few of those steps and see what I get.

The commanders may well go stock...but I have so many Marine parts (the Sternguard especially) that the Tactical Sergeants will get a bit of work. The Captain in Terminator armour seems a pain to convert, the head especially and that is my least favourite part of the mini.

@EDC:

Good call, it requires a trip to the shops for some Drakenhof Nightshade though.

Am actually counting on that colour for another test scheme.

Thanks for the feedback gents.

Have bought a number of washes and glazes for some more test miniatures today. construction continue apace as well.

The Tactical kit is really well done, and is good fun to put together. With just a few additional pieces you can really make the units individual:

2nd Tactical Squad:









And did a head swap on the Terminator character, it was easier than i thought just a case of removing the old head at the neck and replacing it. I was not overly keen on this sculpt upon first seeing it but I like it a lot better in the flesh.



Am off to paint now, adios.

Nice work again! I agree about the Praetor, from the pics I was not too excited to work on him, but with a little conversion, Im now very much looking forward to cracking on with him.

Loving that sgt!

EDC

We have some progress, am happy with my finished scheme now. Here is my first Tactical Legionary:



He has a bigger friend too:









And here they are joined at the hip:



I also have a little more work planned for today:



As ever, thank you for looking.

Very nice! How did you get that look in the end?

One thing I think would really set the scheme off would be some nice cyan/teal Legion markings or hydras if you're up to it (the stylised hydra is dead easy to freehand, just 3 S-shapes joined at the bottom that then widens at the top for the heads).

 Thraxas Of Turai wrote:

@Azazel: Like I said...Marmite...or Vegemite from Cole's in your case (I watch far too much Aussie Masterchef and MK:R).

mmmm Vegemite. Might make some toast right now, actually.

Hammerhand looks amazing, great work there. How long did he take you to paint, all up? I'm really torn on my own AoS models. I usually don't like to copy "the box scheme", but the gold and blue really works for me, both on aesthetics alone but also for Basileans for me. Gold/red would also work, but I'm already using that for my High (blood) elves...

The Alpha scheme looks great as well. Nice work on both the Dread and trooper.

@Para:

Very simple really. Sotek Green: Runefang steel 2:1 basecoat followed by a Drakenhof Nightshade wash and maybe on another wash somewhere where it needs it.

Marking will happen, I just spent far more than I should have on an AL transfer sheet.

@Azazel: Vandus did not take long really. I am odd in that whilst many seem to take longer to paint bigger miniatures I just start them and get on a roll. He was done over 3 days, with I doubt less than 5 hours work all told.

Really liking what you've done with the AL.

Looking forward to seeing more.

EDC

It's amazing to me how normal pre-chaos corruption all the traitor legions look. Beautiful.

Lovely shade of blue. I like it