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Hi every one, I'm not terribly creative in coming up with ideas so I hope to get some ideas and tips from you guys!

The long story short, I'm collecting Dark Eldar, and wanting to give them that rough, exiled / Mad Max feel. So like weathered vehicles/rusty, beaten up look to the vehicles.

Have you any tips on achieving This? No airbrush methods please as I don't use/have one.
Would typhus corrosion technical paint be useful here?

Also any ideas on clothing / armour?

Look forward to any ideas!

Typhus corrosion and ryza rust dry brush work well. Stipple Rynix hide, silver and orange over solid paint to make chipped and rusty effects. Lots of Nuln oil and Agrax earthshade washes with earth tone drybrushing makes things look weathered.

You can also drill holes or use a wood burner to nick bullet damage. Green stuff, plasticard and wire makes good looking "repairs."

Well, the lower face scull mask with twin air hoses seems to be a thing due to Fury Road.

The old style welding / safety round goggles also work.

White skin and blacking out around the eyes would be good.

I would go to a lighter almost grey-black and paint a raw leather colour in the worn areas (knees, elbows, butt)

Trying out different face paint would be interesting:
Layers of cloth could be interesting:


Mohawks as a hairstyle would be a thing.

Some hooded heads from the Ranger kits would be interesting:

Chaos has nothing on this, now imagine a Ravager:

Making bases with this motif will also help establish the theme:

Last but not least using skimmers instead but making much like this:

Some thoughts anyway.

I love the responses guys thank you. Gave me loads to think on! I agree the toned down Brown's and stuff will suit much better!
Those pictures are also a great help. I love the pale white skin with black markings idea too!

My issue at the moment is I don't know when enough is enough and so can't tell if I weather too much or just not in the best places. Couple pics of first 2 trial attempts. First pic I think is way too much, I also made the mistake of sponging on the original colour on top of the rust thinking it might help, instead it just doesn't look right at all.
The second was a lot less weathering of the rust which I like but wasn't sure about the non rusted plates so tried to fill them in with chips and such but I'm not sure, any advice? Thanks!




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Also how would I make the big spikey things on the cars for my vehicles? I have zero idea about converting stuff and making my own stuff, but I love this idea now. Plasticard maybe?

Get those pics into the Gallery.
I'm itching to vote on them

Biadetic wrote:
IMy issue at the moment is I don't know when enough is enough and so can't tell if I weather too much or just not in the best places. Couple pics of first 2 trial attempts. First pic I think is way too much, I also made the mistake of sponging on the original colour on top of the rust thinking it might help, instead it just doesn't look right at all.
The second was a lot less weathering of the rust which I like but wasn't sure about the non rusted plates so tried to fill them in with chips and such but I'm not sure, any advice? Thanks!

Wow, you have a serious grasp on making rust that is for sure!
I would think in this order:

What "paint" job would the original vehicle have?
Have all main areas (2/3rds?) with mostly this colour.

Then what would be your "rust" and transition with sponge or whatever you are doing so right there.

Right at areas that you would expect to see rubbing or wear you paint whatever you deem the base material colour (metallic, bone...).
Imagine that the main shiny areas will be the areas that see heavy use.

For spears or spikey bits you can get brass rod and cut to lengths or polystyrene rod, for the tips there are various spears out there or I think some cocktail stir sticks do have some nasty looking spear points.

Thanks! Appreciate it

Yeah that's a good idea Talizvar ! Helps me determine the best use and path of the weathering, thanks!

Need to test out a Reaver also and see how that looks!

Also, following the theme, or is it too silly, to have wheels on Raiders? I have 2 Raiders sitting around, missing everything like weapons and crew and sails etc, it's just the husk, no flying bases laying around either... and There's a big tractor toy sitting just tempting me... haha

Some of those plastic poky bits are not compatible with gw plastic so be aware of that. super glue

OR trim up GW plastic sprue, steal poky bits from CC weapons,

chains and other generic post APOC stuff

Oh also i saw this at one point but get blood bowl stuff and convert them up for that classic mad max look

your rust job is looking great. though you may want to clean up some of the white area.

Biadetic wrote:
Also, following the theme, or is it too silly, to have wheels on Raiders? I have 2 Raiders sitting around, missing everything like weapons and crew and sails etc, it's just the husk, no flying bases laying around either... and There's a big tractor toy sitting just tempting me... haha

If it were Orks it would be no problem at all.
For them to go to wheels... would have to be a serious reason.

I am trying to think of why Dark Eldar would have what is basically unkempt gear.
I keep leaning towards them being like the Reavers in Serenity.
They are outcasts of the Dark Eldar.
So blood thirsty they cannot even maintain the thin veneer of civility in Commorragh.
They get their life-force "fix" through witnessing up-close violent death: the more blood the better.
Maintenance of equipment is just enough to get the job done, all you can expect from addicts.

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/331737.pageI am thinking of the paint job I suggested with bright red smears here and there... blood or some passing attempt at decoration?

Thanks Desubot ! Good ideas! I ended up just going and getting cocktail sticks because I'm impatient and didn't want to wait to order anything haha.

How would you suggest tidying up the pale colour? ( Screaming skull), I feel like if i try to tidy it up the tidy part will be very noticeable ! :S

Aww @Talizvar, now you're giving me ideas of doing Orks!! Hmm yeah it's a little far-fetched about the raiders with wheels, I did take the wheels off and propper them up on the raider and looked sweet, just not Dark Eldar-y =[
What can I do with a raider husk though? It might not be the easiest job locating spare sails/guns etc :\

That Vyper conversion is great! Look me some Serenity! Just not sure I can fund buying kits like that just to hack up haha

I do like the blood smattering / decoration idea though!

Currently sat sticking the pointy ends of cocktail sticks to the skyboard!

mostly the center panel lines

the brown in the center look very sloppy even if mad max not much would make that kinda stain shape.

the outside edges look spot on fantastic and the first image looks absolutely awesome.

Wait, you like the first image??? The really dark one? I thought I had ruined that one! Haha.

Okay cool, I'll touch up those stains, I never even thought about the positioning of the marks so it's a really good point you make!

I would also suggest a couple points in regard to the rust:
It gives a sense of gravity or motion.Maybe make lines of rust in direction you think they flow if vehicle in motion.
Stand on end and let wash flow down?

Another great point Talizvar! Will definitely try to implement in this Reaver I have in front of me! Thank you!

Here is a sample of trying the toothpicks. Paint job is only semi relevant, wanted to see what the spikes would look like.

Here's an attempt on a Reaver Jetbike. Running through your idea of a dried blood smattering on the front too!

That really looks good for the wear and rust.

I am rather impressed with the spikes on the skyboard... just don't fall off.
I was thinking more utility along the edges or a nice swooping down head spike is more the intent.

Running the risk of sounding like a Khorn follower: more blood (please?).
I want to see a wee bit of shine on the spikey edges as well.

Let the Adam's family show you how it is done:

Thanks bud!

Can you elaborate on what you mean by more utility and 'swooping down head spike'?
I literally just dont know what you mean lol like a forward pointing spoke?

Blood is always good! Dried caked blood or shiney blood for blood god blood?

Latest update.
Rider not 100% finished, still want to add some effects to weapon and such.
Also no idea how to perhaps add a black face paint line going across his eyes, but how to do it without ruining it completely as I am prone to do haha

Added some blood to the spikes just to see how it goes!