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Hello all! Today I finished two models in my first ever Space Marines army. I've never fully painted my own army before on the account of me having naturally very shaky hands (the paint flys all over so I normally paint orks as they can look messy and I have a friend who can help out with the important model ) but I thought I wound save up some models over time and do something just for myself on nights after work. I finally ended up going for a Space marine chapter called the Shadow Wolves who were brought to basically extinction when tyranids took their home world. In the lore they pop up now and then as small bands still fighting in different conflicts. I am theming my army around primaris marines sent to support the dying faction and old marins in 30k armour (as I feel with so little support and resources the Shadow Wolves have had to scrounge old 30k tecknolgy to keep going). I am also trying mostly layering and drybrushing techniques on the account of my very shaky hands (highlighting is my worst nightmare). I'm not going for display models here just something that looks cool on the table from a distance and also looks like it has been beat up a lot fighting tyranids. So post your comments and suggestions below on how you think they look (you will see a lot of paint covering up mistakes from the shaking XD)


Here is the image I was using for reference:

Hey bud, it MAY just be me... but it appears there are no pictures within the spoiler boxes.

*Ignore this comment if and when it gets rectified.*

The images won't show for me as well, BUT if you quote and use the links in a new tab, the links work. Weird.

The dread looks pretty decent for tabletop play. Simple color blocking and wash/drybrush can get anyone pretty far.

One simple trick with edge highlights is to use the edge of the brush, not the tip. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle to the edge and just drag it along, and keep the paint on the brush fairly minimal and do a quick swipe - it's on the slow motions you'll be shakier. If there are edges where you can't do that, don't highlight them! Not everything needs highlights - if you get the 'hard', easy to access parts, that's enough.

 John Prins wrote:
The images won't show for me as well, BUT if you quote and use the links in a new tab, the links work. Weird.

The dread looks pretty decent for tabletop play. Simple color blocking and wash/drybrush can get anyone pretty far.

One simple trick with edge highlights is to use the edge of the brush, not the tip. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle to the edge and just drag it along, and keep the paint on the brush fairly minimal and do a quick swipe - it's on the slow motions you'll be shakier. If there are edges where you can't do that, don't highlight them! Not everything needs highlights - if you get the 'hard', easy to access parts, that's enough.

I think i fixed it. Yeah, that's how I fix my problem with hihlighting but even them I slip and stuff. (You see on the back of the leg that it's all over) XD I didn't go for anything fancy because of my problem and because it's my first big project. As I say, I'm not going for a display peice. Just an army that would look good on the table. I've found purple to be a bit of an annoying paint to work with.

It might be your white balance but the purple seems off.

not bad though

 Desubot wrote:
It might be your white balance but the purple seems off.

not bad though

Could be. To the naked eye it looks flat but on the picture it's in and out. Will take some pictures of the full army with a real camera when I'm done.

 lolman1c wrote:
I've found purple to be a bit of an annoying paint to work with.

It can be. It doesn't really go well over white or black without multiple coats. I've been using Xereus Purple over a terracotta color and I got good coverage with 2 thin coats, but highlighting it isn't great. I'm using Genestealer Purple, but I almost feel I'd be better off using a light grey. Probably ideally you'd use a purple wash then highlight using the original purple color.

Nice work, they look very neat. I like the dark yet regal colour scheme. The background of a shattered chapter is intriguing, it offers a lot of scope for unusual models and alliances.

 John Prins wrote:

 lolman1c wrote:
I've found purple to be a bit of an annoying paint to work with.

It can be. It doesn't really go well over white or black without multiple coats. I've been using Xereus Purple over a terracotta color and I got good coverage with 2 thin coats, but highlighting it isn't great. I'm using Genestealer Purple, but I almost feel I'd be better off using a light grey. Probably ideally you'd use a purple wash then highlight using the original purple color.

I prime my models black then base coat with two layers of the darkest purple GW does. I then but 2 or three layers of Xereus purple and for highlights I use genestealer purple. I tend to do about two layers of highlights or if I d3y brush it I buikd up a thick layer.

 lolman1c wrote:

I prime my models black then base coat with two layers of the darkest purple GW does. I then but 2 or three layers of Xereus purple and for highlights I use genestealer purple. I tend to do about two layers of highlights or if I d3y brush it I buikd up a thick layer.

Maybe you should get a grey primer so you can start with Xereus Purple. It would save you a lot of work. Vajello makes some good grey primers.

Also, Army Painter has a purple primer in spray can form. https://shop.thearmypainter.com/products.php?ProductGroupId=15