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Hello all,
I recently decided to get into Warhammer 40k, as there is a local hobby shop nearby and I was able to watch a few games and found it to look really fun. I did some research and decided that I am going to play a guard army. I have purchased 5 Superheavies and one other model to go with my 3000pt Astra Militarum army. This is not only the first model that I have ever painted or glued together, but it is also the first model that I have ever physically touched! (So please go easy on me if it looks like garbage!) My idea for the Super Heavy Detachment is that I want it to look as if it is weathered, has been to many battles, and has now been sitting around for hundreds of years outside in the elements to rust and get things like water stains on the tanks. Also, being that this detachment has seen many battles before (in my head lol), I will have parts on each tank that have been parted out from other tanks (such as, a sponson that is painted differently from the rest of the tank in these pictures, panels, etc.). Any advice, criticism on things that I should do, and praise on things that I should keep doing is definitely welcome. I look at it and am proud, however, I want to know what you all think before I bring all of the tanks into the hobby shop and show them for the first time when the army is completed. Thank you very much for your help and support! This project was a lot of fun. Also, the paint scheme was originally Cadian before I wore it down and rusted it. Again, many thanks, and I will post updates as I finish each of the 5 tanks, and the Vindicare Assassin. (EDIT: I forgot to mention that I am an artist, and I do paint on canvas, as well as draw, and sculpt. This is my first time ever doing artwork on a model of any sort however. I'm not trying to make it seem like I've never touched a brush before lol!)

Looks good to me. Nice and dirty, though the tracks might be a bit uniform compared to everything else. I like the idea of mismatched parts or panels, very characterful.

Quite the ambitious project for a first mini but as you say you're familiar with which end of the brush to put the paint on.

Great work on that. Excellent job all around. Particularly fond of the recovered turret on the front right sponson. Adds a heap of character and story to the model.

I like it. Great back story and character to the model. Weathering is easier to do if you go heavy so great idea first time round. I find it much harder to lightly weather stuff. Don’t know when to stop.

Only things it needs if you ask me is some kind of tank number or name. Sounds like you are putting a great deal of character into the model so give them a name. The crew would.

You will need to weather it down but there are lots of fun ways to do that.


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Oh and try some streaking off the rivets on the hull. Oil paints work well. Very nice work matey.

For your first model it is really well done. It’s a great story and it shows in your work.

Looks good. It needs some focal points. Paint up the eagles etc. Add some decals etc. Maybe a big banner...

Nice. Seems you have a good grasp of the basics. I have a constructive point on your weathering(weathering being something close to my heart) Before putting your weathering onto a piece, take a little time to research.. Look at similar vehicles etc, and find where the weathering, patina, rust, damage occurs. Your weathering techniques are good.. But I don't buy it.. if you catch my drift. You have rusty panels but no streaks from rivets on vertical panels. You have nicely worn edges on some panels, yet the panels around the hatches which wouldve worn down from boots and weapons and hands are damage free, and the tracks have no wear at all. And for some reason the seals around the gun barrel have paint chipped off.. Its not realistic. Dont get me wrong I'm not trying to be a dick, your technique seems good, it just needs applying properly.. Next time, dial the weathering back a bit, and focus on getting it perfect. Try a graphite pencil for more subtle edge wear, and get some powders for your tracks and recesses, and try some streaking fluids on your panels and rivets.

 queen_annes_revenge wrote:
Nice. Seems you have a good grasp of the basics. I have a constructive point on your weathering(weathering being something close to my heart) Before putting your weathering onto a piece, take a little time to research.. Look at similar vehicles etc, and find where the weathering, patina, rust, damage occurs. Your weathering techniques are good.. But I don't buy it.. if you catch my drift. You have rusty panels but no streaks from rivets on vertical panels. You have nicely worn edges on some panels, yet the panels around the hatches which wouldve worn down from boots and weapons and hands are damage free, and the tracks have no wear at all. And for some reason the seals around the gun barrel have paint chipped off.. Its not realistic. Dont get me wrong I'm not trying to be a dick, your technique seems good, it just needs applying properly.. Next time, dial the weathering back a bit, and focus on getting it perfect. Try a graphite pencil for more subtle edge wear, and get some powders for your tracks and recesses, and try some streaking fluids on your panels and rivets.

Thanks everyone for the tips and the praise. Queen_Anne's_Revenge, I agree with you about rusting all of the rivets, and I had planned on going back and "point" rusting most of the ones that you do not see rusted, which is pretty much the majority of them. As far as having streaking goes on the vertical panels from the bolts/rivets themselves, that was something that I have been having problems with in my mind in regards as how to do it without it making the entire tank look like an absolute mess (I mean, yes, I am trying to make it look degraded, worn, rusted and yes a mess, but... I think you get what I mean). If I streak each and every rivet on the vertical panels, even if the streak length varies for each one, it will cause the tank to look sloppy... How can I achieve this without it making the entire tank lose character? I'm not sure how to put this into the right words... Again it's my first painted model. I want the rusted look, and I do need to streak some of the rivets, however if I were to do all of them, I really do picture it being overdone in my head, and it would look like the tank is bleeding rust everywhere.

Do you have any suggestions on how to avoid a nightmare and avoid ruining the look of the tank, while at the same improving upon the authenticity of the "I've sat out in the rain for a few hundred years look?" I just don't want it to get so many streaks that it would look horrible. To me, it already looks like so much is going on. As far as the treads go, that's an easy fix. I can dry brush mud and rust on there, as well as sculpt clops of mud in between the tracks and paint them as well. Thank you for the advice. I look forward to hearing what advice you have in regards to how to properly streak the model without it being "too much streaking."

Absolutely. I feel you. And like I say don't get me wrong it's a very good first effort. Much better than my first! Your rusting around the rivets is done very well. but there is a way to add streaks without making a mess. I've found the best way to do streaks is to use oils or enamels. I personally use enamel streaking grime/rust streaks, but you could use artists oils etc. Take a thin detail brush.. I use a 4/0. Apply your streaks to the rivets and top panels etc. Leave them for about 5/10 minutes. Take a wider square or fan brush, and dip it in your thinners, then drag it down the streaks. This will blend them in and give them a nice subtle effect which is very difficult to replicate using acryllics. See the first picture of my Hind. You can see it is heavily streaked, but it doesnt take away from the details. You don't need to streak every one, just areas that would take the most rain/ dirt etc. For your tracks, you can drybrush damage, for sure, but for track dirt, get some mud powders, and just dust them over with a make up brush. Apply/remive until you're satisfied, then seal with varnish. I hope this helps a little. I love weathering! It really does finish a model. And tanks give the perfect canvas for it. Apologies for the photos... Dakka doesn't seem to be able to show mine without making them weird ha.


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As an addition, get on YouTube and check out some scale modelling weathering tutorials. The scale guys basically wrote the book on weathering, which is why I use scale models to practice. Mig jimenez is a good example. Also, look at things. When I'm out and about I'm constantly looking at everything to see how patina develops, which areas get worn or dirty on vehicles, which types of rust and oxidisation form on which surfaces etc. Soon it'll be a habit and youll see the world through the eyes of a Modeller.

I'd agree that you have a firm grasp of *how* to apply the paint, and now just need to focus on *where* to apply it.
Chips come on the exposed edges, rust streaks downward and grime and dirt build up where there's nothing wash them away.