Blood Angels, Orks and other 40k

[wilsongrahams]

This months Merry Hill GW Store painting competition category is any Direct Sales only model, so I have decided to go for a spare Necromunda Escher Leader I had laying around. I didn't want to do any fancy details on my main gang models as then I'd have to do them all to the same level to get them all to look the same, so a spare model it was.

I've decided to attempt my first ever non metallic metal technique effect on this model, starting with the gold, so any advice or hints would be greatly appreciated here. The colours themselves aren't all that hard to mix, but getting them in the right places is something I've no idea about, so let me know. The silver on the tokens and gun has been started but not finished so don't worry about that yet.

[Goat of Yuggoth]

Hmm. You're getting at it, just remember that gold NEVER gives out a plain white reflection! Gets real close, but is still kinda 'off-white'...
Oh, and you might consider adding up some 'warmth', eg. something a bit more yellowish tinge to it, as it is looking quite this Nordic Gold at the moment.

Try searhing different coloured golds, brasses, coppers, basically every metallic surface you can imagine. And use that as color reference. Really helps, as these kinda non-grey metals are tricky when considering all the reflections, and the way they react to different kinds of light.

Good luck
Goat

[wilsongrahams]

Hmm. You're getting at it, just remember that gold NEVER gives out a plain white reflection! Gets real close, but is still kinda 'off-white'...
Oh, and you might consider adding up some 'warmth', eg. something a bit more yellowish tinge to it, as it is looking quite this Nordic Gold at the moment.

Try searhing different coloured golds, brasses, coppers, basically every metallic surface you can imagine. And use that as color reference. Really helps, as these kinda non-grey metals are tricky when considering all the reflections, and the way they react to different kinds of light.

Good luck
Goat

Thanks very much for the advice, I have some jewellery from the Mrs I can check out too. The not quite white reflection seems like a good idea. I think I'll apply a thin golden yellow glaze over the gold to dull the highlight and yellow things up a bit.

I had actually tried to avoid the orangey gold effect some people use as I wanted to do the tabbard with normal yellows and wanted to avoid a clash there, but for future painting I will paint up a Heavy with Brass and Copper I think, and see how that goes too.

You have given me some valuable advice so thank you very much!

[Goat of Yuggoth]

Happy to help you, just ask if you have issues!

I myself don't do NMM for obvious reasons, for one, it consumes so much time, and it also frutrates me A LOT.
But cheers anyways, I'll sure be checking your progress frequently, this is looking promising!

The Goat

[wilsongrahams]

I know what you mean. It won't be a method I use in the majority of my work regardless of level because it just doesn't look right viewed from all angles, and as you say it's very time consuming for little extra effect when metallics can achieve great results too.

It was simply a technique I wanted to try and see how well I could get it to work. Lighting effects are next in line for the practise I think, possibly on that Eldar Farseer I intend doing a pearl effect on.

[wilsongrahams]

In between painting more Fnatasy stuff I've converted a few Terminators up and done a touch more painting on that Escher - not much mind!

For the Escher, as you know it's been more of a practise model so I'm in no rush to get it completed - the leather will be highlighted up to kommando khaki and dusted with dark flesh to match my 40k bases. That's the next job for it! I also want to lighten the lower eye lids and stop her looking so angry and tired!

As for the terminators - can you spot the artwork each of them has been inspired by? The first is from the Terminator entry in Codex: Blood Angels and is a left-handed terminator, using the sanguinary guard fist and legs from two different models to get the hips to sit right. The second and third pics are inspired by artwork in the 3rd edition Space Hulk missions book and I've done my best to get the poses right even if some details are lacking - I don't want the same iconography cos then they'll clash with my space hulk models - I just want the pose. I'm very pleased with the results. I think the flamer one is the best looking flamer pose I've ever seen, and only involved a few elbow tweaks and draping the seals right.

The lightning claws one is a little more involved, again using different legs to get the stance right, but after twisting all that cabling to match, the part I'm most happy with is that the guy's left arm has his fingers extended rather than clenched - this was to match the artwork and just involved chopping the original fingers away and using some off a relaxed power glove. Did it work?

I've tried to show them from the angles you see in the books.

[wilsongrahams]

Ps, I want this model to add to my Eschers as a Ratskin.

If anybody knows how to steal it, cast it after hours from the vaults, or sculpt one identical then let me know! Reward can be discussed!

Ps, please don't steal it cos that's breaking the law...

[Lowmans]

Five stars from me, sone fantastic stuff on here!

If I may ask a question, how do you manage to do such fine detail and the banners?
My hands are never steady enough! Do you have any tips to share?

Thanks for posting your great minis

cheers,

L

[wilsongrahams]

Thank you very much.

Tips, now for being steady, all I can offer is to try painting in different chairs at different tables to get comfortable. I like to have one foot on the chair so I can rest my wrists on my knee so both hands are braced together to reduce shaking. This usually helps - plus I can swap knees for variety!

As for painting detail and banners, both are solved easily. I ensure the paint isn't as thick as from the pot by adding a drop of water to the lid and mixing it in. I also ensure the brush is damp, but not wet - the paint doesn't want to stick to the brush but also you don't want water coming off and spreading the paint. A quick wipe on a cotton cloth after cleaning leaves the brush damp and not as dry as using paper towels and kitchen roll. I often use my T-shirt, but don't tell the mrs! Obviously ensure your brush is clean before this.

Also when doing detail work or banners like this, I clean my brush every few strokes to get a fine tip back on my brush and to ensure no drying paint roughs up the finish.

It's more about looking after the brush and using the paint in it's best condition more than anything special. Also I rotate the mini to follow any lines as I draw the brush towards me - this works on eyes and lines on banners.

If there's anything else you want to know just ask - painting well is about technique and knowledge rather than innate skill, and then add some practise!

[wilsongrahams]

Here's the latest update with 40k stuff (Though they have taken a back seat to Fantasy lately). It's an Escher Heavy with Plasma Gun to add to my gang. The base still needs doing but the model itself is finished.

It's possibly one of my few photos using bright natural daylight, and it does help. The first couple were a little light so I took another in my shadow. I included my finest brush to show what I use on eyes and lenses - it was a fine detail brush once upon a time, and after getting split, I trimmed the bent bristles and put some glue on the ferrule to bond the bristles bases and voila - a perfect tapered super-detail brush!

I'm very pleased with this model, and I will be doing Mad Donna Ulanti next for my gang having been inspired by finishing "Crispin' Tina" as Plasma Girl is affectionately known. She's yet to see action but I had too many creds spare to not add another model. (I also really need to paint up my other Leader as I've had a Power Sword sat in my stash for months!)

[Inandantia]

Great work on this log, nice to see some of the old Escher models painted up so well, especially the girl with the plasma gun as it was one of my favourite models in the Necromunda range.

Interesting poses with the terminators as well, especially lightning claw guy. You've definatly captured the poses from the space hulk art (I don't know the pic from the codex, although I'm sure that's spot on as well).

Out of interest, where are those two 6" models in post #9 from??

[wilsongrahams]

Thanks. I never really did a good job of my Escher in years past so they all got a strip and rebuild, and I'm taking my time now - with games very far between usually, I've not needed to add models often as cred income is suitably slow. In fact most of the gang is painted apart from the base and all black areas need highlighting. I managed to get that far to start the campaign, and am slowly getting the black done on the rest. The three I've finished were done from scratch to completion as they are the most important models in the gang and I was testing the highlighting method for slightly shiny leather.

Thanks for the compliments on the terminators - they took a little thinking but the actual cutting etc was easy. The art had always looked so cool, but the poses of basic terminators never wuite lived up to it. Some twists and tilts get the right look, and in future I'll pay closer attention to such posing.

As for those two 6" figures, they're 12", and I'm afraid I don't recall the stall where they're from. They're from different ranges and both are resin, and I got them at a model show as end of show discounts. They weren't boxed so I never had any reference to keep either with a name on them. It's not usually too difficult to track down 1:6 scale resin models as so few manufacturers actually do so. I would steer clear of vinyl models however if you are interested in such models as they are usually badly warped. Some models are available in vinyl and resin so you need to check.

A two-second google check of "1:6 resin warrior woman" brought up a thumbnail of the dark haired one, though it's not on page one, and I haven't checked the rest. Warning, before clicking the link, there are some rude ones on there!

http://www.sportslinkup.com/shop/0-Resin-model-1.html

[Inandantia]

I'm the same with my Delaque gang; I think they're sitting under the wardrobe at the moment, ashamed of their "Joseph and his amazing technicolour dreamcoat" paintjob. Perhaps they'll get revisited one day, who knows.

Thanks for the advice on finding the resin models, I'm always on the lookout for something that will give me a different painting challenge. You've done a really great job on the flesh tones. As most of the time I've done not much more than a face it would be good to do a more substantial area.

Keep up the good work

[Lowmans]

Thank you very much for your comprehensive tips, I will try them out on my next banner and report back!


Something I never noticed before but which was apparent immediately from reading your post - I hold the miniature away from me which I never even noticed before! As soon as I brought my arms in things improved. It will take some getting used to though!

Thank you very, very much I'm hoping it will make the difference

[Khamul]

Beautiful models! Can't wait for more! Subscribed.

[wilsongrahams]

More will be coming monday, with terminators with thunder hammers, the space hulk broodlord and hopefully some sternguard if I finally return them to the painting table.

The Broodlord has been a lot of fun to paint, and the perfect reward after finishing more terminators. I've painted more of these than anything else ever so am getting pretty tired of them, though I want them all painted ready for publishing my advanced hulk quest rules.

[wilsongrahams]

Well, I'm sorry to say that with Warseer being down I lost track of what pics I'd posted so deleted the pics of the terminators, more Escher, Broodlord and Captain Stern. These will be up tomorrow! Until then, I'll just show off the gold on my Sanguinor model. Only the gold is finished on him so far. I only based the wings to have another colour close to the gold to tell if the gold was too dark or not. I decided to use metallic paints on him and still try to achieve a shining look. I think I achieved what I wanted on him. The process used was Shining Gold, Gryphonne Sepia, Badab Black, Shining Gold, Burnished Gold, Burnished Gold and Silver 6:1, Burnished Gold and Silver 4:1 and then some touch ups with Badab Black again. I decided not to do a final highlight with Silver as there were silver areas on the model that needed to stand out as a different colour. With mixing silver and gold, I find that very little silver is needed for a very strong effect. Any thoughts? Should I have tried a non-metallic metal technique? I chose not to for two reasons. First Tycho was already in metallic colours, second, I wanted practise at nmm before doing it on a large scale.

[wilsongrahams]

As promised here are some pics of stuff I got painted whilst Warseer was down. I surprised myself with how much I got done, and realised how long I spent checking threads etc instead of painting!

First up are some shots of my Broodlord from Space Hulk. I'm still assembling the 66 Genestealers I have from 3 sets (and another Broodlord that is being converted) so they will be a while coming to the painting table, but I wanted to gt a test model finished. I usually paint a character model as a test as the test model usually recieves a little extra love to get it right.

[wilsongrahams]

Next is Captain Stern. I intend getting two Grey Knights Terminator squads to use in Space Hulk so finally got my Stern finished up as a test. He was painted alongside the Broodlord to swap between them as paint dried and to give me a rest and change in colours.

I may be doing quite a few more Grey Knights work soon so it was nice to already have the model ready.
I chose not to have the extra patterns etc on the cloak, as I usually prefer cloaks plain. I also chose to do the cloak and tabard different colours just to break it up a little. The grimoire is also more of a purple tone to make it stand out. After my Space Hulk Librarian and BA Captain I'm getting better at the power / force weapon effect so am happy with this result. I also impressed myself with the name writing on the side - this was done with a chaos black and devlan mud mix, thinned with some water and painted in two layers. The thinner paint made this a much easier task than it usually is - we all live and learn!

[wilsongrahams]

Here's those Terminators too. These were converted and painted to fit in with the style of the space hulk guys. A few parts were trimmed from some spare hulk terminators to help with the details. I also used some green stuff, laurels and skulls to finish them up. With a couple of them I tried to match the choice of detail with what was shown elsewhere. For example the sergeant has the imperial eagle on shield and as his 'banner'. Another has a laurel and skull on his shoulder and the same on his shield. Another just has a skull and drips on his shin and shoulder - his shield also features a skull but so do most of them! Another has a winged skull on his shield and the same icon hanging from his belt.

Whetehr it works or not, I really enjoyed adding these little details. They look good next to my space hulk models, and my older terminators (with the forgeworld resin pads) kinda look out of place now!