Carcharodons Astra: A Space Sharks Log

[Gorman]

Welome all to my new painting log, in which I will be chronicling the painting and modelling adventures of the Carcharodons Astra.

This army is going to be a 1500 point list based on Codex: Space Marines and the special rules for Captain Tyberos from FW. There will be plenty of FW upgrade bits, some unusual choices which I haven't previously tried out in a Marine list, and hopefully some new painting techniques as well.

First up, here is my completed Relic Contemptor Dreadnoought with Keres pattern assault cannon - I'll be using it as a standard dreadnought for most games, but I love the model.








Next up will be a drop pod in which to mount the dreadnought....

Criticisms and commentys appreciated as always...

[eltanko]

Cracking start, that contemptor is superb. Great weathering.

ElTanko

[Dudde]

Gorman - Very nice contempter, but what I really marvel at is the base. Could you do a tutorial?

[canberraguy]

Very impressive

[Myelinated Axon]

Looking good so far. My one criticism is to add some scribbly text to the purity seals.

[Tzarinchilla]

Superb job. Looking great with effective battle damage/wear and tear. Will mirror Myelinated Axon's comment on adding some script to the purity seals would just give it thqat last nice finishing touch.

[Gorman]

Superb job. Looking great with effective battle damage/wear and tear. Will mirror Myelinated Axon's comment on adding some script to the purity seals would just give it thqat last nice finishing touch.

Looking good so far. My one criticism is to add some scribbly text to the purity seals.

Cheers guys - I always chicken out on doing scripture but I will try to them all scrolls on the army in whole go. I've deliberately left some other scrollwork to do later on some other models as well.

Very impressive

Thanks canberraguy

Gorman - Very nice contempter, but what I really marvel at is the base. Could you do a tutorial?

Cheers - no secret to the base except using a pre-made resin base! The weathering was done with MIG weathering powders just like on the model; I am going to base all of my Space Sharks on resin bases to represent the interior of a starship...

Cracking start, that contemptor is superb. Great weathering.

ElTanko

Cheers Eltanko!

Managed to finish off the drop pod for the Contemptor...





Last shot shows the detail of the thruster - I used weathering powders to enhance the realism a bit. Quite pleased with how it turned out - I plan on having another two pods in the army.

Anyway, that's all for now - comments and criticisms appreciated as always

[Petay1985]

Looking fantastic fella, really nicely painted as per your usual standard. I will be interested to see how you tackle tyberos, Helmet or not? The Korvydae head is a nice alternate should you be considering a bare headed model.

[Gorman]

Cheers Petay!

Managed to get another unit done this week, building and painting a kit I've never used before: Scout Bikers. They are very nice models actually, and have plenty of bitz options. For this army, I have a unit of four bikers with 2 grenade launchers...

The veteran sergeant of the squad:



A random biker with respirator and grenade:



A group shot - all models are on resin bases:



Really not the best photos, but you get the idea.

Comments and criticisms appreciated as always...

[Tzarinchilla]

Scout bikes are looking great. As for the text, may I suggest a black microfibre pen for it. You can quite literally draw the text on rather than have the worries of using a paintbrush.

[ilikebmxbikes]

amazing stuff. love the dread.

[MasterValrik]

Looks really good, I really like the Dread, and hope you do a 2nd one, I really cant say to much in anything that is wrong, they look amazing.

[Gorman]

Cheers for the feedback and support guys. I usually do use a Microfine pen for scroll work, but I only ever go squiggles... It's an area I know I can improve on.

Here is some recent progress - firstly a test terminator (gun barrels are now drilled out but weren't when I took the photo):



Three finished terminators (there will eventually be a squad of terminators with lightning claws, which count as troops with Tyberos, and a squad of terminators with hammers):



I subsequently added some weathering powder to the legs of these marines, which I'll photograph again later.

Comments and criticisms welcome as always...

[Seville]

Wow. Sharp looking stuff. You've really nailed the gray.

[Thrillhouse]

Nice! I hope to se a thunderhawk gunship with a painted on sharkface!

Looking forward to seeing more!

[Jericho]

Love the segmented shoulder pads on the test Termi (where are they from?). The weathering on him looks great too.

What color are the eye lenses going to be on the Termis? A super careful wash of color around them to approximate glow would be neat. Easier to do on white than other helmet colors.

[punkfish]

Lovely models. Nice to see you doing another log Gorman.

Really like the power weapon effects on the thunder hammer

[Gorman]

Lovely models. Nice to see you doing another log Gorman.

Really like the power weapon effects on the thunder hammer

Cheers Punkfish - it was a really easy technique to do but quite effective I think. I found it on a Youtube video (the name of which I now forget - apologies to the author...!). Here's a close-up of one of the hammers:

Love the segmented shoulder pads on the test Termi (where are they from?). The weathering on him looks great too.

What color are the eye lenses going to be on the Termis? A super careful wash of color around them to approximate glow would be neat. Easier to do on white than other helmet colors.

Hey Jericho - the segmented shoulder pads are from Chapterhouse Studios. I thought that they looked a bit "aquatic" so will be using them on some of my terminators.

As for the eyes, they are going to stay black actually. Since I took this photo, I've glossed out the eyes and added a sharp highlight. It's a Carcharodons thing that they all have jet-black eyes, even without helmets on.

Nice! I hope to se a thunderhawk gunship with a painted on sharkface!

Looking forward to seeing more!

Thanks Thrillhouse - I'm thinking of doing a Thunderhawk for Apoc, or maybe even that new Forgeworld mini-Thunderhawk which has just be revealed.

Wow. Sharp looking stuff. You've really nailed the gray.

Cheers Seville - I have a feeling I'll be sick of grey by the end of this project!

[Petay1985]

beautiful progress fella, as i anticiapted you don't dissapoint.

[Gorman]

beautiful progress fella, as i anticiapted you don't dissapoint.

Cheers Petay! Support always appreciated.

Very little time of painting this last week, but managed to photograph a squad I finished quite recently. This is a 5-man Terminator combat squad - all equipped with lightning claws. Using Tyberos special rules, these guys can be taken as troops.



Close up off a marine - the claws all have lighting effects done on the blades (a new technique for me - quite pleased with how it came out):



Not really sure whether these guys will be footsloggers, whether they will come in via deep strike in reserve, or perhaps I will have a land raider in the list... I'm currently toying with the idea of using 2 raiders for transport duty on the two combat squads, in a 2000 list...

Comments and criticism apppreciated as always...