A Murder of Ravens - Raven Guard in 40K & Epic

[LolCommissar]

Hi,

I see a space marine and I want it painted black...

I haven't had alot of motivation to get these guys painted, so I thought I'd throw my project onto the interweb in the hope that being watched might make paint faster. To make this even harder I am also painting up my old Epic 40,000 army to match my 40K army, and some terrain as well. Don't be suprised if I get distracted by BFG either. Just a heads up.

Enough talk, where are the photos!? I hear you demand.

What I've been painting today:

HQ: Raven Guard Librarian

The model is an old Librarian model from the mid 90's that I got for cheap off ebay. I've dressed it up with a Raven Guard shoulder pad and backpack from Forgeworld. Its nearly finished, just needs some final touch ups, the base painting and a coat of matt varnish.







More over at: http://amurderofravenguard.blogspot.co.uk/

[the1stpip]

That's very nice. I like the darker blue for the librarian, makes it look more sinister.

[LolCommissar]

Hi,

Thanks for looking! I prefer the darker blues I have chosen, looks less 'smurfy' and should mesh better with the dark Raven Guard scheme.

I'm currently painting up some Missile Launcher guys for my Devastator squad, but for the time being here are some photos of my small Epic 40,000 army (the bits that are painted anyway):



I have around 1500 points here painted; to bump it up to 2000 I am currently painting an Assault Marine detachment, 2 Thunderbolts and a Thunderhawk.

Shadow Captain Corvane & Command Squad:



Also a Warlord titan has just arrived in the post, will have to decide which Legio he belongs to and get him painted! Any ideas?

[LolCommissar]

Happy Easter! Still painting up my 40K Devastators so here is some close-ups of my Epic army:

Epic Tactical Detachment:



Tactical Squad Atratus
Tactical Squad Ravinorus
Tactical Squad Nubicus

Epic Whirlwinds:



Now I just need another tactical detachment for the full 5th company in Epic scale!

[Student]

I also like the darker blue you've used on the librarian. Nice work on the Epic stuff too. I look forward to seeing more.

[constant_ones]

Its always nice to see Epic models so well painted. I got into the hobby with the original "Space Marine" boxed set. Really like how you've gotten the black to still look black but got shading/highlighting in as well, tricky to do on the tiny models

[LolCommissar]

Hi,

Thanks for the comments!

Time for an update:

I've got alot on the painting table right now, the first tactical squad is nearly ready for deployment, just waiting for water effects and basing stuff to dry, and a few more RG decals to apply (which are a pain!). As a rough idea of what they are going to look like here are the 2 marines that are finished and my finished Librarian.









Lots more photos over on my blog (see signature).

Thanks for looking!

[the_gobbo_king]

Fantastic!

Love Raven Guard, favourite legion of all (especially after reading Deliverance Lost). Love Epic as well, such excellent models and an excellent game - I'm building an Epic Raptors force as well, using the older Epic 40k models.

Quick question - how are you able to take such clear shots of Epic scale models. Does it come down to having a good camera or are there certain techniques you use?

Cheers (and Subscribed),
Scott.

[LolCommissar]

Quick question - how are you able to take such clear shots of Epic scale models. Does it come down to having a good camera or are there certain techniques you use?

Cheers (and Subscribed),
Scott.

Hi Scott,

Thanks for the feedback, unfortunately my camera is no good at taking photos of Epic as well, so I get my girlfriend to take them! She has a blog and tutorial if your interested: http://gazeofmork.blogspot.co.uk/201...of-models.html.

I've been abit distracted with playing xbox and my progress has taken ahit! Managed to get a couple more marines based so I now have a combat squad finished. Hopefully should get the rest of the Tactical squad finished tomorrow.







Cheers.

[Fredmans]

I love multiple system logs, and yours is no exception. I think your Epic force looks great, the highlights are looking really good. Very crisp photos, too. Good to see that you are making progress on your 40K army as well. Keep up the good work.

/Fredmans

[Jericho]

The drab color scheme on these guys is perfect for the background and doing some fancier bases will help make these models stand out on the tabletop. It's way too easy to go overboard with flashy bitz and accent colors (my Raven Guard are guilty of this as I used to paint a lot more like the old vibrant studio schemes than I do now).

[LolCommissar]

Hi,

Thanks for the comments. I use Vallejo Model Color Black as the main black as it is very matte compared to the almost glossy GW Chaos Black. I wasn't too pleased with the harsh codex grey highlights at first, but I think it is necessary for black armour. My first model (not shown on this log) was much more 'realistically' painted highlighted to a more subtle dark grey, but had the problem of looking unpainted when on the battlefield. At a glance they just looked like they were just sprayed black.

The original bases on my first test models were based with grey slate & rubble, but again it didn't 'pop' and looked unpainted. These new bases are themed as a deathworld swamp/wasteland and have green details to tie in with the green eyes of the Raven Guard.

What I've been working on:



Shadow Captain of the 5th Company, Corvane Valar. This is a simple conversion of the Sicarius finecast model. All Ultramarine logos have been cut out with a sharp knife and any gaps left have been covered with purity seals and skulls (that were carefully cut from boltguns). I have also replaced Sicarius helmet with a FW Raven Guard.

[LolCommissar]

So yesterday my Epic Raven Guard were deployed for the first time in a 2000pt game vs. Orks. Which meant the night before I was maniacally painting up my Assault Marines, Thunderhawk and Thunderbolt fighters.

A few photos:

[z4carlo]

Everything looks brilliant, especially love to see epic stuff!

[LolCommissar]

The first few of my combat blade scouts are finished! I will have at least 10 of these guys in my army, and many more scouts with shotguns and sniper rifles. The goal is to hopefully be able to field the full 10th company as well as a full battle company, so I better get back to painting!

Here is a sneak peak:







More pictures on my blog.

[Razerz]

I'm getting a very Sam Fisher-y vibe of the last scout (though any guy in dark fatigues and night vision will give that vibe).

[LolCommissar]

The first drop pod is now basecoated and all taped up ready for hazard stripes to be painted on. It was abit of a hassle, but it should add some much needed colour to my army.



I have painted one door to get an idea of how it will look when its finished. The rest will be batch painted.



After the hazard stripes have been painted, it will just need a few touch ups with black, the yellow stripes weathered with a small amount of Vallejo Black Grey, to make it look used. Then I can start chipping the outside panels with boltgun metal and adding the Raven Guard decals. Then time to crack open the FW weathering powders. More pictures to follow as it gets painted...

[LolCommissar]

Here is my first painted Epic Titan, Semper Invictus, a Lucius pattern Warlord Titan painted in the colours of the Legio Gryphonicus (War Griffons). I have tried to emulate the mottled grey scheme shown painted here on a Forgeworld Reaver Titan. I also have a pair of Epic Forgeworld Lucius Warhounds awaiting construction and they will be painted in the same scheme, might end up with a full Titan Legion at this rate!

In the pictures Semper Invictus is escorted by Thunderbolt fighters from the 181st Imperial Navy Fighter Wing. These have coincidentally been painted in a very similar paint palette, but these have been based on a Luftwaffe scheme for the Messerschmitt Bf 109.











More pictures over on my blog.

[LolCommissar]

After a short break from painting and modelling, my paints are back out and my fingers are covered in super glue! On my painting table at the moment are a squad of scout bikers and assault terminators.

In the meantime here are some pictures of my Tactical Squad Rhinos from a recent game. These were built with Forgeworld Raven Guard doors and brass etchings.







Next up Raven Guard BFG!

[Dismembered]

Jeez you make me want to start my Raven Guard, which I really should because they've been sitting around in pieces for a while now. Are you using the Forgeworld transfers? I bought them hoping they work.