McMullet paints Lizardmen, Marines and, indeed, other things.

[McMullet]

....

And 3 Jungle Swarm bases:



The second skink unit is completed:



And I also decided to put the finishing touches to some Chameleon Skinks I painted some time ago:



I wasn't originally planning to include these in the army I want to finish for March, but given my lack of motivation to paint Saurus Warriors it may be necessary to change my plans.

Finally, here's a shot of the whole army as it stands:



Bigger pictures

Saurus:
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461865.html
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461866.html
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461867.html
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461868.html
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461869.html
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461870.html
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461871.html

Terradons:
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461872.html

Swarms:
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461873.html
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461874.html

Chameleon Skinks:
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461875.html

Normal Skinks:
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461876.html

Whole army:
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461877.html

My Hi-tech lighting setup:
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461878.html
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461879.html
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461880.html

My new desk (I suppose that should be updated):
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461881.html

My shelf:
http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461882.html

And finally... a question, O Warseers. I am starting to think that painting coloured splodges™ on the crests of the Saurus is a bad idea, as it will lead to confusion about sacred markings. Hence, I am thinking that I will paint over the red and green splodged Saurus and just leave the yellow ones (who really do have the mark of Tlazcotl). If anyone has any thoughts, do tell.

Cheers for looking!

[Jim Reaper]

Looking very good indeed sir - the coloured splodges especially work nicely to unite the unit as well as the whole spawning thingy. The jungle swarms are mighty nice as well, the rattlesnake fella looks particularly good.

I think 'twould be a shame to lose the coloured splodges, as I mentioned they work very well to unite the unit and break up the general blue-ness.

To be honest I would be tempted to ignore those who would have a problem with the colouring even after you've explained it to them, possibly whilst deploying a few choice words impugning their honour. If you're set on avoiding such confrontation, myself I would go for some more subdued colours (scorched brown perhaps? Even white isn't impossible given that the Old Ones spawning is albino rather than white markings) to keep the theme going.

[McMullet]

Hmm, I hadn't thought of a darker brown. It didn't really occur to me originally, as I was thinking of something more contrasting, but I suppose that a more muted colour would make more sense for these non-blesséd Saurus.

I'll certainly bear the scorched brown idea in mind, cheers.

[Arhalien]

Excellent painting Mcmullet, really good work. Those swarms are brilliant

[Anardakil]

Wow! Those are probably the best lizardmen I've seen. Awesome work. I love the painting style and choice of colours. Great job!
They would look even more smashing with a few jungle plants and the like though.

[McMullet]

Thanks guys, very kind of you.

I would like to go back and jazz the bases up at some point, especially for the skinks, but for the moment I'm on a schedule so I must crack on. I'm currently working on magnetising the terradons and riders, so I don't have to blutack them in place...

Anyone have any more thoughts about the unit markings/sacred spawnings issue?

[Badgobbla]

Do you have any pics of what the situation with the markings/splodges is right now and maybe how you would like them to look? It's just because I don't see what you're trying to say.

Painting looks nice and crisp btw.

Also, maybe a tip on your gold: When I paint this I always paint it with a thinned down layer of chestnut wash and then some small highlights of pure gold and a mix of gold/silver.

[Roel?]

Your Lizardmen look awesome! Sure as hell makes me wanna do a lizard army again :>.

[McMullet]

Thanks Roel.

Do you have any pics of what the situation with the markings/splodges is right now and maybe how you would like them to look? It's just because I don't see what you're trying to say.

Sure thing.

It's the colours on the head crests that I mean.
Green splodges: http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p36351726.html
Yellow: http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p34261784.html
Red: http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p38461865.html
And there are 5 of each in this "unit": http://mcmulletsminis.fotopic.net/p36711470.html

Problem is, the yellow guys are marked by Tlazcotl, whereas the red and green coloured ones aren't actually marked by anything, even though red and green are associated with the marks of Sotek and Tzunki respectively. There's no real hard and fast convention on how to show markings, indeed the book says things like, "they often show a tange of yellow" rather thna saying they're always yellow. In a friendly game the confusion wouldn't be a problem, but I'm thinking it might be more serious at a tournament.

Painting looks nice and crisp btw.

Thanks!

Also, maybe a tip on your gold: When I paint this I always paint it with a thinned down layer of chestnut wash and then some small highlights of pure gold and a mix of gold/silver.

Currently I'm going Copper > Chestnut Ink > Burnished gold. I want a darker, coppery/bronzy look to the gold, since that's the Aztec style (copper-gold alloys). I would like to put a few more layers in but I don't really have time...

[Destris]

Wow, those lizzies look amazing!

Steve

[Asuril]

Absolutely stunning! It's seriously making me want to run a lizardmen force now! >.> Damn you!

On the "Splodges [TM]" dilema, why not put the markings on the shields, instead of on the crests? I don't think shields are born with sacred markings, so there shouldn't be any confusion there. ;]

If the "Splodges [TM]" don't look right on the shields (and they might not), you could try painting random scales on the shield teal/bright red/yellow instead of the current crimson.

I guess it would sorta look like polka dots (not to be confused with pokedots, which may or may not be small collectable critters).

Maybe worth considering.

Anyway, keep updating! More more more! This army is awesome!

[McMullet]

The shield idea is not bad at all! I like that. As you say, painting colours straight on might be a little strange, but I could always paint some symbols on the shields (though that sounds suspiciously like freehand... I like freehand, but it takes time which I do not have right now ).

The alternative is just to paint something under the base so I know which models go with which unit, and then have markings on the unit standard.

[Badgobbla]

I like the idea of having identical markings on all the models of one unit, as it makes them easier to recognize from above. So, I'd go back and paint over them, but that's just me (I'm kinda anal on these things).

[McMullet]

But, when I actually get around to finishing the three units, there will be one unit with red, one with yellow and one with green marks. So each unit will have its own colour. Is that what you mean? Or am I being slow?

[spikedog]

Wow I totally missed the updates to this thread, stoopid email! *Shakes fist*

The Lizardmen are looking very hot and the army shot makes them look even better. Congratulations on getting so much done.

So what else can we be expecting to see in this and indeed any other projects you have lined up for the near future?

[Badgobbla]

But, when I actually get around to finishing the three units, there will be one unit with red, one with yellow and one with green marks. So each unit will have its own colour. Is that what you mean? Or am I being slow?

Euhm, what was the question again?

No, I thought you wanted all of the units to have the yellow mark, right? So that's why I said that you should paint the yellow blotches on all of them.

[Asuril]

No.

His dilemma is that he wants each unit to have some sort of color to unify them. One unit with red Splodges [TM], one with yellow, etc.

However, he's considering changing it from Splodges [TM] to something else because he does not want his opponent to confuse these unit markings with Sacred Spawnings.

Get it?

[McMullet]

That's the ticket!

Looking at the different colours, I am currently thinking that the red and green will just be darker and thus less prominent than the yellow. Coupled with a bit standard with Tlazcotl's glyph on it, I think I'll be OK. It'll be a quick job to paint ove rth ered and green guys' Splodges [TM] if needs be.

Wow I totally missed the updates to this thread, stoopid email! *Shakes fist*

The Lizardmen are looking very hot and the army shot makes them look even better. Congratulations on getting so much done.

So what else can we be expecting to see in this and indeed any other projects you have lined up for the near future?

Thanks! I'm still working on the Lizards until the 22nd of March. Then I'm taking whatever is done so far to Carnage. Hopefully that'll be 3 full units of Saurus, but I'll have enough for some kid of army.

After that, I have my nids to start (nearly 3000 points, mostly unassembled), plus the remainder of the Lizardmen, and few things to paint and retouch for my Crimson Fists. Plus, of course, the "next" army, whatever that may be...

[Aelyn]

What about keeping the blotches, but for the Spawned unit also painting some of the scales down the back, to make it stand out a little more?

Or, if you're deadset on removing the blotches (I really like them, is all), you could change the colours of the stone / wood on the handles on the weapons, shade their snouts slightly, put markings on the shields...

Or, my personal favourite, base them slightly differently while maintaining a theme (have one unit with a muddy base and a couple shoots, one with more grass and one almost borderline watery.)

[DLord]

Loving the uk flag snake on the swarm!! Amazing speed of work for the super high standard too! army looking good