The Snake bit me... Army painted Saim-Hann

[Leonathion]

Alright people! I screwed it up bigtime last time i tried to paint my eldar army, I got above 3500 pts in joust models, gained from years of collecting. Some of these are favourites and painted, but not all. Last time I played with my eldar properly it was in the era of the Strike Force. I loved that army, and bought a lot of new models for it, but unfortunately, the wraithgate is gone... but now we have harlequins so I don't cry anymore.

Anyway, a local tournament is at hand this spring and so I intend to get this mess fixed once and for all. I crave so much for titans and flyers but I promised myself to at least have 3000 pts of playable painted models before I buy any and start on them. Hopefully I'll be spending my autumn in Svalbard, and with the sun up 4 hours a day, I think I'll have lots of time painting titans... but that's then! Now I have an army to paint and I want all the critique, tips and cheers possibly mustered from here, otherwise, I'll probably not make it.

Well, I've come a bit on my way. A lot of the models are sprayed with a red army painter and my farseer is done, pics shown below. Currently, jetbikes are zooming around my mind. Three is up for a start, but I've come across a problem:

The paint is cracking...:wtf: I've never seen this before, and no matter how much I cover it with more paint, It joust won't matter, the crack is still there. Anybody got any soultion? Do you think its due to the spray or perhaps the fact that I've washed it? Anyway, you'll see the pics. I don't want to go greenstuffing this thing but perhaps I have no choice?

I also have a problem with my washes concerning glossyness. The models washed has become all glossy, even though I've tried a dishwash solution. Got any tips? I've done it based on a red wash from the old days, in the tall pots with the blue top...

Here's some pictures:









So what do you think? Is the highlight to dull, should i lighten it up? The freehand on the front of the robe (black on white, at the feet) is somewhat crappy, but I was tired and slipped, now I don't care to fix it. But other stuff is upcomming! I'll work some on the bikes tonight, perhaps some more pics tomorrow...

Cheers!

[verydarkshadow]

Well, I can't suggest a fix for the cracking paint or the varnish going glossy, sorry.

The highlights are very nice actually, as is the freehand on the robe. The gaurdian torso and heads are a much better fit for the jetbike too, imo. And.....is that a dreadnaught base on the warwalker? It looks top notch!

Looking foreward to seeing more.

[Inquisitor Engel]

Quite nicely done though, nice steady hand and good detail.

You might try an different pot of paint.

[Metaphorazine]

I also have a problem with my washes concerning glossyness. The models washed has become all glossy, even though I've tried a dishwash solution. Got any tips?

Varnish it with Testors dull coat. Removes all shine.

Nice gems.

[-fen-]

Varnish it with Testors dull coat. Removes all shine.

I'd be carefull doing this, while it hasn't happened to everyone. Some painters I know (who use Inks) have found that Testors corrupts ink - especially the older inks - and causes them to run. If you do decide to try Testors try it out on a test mini first just to be safe and sure it's not going to happen to yours.

ftr I personally haven't had problems with Testors, but I don't use Inks when I paint. So I can't say for sure that you wouldn't have a similar problem.

The other option is to seal the mini with a Matt Varnish Spray (which doesn't cause running due to the particle nature of the spray) and see if that has cut down the shine, then apply Testors over the top if needed.

[CELS]

I also have a problem with my washes concerning glossyness. The models washed has become all glossy, even though I've tried a dishwash solution. Got any tips? I've done it based on a red wash from the old days, in the tall pots with the blue top...

In my experience, this is unavoidable with the old wash paints in the tall pots with the blue top. I also find that the new inks are a bit glossy. The solution is merely to drybrush after you've inked. You'll find that most of the good painters tend to finish with watered down paint or drybrushing, instead of ink washes, when it comes to most large surfaces.

So what do you think? Is the highlight to dull, should i lighten it up?

I definitely think you should add more contrast. Highlighting red is hard. I prefer starting with a darker red (like scab red) and then highlighting up to blood red. Makes the red look deeper, as opposed to starting with blood red and highlighting to pink / orange, which is the typical GW look of the 90's

[silveryfox]

I like the warwalkers pose. Keep up the good work!

[Leonathion]

I definitely think you should add more contrast. Highlighting red is hard. I prefer starting with a darker red (like scab red) and then highlighting up to blood red. Makes the red look deeper, as opposed to starting with blood red and highlighting to pink / orange, which is the typical GW look of the 90's

I liked the 90's
But it's a nice idea! I'll probably do the remaining part of the army a bit darker (the base of the warwalker is a good example, then highlight it up), but first some other stuff to do...

Thank's for the tips on the varnish but after seeing all the threads of "varnish destroyed my army..." on this page I think I'll pass... Well see, Ill do some experimenting.

Cheers for all the c&c's y'all! I'll post some jetbike updates later tonight...

[Death Korp]

These guys are really cool! The red really does make them stand out! I'm now actually thinking of painting my Banshees in red instead of Uthwe colours!

DK

[Leonathion]

These guys are really cool! The red really does make them stand out! I'm now actually thinking of painting my Banshees in red instead of Uthwe colours!

Thanks! Red would look very nice against a black
army like ulthwe! The Banshee exarch from the last eldar codex comes to mind...

[Leonathion]

Alright! Time for some more pics!







I painted the freehand on the jet this evening. I didn't scetch it up beforehand, joust painted it straight onto the canopy. I do like parts of it, the black triangle at the botom, the gem on the forehead of the skull, and I'm really proud of the rune at the tip! Inspiration came mainly from the famous "Giger Eldar", revenant painted by Yellow_One on CMON. I really like his style but I want to do something with my own tuch. Giger is a really nice theme do do more freehands on so I think I will...

This is kind of a prototype for colours and such. I think the black and torquise mixes really well with a bright red.

Next up is some white, perhaps a snake somewhere on the bike, and of course, the rider!

Over n out.

[the angel chosen]

That Freehand Is breathtaking

[CELS]

Ah yes, now we're talking. Nice work

[Your Evil Twin]

Wooah NICE jet bike!! I wish I could do proper free hand like that! (its the highlighting free hand i find tricky) your is ACE!! As is the war walkers base and the warlock, good luck with the project!

Consider me subscribed!
Your Evil Twin

[Luke]

That jetbike is frikkin awesome. Nuff said. Might give that a go myself! 5 STARS.

[dr.oetk3r]

Dead sexy jetbike!!!

[verydarkshadow]

Words fail me...

..ah! I know: ''

There we go

[Leonathion]

Thanks for the positive feedback(?) everyone! I have always thought that freehanding was really tricky until I tried it at this model actually, took about 2h but the there was a lot of mistakes that had to be fixed and stuff, if I have a proper scetch of it, I might be able to push it down to one hour.

First I painted some llines with Red Gore, to get some shape of the pic, the I Shadowed it down to Black, then I added highlights, trying to keep them as subtle as possible.

At this point, the bike itself is done, tomorrow I'll buy some bases and get the whole model finished, might post some pics afterwards.

Your's truly

[Tatarus]

Truly good freehand man

[Slobomeister]

Amazing freehand, wish I could paint something like that. Looking forwards to next update.