Deathwatch Chaplain (Finished)

Finally, another model done. Chappie the Chaplain is classified as "complete" (although a decal still needs adding to the shoulder pad).

I have a big stick!

 Lots of metallics used on this piece in the end, more than normal, but it all seemed to fit together in the end. It also shows how proper shading and highlighting is just as essential with metallics as it is with "normal" painting. This is good experience that will be applied soon to the model of Horus.

Not sure how those bones don't fall out of the box.

Even though originally in Deathwatch set, the model still fits well as a Blood Angel. Writing on the scrolls and cloth remains something I really need to work on though.

Been a little while since the last post, so there's quite a few things to mention in regards to painting. Firstly, the "wax" seals are:

• Screamer Pink
• Drakenhof Nightshade
• Pink Horror (small highlighting)

More or less may be required on future models, depending on how well they should stand out, how much of a gloss feel they should have, and so on.

Not wanting the entire Crozius Arcanum to be gold in colour, but feeling that it should be mostly metallic rather than bone coloured, I decided on something darker for the shaft. This would keep the emphasis on the head of the weapon while keeping the colours cohesive. Very simple for much of it, with the usual silvers (Leadbelcher, Ironbreaker, Nuln Oil, Stormhost Silver) for the skulls along the shaft (and elsewhere on the model):

• Leadbelcher
• Ironbreaker
• Nuln Oil
• Stormhost Silver

with in between as:

• Warplock Bronze
• Brass Scorpion
• Runelord Brass

No shade on the latter because the details were just too small for it to be worthwhile. The same was applied to small areas of the bolt pistol as well, which makes it look a little steampunk, but also ornate.

The wooden box housing some bones - well, I wanted something "wood", but without being too brown. A red tinge to it, and yet wood and not leather. Still experimenting with that sort of thing, but shown here was:

• Mournfang Brown
• Doombull Brown
• Skag Brown (edging only)
• Agrax Earthshade
• Bloodletter

A bit overkill for such a small feature, but it's the small features that end up standing the most and giving that much more character, so they're quite often worth the extra attention.

Not shown here, but included for the sake of completeness (this was, and is being, done on the Grey Knights) is scrollwork on armour. It shouldn't look like paper, but neither should it give the appearance of bone. Too dark and it's no good, too light and it can't be differentiated from paper, cloth, or other "white" elements. I also wanted a stone carving feel to it - it's a part of the armour, and sculpted to look like paper, so it should feel solid and heavy. In the end:

• Zandri Dust
• Seraphim Sepia
• Karak Stone (at this point, it basically looks like sandstone)
• Ushabti Bone
• Screaming Skull

If it's too dark at this point, very lightly apply Pallid Wych Flesh. Can also swap out Seraphim Sepia for Agrax Earthshade. It works well enough for me though, so keep an eye out in future when I finish the Grey Knights.

For skull and bone iconography, something similar is actually used. It's mostly a case of tone: lighter for this stage to make it distinct.

• Zandri Dust
• Seraphim Sepia
• Ushabti Bone
• Screaming Skull
• Pallid Wych Flesh

It's really the last step that makes everything lighter and more bone-like. I'm also increasingly using Serpahim Sepia for many things. It's far more of an interesting colour than using Agrax Earthshade everywhere, but not as red as Reikland Fleshshade.

Moving on, the skull mask of the chaplain. This really has to stand out on the model, as it's such a central point of focus. It makes or breaks everything else. The airbrushing done previously gave a good white to it, and I didn't really have to add much else. A little bit of shading for depth, and a few edge highlights; sometimes less is more. For making some areas a bit darker, Lahmian Medium was used with Drakenhof Nightshade, at about a 10:1 mix. Really, really thin paint, less than glaze consistency. Multiple coats in a few key areas, and it really adds depth. Mostly applied to the sides, and just above the "brow". It does tend to leave a very slight gloss finish, but this just made the helmet stand out more, so I didn't bother trying to fix that (hint: normally some purity spray does the job if the gloss is too much). The eyes I decided on something blue:

• Black first on the lenses
• Kantor Blue over about half of each lens
• Hoeth Blue over less
• Baharroth Blue over less
• White Scar as a dot on the black areas
• Guilliman Blue in the recesses around the lenses.

It's the last step that really makes the helmet, and the whole model. I didn't want red for the lenses because that just makes him look angry (something that's probably a job requirement for Chaplains). I wanted him to look like a terrible sight to behold for the enemies of the Emperor, to strike fear, but still to be a bastion of leadership for allies. Blue is associated more with supernatural elements than red, so a blue glow to the eyes just seemed to fit. A shade would have been too dark, so a glaze was used instead, and it all just comes together, so I'm happy with how it turned out.

As an update on the Grey Knights: they've been painted just enough to be entirely assembled. All the details need filling in now, so still a bit of time give my slow pace of painting. They are looking good though, courtesy of being such nicely designed models.

-- silly painter.