More Stormcast (finished)

Sir Glowhammer

There's actually three done, but they do look very similar. Three at at time is basically confirmed to be best for me at this point. It just seems to be easiest to manage.

Weapon handles are a surprisingly simple formula:

• Mournfang Brown
• Tuskgor Fur (edge highlight)
• Agrax Earthshade

The short sword scabbard I was hazy on some details about from before (because they weren't written down properly - shame!) so instead I chose to experiment with some new purchases. I didn't want the same as Blood Angel armour, so the result in this case is:

• Gal Vorbak Red
• Carroburg Crimson
• Word Bearers Red 
• Wazdakka Red (edge highlight)

Seems to work ok in the end, so it will probably be the basis for whenever I paint a red Word Bearers legionnaire.

The shield deviates from the last batch of Stormcast by using Grey Knights Steel for the lightning bolts. It's a subtle thing, but worth it. The hammer is a mix of Leadbelcher, Ironbreaker, Nuln Oil, and Liberator Gold in places. The clouds I'm not entirely happy with this time, but the basic approach is do drybrush colours together, going darker in the process instead of lighter:

• Celestra Grey
• Administratum Grey
• Eshin Grey

I did go back over some areas with mixes of colours to make starker edges, or blend it together slightly. More practice needed, but ultimately I still think something on the bottom of the shield helps to balance out the model.

Hammer glow was drybrushed, but I couldn't remember what I had used last time. Again, always write this down - that was the whole purpose of this blog! I don't know if this is better than before. It's certainly different; not better or worse, just different:

• Imrik Blue
• Skink Blue
• Wrack White
• Grey Knights Steel (to blend back into the hammer head)

The last paint was not drybrushed, but I figured thinned down it might help to soften a few edges. High pigment opacity with that paint though, so be careful trying this.

The white cloth next to the short sword is standard purity seal parchment detailed before for Blood Angels, so I won't bother recounting that here.

Using some spare bases from the shattered realms set, these were first primed with Corax White from a spray can, and then covered in Basilicum Grey in selected areas. That didn't have quite the hue I wanted, so pulling out the old Guilliman Blue glaze helped give it just the right colour. A more pure grey just stood out too much, so the subtle blue helps tie things together more. The "earth" in between was Gore-Grunta Fur and Agrax Earthshade. It's a little too red, but I don't have many contrast paints to play with right now, and I wanted to see how it worked. Thinned contrast paints do work well as glaze replacements.

The painting speed of these models has definitely improved. Mostly that's just experience: I know what colours to use, and how I want the model to look. The airbrush also saved a good deal of time, and I'm starting to get the hang using one (at least with blue).

-- silly painter.

More Stormcast (continued)

Preparing for war, with all the trimmings

Painting in batches of three is definitely working much better so far. I'm progressing surprisingly fast for my normal speed, but then I'm also not doing other hobbies right now. Doesn't matter; painting motivation comes and goes in waves, just like any other hobby.

Much of the model is starting to be filled in now, and I could probably start to think about gluing the shields in place soon. The gold armour trim is:

• Retributor Armour
• Reikland Fleshshade (Gloss)
• Reikland Fleshshade (normal, to bring down the shine in deeper recesses)
• Liberator Gold (not yet done, but will be used as a highlight)

The tabard (basically anywhere purple) is:

• Naggaroth Night
• Druchi Nightshade
• Xereus Purple (higlight)

And I may do a little more edge highlighting in select areas, just so separate the cloth a bit. Chances are this will be:

• Daemonette Hide

The silver scales on the loincloth are fairly easy, but can be more than it might first appear. Only the first two stages are done so far, but the intent is for them to be:

• Leadbelcher
• Nuln Oil (Gloss)
• Nuln Oil (normal, only in the deeper recesses)
• Ironbreaker (highlight raised areas)
• Stormhost Silver (additional highlights on the most raised areas)

Steady progress for tabletop ready models, which will hopefully be done in another week (work pending). I've also thought about really going to town and adding some subtle blues to the silver scales, as reflections from the armour, but they're only tabletop quality and I'd rather not spend months in getting them finished. I'll save such details for character models.

-- silly painter.