MkIV Assault Squad - Part I

 

Sir Jumpsalot

While there are plenty of other models that I have on the go, at the start of the year I did mention about wanting "background models", models that I can just paint between other projects. Originally I thought this would be Primaris Marines, but I had these old MkIV Assault troops with upgrades packs and decided they deserved attention first.

These resin models are a little strange. They're somehow smaller than the plastic equivalents, while being more detailed. I can completely understand Games Workshop moving to plastic as much as possible, returning Forgeworld to specialty items. I'm hoping that once painted up however, this lot will fit right in alongside everything else.

Another reason I selected these models is that they have an open pose, sufficient that I judged it possible to full assemble the entire model (including the head) prior to painting. While I'm sure there will be a few hard to reach places, on the whole it looks as though I can manage - and this is really something for motivation!

I've not yet changed anything on how I paint these models, but at this stage it's just a few coats from the airbrush. I am considering changing a couple of things on these models however, one of which is to add another airbrush step. I'm not happy with the the volumetric highlights - there's just not enough value contrast. It's fine on larger surfaces like the shoulder pads, but I really want some more underneath some parts, particularly around the legs. I could go back with the base coat to darken, but that's quite an opaque step and I would rather a filter of some kind. So I might just thin down and glaze over some of the wash instead with a small airbrush nozzle. My cheap airbrush is having some difficulty right now and I fear might not be up to the task, so I'll likely invest in a smaller nozzle for my better airbrush - but only use it for thinned paints, otherwise it will clog too rapidly.

I'm also going to try paint at least some of the metallic base colours before I varnish. I really like the ability of a gloss varnish to allow me to wipe away mistakes quickly, but the coverage of metallics is terrible, particularly the likes of Leadbelcher. I'll just have to be careful in doing so.

I have a bunch of other ideas in the pipeline, and I'm trying to get these jetbikes moving along, but I'm away again soon, meaning no new post for a week and a half (or thereabouts). Painting should pick up steam again after that too (there hasn't been much time the last few weeks for reasons), and I can prepare the next couple of dreadnoughts.

-- silly painter