Devastator Squad - Part V

 

monocle, binoculars, trioculars?

This long running series will no doubt make it to ten posts, but that's mostly because updates are shorter and I'm trying to keep them running for motivation to actually get a little done every day. Except today, while I write this out.

The first of the Devastators has finally been fully assembled. Focusing purely on the one model has definitely helped keep me moving forwards and I've still managed to paint little extras on the rest as well. The sergeant is almost ready for full assembly too, just a few little details that are easier to reach for now, but actually the next I'm likely to focus on will be a lascannon wielding marine. Before I get that far however, I have realised one mistake in full assembly: the right knee pad. I kind of forgot to put a squad marking on there. I've lost where I keep track of what I've already used so I'll need to go back over all my painted models and figure it out.

That out of the way, I decided to try and make the grav weapon have a green glow, or energy indicator, to it. Hexwraith Flame in the recesses is all that is - I might have used one of the brighter Contrast range, but Hexwraith Flame is sufficient and already in my paint collection. I tried not to go overboard but I'll still need to add highlights again later to brighten up a few edges - and that can wait until after the varnish stage if I decide to mix in metallics.

Iron Warriors with Black Templar (mixed with flow improver) is looking to be my go-to for darkened metal. My painting style is not exactly bright, saturated colours and so going darker is necessary to keep a value range. It's been working well enough so far but I'm still stopping at Iron Hands Steel before the varnish stage.

To simplify everything I ended up just painting all the helmet lenses green. I could have used varying colours except that would then have needed more decisions on which basic colours and an awful lot more time to pick out the right paint pots; far better to just use what was already on the palette. I also have come to appreciate once more the fine tip of a good sable brush. I've been using a synthetic brush for a while now that allows me to base coat smaller details, but for eyes, lenses, etc, the equivalent of an artificer brush can't be beaten. Considering I really only intended the synthetic to last for metallics on the Sanguinary Guard, then it's been lasting surprisingly well.

The last little update to how I paint things is actually the cabling. Colourful cables suit some of the of saturated schemes from 2nd edition, but I go for a utilitarian approach these days. The outer layer of cables is probably hardened for protection while colour codes are on the ends or inner sheaths. As a flexible material though I want that cabling to have less stark highlights but also shadows that aren't as deep. For that I've been experimenting with:

• Corvus Black base latyer.
• Corvus Black / Stegadon Scale Green (1:2) over most of the cable to help define volume.
• Stegadon Scale Green / Dark Reaper (1:1) for highlights.

The end result is fairly subtle with the highlights and is more about giving some colour to make it distinct from the black of weapon casings and armour. I like it so far, but only because it's contrasting against the red of the armour. I'm not sure it would be suitable with, say, Raven Guard. I'd want perhaps some Thunderhawk Blue in such a case. Something to think about anyway.

-- silly painter.