Legion Praetor Tribune (Complete)

 I actually finished this model a couple of weeks ago, but had it on display in the local Games Workshop store (or Warhammer store, as it's called now). An incredibly fun model to paint.

Gimli

 There's not too much to say about the painting, although a couple of points stand out. The gold trim was a combination of several layers, being:

• Balthasar Gold (Base)
• Druchii Violet (Shade)
• Gehenna's Gold (Layer) (Most of the area, leaving recesses alone)
• Auric Armour Gold (Layer) (Less area, mostly edges)
• Reikland Fleshshade (Gloss Shade) (Selected areas)
• Liberator Gold (Layer) (Edge highlights)

And my axe.

Another point of interest might actually be the base. After covering it with Astrogranite, some Mechanicus Standard Grey helped to even out the colours and bind the texture paint down. Multiple drybrush applications, picked almost at random and I can't recall exactly what was used now and then different shades applied. It's the different shades that ended up being the most useful: Nuln Oil, Reikland Fleshshade, Seraphim Sepia, Agrax Earthshade, even a little Drakenhof Nightshade. It all just helps to give extra definition and depth to the base. Incredibly simple, but quite effective.

Last note: messed up the head a bit. Couldn't quite get the eyes right, so he's a little battle scarred.

-- silly painter.

Legion Praetor Tribune WIP #2

Arm-ament ongoing

A short update on the Legion Praetor Tribune, including a very bad photo. Hoping to get that sorted out soon - a proper lighted booth and turntable to take photos in.

The usual armour higlighting was done, however a coat of Purity Seal was added part way through because everything became too "shiny" from the flow improver (Lahmian Medium alternative) used. This really can't be seen in the photo, but the effort to he basic armour highlights, as ever, pays off in the end.

Gold trimming was a bit of an exercise this time around:

• Balthasar Gold (Base)
• Druchii Violet (Shade)
• Gehenna's Gold (Layer), first highlight
• Auric Armour Gold (Layer), second highlight
• Reikland Fleshshade (Gloss Shade), just in select areas
• Liberator Gold (Layer), final edge highlight

The blue wings on the chest piece works nicely as a bit of balance, and will help to create more focus in that area. A different head to the standard will be used, but it's not painted yet. I've decided to attempt to give the head a blue glow, emanating from within the armour itself. This is partly in preparation for when I work on Horus, and also just for something different to make this model stand out from others.

Next, however, I will likely concentrate on enough to get more of the model assembled.

Another Lizardman Rider has been finished too. Only 5 more of those to go.

-- silly painter

Cold One Rider, Legion Praetor

Not sure how the rider really sees.

 The rider was done in two weeks. Must be a record for me. Drybrushing was the key to that, but also knowing how I wanted to do everything helped. I could just paint each component and not think overly much about how to paint it.
A couple of interesting notes though: some of the new gloss washes were used, which really to help with metallics. Just saves a lot of messing about trying to keep the metal sheen while still trying to shade and highlight it. I would have liked a Seraphim Sepia version, but perhaps Games Workshop will release that later on.
The spear shaft I also ran some drybrushing along to simulate the grain of wood. Dryad Bark was used for the base colour, with Sylvaneth Bark and Golgfag Brown drybrushed over the top of that, and a coat of Agrax Earthshade wash used to tie it all together a bit more. Fairly subtle, but it works.

...and my axe!

The second model for today is the recently released Legion Praetor Tribune; a special weekend model. The original holds a glaive, but what made me decide to work on this model now was inspiration to replace the blade with an axe head. I had one left over from the Sanguinary Guard sprue, and I personally think it makes the model look much more powerful. This also marks the first time I've tried pinning (small metal rod to hold pieces together). Fortunately I drilled holes correctly aligned the first go, so it fit together quite nicely. The benefit of pinning here is that the axe head won't break off quite so easily - something I was concerned with if I had just glued it on. Much more solid now and I don't have to be quite so delicate in handling the model during painting.
So I guess it's back to red armour while I finish off the Lizardmen (6 more to go!).

-- silly painter.

Grey Knight (Done)

The first Grey Knight is now considered "done". I may go back later and add scrolls, books, or other such attachments, but for now the model is complete.

So awesome, he glows.

There's not much of note to say really. The besagew (at least, I think that's the intended function of the little shield) and wrist-mounted storm-bolter are the main additions, with a little base work to round things off.

The base could have been done better. I tried using some pre-made elements, but they don't sit flush with the rest of the base. So there's this muddied rock or concrete slab with a Guardsman's flask and some shell casings that doesn't really fit. The flask was Stegadon Scale Green (base), Agrax Earthshade (wash), and a bit of Straken Green to highlight some edges. Might make a nice Guardsman uniform basic later.

The besagew has a half white, half red colour scheme. The "white" was just Celestra Grey with Ulthuan Grey over the top. Going to White Scar would have been too much. Larger areas given the same treatment might benefit from edge highlights with White Scar, which is again something to keep in mind for later.

Only one more problem remains: four more of them to assemble and paint still.

-- silly painter.

Grey Knight WIP #2

The Grey Knight has had quite a bit of work done and is starting to come together now. A few pieces are still missing, with the storm bolter and heraldry shield being the most notable, but feel of the pose is coming through.

Obviously Leonardo was his favourite turtle.

I'm not entirely happy with how the pose turned out actually. The left sword should have been a little lower perhaps, and the torso twisted slightly more. I wanted a pose of the Knight charging forward, ready to swing a falchion at some evil from the Warp, but it doesn't quite "click" for that. Maybe it will later.

I've decided to go with a Wazdakka Red as target for Grey Knights. It subtly distinguishes them from the Blood Angels I have painted, though I'm not sure if I'll use a Khorne Red or Mephiston Red base to work up from yet (likely to be the latter though).

Books are a big part of Grey Knight iconography. Pages are very similar to scroll parchment in how I intend to paint that, but the book covers will be very much like here: Mournfang Brown as a base, possibly a wash after (not used here because there wasn't enough shown), and then Wazdakka Red for the corner protectors. Using Wadakka Red ties back in to using it elsewhere, and I can see that being a running theme.

Let's dance.

I wanted something different to the force weapons seen out there, and also separate from the average power weapon. Power weapons are often seen with an electrical effect dancing over the edges, and force weapons are given a kind of blue glow over the entire blade. I always thought a force weapon should look like it was ingrained with more than just metal however, that it should have some kind of circuitry running through it, and that was the idea behind this attempt. As a first go, it turned out ok, but I think with a bit of practice it will look much better, so I'll likely stick with it. The basic idea is:

• Leadbelcher and Ironbreaker as usual.
• Altdorf Guard Blue for the base pattern. Quite thin helps, but not too thin. Consistency is key; here it was a little too strong, and I'd rather it be a bit more transparent.
• Xereus Purple - not everywhere, but gives some definition to some parts of the pattern. I found myself applying it mostly at corners, or where the lines were darkest. Again, very thin.
• Guilliman Blue - a glaze over parts to help bring out the blues, but also darken the metal and tie it all together. Don't use it everywhere, leaving some of the silver untouched. This gives an impression of power moving through the blade, and really adds a dynamic touch to the weapons.

I'll have to experiment further with colours, patterns, and paints for the blades in future. I've seen something similar with aqua colours that looked very impressive, so maybe for a halberd or hammer that can used.

-- silly painter.

Blood Angel Chaplain

"I kneed an enemy of Mankind in the balls so hard that I damaged my armour."

There's nothing particularly special that I haven't already covered in how this model was painted, so it's mostly a case of having fun with what I could already do.

This model was a lot of fun to paint. It has loads of character, and a very dynamic pose. Definitely one that every Blood Angel player should have.
He was entered into the local GW painting competition, to which I can proudly say he came in equal second, but the main purpose was to serve as inspiration for others: he has now joined some other models on display there.

I guess the only part to talk about is trying to highlight black. I always find that extremely difficult. Everything will stand out in stark contrast, so my typical style of blending colours up to an edge is quite difficult to achieve smoothly. In the end, I settled on using Dark Reaper as the first highlight stage, and then Skavenblight Dinge for the edges. It's a fairly subtle effect in the end, which I quite like; details are defined without the armour looking overly shiny.

The other part with this model that I tried different was the mix of metal-metallic and non-metal-metallic effects. It's a good way of drawing attention to the NMM parts, of giving them a bit of extra depth. I'll probably keep that going forward now.

The eye sockets actually have a red glow deep within them, but only if the lighting is right. It was purely by accident, but really gives the model a menacing air about it, fit for leading the Death Company into action.

Next model to get done: the Grey Knight Terminator.

-- silly painter.

Captain Karlaen (Done)

Unimpressed with damage to his halo.

Another very quick post, just to round off this model. The NMM on the "wing" of the hammer turned out rather well, and is very simple to do.

• Averland Sunset (base).
• Druchii Violet (shade).
• Yriel Yellow (layer, use Lahmian Medium to thin it down). Applied to the outer edges. If the shade is too dark, then a very thin layer of Averland Sunset can be applied before this stage.
• White Scar (layer, again thinned down). Just added to the tips, with an extra layer / dot on the very tip.

That's it really. It's not difficult, it's just a matter of thin layers (as just about everything I do is).

The hair was a mix of browns and yellows, and sort of "striped" on. I tried to make it a little darker near where the part in the hair would be, just to give it a bit of depth.

The model is on display at the local GW store (or Warhammer store as it's called now). I may put on a replacement halo one day, as I still haven't found the one that broke off the ornamental cup on the back of his armour.

-- silly painter.