XVIII Legion - Salamanders WIP #1

Just burning to get more done (it's a Salamander's joke).

Having had the Betrayal at Calth boxed set sitting around for a while, I decided to start my idea of painting one model from each of the Legion colour schemes. Don't worry, the other 3 models are still being (slowly, as ever) done, and I'll post an update on them soon, but I really wanted to play with the greens of the Salamander's colours.

The base was done using Castellan Green, nothing much more to say about that really. Ensure a smooth coat and all (hint: the GW base brush is still great for that).

Highlighting was done a little differently for this model. I wanted a bit of front-facing highlights to indicate the light coming from a flamer that he'll be holding, so I decided to go for that. I had intended to try follow a few tutorials from Painting Buddha, but it didn't really happen (because I need a lot more practice).
At any rate, Loren Forest was mixed with Lahmian Medium to glaze up some highlights, running length-ways with each armour plate. I tried to make it more pronounced on the model's right side (which should be closer to the point of light).

Lamenter's Yellow was next glazed over the initial highlights. I find this brings out the green and makes it that much lighter, and used carefully blends in nicely as well.
To make the back areas seem more in shade, I then used the opposite approach: Guilliman Blue was glazed into various areas. Why yellow and blue glazes? Look at a colour wheel and it should be apparent, but also because green can be mixed from those two - adding one lightens the green, adding the other darkens it.

Nuln Oil was washed into recesses - not a green wash actually, it was deemed that a strong, and careful, application of black would make everything stand that much more.

It was after all this that I buggered up. I tried to put on a coat of purity seal to overcome a bit of tacky feeling and excess shine from too much Lahmian use. It didn't work - the purity seal frosted up, dulled everything, and generally made it look horrible. So I had to cover it with thin layers of whatever I could get my hands on to bring the look back. I think I've mostly recovered from that mistake, but I may make other components (e.g the helmet) look out of place later.
Following this, edges were highlighted very carefully with thin layers of Straken Green. I don't want the edges to be too brightly defined for this model, given the attempt at a bit of source lighting, but I'll need more practice before I'm any good at it.

-- silly painter.

Grey Knight, Blood Angel Chaplain, Captain Karlaen

Having finished a few models, it's time to think of what to start painting next. There are still seven Lizardmen riders to get painted up, but for now it's back to the basics: Space Marines. Painting three models at a time appears to be a good number for now, so I've chosen some that are interesting, but also keep the colour schemes different.

Karlaen

Legs away.

 I've actually had this model sitting on the desk for a while, mostly with the base coat and highlights done on the armour. The final edge highlight is still missing, but I've started to fill in some detail now.
The NMM attempt on the right leg detail didn't really turn out, but still looks acceptable. I judged normal gold paints to be too dull, and wanted a bit more pop - the tiny white highlights and yellow edging does this.
The pteruges had no actual black base paint applied. Instead:

• Kantor Blue (base)
• Dark Repear (layer) highlight
• Thunderhawk Blue (layer) edge highlight
• Nuln Oil (shade) (x2) to make it very dark

This gives a good "black", but with blue/grey hints to the highlights. The photo, as usual, isn't the greatest, but it gives a kind of leather feel to it. I intend to do something different for the cape.
To blow my own horn, I'm definitely improving when it comes to painting blood drop shaped gems.

Blood Angels Chaplain

Hop to it!

 New model, just released. It looks pretty damned awesome, so I just have to give it a go. In case anyone is wondering why a leg is missing, it's just so that I have easier access to painting some of the detail. As with all models I do paint now, I only assemble when it won't interfere with painting each component.
I'll likely stick to the GW colour scheme for the most part. I really like it, so no need to change it much.

Grey Knight

Let's dance.

I've had these guys waiting patiently for some time now. I figured that I'd go back to metallic paints again, after all that was learned from the Sanguinary Guard. Still not sure exactly what I'll do, but the inset writing has been done before anything else, just because otherwise it'd be difficult not to mess up the surrounding areas.
The writing was done fairly easily with:

• Retributor Armour (base)
• Seraphim Sepia (shade)
• Sigmarite (dry)

I'm not convinced that drybrushing is best in this case, so I might try Retributor Gold after the base, and simply apply a shade later. The shade really works well in this case, as provides an excellent contrast to the lettering, allowing it all to be read quite easily.
Grey Knights are interesting to paint, as they're typically given a blue hint to their armour. I'm not sure how I'll go about that yet - possibly using Drakenhof Nightshade will be sufficient. I'll have to experiment.

-- silly painter.

Model Roundup

Charge! To biscuits!

 Well, ok, it's not entirely finished. The base still needs to be done. Otherwise, the rider and his steed are now as one. Not much to say at this point - the golden headdress was just playing with several of the metallic paints. I should probably take a couple more photos at some point, perhaps once the base has been done.

Put the cookie down.

 The Stormcast Eternal was pretty interesting to paint. A lot of work to get a dark blue going (hint: multiple washes of Nuln Oil) but I'm overall happy with the colour scheme. The base still needs a bit of work as well - stones, maybe some patchy grass. I'll deal with that at a later time. I'm not likely to get onto more of these just yet; the intention was to determine a colour scheme, and later paint more using an airbrush (whenever I get one).
I attempted to give the shield a bit more emphasis by trying to paint some clouds at the bottom, tying in to the lightning bolts coming out of the hammer. It works ok, but I need a lot of practice on painting clouds!

You will give me chocolates.

The Skink Priest is now done, including the base. Actually, the base only took about 10 minutes. It was just Zandri Dust, with differing washes (Agrax was in there, but also Athonian Camoshade, and possibly something else). A bit of messing about with drybrushing (honestly can't recall which colours I used, maybe Underhive Ash, Tyrant Skull, and a light dabbing of Praxeti White in places). Being exact wasn't the point - weathered stone looks more real I find if you don't pay attention and just play around with a few things. I tried to have more Athonian Camoshade show through in cracks and recesses, just to show moss and lichen growing there. It really didn't take long to do it all, and yet gives a very jungle-stone appearance.

Not sure what's next, but it's likely to be back to a terminator of some description.

-- silly painter.

Skink Priest WIP

The bling is strong with this one.

Not yet finished, but not much left until the skink priest is complete. I'm going to try for a blue glow effect on the outstretched hand, as if the skink is conjuring some magic. The eyes are also blue, to match and give a magic feel about the model. Either that, or it's possessed by a Goa'uld.

I'm quite happy with how this model is turning out. It's mostly been an exploration of contrasting colours; green gems and tips of the feathers/leaves (whichever) contrasting against the red flesh, with hints of blue just for balance. Gold because Lizardmen.

Subtlety makes this character. The white dots of the gems (my first square shaped ones), the gold highlights, it's just been fun to paint. I'm also pleased with the snout - the lighter tone there was to give an impression of age originally, but it also draws attention to the face.

At any rate, another afternoon or two and the main model is done, and the base will hopefully follow soon after.

-- silly painter.

Lizardmen Shield

Shorter post today, mostly because sleep beckons.

I wanted a red-brown look for the shield. I'm not sure what it would be made from, but I wanted a slight red tone to contrast against the mounts. With some playing around, the following was done:

• Mournfang Brown (base)
• Carroburg Crimson (wash) (note: at this point, I quite liked the look - I just messed up the next step)
• Terminatus Stone (drybrush) (applied too much, darn)
• Carroburg Crimson (wash) (tried to tone it back, didn't quite work)
• Skrag Brown (layer) (thin coat on the raised areas, still a little too brown for my liking)
• Mephiston Red (base, thinned down to glaze consistency) (thin coat on the raised areas, just to make it more red).

The messed up drybrushing stage was recovered from, and probably did help to lighten up the raised areas. In future, just doing that directly after the base, followed by the Carroburg wash, would probably be sufficient.

-- silly painter.

Lizardmen Cold One Cavalry WIP #4

With the Cold Ones themselves done, it's time to move on to the riders.

"I have a sword!", "Wave it over there somewhere."

Well, ok, it's not just the riders. A few other models are on the go right now as well, as can be seen by a work in progress skink priest. This is just to mix things up a bit and not get too bored painting the same thing eight times in a row.
Each rider will be done individually, and I'll probably just play around with the colours for each. I won't be keeping track of what I use - that would defeat the purpose of them all being indivdual really.
The main point for today is the feather. Yes, the multi-coloured one. I tried a base coat of white, and then various shades over each part, but it doesn't blend together that well. I may need to water down the shades a little before application, and do multiple passes (like with layer paint highlighting), which is a bit of a pain but will give better results. I'll very likely try that next with the skink, although I might try a base of Celestra Grey instead of Ceramic White - the feathers might otherwise be too bright compared to the rest of the model.

-- silly painter.

Lizardmen Cold One Cavalry WIP #3

Still here!
Moving has taken some time to get sorted out, but the sillyness has returned.

Something looks tasty over there

Today is just a very quick note about some animalistic eyes. That's really all that's left to do on the Cold Ones themselves, though the riders are still in their plastic sprues. Going for a predatory look, I didn't want white to surround the pupil, but instead either a darker brown, or perhaps an amber. Amber would tie in more with the golden collar, so the steps are:
Get a very fine tip brush. Something like this does the trick.

• Averland Sunset base.
• Carroburg Crimson shade (if too much, just quickly wash the brush and absorb some back).
• Rhinox Hide for the pupil (or black)

The eyelid was also highlighted a little, as it makes the eyes look a little more natural. Hard to explain that one, but basically don't forget about the eyelids.

Hopefully another post in a few days with the finished Cold Ones, then I can try out the new Citadel Corax White spray on the riders.

-- silly painter.