Friday, 29 May 2020

'nids part 276 - Rippers

Afternoon #warmongers and I've been #paintingwarhammer on those Tyranid models, but I've started to 'taper' [as warhannam calls it] my efforts and focus on the Rippers. So I applied the first set of chitin highlights, against protocol as I normally do the bone first - inside > out!


I think I had some turquoise on my palette I needed to use up, which is why I went for the chitin first. I think it might have been over 2 nights. I know a lot of people hate the Forgeworld models for how much effort they take. These aren't that bad but there were moments where my motivation was challenged.


But I was able to surf that crest, get the second highlight done and then crack on with the first bone highlights. With only four to do it was manageable so every time it felt overwhelming I'd almost completed what I had to do. Progress was steady and I could see that my focus would bear fruit reasonably quickly.


This was such a brilliant project to take on after the Deathwing Knights - so much effort, so many decisions and details. While the Rippers I can do without decisions or delay and just get on with them.


I did have the common sense to keep one of my recent Rippers around, just so I could see how much effort I'd put into them to ensure consistency.


I was surprised to note [although it's not quite apparent in this pic] but my old Ripper on the right has more dark blue visible. My newer ones have more turquoise, not a problem it just surprised me I'd been more reserved.


Anyway, almost done at this stage, but I don't think I took anymore pictures as progress was so rapid, just teeth, eyes, claws, a highlight of the red and additional highlights on the tongue and Hive Node. Pick out the Bonewhite chips and edge the base and varnish - gotta love the little fellas.

Monday, 25 May 2020

Adeptus Titanicus - Titans in Manufactorum - Yellows

Afternoon #warmongers and I am #paintingwarhammer #AdeptusTitanicus. |These are on of a plethora of projects that I'd been working on simultaneously alongside my Deathwing Knights. With the Knights being so challenging I needed many different things on my palette to keep my mojo ticking along. I've done all the metallic highlights and got to a point where I wanted the armour panels on. Typically I'm not sure if that's premature and I'll suffer for adding them too soon.


I think previously there were orange panels, I've added a thinned Iyanden Dark Sun to begin the Legio Gryphonicus yellow panels.


Added some sepia on all the trim and it also helped blend the yellow with the orange base.


I'll be looking to stipple on more yellow in a diffuse mottled effect akin to the original War Griffons colour scheme.


There's so much here that I had achieved in the preparation of these Titans I know I'm going to end up covering, it's infuriating I can't just leave things as they are.


An additional frustration is that I had intended to follow Duncan's guide to painting War Griffons on Warhammer TV but typically I've just gone with how I would paint these things myself.


It would have been so good to just follow each step, come out with something new, with new skills and knowledge and no need to make decisions, which I fear I'm going to end up doing as I make my own way.


Here you can see mottling effect with further spots of Iyanden Dark Sun and then Valejo Game Color Sunburst Yellow.


It's not entirely what I was after but I still have some battle damage and some line highlights to add which will help define the shapes and give the impression of more detail which will then change the perception of what the mottling is.


I think I have to shade the entire grey pieces with black. The grey primer is very different to Stonewall Greyand as such I can't use it as it looks odd.


The primer is a cool grey, while Stonewall is a warm grey.


I also picked out the blue shield, still have to done the bone scrollwork.


The shoulders have come out OK, like I say, the damage should help tie everything together.


I mean these are great and everything but once they're done I've all the weapons to do! 😳 Anyway, I'll keep chipping away at these, literally and figuratively for now.

Friday, 22 May 2020

Dark Angels - A pair of Deathwing - TO DONE!

Afternoon #warmongers and #warhammercommunity I've also finished #paintingwarhammer a couple of Dark Angel Deathwing. These were thrown in with the Deathwing Knights as it seemed like it'd be easy to do it as one big squad. That was a mistake. This was a Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield conversion of the Dark Vengeance terminator sergeant.


This guy is from Space Hulk.


And alongside my previous Dark Vengeance Deathwing I'm really pleased the painting, although possibly very different in approach is still consistent in look, despite the time difference.


Probably not the best comparison shot as the new figure is in shadow 😉


Hopefully, this looks more consistent between the two new ones and old ones.


Still not sure about the skull, I tried adding some rust effect on it, yeah, I know it sounds odd. But, the Red Planet BASE means I can use orange rust wash to get a colour matched 'effect'. Worth a try, I can always go back and fix it when I have more patience.


Just see his tribal stripes on the back of his terminator armour.


Forgot to do all the turquoise highlights on the Genestealer skull, maybe they bleach out with age...?


Should have done more damage and weathering on the green debris, but was losing the will on this so just wanted it done. Once again, I can go back.


However, I do regret choosing to give him his tribal marking on his kneepad as the back is rather empty without that splash of extra red.


So many purity seals though!


Converted Vs unconverted sergeant.


Check out the size of the Space Hulk Terminatore Vs the Dark Vengeance one. Now I know he has extra height with that base debris and he's squatting slightly less but even so - this should be the size of all the terminators. 


Of course you could say "scale creep" and you'd be right, but that Dark Vengeance model is probably bigger than the Assault on Black Reach Terminator too. You can see he's nearly as tall as the Deathwing Knight, which has a taller base but is considerably newer, so the scale creep between the Space Hulk marine and the Knight is minimal.


Anyway, two more done.


And my Big Galactic Stamp of Approval for being a good boy!

Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Callidus Assassin - TO DONE!

Afternoon #warmongers and #warhammercommunity I've also finished #paintingwarhammer a Callidus Assassin. This is another model I've had for a long time, in fact I got it in the same trade as the Land Raider that is also hovering around my painting table.


It's been half, or even three-quarters finished for so long and all it needed was the green doing on the blade and pistol with some slight attention on the belts, webbing and metallics.


So I just did it. The black skinsuit came out pretty good for me so I'm super chuffed to both get it done and be happy with the result.

And I get the Big Galactic Stamp of Approval for my efforts.








Monday, 18 May 2020

Dark Angels - Deathwing Knights - TO DONE! White pics

Afternoon #warmongers and #warhammercommunity whenI finish #paintingwarhammer I used to take a number of pictures - the quality pics with a digital camera and then some highly filtered shots on my phone - because they look cool. Nowadays the phone shots seem to suffice, thanks to my home-made light box, I mean they could be better but I think they're OK.



However, although I believe the pics always look great against my original Ferron Proxima terrain mat I know that they're an issue for some and white background shots are what White Dwarf like, not that I've ever been in White Dwarf, but one can dream.


So, my second lot of pics are the white background ones, in my hopes of being published and to appease those who don't see the benefit of my contextual Red Planet BASE shots.


Given the focus on recording the miniature, rather than taking cool pics I have taken shots from more angles.


This way you can see more details. In particular I rather like the small verdigris stains that have leaked down the back of the terminator armour.


I spent a bit more time on the verdigris on the shields, multiple coats.


In no way have I reached the depth of colour Marc gets on his Iron Snakes, in fact it's pretty flat and on the face of it not particularly convincing despite the effort.


But having observed a lot of verdigris its a reasonable representation as quite often its is flat and unassuming.


In fact the weathering can appear different from panel to panel, that's the nature of a naturally occurring weathering effect. 


The mace came out pretty good, but still undecided about whether I should have applied an orange glow in places...

This shield worked quite well with the verdigris.



At some point I need to break out the other squad and start posing them. Man, I could be 50 by the time they get done!




Squad leader came out OK, kneepad showing my favourite red and white quartered heraldry from my first dwarven shields way back when [and Middenheim Marauders schem more recently].


The cloak is far from perfect but I think I just about salvaged it.


I guess fabric folds is just one of those things you need to practice and I don't get to do a lot of that so it's a bit hit and miss.


Oh and I still need to put some text on those nameplates but I don't know what to put or if I can manage freehand that small...


Anyway, hope these additional pics get to show a bit more detail. Obviously it highlights some of the bad bits too but overall I think they transcend their deficiencies and ultimately I'm pleased with the outcome and my efforts to finish them off.