'nids part 324 - Tyranid Warriors - washes

Afternoon #warmongers and #warhammercommunity I've been #paintingwarhammer on my #Tyranid Warriors. Right now I'm reminding myself I get a huge amount of satisfaction from the creative side of the hobby as the gaming aspect is leaving a lot to be desired.

I can't quite recall how long I've had these Warriors in my pile of shame. I think they were from a couple of ebay purchases. I remember vividly two auctions I won one time commuting home from work on the train. The auctions literally ending as the train is pulling into my station and I'm watching the bids to see if I was sniped at the end, but won.

I'd have guessed that was around 5 years ago, but with COVID skewing time up it's probably more like 7 or 8! Outside of a Hive Tyrant, 4 Lictors, 3 Warriors [I'm still debating turning into Shrikes] and all my Genestealer cult stuff [including my Space Hulk stealers and 13 purestrains] this represents the last of my purchased Tyranids!

As I've mentioned I fancy a Maleceptor and probably need a Zoanthrope/Venomthrope box to fill out minimum respective broods. But I can't really justify the costs and I've plenty figures I can painting to scratch that particular itch of the hobby.

After the 5 new Warriors comes the 4 upgrades to current painting standards [plus Spore Mine]. 

For the most part I've covered most of the original paint, very little of the Bone has been left unwashed, although I have left it in places. The glossed talons and claws have been left, hopefully and additional coat of gloss varnish will be sufficient,

There's also a subtle difference with the bases of the 3 on the right, as I originally used VGC Bronze Fleshtone for the highlights and now I use the Docraft Pumpkin [which I need a new pot of].

I don't think it makes too much of a difference and less so when all of the miniatures are synced up

Altogether the 9 Warriors and 2 Primes look like quite an impressive force on my display shelf. Even before any of the highlights it's a pretty grimdark army. Reaffirming my view that with a fraction more care they could be left at this stage. Of course I knew there were other layers to come so I can hide all sorts of mistakes - there's still Red Oxide overspray on some of the legs that I'm banking on adding more texture to the basecoats and shading when the highlights go on.

'nids part 322 - Tyranid Warriors - Big Build TO DONE!

Afternoon #warmongers and #warhammercommunity I've been building/basing my #Tyranid Warriors. 

Some additions of Tyrant Guard Lash-whip/Bonesword and Rending Claws. I certainly felt the lack of some minus AP modifiers when I took my Warriors with Scything Talons out last time. Having at least one special melee weapon in the group is worth the extra points I think, we'll see.

 I had used some Fairy Power Spray to strip the bulk of the original paint off these. I know Dettol would have worked better but the spray is a bit quicker and perfectly clean models aren't a priority, they'll look good regardless.

And for this I get a Great Big Big Build BLESSED VERDIGRIS Stamp of Approval.

Like the Primes I primed the bases with my truly awful Simoniz Red Oxide Primer. I used a toilet roll tube to mask off the model itself and just spray the base. Then I went on with my standard Red Planet Base process. I've also added Bahama Blue to the chitin and Khorne Red in all the fleshy bits. Sepia Washes next.

My original Warrior bases were left as is. Some are slightly different with their highlight tones but I'm hoping it won't be too noticeable when they're fully updated. I also painted over their guns, which was more disheartening as they weren't bad. I considered keeping the original maroon weaponry, to help identify different broods, but some still had frosting from Purity Seal varnish. The faces in particular were going to be repainted and as I go with the warmer red here it made sense to just start from scratch.

I had a spare metal Spore Mine knocking about too, which I thought could do with being finished. I've got loads of them but it's just knocking about and annoying me for it's incompleteness.

Here's my Great Big Big Build Base BLESSED VERDIGRIS Stamp of Approval.

'nids part 321 - Tyranid Primes - Big Build TO DONE!

Afternoon #warmongers and #warhammercommunity I've been contemplating my original Tyranid Warrior to Tyranid Prime conversions. The twin Bonesword Prime first featured in this blog in 'nids part 2 just over 11 years ago. On the plus side I look at that post and I can see how both my writing and painting has improved.

I thin built a second Prime in September 2011, there were some WiPs too, you can access them here, or through the tutorials tab. I kitbashed the Lash-whip from a Devourer, florist wire and a Mawloc claw. Alongside the original 3 Warriors they're all starting to show their age a bit. Not just how the Turquoise feathering on the chitin was executed but the colours themselves.

The Decoart Turquoise I use now is much more vibrant than the pale mix I created and I no longer do the 'liver' colour for the muzzle and fleshy bits - it starts off Khorne Red. On top of that the bone colour goes much paler. Some of these element won't need too much updating, perhaps, but I'm also adding 50mm bases to the Primes. It'll add another 3mm to their height, making them even more imposing so they stand out against normal Warriors. Also, the Tyrant Guard weaponry might look cooler than my weedy kitbash.

I decided to keep my twin Bonesword old skool, even though I'm no fan of his 'Rending Paws'. I glued the bases down and used tile adhesive/grout to blend the bases together.

And for this I get a Great Big Big Build BLESSED VERDIGRIS Stamp of Approval.

I primed the bases with my truly awful Simoniz Red Oxide Primer. Loads of shaking and it still won't mix properly. I managed it in the end though, using a toilet roll tube to mask off the model itself and just spray the base. Then I went on with my standard Red Planet Base process. I've also added Bahama Blue to the chitin and Khorne Red in all the fleshy bits. Sepia Washes next.

Here's my Great Big Big Build Base BLESSED VERDIGRIS Stamp of Approval.

'nids 302 - Tyranid Warrior & Hive Guard TO DONE! White pics

Afternoon #warmongers and #warhammercommunity I've been #paintingwarhammer Tyranids. OK, the finished showcase pictures on a white background, you know the deal by now.

I was really pleased with the maroon highlights on the Impaler Cannons. Adding a little Bonewhite to the Khorne Red gave them a different tone, something I've seen them do on the GW painting guides.

I had thought the backs were a bit scruffy but they look OK in these pics.

There are still some bits I've missed, there's a claw missing on one hand that needs some blood adding, for narrative reasons.

But I need to consider how and when I may look at the 4 original Warrior to Hive Guard conversions and bring them up to this standard. I may wait until after the new Codex as I fear they may very well get some kind of nerf that makes having 6 ludicrous.

The same goes for the Warrior's brethren. There are 4 of these and their Primes that need a little bit of titivating to be up-to-date.

 

There's nearly a decade between them regarding my skill level and the evolution of the paint scheme.

 

As you can see here, the two outer ones are nearly a decade old, the 2nd from right might be 6 years old...

You can see how that one has slightly more defined striations on the chitin. But all of the older generations have Khorne red weapons, whereas I randomly went Bloody Red on my new one. I'll have to decide whether to keep or match them when I do look at a revamp.

As you can see the chitin is where the biggest improvements can be made, although some extra recess shading elsewhere and 2nd level bone highlights will easily match up.

The 2nd from right is almost up to standard with the chitin, but I'd probably bite the bullet and redo it anyway. Perhaps if I do all the bone first it'll give me an ide of whether it's worth it.

Anyway, that's a project for late 2021, or another year altogether. I've other priorities for '21. Now I tend to have mixed feelings hobbywise about a new year. Everyone starts making hobby resolutions/promises. Now, I've never really held to the concept of resolutions as they're too easily dismissed. I do make TO DO! lists, usually jobs around the house. But hobbywise, I make my TO DO list at the start of my Hobby Season, so I'm out of sync with most other hobbyists, which makes me like the inevitable promises made tomorrow a little annoying. Don't mind me though, I'm just bitter and envious I chose Betamax instead of VHS! 😉 

Have a happy new year, there's no magic wand that will render all the troubles of 2020 gone at the turn of the clock. No doubt we still have many months of lockdown and social distancing to come. But it is a turning of the corner, with vaccines on the way we may well come back to something approaching normalcy next year, and for that I am hopeful. I look forward to games and actually using these models I've painted. So, all the best for 2021.

'nids 301 - Tyranid Warrior & Hive Guard conversions TO DONE! Red pics

Afternoon #warmongers and #warhammercommunity I've been #paintingwarhammer Tyranids. These were almost complete for #NomVember #NidVember but I just missed the deadline and as my blogging was tied up with Armies on Parade there was less incentive to get them completed.

So when I had other priorities just getting those last bits, like the teeth, varnish, even some of the bone chips on the Hive Guard, was just to much to contemplate.

The festive period has gifted too much hobby time, but that's OK. However, I usually like to build something at Christmas but that didn't end up on the cards, so the least I could do was get these finished.

It was a few nights work, that first one with the the teeth and varnish and then I realised I hadn't done the bone chips and the lone toxin sac [I know they're not an option, it was already on the donor Warrior when I did the conversion and I couldn't be bothered to remove it].

So another night to finish up the painting and one more session for all the flock.

One bonus for the night of flocking was I had leftover PVA, which prompted me to soak some string fibres and actually add some nerve fibres to my Tyranid Void Shield Generator!

That's right folk I have some progress and I think I may well get some more done on it ready for an attempt at the final few nights of sculpting it needs!

I really like how this Warrior turned out, the pose in particular feels quite threatening.

He'd definitely be in my Kill Team if I did one, surrounded by Termagants, although he'd probably have been better off with a bonesword perhaps, maybe a lash whip. I don't know I never run them with anything other than Scything Talons.

A few of my other mid-sized beasties in the background.

Y'know for desktop patterns and such.

And the Hive Guard.

And so I gets me my Great Big Granite Stamp of Approval - TO DONE!'

'nids 300 - Tyranid Warrior & Hive Guard conversions washes and bone

Afternoon #warmongers and #warhammercommunity I've been #paintingwarhammer Tyranids. It seems like forever since I last posted on these Warrior to Hive Guard conversion, unless I have overlooked an update.

This is just the Bonewhite highlight on the body, but I don't think I even updated with the washes all over. I can't find a post anyway.

Warrior too, I love the effect on his sternum.

 

And it's almost unnoticeable where I had to cut and shut the tail, when I'd originally planned this to be the Hive Guard conversion. 

Now I picked up some new paints. This was Miniature Paints, they're a company in Bootle, Liverpool. I've a few of them already, my Turquoise is one. They're £2 for about 30ml, they have a slight satin finish to them, but they're really durable [compared to craft acrylics]

Not sure if this is a retail only site but if you're interested here's the MP range and it comes in 30ml, 90ml and even 500ml. I also picked up a matt varnish to try. If it's good that 500ml might be tempting...

Anyway, this 56 Cream is a bit lighter than the highlight I previously mixed for my nids.

The Hive is evolving and so you will see some difference between old and n

Even moreso because my old Hive Guard conversions don't seem to have had that second highlight at all! I was so devastated when the Purity Seal frosted them, I could never imagine at the time going through the process of repainting them. But I can realistically contemplate that in the next year or two, depending on how they are treated in the next Codex.

The Warrior too appears super pale.

 

But I do love this pose.

I mean just look at the difference so far, that one on the right is 10 years old.

They'll definitely need a touch up at some point too.

P.S. 300 posts on Tyranids [and their genestealer brethren]! Man, what a ride. 17% of my posts on gribblies! Who'd have thought...