CSM model #2 done

Hello Gentle Readers,

So I've finished up my second CSM model. All in all, not bad. I have to say, I am still really sloppy when it comes to putting on the gold trim, and then even sloppier putting the nuln oil over it. Ugh, but maybe that's just where I'm at these days. Anyways, very happy with the result. Now I gotta pick another model to start working on. Do I go for one of the bigger guys? Next step up would be the Oblits. Or I could jump straight to the Venomcrawler? Hmmmm maybe doing an Oblit would be good. Guess you'll have to check back to see what I picked. Here's the finished Greater Possessed.

I actually experimented a little with the light box to raise the model a little higher so that I could get the camera looking up a little. I think it worked out. Should be pretty easy to tell which pics uses that technique.

As always, comments are welcome. Until next time...

Greater Possessed update

So this is going to be a short update. I've been working on my chaos process. Last time, I had put down some more contrast paint on the GP model. However, what I had not done was put the Apothecary white on yet. I decided to make that one of the last updates I did so that any error I made during the other colors would be easier to correct. Basically, that theory was correct. I had made a couple of small errors applying the color contrast paints, and I was able to correct them by putting white paint over the mistake and then when I applied the apothecary white contrast, you couldn't even tell any longer.

The last step I have done after applying the Apoth white, was to drybrush matt white back over the armor areas. This was needed to brighten up the white after the contrast white greyed it down. Here's a look and I think the best representation was the backpack.

I suppose I really should have taken a few photos of the model after the apothecary white contrast paint. It really does grey down the white. I want the white to pop more, hence the drybrush. Now I also know that drybrush is for raised areas, and in most cases on this model, the white areas are going to be in the recesses actually. That being said, I knew that some of the areas I wanted to get whiter were going to get hit, and they did. Overall, I got what I wanted quickly. I could go back with a thin white to try to blend the areas specifically, but this model is so detailed, the drybrush worked okay.

Next step is to add the gold trim and then go back to add any other further detail paint. Once the gold is on, I'll carefully apply Nuln Oil over it to shade it. Then I will add the basing material. I actually really liked the simple basing I did on the first guy and have decided to continue that with the whole army.

Feel free to leave comments if you want. Until next time...

Slowly I turned, step by step...

Hello True Believers,

Okay, so its more like "Slowly I painted..." but then no one would get the reference. Probably most won't anyways..but that's okay. Today we are progressing with the Chaos Space Marines. I nearly got sidetracked by the new Space Marine announcements today and was daydreaming about starting a Crimson Fist Primaris army. Wouldn't that be the shit? But no...I hung in there and stayed true to my path.
(Ed. Because who wouldn't want at least one Crimson Fist army right? For us old guys, that is the first chapter we ever saw and most likely, played.)

So I've got a few more models primed...which reminds me, I need to buy more white primer. The last few did not go as great as the spray kept thinning out on me. Of what I own, it looks like I only have three models left to go. So not bad.

For painting though, I've barely touched a thing..but I did pick up the Skeleton Horde contrast color. I knew I was going to have some bone coming up and just thought it would go best if I tried the contrast on it. Can't say I'm disappointed. Holy crap...that might be the fastest way ever to paint undead. Here's a pic:

Check that out. Fantastic bone color and depth. Super cool. So, as you can see the above model is one of the new Greater Possessed models. I've just barely started him. So at this stage, he's primed (twice) and now I'm coloring his mutations with the shyish purple, and the bone with the skeleton horde. I decided it would be best for me to do all of the color parts first. This way if I make a mistake, I can cover with white before I do the apothecary contrast. We'll see how it goes.

So far, I'm pretty happy. The shyish purple is kind of thick, so I suggest using a bit of water on the brush at first to help thin it out. Otherwise, you'll end up trying to thin on the model, and that doesn't seem to work well, you end up with splotches that are hard to cover. I've heard there are a few contrast paints that are like that, so always test first, then figure out if you need to thin it down.

Here's some more photos:

 I might go back on the spines on his right claw with white so I can redo those in the bone. That will provide a nice color contrast on the limb I think. I still need to hit the chains with a dark color (still don't own the templar black yet) and then do the white apothecary, then white highlight, then gold and then nuln oil. So lots of steps left to go, we'll see how it pans out.

Well, that's it for now. Feel free to leave comments or suggestions. Until next time...

I'm a big fat liar...

So I couldn't help myself. I had to try out a full model. No basing yet, and I'm not quite sure what I want to do there...probably a dark color to help make the armor stand out more. But the rest I think turned out...not so bad.

What do you think? Please leave comments below. If this is what I go with, I'll share the full process next time.

Added a really ugly basing to it just to see...the feet look better with a basing around it.

See you then.

CSM update

Hello True Believers,

So I'm taking it one day at a time with my CSM. I'm really digging the white primer over the green. Today, I went ahead and hit one of the models with the Apothecary White contrast paint, to see what it would do. It does dull down the white a little, but it also smooths the transitions in the recesses. Here is a pic that I hope showcases it.

This one is focused on the marine to the right.

This one is focused on the marine to the left.

As you can see, while the right marine is brigher white, you can literally see the speckled texture of the primer on primer. The marine on the left looks much smoother. I think I do like the marine on the left. His next update will be the gold trim detailing.

Might see pics of that this weekend.

Till next time...

Small Update

Hello True Believers,

So I just wanted to do a quick update due to some painting experiments I have recently done. I've been trying out some of GW's new contrast paints. These are supposed to really help speed up painting as they give multiple layers of depth in one coat*.

I recently started up a new Chaos Space Marine force and wanted to use them as my first contrast test. The models I had bought were already assembled and primed in a light green color. Most likely GW's spray color, but not really sure. Anyways, using the cool color charts I had found for the contrast paints..
LINK

Gave me some hope that I could use them on the new models. I will also admit that I am very inspired by the Corpus Brethren chapter which is basically white armor with gold highlights. Very cool looking for CSM, but wasn't sure how trying the new contrast white over green was going to work. Well, long story short, it didn't. It turned out really grey...so I did a second coat hoping it would fit it in..and then the whole thing was just grey. So into the dip the model went.

A little more research later, and I should be using white primed models if I want the Apothecary White contrast paint to work. But all of my CSM are green. I have a few options, and clearly the fastest option is to simply prime white over the green.

EDIT: adding more photos as requested...

As you can see, it turned out pretty good. I have some automatic depth from the green undercoat, and now when I use the contrast white, it should smooth out the transitions even more. Super excited about this. Can't wait to finish the model.

Oh, and as to the models in the dip....after just a couple of hours, I pulled them out to see how much paint had come off....well, surprising, just the top layer. All the contrast stuff was off and as I scrubbed the model with a toothbrush, the green undercoat stayed strong. Even the bolt gun paint I put on top came off with no problem, leaving the green primer. So now I just gotta let him dry and I can hit with white. Yay!

Really enjoying painting again. Super excited over these chaos guys. I hope I can do the models justice. Can't wait to finish these up and hopefully finish collecting the planned army for them.

Till next time...

What in the @ss???? (thank you deadpool)

Hello True Believers,

Wow, missed a whole month. How bad is that? And barely getting in one now too. Well actually, I've been very lucky lately. Life is going fairly well, and I guess this has just fell to the wayside a bit. But no worries...I've got updates.

First off, I took more pics of my Italians. So here they are in all their glory:

Booya! You didn't think I had actually painted more didn't you? Well that's okay, I wouldn't have believed it myself. They won't win any painting competitions, but they will look pretty good on the table. And I'm really happy with them. I have to say, it felt great to paint up a force and have it all done. I am also digging my light box! Made taking pics so much easier..and they do look nice.

Which leads me to my next project. I was having some real issues figuring out what to do next. I could work on a DAK army which is very near and dear to my heart. That army is still NIB. I also considered a Warmaster army. I even got to the point of putting models on popsicle sticks and even primed one group. But again, just couldn't seem to go further than that. So where am I? Well, as fate would have it, some 40K Chaos Marine models that I wanted fell into my lap, and they were already built and primed (for the most part). I just had three models to assemble and I even got in a game with a 51pt list with them. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to paint up these chaos guys and see how it goes. I planned out a full 100pt PL list for them. I'll get the other models as opportunities arrive and just get working on the ones I have. Seems like a good plan and I can get to painting right away. Plus, GW's new contrast paints look like the perfect solution for these heavily detailed models.

I'm also playing D&D using Roll20 quite a bit now. Between myself and my Clemson group, we have four games running and play about once a week. It gets a little tricky sometimes remembering who is playing what character in which campaign, but it is great. Roll20 is working out better than I could have imagined. Playing that game with my real friends...that really helps keep me centered in life. My wife has noticed it and she approves (even though I will never get her to play). 

It feels good to feel good. I approve. :) Well, that is about it. Hopefully I'll be able to pick up Contrast paints this weekend and do a test model. I hope the color scheme I pick out looks good because those paints are expensive. Until next time...