Hard Hats

Every so often, I tried to splice in some different head gear for the Greatsword unit, which keeps growing rank after rank. :-)

I wanted to go with more of the hats, since that was an area where I could work in the black of the "black and yellow" color scheme.

I also figured that could make these more of a decorative element throughout the unit, breaking up the mass of floppy hats!

Not many more to go!!!

Facing the Storm(bolter)

Now it's time for those Storm Bolter toting Sisters!  It is actually much more fun to paint these guns than the standard bolters.  The lines tend to be a little cleaner, and there are more defined shapes.

Also, you have the targeting laser sights and such, which means a spot of fluoreecent paint and OSL here and there!  You know how much I like glowy things.

The usual with the freehand on the cloaks.  Start out with middle tones, work the highlights, and then use glazes in the shadow areas to not just darken it, but unify it a little more with the background/surrounding colors, such as the dark grey robe.

These views let you see the base a little more... you remember that post!

Fun with color contrasts and flesh tones

This is Sinoei, a very cool Reaper figure that I used for the Tanned Skin tone video.  It really was perfect.

It also allowed me to delve into a bit of color fun, as I used the slightly cooler magenta color to 'warm up' the skin tones a bit.  I was then able to use a little turquoise in the marble to set off the magenta.

I believe that I may have experimented with a few of the Badger airbrush paints on the test figure.  Those can be used with regular brushes as well. :-)

Here's another view with the bases.

She is also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321331102092?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

A feather in your cap

A few more Greatswords for you.  A squiggly sword and a great big feather!

Still having the most fun on the flesh tones.  Fooling around with a slightly different combo on each one.

Is that a big feather or is he happy to see someone?  You know what they say about the size of your feather...

A little side by side comparison of the squiggler vs straight blade.

Stay shiny!

Here there be (was) dragons

More fun with Reaper figures.  I think this is a Julie Guthrie sculpt.  A classic D & D figure.

I had to toss the little bit of dragon freehand on the cloak for fun :-)

He is also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321329877304?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Time to toss this pineapple

You have seen the pictures of the bases, and the WIP images.  So now it is time to start seeing the finished Sisters!

In these images, you will see the result of the glazing and tinting on top of the shaded basecoat.

Before we get to the storm bolter Sisters, we need to check out a grenade toting gal.

Stay tuned for more!!!

Nuns with guns... again

Some WIP shots of another Sister batch. 

Just about all of you are familiar with my Shaded Basecoat technique.  This set of images shows a few miniatures at the end of that stage, and on to the glazing, etc.

The concept behind the shaded basecoat is to start 'in the middle' and work towards the highlights, with subsequent layers of glazing and tinting afterwards.

There are many purposes for this.  First, it simplifies the color palette, in that I don't have to rely on a specific paint color.  I just need a few generic colors, since tinting with the glazes will let me match colors from previously painted figures.

This set has a few initial glazes.  I use a smaller liner brush to apply these.  They are not washes.  That is a huge difference.  Carefully applied, these glazes enhance the shadow areas, but also tint them towards a cooler shade of red as well.

That is the critical part of the synergy between the shaded basecoat and glazing.

You can see that glazes have been applied to the face and the weapons.  I also like to mix those glaze colors with regular paint, which creates semi-translucent colors that are perfect for mid tones.

Mid tones are the most important part of every miniature.  They not only set up your highlights and shadows... but at least 40% of your miniature value range fits in that middle!!

Bennie seemed to be very happy.