Eldar Cobra Type II WIP 2

Endless gem work continues......much like this necessary lock down. The plan was to add buff colored rain marks to these hulls using oil. We'll have to wait and see if I can bring myself to do it. That step is still a ways off though, as I need to finish the rest of the models before I tackle basing and weathering.

There's a Cobra On My Desk!

Gem work...more gem work. I decided to sort of rough in the gems quickly in order to make them stand out from the model. This will help me as I smooth out the blends because...I should be able to spot them. The gun barrel will get gems as well. I just couldn't bring myself to start it at the same time as the main body.

I think this is looking cool. I need to find a place to store this army. Having it sitting on my desk for weeks on end is beginning to drag on me. I think that might amplify the weird loss of time that comes with stay at home orders. I barely know what day it is anymore. I hope everyone is holding up well enough.

Ebay Salvage Model Craftworld Mymeara Lnyx WIP

This model came to me 'expertly painted'. Naturally, I dunked it in simple green and scrubbed off all the offending paint and glue. The transparent canopy provided some difficulty though. It was painted over and had loads of super glue all over the inside. Fortunately, I think this old Forgeworld model is saved. There are still a lot of parts unpainted on it, but it is getting there, and I'm happy to have this super heavy titan killer flying again.

Craftworld Mymeara Eldar Hornet WIP

This has to be one of Forgeworld's best models. It really nails what I think the eldar aesthetic is. This is just a WIP. I went a little more vibrant on this guy by accident, but I am liking the result. At some point I will spend an entire day highlighting the bottom of paint chips, but not today.

Still Painting Gems

The great gem painting fest continues. While these guys are still not finished, at least they have a first pass at painting gems. It may be time to switch it up and put the angry orange gems on the white weapon areas for a while. Or maybe I should finish working with the enamels. No matter what I decide to do, I'm still really excited about this force. I even managed to snag two cool forgeworld models off of eBay to augment it. One of those is soaking a bath of Simple Green at this very moment. The other little 'gem' of  model is primed and waiting. Normally I would like to finish a model before moving onto another one, but I think I need to paint the newest edition. So that is next. Stay tuned.

Craftworld Mymerar Fire Prism: Or How I Learned to Love Painting Gems

There are so many gems on these models. At least I thin I have my final gem cocktail recipe done. I can now paint these relatively quickly, which is a vast improvement in the earlier gems. So, do I go back and repainted all the previous ones.....Hell no! Embrace change.

Mymeara War Walker WIP

I'm really enjoying this army build, but the speed at which I am pumping out WIP models without completing them is getting out of control. There are just so many gems and chip highlighting to do. Still, I love this little guy.

More Mymeara

Since I'm painting these fast, I've been cutting corners. One of the things I wish I had done was spray a layer of solvent over the paint job before continuing. This is an old military modeler's trick that smooths out the surface. It basically melts the orange peel effect away that comes from airbrushing, producing a perfectly flat surface.

Next time. I really like these.

Craftworld Mymeara Wave Serpent WIP

Painting fast and loose can be a load of fun. This is still an early WIP, but I wanted to do a side by side to see how close my color scheme was to the Forgeworld one. I'm very happy with the results. My grey-lining isn't great, but like I've said before...fast and easy. I'm focusing on the parts I like and sort of slopping through the parts I don't like. Wise? No. Relaxing? Yes...absolutely!

Eldar Support Platform Mymeara

This is the first phase of chipping. The next phase is to go back and highlight the under side of each chip. Since I'm painting these eldar without a plan, I may or may not finish the chips here. It all depends on how I'm feeling. One day I might wake up and decide it is chipping day. Another day I might wake up and decide I want to hurry up and block the rest of the color in. On still another day I might want to do cleanup. At the moment....I really want to go outside. I won't do that. Stay home, keep people safe!

More Mymeara

Just a quick update on the force. I'm starting to feel much better. These were painted in bulk. Some parts are good, some parts suck. I'm just fine with that. I think the platforms will at least look good. I made the mistake of using GW white scar air, and will never do that again. That paint is basically chalk!

Be safe everyone!

Painting Under Stress

Like almost everyone else in the world, I find myself with a lot of time and a lot of anxiety. Partially this comes from fear for my loved ones, and partially from fear for myself. This makes painting difficult for me and I expect it might be difficult for you as well. Here's the thing, just keep painting. Who cares how many badly painted gems are on these models? Let's stop caring about the brush strokes.  Just paint. Give your brain something else to do for a little while. Even if you can't fully detach from the horror sweeping the globe, you might be able to reach a fraction more calm.  

Be safe everyone. The more you stay in, the safer you are making it for everyone. Every day my wife dreads the moment she can no longer treat patients. The best thing we can do, is stay inside.

-john

Craftworld Mymeara

Some craftworld Mymeara for your viewing pleasure. I'm enjoying these. I've got time on my hands so..let's paint something hard, but not worry too much about it!

Things to do while staying 6 feet away from other folks.

So you're trying to figure out what social distancing means(stay 6 feet away from folks-- CDC), and have realized that it means wargaming in person is done for a while. We don't want to become a vector spreading this virus. That will hurt all of us, and we are better than that. Why not build that army you've kinda-sorta always wanted to? I have dozens of armies I never quite bothered to build.  Now is the time! Seize the 14 day quarantine! (ok..not yet..but I imagine it is coming for me based on my spouse's healthcare job)

Sometimes conditions suck. Let's make the best of it. Let's make sure we keep others safe by keeping ourselves away from them. We can use the time for artistic endeavors we've put off.

Using Junk Models To Test Color Schemes: Mymeara

From about two feet, this model looks ok, but get up close and personal, and the dozens of layers of random primer begin to show through. The coarse surface and loss of detail is extreme. The rider is almost solid paint. That makes this model a terrible ebay purchase, but a great model for color testing. (three jet bikes, two unbuilt, one lightly primed!)

After painting epic Eldar, I decided to break out the 28mm 40k Eldar I've been hoarding for years. Having just painted 6mm Samm Hain, it was time for a more difficult color scheme. Mymeara it is. Enter the Ebay trash model.

This model was based with Lupercal Green + black. Then shaded up to Temple Guard Blue, with a final spritz of Mortarion clear green to create the green tint Mymeara need. The incredibly rough surface of the model makes it hard to photograph, but I think I'm close. I added paint chipping because...I'm me.

I think this is the first 28mm eldar I've painted in 25 years. Ironically it is also a model that was available back then. Perhaps I should throw this model back up on Ebay. Return from hence you came vile paint saturated beast!