Ultramarine Biker Force Weathering WIP

The first round of weathering has started. I put damage on the attack bikes but not the scouts or Outriders. A quick spray of heavily thinned graveyard earth was sprayed around all of the under carriages. This is really just to tie the bikes into the bases a little better. The tires will be revisited later.

The next step is going to be adding stowage to the bikes and painting the headlights. After that the weathering powders come out for the final step. One the powders are out the tires will start looking better.

I think I am going to have to field this force sometime. I wish I could use all three storm talons and the LS storm. That would make a great scouting force for 40k.

The Outriders are equiped for 30k.

Attack Bike WIP

My last squad of bikes is nearing completion. This gives my ultras a scout bikers, regular bikers, and one squad of two attack bikes. These miniatures were ebay finds, so while they were unpainted they were built when I received them. Normally I paint in sub assemblies for ease of painting and then assemble at the end of painting. There are those times when I get really excited to see a model built that I go whole hog and build the entire thing, but I usually regret that by the time it comes to painting.

Before weathering I plan to add a spray of dull coat to the entire miniature. I'll have to paint the metallic parts again, but I think that is better than living with the weird oily sheen nuln-oil wash left on the mini.

The three squads will be dusted together and then have their stowage added at the same time.

Legion Outrider Squad

I thought I'd share a quick peak at my WIP legion Outrider squad. The weathering and dusting on the tires is not done, but since I've not seen anyone else paint these particular models up I thought I would share.

After painting the marines themselves, it makes me never want to paint plastic again. The edges are just so sharp these were a joy to paint.

Emperors Children Color Test

I had a bad day at work. Usually that means I am not in a very good mood when I get home, and I can't enter the kind of painting zen necessary for painting to be fun. Knowing this, I decided to grab an old twice painted miniature and just test out a potential purple color scheme for my ECS. Why not do the low stress version of painting. I know that if I tried a color test on one of my forgeworld moldels I would have been worried about the outcome.

On this mini everything besides the purple was splashed on, just to see how it would contrast color wise. I didn't even bother to paint the storm shield, and the thunder hammer is just washed boltgun metal. I think the miniature served its purpose though. I think I need my ECS to start with more of a blacker navy blue base.

What do you think? Keep experimenting with purple, push the highlights, or accept this as is?

Two Thirds of Dreadnought Talon Complete

After a month away from home, I finally got the chance to do some painting this weekend. I now have enough painted and magnetized arms to configure my two Contemptor dreads as needed. I really just needed something easy to paint, so I knocked out the weapons as a way to get myself used to painting again. I really think the blues will go nicely with my Sons of Horus and Emperors Children. I'd like them to look like they are fighting as part of the same campaign.

As great as it is to be  home, I just found out I have to travel overseas again for another two weeks. (immediately after a family vacation!) The next two weeks may be the only time for me to paint, so I think I am going to focus on Ultramarines. Perhaps I should finally finish that LS Storm.

Warhammer World

Longest business trip ever! But on a day off I got to head up to warhammer world. Lucky for me Allan Bligh was in Bugman's bar. Unlucky for me work called and by the time we were done Allan had left. Still it is such a great experience. I heard all kinds if awesome rumors 'ahem' for fw products. I was told by a chap painting up 100 heresy era ultramarine terminators that emperors children are getting a beautiful squad with do much detail he had to buy them. Ultras are getting some great lolling minis as well.

Allan, if you ever stumble on this blog, I'd love to play a narrative game with you. I'll even bring my force across the pond.

Location:Charing Cross,London,United Kingdom

Following A Tutorial

I've read loads of tutorial's online, but rarely have I seen posts where someone tries a tutorial and posts the results. Tutorial's are difficult to write, and often have little real world feedback from people trying them.

For a while I've been following a commission painter on youtube named Buypainted. This morning I decided to try out his 7 minutes basing tutorial. You can watch the video here.  His tutorial was easy to follow, and I think the results are quite good. I think the entire basing for 5 bases took about half an hour (with the aid of a hair dryer). Kudos to Buypainted!

OOP Forgeworld Lightning

The new Imperial Lightning is pretty cool, but I love the original, and after a slow morning recovering from travel back from London, I decided to dust off (seriously, I had to dust it!) the model and finish up the areas that were unpainted. Despite being painted over the course of many years, I am really satisfied with the model. So why can't I bring myself to ever finish it?   Anyone else like the old IL over the new one?

Ultramarines Stormraven next?

*EDIT misspelled lightning!  Kudos to Somewhatdamaged. :)