WIP: Ultramarines Tactical Squad, Part IV

The basecoats and shading are finished and highlights are next.

WIP: Ultramarines Tactical Squad, Part III

After reapplying Altdorf Guard Blue to the armor, I've started adding base colors to other areas. So far I have done the gold areas in Warplock Bronze and the purity seals in Khorne Red (also used for eye lenses) and Zandri Dust (also used for the sergeant's head). Next up is black, leather, and steel.

WIP: Ultramarines Tactical Squad, Part II

Airbrush work is now finished (black primer and Altdorf Blue basecoat) and I've given the models a heavy wash of Drakenhof Nightshade. The colors are a bit off on the picture, as I didn't have a lot of time to fiddle with white balance and temperature, but you probably get the idea.

WIP: Ultramarines Tactical Squad

Next up for the Ultramarines commission is a unit of tactical marines. As per the request of the buyer, they have been equipped with missile launcher and grav gun and the sergeant with power fist and bolt pistol. The assembly took about 4½ hours and they are now ready for priming.

Photo Backdrops for Miniature Photography

To get better looking and more interesting photos of my miniatures, I've made some backdrops in Photoshop, which add a little extra to the background of my shots.

I thought I would share them with you, so here they are available for free download. The files are made for printing on A3 paper at 300DPI (3508x4961 px), but can easily be resized for A4 (or other sizes).

Ultramarines Terminator Close Combat Squad

The terminators are done and ready to be shipped across the world to the customer in Australia.

I am very happy with the result, although it took me a while longer than I had anticipated (around 25 hours). Among other problems I couldn't get the decals to work, even with Microsol, so I had to do the Ultramarine logos freehand. I also realized along the way, that I had glued the sergeant's back and shoulder pad onto the wrong mini, but fortunately the customer didn't mind.

WIP: Ultramarines Terminator Close Combat Squad, Part V

The terminators are almost done. The only things left to do are finishing the bases, adding decals, and varnishing them. I think they have turned out alright and as far as I know, the customer is happy with them too.

WIP: Ultramarines Terminator Close Combat Squad, Part IV

I am now finished with blocking in all the colors on the terminators and have started doing some shading and highlighting.

The gold was basecoated Cit. Warplock Bronze (along with the cables on the hammer) and then given a highlight of Cit. Gehenna's Gold. The other metal parts were washed with Cit. Nuln Oil and then highlighted with Cit. Necron Compound. I have also reapplied Cit. Altdorf Guard Blue to the armor where needed.

WIP: Ultramarines Terminator Close Combat Squad, Part III

After giving more or less the entire surface of the miniatures a wash of Cit. Drakenhof Nightshade, I've begun blocking in the details of the mini with basecoat colors.

I started of with giving all the areas that are stone/white a layer of Cit. Dawnstone. That was followed by Cit. Fenrisian Grey on the helmets, Cit. Zandri Dust on scrolls and the head of the sergeant, Cit. Doombull Brown on the hammer handles, and Cit. Ironbreaker on the metals.

WIP: Ultramarines Terminator Close Combat Squad, Part II

The termies have now been primed with Vallejo Surface Primer and base-coated first black (I should get a black primer) then Cit. Altdorf Guard Blue. All of this was done with airbrush and as expected it wasn't easy to get into all the nooks and crannies.

It is now time to get down and dirty with a regular brush. First step will be shading.

WIP: Ultramarines Terminator Close Combat Squad

I've gotten the assault terminators cleaned up and glued together. The next step will be priming and basecoating them Altdorf Guard Blue with airbrush.

I always ponder whether to assembly models as these fully before painting or leaving them in several sub-assemblies. The first is quicker and easier to handle, but sub-assemblies makes it a lot easier to reach everywhere with the brush, especially with models like these, where particularly the shields block a lot.

I decided to go with complete assembly in this case as it will make it easier to get a coherent look on the models and in many cases what you can't reach easily, can't be seen in the end anyway and therefore doesn't need a lot of fancy paintwork.

Ultramarines Commission

I've just gotten a painting commission for a sizable Ultramarines army, so the next couple of weeks are going to be dominated by blue.

The first unit in the paint shop is a Terminator Close Combat Squad, armed with thunder hammers and storm shields, so you can expect a WIP post on those in the near future.

Games Workshop Dark Angels Biker

I finished the Ravenwing biker and he's ready for battle.

Since the last WIP I highlighted the black with Cit. Eshin Grey and 50/50 Eshin Grey/VGC Stonewall Grey, put some gravel on the base and painted it VGC Beasty Brown, followed by highlights of 50/50 VGC Leather Brown/VGC Bonewhite and pure Bonewhite.

WIP: Games Workshop Dark Angels Biker, Part II

I've gotten a few steps further on the Dark Angels biker I started a few days ago. Basically he is done, except for highlights on all the black parts (I've done some to see if the color was okay) and the basework.

WIP: Games Workshop Dark Angels Biker

I have started painting this Dark Angels Ravenwing biker as a commission for a mate, who usually paints his own models, but since I needed something to do, he let me do it. He also dropped off a Deathwing Terminator, but one thing at a time. I was given pretty free reins as to colors and quality so I'm going with standard 'Eavy Metal colors at a fair tabletop quality.