Vent's Various Ventures: Trade Marine Start Pos

[Vent]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if I could get some assistance/pointers on painting. I am the new guy, bought 40k four days ago and today I sort of completed my first figure. While I am reluctant to post the image when I see the stunning work displayed here already, post it I will in order to get some help. While I only have one question right now I'm sure to have more later, so have indulged myself with my own thread... Scandalous I know... ^.^

[attachment=0:1671dzd7]DSC03453 (600 x 800).jpg[/attachment:1671dzd7]

I decided to mostly finish one figure in order to decide if I like the color scheme and work out other little things. Please ignore the base, I obviously haven't done anything to it yet. I am sort of thinking a Blood Angel force, but I'm not 100% sure.

Question:

a) Shoulder Pad Rims: As you can see I have not yet painted them, I was wondering if I should paint them a solid color and if so what color? I don't think they should be black like the Blood Angel's normally are. So I was thinking a Burnished Gold color, but I am unsure. I have read over the color theory thread but am still at a loss, and so am seeking opinions. Part of me says they don't even need to be painted. But again, I am unsure.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

[Irakax]

I agree that the shoulder pads should be painted. If you'd like to go with a gold, which would look pretty good, I'd say Burnished gold would be too bright. I'd suggest something more along the lines of Dwarf Bronze.

[Enigmacookie]

First of all: If that's your first miniature, then that is very good work!

I definitely think the rims on the shoulder pads should be painted. Burnished gold might, as Irakax mentioned, be a bit too bright. Try instead with something light Bronze, and highlight with burnished.

Good luck, and don't hesitate to ask:

[']['Ritha][]

My favorite colors to go with dark red are black, white, and gold. I like my blacks off to the blue, and my golds bright. Example.

White would look great, but white is also harder to paint. Golds are always good. So, white or gold. As far as how dark or red your golds should be, I've recently taken a liking to bright brassy golds. But darker golds look solid too.

[Asterios]

i'm jealous better then my work.

[6^]

I'll start by saying what you have looks really great. Maybe you should look into BloodAngels a little more. Try finding some info on different BloodAngel companies. Then decide what company you like to play and paint them accordingly. Do different BloodAngel companies have different trim colors like the UltraMarines? Im not sure if that is the case but if it is then thats what I think you should do.

Make sure you paint the soft armor areas, Traditionally black. This will break up the solid red plates and make your armor really stand out.

lastly that Boltgun looks hard. great work

[Vent]

Thanks guys. I'm going to try the Bronze and highlight with Gold. See how it goes. I shall add another photo when they are done later today/tonight.

[Baragash]

If that's your first one, that's a really promising start.

Info regarding shoulder pad rims, in Chapters organised following the Codex Astartes, pad rim colours designate which of the 10 companies a squad is from. Gold or Yellow is 2nd Company, which is a standard Battle Company formation.

Of course there is no reason to pay any attention to the "fluff" when painting models (that's the beauty of it), just FYI.

[Vent]

Info regarding shoulder pad rims, in Chapters organised following the Codex Astartes, pad rim colours designate which of the 10 companies a squad is from. Gold or Yellow is 2nd Company, which is a standard Battle Company formation.

I see, thanks!
[attachment=1:icvgth91]DSC03457.jpg[/attachment:icvgth91]
I went for the bronze. I haven't drybrushed any gold yet. I don't think they need it. Also went Mithril silver for the shoulder tag. Not sure I am confident in my skills to put something on the tag yet. But the Silver looked cool. ^_^
[attachment=0:icvgth91]DSC03458.jpg[/attachment:icvgth91]

My next question is on the base. Does anyone have any hints/tutorials on how best to do some beginner basing? I'm thinking some kind of flock, but I don't know what kind to use, or color, or if it's meant to go down the rim? I imagine it's a choice thing, but I'd like to hear some options/opinions.

[Irakax]

The gold makes him look overall much better and the silver makes him "POP" which is good. Next it just seems like your reds are a little- funky I don't know you can kinda see through to the black. Maybe just another thin coat would fix that, but heck I'm not a great painter. Basing is simple. Just apply superglue thinly over the base and apply some type of sand or gravel or powder. Then drybush with like boltgun or something. That's what I do and it looks good but is simple and easy. Usually though, you want to base your model before you paint him.

[Vent]

The gold makes him look overall much better and the silver makes him "POP" which is good. Next it just seems like your reds are a little- funky I don't know you can kinda see through to the black. Maybe just another thin coat would fix that, but heck I'm not a great painter.

Actually I've tried to make it that way on purpose. While immersing myself in the 40k Universe I came across a small article about exactly what "Cermite" is, cermite being the armor compound that the Space Marines use for... Well, basically everything. From what I understood it is tech from the Dark times of the Imperium which mixes an exceptionally hard concrete with metal. I like the idea that the armor is old and reused. thus the color is far from perfect and the "black" is the second layer of plating...

Sounds good anyway

Basing is simple. Just apply superglue thinly over the base and apply some type of sand or gravel or powder. Then drybush with like boltgun or something. That's what I do and it looks good but is simple and easy. Usually though, you want to base your model before you paint him.

Ahh ok. So doing the Base first is a good idea. Good to know for next time. Thanks!

[Irakax]

Oh I understand about the coloring now you've got some fluff for it. Cool.

[The Infernal Penguin]

Regarding basing, I have always found that a bit of watered down PVA glue spread generously over the base (but not on the sides) is good for an adhesive, then sink the model into a tub of bird sand (you get it from pet stores - it's better than the stuff GW sell, and loads cheaper). You should be careful with the glue not to get any on the model, and when you pull it out, you should have a nice sandy base.

I recommend you paint the sand (even if it's going to be a sandy colour!) - so undercoat like normal, then apply a coat of scorched brown. From there you have options, but let's assume you're going to do a generic dirt/grass type base. Drybrush Bestial Brown over the sand, let it dry, then apply another drybrush of something like Vermin Brown or Snakebite Leather. This layer should be a little thinner than the previous. From then, a some sort of brown ink wash will even up the differences in the drybrushing, and you can set it aside to dry. (If you like, once the ink is dry, you can whack another, very fine, drybrush of a light brown on the top. Not necessary really though.)

Now - that's the sand painted, and it should look pretty.. dirty. Like dirt, almost. You can leave it at that - or add some rocks/static grass to taste. I recommend only using modest amounts, particularly of the grass, otherwise all your lovely dirt will be obscured, and it'll look weird.

To complete, paint the sides of the base something like.. Bestial Brown or Graveyard Earth.


If you like - I could fish around for some pictures to illustrate this - but I like to imagine you'll believe me when I say 'it looks good'.

[Vent]

Thanks for the input Penguin. I need to pick up a few more colors tomorrow to finish off my base.

Last question is the Sealant/Varnish I should use. I've heard a couple of people state that one is better than the other and then some other people claim that doing both is the way to go. I'm thinking the darkness of my color scheme might be better suited by a glossy finish, but am not sure.

Opinions please ^_^

[The Infernal Penguin]

I've never had any problems using Purity Seal - but I know some people have.
It's 'satin', so sort of in between matt and gloss.

[Vent]

One week in.

I've managed to paint three whole models (HA!) I've decided to do the bases in a Black flock material with small rocks and a touch of vegetation. Why? Because that was easiest for someone of my exceptionally simple skills. I might drybrush the base at a later date but haven't decided yet. Likewise I think I'm going to do the smooth rim of the base in a gray color.
[attachment=2:2g3m2l9c]26th August 003.jpg[/attachment:2g3m2l9c]
I'm still getting used to the nitty gritty of painting these so I'm going slow. If there is one thing I have learned from these first batch is to make sure the mold lines are taken care of thoroughly. I thought I had gotten most of them, but when painted they pop up in places which annoy me. But this is what practice is for! Still to go is the rest of my tactical squad. They are in the halfway there phase. Some more detailing on the body/head to do.
[attachment=1:2g3m2l9c]26th August 005.jpg[/attachment:2g3m2l9c]
Finally I'm starting on doing some Scouts.
[attachment=0:2g3m2l9c]26th August 006.jpg[/attachment:2g3m2l9c]
I'm not sure how I'm putting together an army yet. But I figured scouts and tactical squad can't be a bad place to start...

rawr... ^_^

[De_JoyBuzzer]

Looks Great! I'm not very partile about the body of the flamer though, but mainly becuase it doesn't mesh with the color scheme of the other models. Other than that, the only suggestion I have would be to maybe put a dot of Chaos black on the center of the barrel, but that's only a cosmetic suggestion, so it doesn't have to be done.

Again, Great job on the models! Is this your first time painting, or have you worked with things like this before???

[Vent]

Looks Great! I'm not very partile about the body of the flamer though, but mainly becuase it doesn't mesh with the color scheme of the other models. Other than that, the only suggestion I have would be to maybe put a dot of Chaos black on the center of the barrel, but that's only a cosmetic suggestion, so it doesn't have to be done.

Yeah, I think something needs to be done as well. I tried to make a "difference" in it being a flamer, but it has come off a little poorly. Might paint the main section black like the bolter housing.

Again, Great job on the models! Is this your first time painting, or have you worked with things like this before???

Only thing I have painted before is a house. Bigger brushes. I have done cosmetic work on Gundam models before, but these involve special pens rather than paint.

[De_JoyBuzzer]

I also noticed a molding line on the flamer (the inside of the top part that curves over). If you are cleaning things like that up than I suggest you put it under the knife.

There is another on the dot sight of the left bolter.

[Vent]

I also noticed a molding line on the flamer (the inside of the top part that curves over). If you are cleaning things like that up than I suggest you put it under the knife.

There is another on the dot sight of the left bolter.

Good advice.