Thursday 7 January 2016

Today's Progress: Serpent Squad Completed(?)

It's been awhile working on these guys, today though I had some inspiration from somewhere and managed to get 5 of the 17 figures I need finished for the rogue trader game I plan to run in February. 
I'm not thrilled with the look of them; they're a bit sloppy and rushed looking which does not compliment the sharp angles and precise details of the sculpts. Even the bases look a bit crap and looks like I'll be using tufts after all. 
I did try tiger striping on the leader's helmet but I didn't pull it off. 
I did force myself to put some effort into the lenses on the helms and even managed a halfway decent job of the spot effect in the corners. The illusion is almost there. 
The fact of the matter is that these guys are taking too long. There is no way I'll have all 3 factions finished for the rogue trader session so I've opted to stick with the 'stealer invasion force with a quick basecoat and wash paintjob: 
http://www.miniwargaming.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=46148
I plan on having them as part of my hive fleet 'Spectre' which in its fledgling stages will be a purely stealer/lictor vanguard force operating in tandem with chaos genestealer cultists somewhere down the line.
I hope you're all enjoying your new year. 


22 comments:

  1. They look great! The eyes are bang on - and I love that power-sword. The unit has got a real battle-hardened feel to it -- I think that comes from your colour choice.
    I think you can put tufts on the bases if you like, but you really don't need to because they are splendid as they are. You mentioned that you weren't happy with them, but I love them - you've got lots of texture, lots of definition and a natural feel (natural for a space-scape).

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    1. You are too kind Sir Sully, how can it be true that you play greenskins?!
      If you give them a pass then they must be up to snuff, I think I will put a couple brown tufts here and there but much spartanly than in my Skaven force.
      It was getting a bit dodgy with this scheme, I had to paint the chain-bayonet in the same style as the armour to draw more contrast. Once the "fine line" (ahem) highlights were done they started to look a bit anime to me but the basing saw that quickly sorted.
      Good Lord those lenses were a pain in the ass but I'm glad I put the work in, turned out better than most I've seen.
      As for the basing: meh. It's good enough. Move on, play stop painting, game in February?

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    2. You're quite right that at a certain point, you just have to move on. When it comes to miniature painting, the perfect is often the enemy of the good.
      Part of the problem is that it's hard to have perspective on your own miniatures when you are staring at them (almost literally) under a magnifying glass. No one else seems them that way, or has the same sensitivity to minor problems in the paint job... they see the miniature as a whole.

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  2. Yeah I agree with Matthew. They look splendid. I wish I could paint in such a "sloppy" way.

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    1. Improving just takes time. I see a lot of sloppy work in my own, but I am never one to criticize others.
      I just couldn't bring myself to go back and spend anymore time on this lot. Enough is enough.
      I gather you like them so thank you.

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  3. I know how it feels when a plan doesn't take place like you intended but from the outside they look really fine to me. I have elements from RT but at the same time I have this gritty vibe which makes them look cool to me. I'm with the 2 colleagues above really.

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    1. Thanks Asslessman,
      I know the work isn't that bad but it is all relative; they should look better for the amount of time which I put into them.
      It also doesn't help when my two regular opponents are practically heavy metal painters it really makes you step it up or have your army look proper crap.

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  4. Fantastic work on the Eldar guardians there! I've taken six months plus to finish just one of the pointy eared ones last night!

    The basing works really well as well so don't be too hard on yourself and the whole finish looks ace and it's making me seriously think of changing my Eldar colour scheme too.

    All the best!

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    1. Cheers Mr Farpoint
      The old RT Eldar sculpts have sways looked uniform to me and so I think the endeavour of using real military hues has paid off.
      My first Eldar were done about 9 years ago in the current stock at the time in a loud orange white black scheme, it was mechanized and the Falcons and grav tanks were bright enough to cause migraines (literally).
      If I were to start over I would have probably used VMC marine bleu (blue) for the armour it is a lovely time that Gould be highlighted up with either blue or grey for some real contrast.
      Thanks for the encouragement.

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  5. Are you mad mate!! They are absolutely great! I really like them and can't praise them enough; you have really captured that RT vibe using modern techniques. I would be proud to play against such well painted models!!

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  6. Thanks a bunch, I'd be proud to face the sons of Dorn in any of their many guises. I haven't played a game of 2nd ed in a LONG time, I remember getting the chaos codex, such amazing cover art.
    I appreciate the encouragement but for the time put into them they should look like mike McCoy painted them.

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  7. I really think you're selling yourself short here brother, they look bloody fantastic! They do have quite a battle hardened look to them, which is working really well. Those helms are just brilliant too, well worth the extra effort.

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    1. Thanks daemon master,
      I guess using actual military colours attributes a great deal to the "hard boiled" look, the execution could've been better but it seems everyone else likes them so maybe I'm a bit hard on myself.

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  8. These guys look terrific, man! I've been trying to get some of these painted up recently but I hated the way the turned out and had to tumble them all into the stripper, where they are still sitting glumly. I'm using yellow on mine, too, and its a tough color to work with. I really had trouble with the helmets, but you've done a great job of shading yours, they look awesome. The bases actually look great, too, but the figures are of a color similar enough that they sort of blend into and hide in them. Maybe some yellow plants poking up amoung the rocks to match the yellow helmets? Anyway, great stuff!

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    1. Thanks mouse
      I went with a darker yellow; VMC Japanese uniform which is much more subtle than what I've seen others use. The basing is deliberately subtle but I was considering some brown tufts which I think may tie in the helmets but more importantly add a different texture to the base.

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    2. Well, they are awesome! Great job!

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  9. Mate, you are being a bit too harsh on yourself as others have said. They look great. They look so good I am tempted to ditch the (planned) scheme I had for my own elder and steal this one.
    I know that must be a bit frustrating being that they didn't turn out how you planned, but they still look top notch.
    Also, the bases look great as is.
    Looking forward to more

    Warburton

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    1. Cheers warburton,
      it seems the Eldar are becoming quite popular, good luck on yours, they are a real challenge to paint. The one piece of advice I would give is to finish a test model before you carry on with the rest of your figs.

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    2. Thanks mate :)

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  10. What lovely muted colours you have employed on those eldar. The grey-green and the yellow match very well and help make the figures look tough and militaristic. The use of red as a spot colour is a nice tough too!

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    1. Thanks Orlygg
      Definitely a learning curve on these figures, the subtle colouring is what makes the paintjob, I had to include a bright spot colour for contrast but the red turned out ok in the end

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