Hive Fleet Sandstorm - WIP - *More Shrikes 2/16/2015*

[detharmonic]

Hi Everyone,  

*Obligatory long time lurker, first time poster statement*

Just wanted to post some pictures of what I have painted so far for my bugs.  I apologize for the flash photography and overall low quality of the photos. I took them with my cellphone at night time and so without the flash, there just wasn't enough natural light and the bugs all blended together.  Any tips on photography would be great.  I know that natural light and a white backdrop are usually best, but if anyone has had success with cell phone cameras, I'd love to hear about it. 

What you see is what I've done only with my airbrush, which i'm still getting the hang of.  I still need to hand paint the highlights as well as finish the claws, teeth, and minor details.  I plan on doing those starting from a brown colour and shading up to a bone colour.  Any feedback/criticism is always welcome.  

In the pictures below you may notice 2 flyrants, 1 tervigon, 1 tyrannofex, 1 mawloc/trygon, 1 exocrine, 2 carnifex, 6 warriors (or 5 plus a Prime), 2 lictors, 30 termaguants and 50 hormagaunts.  I still have 29 genestealers, 1 broodlord, 3 warriors, 7 ripper swarm bases and 40ish termagaunts left to paint up, as well as assemble a zoan/venomthrope kit and a tyrannocyte kit.  help me.  










Cheers all! 

[detharmonic]

I guess I fail at image hosting.  I'll get images up asap! 

[Davor]

I really like it very good job. For some criticism as you asked for, you just need a bit more, at least on the big gribblies. A wash on the skin so it pops out more. An ink or something like that, I am not sure since I am not that great of a painter myself, but will blend in the crevices I think and give you 2 tones of the same colour and pop out the muscles if you know what I mean.

As for the carapace, black is the death of a mini. Most people can't do black even pros. By that I mean, black just looks like it's a primer and not done. It needs some feathering or something like an edge highlight. I was thinking maybe white or silver, but then no, it will not go with your scheme so maybe a green like your wings to go on it? Not sure about that.

Other than that, I really like it. Nice painting, like the colour scheme, and looking forward to more.

[rpricew]

Welcome to the Hive... Good Job

[detharmonic]

Thanks guys!

I appreciate the feedback, Davor.  As mentioned, what you see is only work done with the airbrush. I still have to do quite a bit by hand.  

The carapace is actually a bronze/copper colour with a metallic shine.  I thought it would be cool to have a metallic looking carapace in the 41st millenium.  I plan on adding highlights or more natural insect patterns on to it by hand.  just waiting for the right inspiration.  I imagine I'll stick to the metallic theme and shade up to a bright gold then do white specs or dots, but we'll see.  I'll post pictures once I figure out what I want to do.  I will also definitely be giving the models a quick pass with a wash when the time comes.  I love the citadel washes as they really tie the whole model together.  

Stay tuned!

[Remalis]

Second the comments Davor made.
But with what you've done so far, looking really good. I haven't ventured to airbrushing yet. Take you long to pick it up?

[Davor]

Dec 19, 2014 21:01:46 GMT detharmonic said:

Thanks guys!

I appreciate the feedback, Davor.  As mentioned, what you see is only work done with the airbrush. I still have to do quite a bit by hand.  

The carapace is actually a bronze/copper colour with a metallic shine.  I thought it would be cool to have a metallic looking carapace in the 41st millenium.  I plan on adding highlights or more natural insect patterns on to it by hand.  just waiting for the right inspiration.  I imagine I'll stick to the metallic theme and shade up to a bright gold then do white specs or dots, but we'll see.  I'll post pictures once I figure out what I want to do.  I will also definitely be giving the models a quick pass with a wash when the time comes.  I love the citadel washes as they really tie the whole model together.  

Stay tuned!

Ah so you are like me. I did my Stealers in a Dark Blue/Dark Purple, but when I take a pic it looks black. I understand now. I just wish I knew how to take pics so you can see it on camera. Always better to be seen in person but sad we can't put it on film.

Now fly to my place and let me see your minis in person.

[detharmonic]

I've had the air brush for about 8 months. A few of the monsters were painted green and purple over top of a black primer. This scheme is done on a white primer. I'm still picking up using the airbrush, but I notice the time it saves already.

I'll try to be more conscious of the daylight for the next round of pictures. That should improve the quality a little bit.

Any suggestions or tips on how to do patterns on the carapace?

[Remalis]

Nothing to offer here, sorry, but I'm sure some of our more talented members here can provide you with tips you're looking for.

[gigasnail]

Nice start man. Very striking on the table.

[liberame]

If you haven't tried it yet, I recommended running a wash through the airbrush. It won't work the same way Wash's regularly do, it'll instead tint the color, kind of like the minitaire ghost tints but without the gloss. It can add variance to your wings to give depth. If I can find an example in my photo bucket I'll link here

Before wash through airbrush


After wash through airbrush


I did some more washs through to tone it down some, but I didnt take a picture after that. I just have the final product



Sorry for hijacking the thread.

[monkeychuka]

Please tell me they glow in the dark. That would be super nashwan

[detharmonic]

haha I wish they glowed in the dark! 

Liberame, do you do anything with the washes before running them through the air brush?  I don't think its necessary as they are already pretty thin, but I just want to be sure.

Also, what washes would you recommend that would compliment the colour pallet I have chosen (orange,brown,green)?

[liberame]

Straight in, no thinning. You could do a blue wash, or purple. They are complimentary on color theory, however I do not know how the tint would interact, it would add enough of a variance to catch the eye. I would practice on a small model first to see how it looks, please post pics, I'm interested to see the results.

[detharmonic]

I'll do some trials on the guants.  I'll try blue, purple and probably one other colour.  I'll definitely post pictures when I finally get around to doing the washes.  Thanks for all the help!